Judge Ronald Friedman, of Florida's Miami-Dade County Court, has ordered that Take-Two representaves bring their upcoming game Bully to court before close of business today (10/12). The judge will watch as the game is played and rule as to whether it is appropriate for minors or not. The ESRB has rated the T for Teen; but, depending on Friedman's ruling the game could be reclassified. Bully for the PS2 is slated to hit store shelves October 17th.
Source: GameSpot [ more info ]
UPDATE: (10/13)

Judged Friedman has ruled in favor of Bully stating, "There's nothing in the game that you wouldn't see on TV every night." He did add however that he "wouldn't want his kids to play the game, but that shouldn't mean that the game won't ship."

Source: Destructoid via 1up.Com [ more info ]
Jack Thompson can say what he likes; but I'm convinced he just wanted to play Bully before anyone else. I know when he thinks no one else is watching, he pops in his copy of GTA pulls old ladies out of their cars, steals their money, and then giggles when he runs over them with their own vehicle.

Alright, so I know that's false. But, if he can say anything he likes about video games without any need to substantiate his claims, then I can say whatever I like about him right?

Now, because I do honestly believe that Jack is little more than an attention whore who uses a hotbutton-for-the-ignorant topic like "game violence" to get his wrinkled mug on television. I'd like to ask that no one talk about Jack here, but rather talk about the court case and its potential ramifications.

I know that will be hard to do, so if you aboslutely MUST talk about Jack. Talk about the GU World Jack that likes to play GTA. I think that will be infinitely more amusing for all of us.

I have to say that I like the judge's approach.

Rather than having experts come in and spout comments, he's going right to the heart of the matter, watching the game itself being played.

Now, the only question becomes, who is going to be doing the playing?

^-.-^

From what I've read, a Take-Two Representative will be behind the controller.

So.. it gives Take-Two an edge, they can sugar coat what the judge sees.

Not sure if I care for the idea of one person deciding whether a game is too violent or not. Besides thats its MY job to decide if my son is mature enough for a certain game.

---

And we all know that Jack Thompson goes home and turns off all the lights and kicks in his copy of "Singles-Flirt up Your Life"

Ok, I know I am probably in the minority, however, I think there are a lot of mis-rated games out there. I also think that there are SOME violent games out there that DO encourage rl violence. (GTA series would be top of my list)
/em quietly steps off soap box

As for Fraggin Jack, were I in a position to do so, I would absolutely try to be the first to play almost any video game. LOL

This is interesting to me because I don't think a single gamer out there will deny that certain games are violent.... I think we will readily admit alot of them are violent... so what does this prove? It is nice to see the judge taking a first hand approach though.

In any case, I'm gonna be very poor if i keep giving my $0.02 on the matter so I'll just leave it at that.

sure there are violent games out there. but really its up to the parents of the kids getting these games to help them know right from wrong, where a game ends and real world begins and such.

i let my GF's son (9 years old) play GTA 3, he knows that people dont go around heating on people with baseball bats just walking down the stree, or running up and busting people out of cars. he knows its a game, and knows what happens in the game he does not bring to real life.

parents really have no one to blame but themselvs for the actions of their screwed up children if they try and blame games for what they did.
sorry if thats a bit off topic. to bring it back..
i really hope this doesent change how games are rated, i think the ESRB does a wonderful job as it is, they dont need any more trouble than they have.

If more judges would take that approach there "might" be more games rated M for mature. I have met a few folks who bought mature games for their 8 yr olds, simply because they whined too much. (imagine background noise of said child 3 octaves above middle c, hour after hour)

I think supervised children MAY be in the minority. Lots of folks buy the games just to get the kids to go away and leave them alone.


[ Posts merged. Easy Way #17 ]

Originally Posted by Woody:

Jack Thompson can say what he likes; but I'm convinced he just wanted to play Bully before anyone else. I know when he thinks no one else is watching, he pops in his copy of GTA pulls old ladies out of their cars, steals their money, and then giggles when he runs over them with their own vehicle.

He takes extra glee if they happen to look like Janet Reno.