Labour MP in Predictable Call for Canis Ban
Plus, more calls from Jack Thompson to ban 'Columbine Simulator'
SPOnG reported yesterday that Rockstar’s splendid schoolboy caper, Canis Canem Edit has been awarded a 15-certificate by the BBFC.
We also suggested that the predictable Daily Mail outrage against the game was only a matter of time.
Well, almost on cue, we check out the website of the middle Englander’s favourite hate-sheet today to see the following headline, “Outrage over 'school bully' computer game.”
At the same time, we just received an email from Jack Thompson, with the header, “Showdown in Miami: Injunction Sought to Stop Release of Columbine Simulator Video Game.”
A quick whip through the Mail's story and yep, there it is. A mention of none other than game-hating Labour MP Keith Vaz calling for Canis Canem Edit to be to banned. SPOnG put a call in to Vaz’s office this morning to see if there is any more force to the reaction than that of a knee-jerk, so we’ll update you on that shortly.
The story claims, “The aim of the PlayStation2 game is to terrorise the other pupils at a school. Players dish out beatings, throw stink bombs and give 'wedgies' by yanking at their underwear.”
SPOnG’s played Bully, extensively, and we can assure you that terrorising the other pupils at the fictional Bullworth Academy is not the aim of the game. See our preview if you want to know more about what is. But why let basic facts get in the way of a story bound to wind up the 'annoyed from Tunbridge Wells' of our land eh, Daily Mail hack?
The Mail story continues, “…the sick game is expected to be another massive hit for the company which also created the lawless Grand Theft Auto series.”
As mentioned above, we’ve been sent a lovely email from our friend Jack Thompson (or at least, some joker purporting to be Thompson), following our news from yesterday, addressed oh-so-courteously with the line, “Here you go SpongMorons.”
We could just pretend it’s not actually happening, it’s not important and it will go away. But the annoying thing is that it is happening. A British national newspaper is spreading misinformation about a relatively innocuous (not to mention, brilliant) videogame and Jack Thompson is ramping up his campaign to demonise Bully/Canis Canem Edit over in the US.
So, what’s Thompson’s beef then? From his self-penned ‘press release’ to us:
“Thompson’s legal lever to stop the sale of the game to kids is Florida nuisance statute which enables a citizen to enjoin any commercial activity that poses a threat to public safety. Thompson used this same law in another lawsuit nearly two years ago to force Best Buy to stop its sale of Mature-rated video games to minors across the country.
Going into this unprecedented hearing, Thompson persuaded the Board of the Miami-Dade school system—the nation’s fourth largest—to unanimously ask Take-Two/Rockstar not to release Bully.
Take-Two refused, despite Thompson’s appearances on ABC World News Tonight and Lou Dobbs Tonight on CNN regarding the dangers posed by this Columbine simulator. The American Psychological Association has found that teens who play such games become more aggressive. Lives are at stake in a courtroom in Miami.”
SPOnG is not in disagreement with Jack’s basic wish, which is that games (and, we would add, all other forms of entertainment) that contain adult-themed material should not be sold to minors. However, to peg this game as a ‘Columbine Simulator’ is both totally false and disrespectful to the victims of that tragedy.
SPOnG is in strong disagreement with all of the above hysterical over-reactions to Canis Canem Edit though, as, we suspect, are the majority of right-thinking gamers worldwide.
UPDATE: SPOnG’s just spoken to Professor Mark Griffiths, Director of Nottingham Trent University’s International Gaming Unit, who had the following to say regarding Keith Vaz’s calls to ban Canis Canem Edit:
“It is knee jerk reactions and Keith Vaz’s viewpoint will be shared by many Daily Mail readers. As a scientist I have to say that there is no empirical evidence that playing the game will turn people into bullies.”
“Our research has shown that the younger gamers are, the more likely they are to mimic behaviour of in-game characters and the like. However, obviously Bully has a 15-certificate and there is a very small proportion of that age group, sixteen years and up, that would be adversely affected by this type of game.”
Summing up nicely, Professor Griffiths added, “Keith Vaz may well not like the moral content of the game, and you can argue till the cows come home about that. It’s also the responsibility of parents to ensure their children are not playing games with a 15-certificate. I have a ten year old, and I know that this is not an easy thing to do, yet it’s my responsibility as a parent to not let him play violent or adult games.”
We also suggested that the predictable Daily Mail outrage against the game was only a matter of time.
Well, almost on cue, we check out the website of the middle Englander’s favourite hate-sheet today to see the following headline, “Outrage over 'school bully' computer game.”
At the same time, we just received an email from Jack Thompson, with the header, “Showdown in Miami: Injunction Sought to Stop Release of Columbine Simulator Video Game.”
A quick whip through the Mail's story and yep, there it is. A mention of none other than game-hating Labour MP Keith Vaz calling for Canis Canem Edit to be to banned. SPOnG put a call in to Vaz’s office this morning to see if there is any more force to the reaction than that of a knee-jerk, so we’ll update you on that shortly.
The story claims, “The aim of the PlayStation2 game is to terrorise the other pupils at a school. Players dish out beatings, throw stink bombs and give 'wedgies' by yanking at their underwear.”
SPOnG’s played Bully, extensively, and we can assure you that terrorising the other pupils at the fictional Bullworth Academy is not the aim of the game. See our preview if you want to know more about what is. But why let basic facts get in the way of a story bound to wind up the 'annoyed from Tunbridge Wells' of our land eh, Daily Mail hack?
The Mail story continues, “…the sick game is expected to be another massive hit for the company which also created the lawless Grand Theft Auto series.”
