The site purports to be a protest against Spore and its 'attack on Christian values' and consists of several Creature Creator movies of Penis Monsters and other Spore grotesques, alongside posts about what the author claims is the game's pro-evolutionary agenda and corrupting influence on children.

Oh, and the fact that Will Wright is Evil.

Our first thought was "Ha! A clever satire on religious censorship and the intelligent design debate!" quickly followed by, "hang on, it's quite deadpan for satire, isn't it?"

I initially thought it might be some kind of quite funny, reverse-psychology marketing campaign.. but then I got to the bit about the Episcopalian Church being a 'perverted church' that endorses homosexuality and it seemed.. less funny.

The irony is that Spore is only nominally 'about' Evolution. If anything you as a player are an Intelligent Designer. Do you see? It is teaching the controversy!

Anti Spore -Resisting EA’s War on Creationism [Thanks to Scott Owens for the tip]

Over at the delightfully named HipAsFuck.com, some gamers decided to see just how much a little booze would affect their Mario Kart skills. Perhaps surprisingly, a blood alcohol level of 0.08 (an arrestable amount in the US and UK) actually made their times a few seconds faster.

Obviously, there is a world of difference between driving in real life — where you can physically die and cause the deaths of others — and driving a pretend dinosaur around a virtual track in a non-existent Go-Kart — where the most you can lose is a couple of seconds while the game reloads. Still, If you are gaming and want to get 'in the zone' (and are of legal drinking age, natch) this vital scientific study may come in handy.

Before anyone starts — DUI is stupid & if you do it in real life you are an idiot. This post is for informational purposes only, Your home may be at risk if you do not keep up mortgage repayments. etc. etc.

The DUI Mario Kart Experiment [Hip As Fuck, via Kottke]

We've covered a bit of the reaction against the game, a strategy title that's a little bit capture-the-flag — except in this case, the "flag" is a very fat girl, made difficult to move because her captors are tasked with feeding her cake. Reactions have ranged from the constructively mild — Feminist Gamers wonders why fat chicks are considered "cute" and suggests a heavy treasure chest instead — to the bilious.

Shakesville writer Melissa McEwan writes, sarcastically, "I'm positively thrilled to see such unyielding dedication to creating a new generation of fat-hating, heteronormative assholes," and completed her protest with a photo dubbing herself "The Fat Princess of Shakesville Manor" — and flipping the bird, presumably to Sony.

The angle that the majority of the media seems to want to go with is "Feminists cry foul over Fat Princess," though whether someone is fat or thin is truly a feminist issue is debatable, one supposes. So shall we debate?

It's unfortunate that society has such a narrow range of figures that people are allowed to have in order to be considered attractive, and the general conception is that a fat man is somewhat more empathetic a creature than a fat woman, as unfair as that is.

But what's wrong with a fat princess?

On one hand, obesity is a serious health problem, and it's understandable that those who confront it might not wish their issue to be relegated to a video game mechanic, a source of laughs. Fat Princess ostensibly intends to be cute and funny, and perhaps it's offensive to think of fat girls as "cute and funny."

Instead of what, though? Princess Peach isn't fat, but she's cute and funny too, isn't she?

Complicating the issue is the fact that the concept of overweight woman as comic relief has been part of our culture for quite some time; we have quite a few femme comediennes who embrace their fat as a form of beauty and independence from social pressure. They prove that being fat needn't be some great, offensive social secret.

So what's the alternative for the princess? Should she not be fat, because thin girls are cute and funny while fat ones are not? Would it have been better to make her a typical, idealized female? Or must we be so sensitive that we are no longer allowed to rescue the princess, as we have done in our fairy tales for centuries, at all?

Is the problem with Fat Princess the fact that making her fat is something of a form of torture by her enemies? Because getting fat is a beautiful thing, or because getting fat is a terrible thing? There are, to be fair, reasons for fat girls, thin girls and feminists to be a little affronted by the game, but it's really not clear what the specific reason is, precisely, or what the solution might be.

James Green, lead art director on Fat Princess, told Yahoo! that the game's concept artist is female. I'm female, and when I first saw screens for Fat Princess, my only reaction was, "It looks cute."

I hate when we as an audience dismiss debates on issues in video games by saying "it's just a game." But I don't think that the things we see in games are necessarily reflections on ourselves or about us; the fat princess is not a spokesperson for all women, or even all fat women, and I'm most curious about the critics who chose to see her as a statement on themselves or their role as women in the real world.

Ultimately, though, wouldn't removing the fat girl, or the issue of obesity, from the game because they bring too many issues into play be precisely the wrong message to send to women?

Yes, game violence. On Facebook.

If you're already a Facebook user, then you already might know about SuperPoke. If you don't, it works like this: you basically send a greeting message and icon to your friends — "give flowers to," "party with," generally nice things like that. They have "pokes" that are themed around holidays or events like popular movies, too. Some of them are a little bit offensive or silly. It's game-like, in that the more pokes you send your friends, the more you unlock, and it really doesn't get much more complicated than that.

