WATCH OUT! HERE COME THE TELEGRAPHS TO CARE ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN!

Hazing builds character.

Rockstar gets the cheapest publicity ever.

/sigh

Stuff like this is the true downfall to societies!

Hellbent ideologies, instead of 'live and let live'!

Where did I hear that before? Oh yeah, the beloved countrymen, The Beatles! Looks like they were on to something some 40 years previous!

Yep, they brought the horse back from the dead, just so they can beat it down again, oi.

why care is my point, kid's are going to get bullied if there is a game or there isn't a game.

Rockstar never gets a break, do they? And we thought Jack Thompson was giving them enough trouble.

Currys and PCWorld are the same company anyway. Tbh noone that knows anything at all about games ever buys anything from there (having worked there ¬_¬).

@SanjiX: No, they don't, but doesn't matter, cause all its doing is giving Rockstar free publicity.

The only reason i'd ever try to buy a game from Currys/PC World is if they were sold out everywhere else. They arn't game shops and I hate them both with a deep passion so I really don't give a crap if they refuse to sell it (not that i would've bought it anyway since I dont wanna risk RROD'ing my 360 on something i'm not desperate to play)

Is the UK the new Germany? Why did I move here again? Ah right, college, the sea and women. Well, I guess I can take that crap as downside then :P

Wait...People read the Telegraph? Fuckkkk thats news to me.

Glad all we have to deal with it old JT, and no one takes him seriously.

This is so stupid for 2 reasons, a, the game allready made it on the PS2 so they might as well STFU! I don't hear them whining about the PS2 version anymore, or of any kids killing kids because of the game.

B, Rockstar why are you doing this? Whats the point? The title canis canem edit was even better then bully and fit well with such an artistic game, also it released under that name allready, so why confuse consumers in europe that knows the game under that name and not bully, and second why change the name so people can bitch about it not being banned when the old title would prevent that from happening.

*takes a pill for the headache

damn it, I said I was done with these threads.

I really wish these people who always make these public outcries would TRY the damn games first... it's not like this one hasn't been accessible for quite some time now. Having played through it when it first came out, last I checked, the character you play is really more of an anti-bully... you can choose to shove kids into lockers and the like but you're not required to, I never did, and I spent more time helping the weak and nerdy than I did hurting them

@Irenicus-the one and only: Thats because the game was originally named Bully to begin with, they changed the title because of the idiots like these who are complaining, and it seems that they're going back on that and releasing the Wii/360 versions with the original name.

At least the end of the stupid article let Rockstar speak for itself.

I like how the protagonist is described as a "shaven-headed pupil." Maybe I'm missing something, but does it seem like they're trying to cause certain associations to anyone else?

BULLY TEACHES YOU TO START SCHOOL SHOOTINGS!

Rockstar deserves a global round of applause, and a standing ovation.

@Ashkihyena: I know, but that still doesn't invalidate my point, not the way I feel anyway. But by all means, change the name back to a name no one knows of in europe, I still support them but I can't help get a feeling this is just being retarded by Rockstar.

If they wanted a battle over the name they should have fought it to the end the last time, instead of doing it now.

It's just all so pointless *sigh

@Malyonsus:

You got that right ... sensationalism in the cornerstone in most media now-a-days.

@Irenicus-the one and only:

Well they needed to do it before probably to profit, now that they already made their money back (and then some) on the game, they are sticking to their guns, cause they can afford to now.

Lets hope they do!

@Coldbrand:

BULLY TAUGHT ME HOW TO KILL PEOPLE!

I WENT TO A SCHOOL AND SHOT EVERYONE JUST THE WAY BULLY TOLD ME, AND THEN I WENT TO FIVE OTHER SCHOOLS TO RINCE AND REPEAT JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT!

BULLY IS THE WORK OF THE SATAN!

"The PC World and Currys chain of stores said it had already decided not to stock the game. A spokesman said: 'We don't think this is suitable for sale in our stores. We are careful about what we sell and this is something we have decided not to list.'"

O RLY?

So GTA, with it's hooker romping then killing and Hot Coffee fiasco is all nice and kosher, but Bully, well that just crosses the line doesn't it?

@Irenicus-the one and only: Its not Rockstar thats being retarded, as usual, its the politicians and groups who talk out their ass about things that they don't know.

It's good to know that the "good ol' stink bomb in a school yard" gag trumps the "AK-47 shooting spree in a crowded mall" felony every time.

Vidja games are evil. The government should really do something about this. I believe that allowing my own child to play this game is not my fault, it's those evil vidja game companies...

@EnigmaNemesis: You are probably right. And if this helps I guess it is cool, I just thought this was a bit stupid perhaps because as a european gamer I know this game by a different title as many of my friends. I also think that this might get missed by some because they never knew this game was called bully and might not read internet blogs etc thus missing out on the game. I also liked the the EU title more, but I know thats just my opinion.

Lets hope that the politicians and mainstream media atleast realise that the game is allready out under a different title and maybe even judge it based on playing the game. I know, not likely but I can dream.

@Ashkihyena: You are right.

@Irenicus-the one and only:

Maybe they hope doing its original name over there would garner "new" sales since some wouldn't realize they already played it too.

But who knows! Stick it to these hypocritical scum bags Rockstar!