As mentioned above, we’ve been sent a lovely email from our friend Jack Thompson (or at least, some joker purporting to be Thompson), following our news from yesterday, addressed oh-so-courteously with the line, “Here you go SpongMorons.”
We could just pretend it’s not actually happening, it’s not important and it will go away. But the annoying thing is that it is happening. A British national newspaper is spreading misinformation about a relatively innocuous (not to mention, brilliant) videogame and Jack Thompson is ramping up his campaign to demonise Bully/Canis Canem Edit over in the US.
So, what’s Thompson’s beef then? From his self-penned ‘press release’ to us:
“Thompson’s legal lever to stop the sale of the game to kids is Florida nuisance statute which enables a citizen to enjoin any commercial activity that poses a threat to public safety. Thompson used this same law in another lawsuit nearly two years ago to force Best Buy to stop its sale of Mature-rated video games to minors across the country.
Going into this unprecedented hearing, Thompson persuaded the Board of the Miami-Dade school system—the nation’s fourth largest—to unanimously ask Take-Two/Rockstar not to release Bully.
Take-Two refused, despite Thompson’s appearances on ABC World News Tonight and Lou Dobbs Tonight on CNN regarding the dangers posed by this Columbine simulator. The American Psychological Association has found that teens who play such games become more aggressive. Lives are at stake in a courtroom in Miami.”
SPOnG is not in disagreement with Jack’s basic wish, which is that games (and, we would add, all other forms of entertainment) that contain adult-themed material should not be sold to minors. However, to peg this game as a ‘Columbine Simulator’ is both totally false and disrespectful to the victims of that tragedy.
SPOnG is in strong disagreement with all of the above hysterical over-reactions to Canis Canem Edit though, as, we suspect, are the majority of right-thinking gamers worldwide.
UPDATE: SPOnG’s just spoken to Professor Mark Griffiths, Director of Nottingham Trent University’s International Gaming Unit, who had the following to say regarding Keith Vaz’s calls to ban Canis Canem Edit:
“It is knee jerk reactions and Keith Vaz’s viewpoint will be shared by many Daily Mail readers. As a scientist I have to say that there is no empirical evidence that playing the game will turn people into bullies.”
“Our research has shown that the younger gamers are, the more likely they are to mimic behaviour of in-game characters and the like. However, obviously Bully has a 15-certificate and there is a very small proportion of that age group, sixteen years and up, that would be adversely affected by this type of game.”
Summing up nicely, Professor Griffiths added, “Keith Vaz may well not like the moral content of the game, and you can argue till the cows come home about that. It’s also the responsibility of parents to ensure their children are not playing games with a 15-certificate. I have a ten year old, and I know that this is not an easy thing to do, yet it’s my responsibility as a parent to not let him play violent or adult games.”
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Comments
tg0006 12 Oct 2006 00:44
1/3
Dont these people have enough of a life to let a T rated game (i think +15) go on the shelves without an uproar? i mean i can kind of get the GTA games with their language and extreemly impressional violence (only kind of, id be pissed if 4 got cancled because i want to play it). in all, this is rediculous.
NoFace 12 Oct 2006 10:16
2/3
I tried to add a 'reader comment' pointing out that doubtless the author of the piece hadn't played the game, thus the article was based completely on ignorance. Funniliy enough they didn't print it.
I also pointed out that they'd spelt 'charities' wrong but they haven't bothered to fix it.
It makes me sad that people pay money to read such drivel.
I also pointed out that they'd spelt 'charities' wrong but they haven't bothered to fix it.
It makes me sad that people pay money to read such drivel.
Joji 12 Oct 2006 12:46
3/3
I think its too easy for these people to forget what its like to be young. I'm sure they'll remember once they play CCE.
Daily Mail hacks should do their homework properly instead of this kind of lazy biased reporting.
Here's another interesting thought. If this game were a new film or play, regardless of be you an MP, journo or whoever, they really wouldn't be able to say a word about it and be heard, until you seen and experienced it yourself. This is the only way to judge any visual media, so going by hearsay is stupid and unjust.
Columbine Simulator! That's the joke of the week if that's what they think CCE is about. They clearly are comparing it to something negative because they haven't played it. Its got more in common with teen school flicks than anything.
This should be Rockstars stance on it, either in the courtroom or in their HQ, come see and play the game and judge for yourselves what CCE is. I can already see JT being laughed out of court as everyone can relate to being a school and being in whatever cliche. Fairplay to his stance on not selling such games to kids stateside, but that does not give him the right to demonise all games, especially without playing them first.
Any religious person with a closed mind like his is not worth our time. I hope CCE sells by the truck load too. Also keep an eye out around CCEs release, I'd love to hear if the Daily Mail reviews it fairly or not.
Daily Mail hacks should do their homework properly instead of this kind of lazy biased reporting.
Here's another interesting thought. If this game were a new film or play, regardless of be you an MP, journo or whoever, they really wouldn't be able to say a word about it and be heard, until you seen and experienced it yourself. This is the only way to judge any visual media, so going by hearsay is stupid and unjust.
Columbine Simulator! That's the joke of the week if that's what they think CCE is about. They clearly are comparing it to something negative because they haven't played it. Its got more in common with teen school flicks than anything.
This should be Rockstars stance on it, either in the courtroom or in their HQ, come see and play the game and judge for yourselves what CCE is. I can already see JT being laughed out of court as everyone can relate to being a school and being in whatever cliche. Fairplay to his stance on not selling such games to kids stateside, but that does not give him the right to demonise all games, especially without playing them first.
Any religious person with a closed mind like his is not worth our time. I hope CCE sells by the truck load too. Also keep an eye out around CCEs release, I'd love to hear if the Daily Mail reviews it fairly or not.