So what's to rail against?

MarketWeek reports that Urban Concepts, a group of "anti-knife" campaigners, dislike that one of the pokes that has apparently become available invites you to "shank" your friends. You know, knife 'em prison yard-style. According to MarketWeek, the group believes the app is "targeting" teenagers with violent themes.

The knife poke seems to have since been removed from the app. You can still spank, fling a thong at, or give restraining orders to your friends, though. You can also "go Chuck Norris" on them, leaving little doubt that Urban Concepts is correct about the target audience, at the very least.

Facebook slammed for "knife" game [MarketWeek via GamePolitics]

Hit the jump for their response:

"We want the Xbox LIVE community to have the freedom to express themselves, but we also have a responsibility to create an inclusive, safe environment," said Microsoft's Stephen Toulouse. "While it may be clear to some that Gaywood is a legitimate surname, it may not be obvious to other Xbox LIVE members. In this case, a complaint was filed by a member of the community, requiring the Xbox LIVE team to examine the gamertag within the context of the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use. Based on the these guidelines, it was necessary for the gamertag to change."

Recall Toulose also referred to the XBL Terms of Use in explaining why user "TheGAYERGamer" received a ban, stating, "Gamertags are visible to everyone and it would be hard for me to defend to a parent of a young child who saw it that the name did not contain content of a sexual nature."

Finally, Microsoft confirmed to us that Mr. Gaywood's gamertag, like any other found to be in violation of the Terms of Use, will not be reinstated. Hope no other XBL users have legal names that might have the ill fortune to appear "sexual."

I would like you to briefly indulge me by participating in an exercise. Remove all of the mascots and familiar faces from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and replace them with original constructs. Notice, if you will, the somewhat clumsy user interface, the high percentage of total content that must be unlocked to be enjoyed, the complete lack of usability of the Wii controls, and the lack of significant graphical or gameplay progression over the previous generation. It's true that even then, you'd have a good game. But would you have a 10 game?

What does it mean that I'm hesitant to even state my opinion that it'd be a 7 game? And what does that crap even mean, anymore?

Auto-Neurotic Asphyxiation

Yea, it's fun. Yea, it's cool and difficult to master (nowhere near on the level of a real musical instrument), and yea it's an escape from your miserable existance [sic] but it's not something I want to see LIVE ONSTAGE in a venue that should have a REAL musician Performing! Anyone who has even the slightest bit of culture and refinement would agree. GUITAR HERO belongs in the home, at house parties or in a Frathouse basement but it DOES NOT BELONG AT HUMPY'S GREAT ALASKAN ALEHOUSE, REPLACING OPEN MIC MONDAYS!!!!!

And I can play a guitar pretty Damn well...A REAL guitar that is..So you mean to tell me, watching some drunk ass GI or Fratboy attempting to play "Sweet Child O Mine" on a guitar shaped GAME CONTROLLER,. flubbing notes at that, is a more soulful experience then hearing me play and sing? IF so, FUCK YOU! That's what I have to Say...That says it all. Remember....We Reap what we sow and we've got some major fucking problems. I say we who do give a shit, need to vote with our wallets.

THIS IS A CALL TO ARMS. IT'S IN YOUR HANDS PEOPLE.

This column does not assert that games themselves are - or are not - the cause of this apparent escalation in hostile, unstable behavior in our community. And it is an overall behavioral trend; two extreme incidents are are demonstrated here as examples, but take a glance at review archives alone and there's almost guaranteed to be, in the comment threads, a reaction to a reviewer's opinion that seems unnecessarily venomous, excessively upset. And nor does this column levy accusations against all of us as a whole; it's most likely that this encroaching trend of apparent hardening, of an increase in cruelty in our audience, is attributable to a vocal minority .... It's also important to note the positives that have come out of gaming communities online - friends supporting each other through difficult times, game-inspired charity organizations and events.

And yet. I once made the rather unpopular assertion that we must examine game violence and resolve our relationship with it in order to be justified in defending ourselves against the knee-jerk, sensationalized accusations of the mainstream media, politicians and TV psychologists using us to get attention. Unpopular though it may be, I offer that perhaps we ought to examine ourselves some more. What are we learning from games, from our anonymous online communities, and from our relationships with one another?

Regardless of whether you agree or (vociferously) disagree with either piece, they're food for thought. I really do think some amount of nasty arguments are simply unavoidable - but I guess the main difference between the gaming community and, say, the academic communities I'm familiar with is that the academics manage to be a little more mature while advancing their personal opinions, no matter how much they (actually, in real life) hate the person they're attacking. Then again ... it's the internet. And the most innocuous of topics can turn into a firestorm given the right prevailing winds.

'The Aberrant Gamer': Are The Kids Alright? [GameSetWatch] and Good games, bad games, ugly games [Tale of Tales]

Halo 3 is obviously one of the hottest upcoming titles on any platform, and news that a multiplayer beta open to the public has the Spartan faithful salivating like hungry pups. As beta slots are open to a limited number of users, competition for a ticket on the pre-release Halo 3 ride are sure to be become a highly sought after item.