The amount of money Rockstar makes is directly proportional to the amount of controversy they get for their games. They have the best marketing team in the world :D

Hmm, anybody know if this game is going for full price? Or budget, since it's a re-release?

@Candlejack:

Wait you came here for the sea?
Surely there are better places...

@EnigmaNemesis: lol

@BTFzor_Freestyle: Yeah Jack, come on! :D

brilliant. change the name and the press gets to complain about it all over again. rockstar should just keep rereleasing gta and bully with a new name every couple years, so the press occupies itself worrying about it permanently, as a shield to release their actual games under to pass without comment.

@Candlejack: i dont understand. our colleges outside of a small circle of quality ones are mediocre. our seas are polluted and cold. and our women are uncultured, stupid and overweight. and even if you attack me for being cynical about my own country, then certainly nobody can claim any of those three things are any better than elsewhere. whoever told you that shit sold you a line.

@red: Like I said earlier, its the original name, the other one came around because of the politicans and such griping. Personally, this time around, I hope they don't change it.

@Sasuntsi Davit: Bully isn't an 18 though.

So, if I made a game about hugging puppies and called it Blooddrippy Stab Stab 3: Hyper Ultra Megamix: Rainbow of Death Edition Redux Part 7, the "murder simulator" bandwagon will roll my way despite the game being completely non violent?

I suspected as much, this Bully hoopla confirms it.

@BTFzor_Freestyle: Nah, not for the "sea" that you would go to Miami etc. for. Where I live in the UK is one of the richest and nicest areas. Look up the "Sandbanks" for more detail.

@red: Comparing the choice of colleges I got in the UK to the ones in Germany, it was a clear decision from my side. About the sea and women, you clearly are exaggerating. I don't want to expand on that to be honest.

They banned commercials because they were afraid woman would start launching naked babies through the skies of England.
...
They ban cover art because they are afraid people would race through the streets of London at 200 kph (I localized it ;D ) and four way crashes at busy intersection in the glorious name of suicidal racing.
...
They banned a murder simulator because they didn't want people to travel the dark streets of London and rip out peoples vertebrae with pliers.
...
I just don't see what all the discontent is about. They are just helping the public help themselves. Their doing gods work because if they don't stop this game, millions of parents may become uninvolved in their children's life and leave bullying problems unnoticed and unchecked.

@Candlejack: oh germany. well ok then, i completely understand.

Ugh, general ignorance really pisses me off.

We don't want our children to become bullies, y'know, b'cause a video game will be so much more efficient at shaping your child than actual parenting will..

@red:

Ouch Red. Those words. They cut me real deep.

Am I really overweight?

On topic: I personally prefer the name "Bully". The papers must have had a slow news day though.

@Madhotdog: He's right - PC World and Currys - same company. And yeah no gamers really shop there... except me..... and that's only because I have a HIGHLY amoral friend who works there and gets me HIGHLY discounted goods...

Want a £1200 Macbook? Me and the lads just kicked the box around the stockroom floor. Bit scuffed but the Macbook's fine. That'll be £300 then....

To all the posters here on kotaku who complained that this was an example of sensationalist media,

There's a big difference between a game's content and a game's selling point. Both Rockstar and posters here on kotaku have been arguing that violence is not heavily promoted in the game, and while this may be true, when someone who has not read reviews or watched trailers looks at this game in the store, he's not going to take the title "Bully" to mean "a comedic romp as a fifteen year old boy comes to terms with life at school". He/she will expect Bully to mean what the title implies, and therefore buy the game on the basis of that title. Whether or not the game gives you the option to protect other students, needless to say the option to bully other students is going to be expected given the title. And you expect people not to be concerned over that!?

With that said, I can understand why the name was changed to "Canis Canem Edit" in the original release. Given that the title is ambiguous, the player is not given expectations as to what role bullying plays in the game. Therefore, it is much more appropriate for what Rockstar were suggesting in the article.

Good old British media. Next thing you know we'll be lynching Paediatricians.

@ShaggE: oh my god. that's the best thing I've read in ages. I've been having such a crappy day at work and that just made it all worth while.

Now Manhunt 2 I couldn't give a shit about, but my non-Sony-owning ass wanted Canis Canem Edit when it came out on the PS2, and if by any slim chance this is denied a Wii release in the UK I swear I will renounce my British citizenship and go and live in a country that doesn't even have videogames or... No, calm down, calm down. Of course it's coming out, it's only a Telegraph article...

Perhaps the protesters would be more keen to accept the game if Rockstar would supply them with some "bangers and mash"...?

To make a different point, what if there was a game that was simply titled "Paedophile", in which you play as a child worker who has the option of molesting children within the game? Knowing that child molestation can lead to severe mental scarring (as can bullying), would you be content with seeing the release of a game in which these actions can be performed by the player (whether or not they *fingerquotes* "promote" child molestation)?

Maybe its because with violence embedded in most Western action games, we are content with seeing violent actions that can be related to the real world. But with sexual actions, of which Western society is far less tolerant, I honestly can't see gamers here sticking up for the game release, and I think that's something of a hypocrisy. Given that bullying is much more common than psychopathic murders and child molestation, who's to say that its not destructive to let players who are of the same age as Bully's main character bully people in-game?

People have a right to be concerned, because whether or not it is a video game, there are just some actions that you don't try to realistically imitate for obvious reasons.

@Psychotext: They are a hop and a skip away from pedophiles... they just like intent.