According to Xbox fansite BritXbox, a member of the Xbox Community Network, a collection of independently run European game sites favored by Microsoft, one of their XCN peers may have been involved in trading beta slots for cash.

An e-mail from XCN management hit BXB revealing the practice, indicating that they were "rather shocked that this privilege has been abused in such a way." Shocked? Really? How shocked are you really, when you're selling a $100 version of the game? Clearly the dedicated fanbased will do just about anything to get Halo 3 early. Michael McWhertor

Cash for Codes Controversy! [BritXbox]

Rockstar's Bully's not a fighter, it's a lova.

GayGamer's Fruit Bruit writes that there are at least four guys in the game open to a little hot guy on guy wet-lip action and they have the video to prove it.

After a little talking and a bouquet of flowers he was more than willing to get down to business, and he and our hero Jimmy really seemed to enjoy it. I was shocked later, when I went into the town near the school, to find my blonde hunk holding hands with a red haired jock while waiting in line for the movies. Needless to say, my heart was broken, but I was able to see through my tears long enough to make this little video of the whole make-out experience.

It's interesting that someone at Rockstar decided to build this particular expereince into the game and to do so in a way that isn't in your face. While I've only played about 10 percent of Bully so far, it seems to be very much about experiences. Brian Crecente

Video Proof: Bully's Jimmy Hopkins Likes To Kiss Boys! [Gay Gamer]

I flew out to Rockstar's New York offices last month to be one of the first people to look at the company's game, Bully for a couple of stories I wrote for the Rocky Mountain News. Hop on over to the Rocky's site for my impressions on the game, which is set to hit in October. Friday I'll have a much bigger story up at the Rocky about the game's social implications. Viva la controversy.

Bully Coming Despite Protests [Rocky Mountain News]

Earlier this week in Tokyo, the country's biggest retailers and developers (sans Nintendo) met with the Tokyo government to discuss the effects of games on children. The government is considering changing Japan's game rating system and prohibiting the sale of certain software to minors.

The console companies each had an opportunity to speak. Sony stated that the company is putting "parental locks" on the PS3 and already has them in play on the PSP. The company seemed more than obliging and willing to make their consoles kid safe. Sony also stressed that they were interested in using games as an educational tool. Moreover, Microsoft stated their support in "comprehensible package" for the entire industry and was attempting to raise parental awareness.

The software makers were more upfront. Square Enix's Yoichi Wada pointed out that, "It's necessary to verify whether or not youth crime and video games are connected." He warned the Tokyo officials not to judge thoughtlessly. Namco, likewise, added that scientific grounds have not yet been proven.

If the Japanese government starts enforcing an over-18 policy, the software companies are the ones that'll get screwed the hardest. Console manufacturers have the luxury of picking developers with more government friendly software. Sony's sliding "parental controls" into their next-gen console seems like the best solution. Software manufacturers are free to make the games they want, while parents are presumably free to block certain content. And smart kids are free to disarm those parental controls. Call it win-win.

Full Story Here [Watch Impress]

Juvenile crime is rising in Japan. A government study, released this month, showed a sharp rise in acts of violence. In 2005, there was a record 336 cases of student-on-sensei violence with kids throwing chairs and physically threatening their teachers. This number is up from 253 a year earlier. Outside of the classroom, children are equally bad and being arrested for everything from arson to murder. Things have gotten so bad that a new law has been passed, lowering the prosecution age to 14 years old.

So, instead of trying to figure out what drives children to crime, activists are (big surprise) blaming games. Japanese school kids spend 3 hours a day playing computer games. "To develop a safe environment for children, the necessary step is to ask software companies to continue making games that will educate the player and avoid content that can make them violent," says pundit Prof. Takashi Sakamoto.

Leading a new wave of concerned do-gooders, Sakamoto's research shows that regularly playing violent games may result in harming children's mind. He also points out, however, that games with a story and that have allies working together to defeat an common enemy do not lead to real world violence. Hey, ya know what that means? World of Warcraft does not encourage Japanese school kids to kill each other. Wonderful.

Let's Blame Violent Games [IPS News]

Crap. Saitama Prefecture (or as I like to say, "The New Jersey of Japan") just made it illegal for people under 18 to buy games deemed unfit for minors. In short, schoolgirls can't buy Grand Theft Auto.

This makes Saitama the second prefecture after Kanagawa to set forth such strict rules. It is particularly worrying as Saitama boarders Tokyo. Is the megapolis next?

This is exactly the retarded Puritanism that I left America to escape. Now, it's sitting on my doorstep. Crap indeed.

Turning Yankese [Mainichi Shinbun]

ABC World News just aired a segment on Rockstar's Bully and the growing controversy surrounding video games.

They came by my house earlier today to get some tape of me talking. One quote managed to make the segment, but I thought it was a pretty reasonable one. I was able to say that I think video games are becoming the new art form for today's younger generation and that games aren't always for kids.

I'll try to get a video up of the segment in the next day or two.