Canis Canem Edit gets bullied

PS2 News | By NSW Education Minister and Australian mainstream media.

NSW Education Minister, Carmel Tebbutt yesterday told reporters that she will ask the government to review the M rating that Canis Canem Edit (known as Bully in the States) was granted by the OFLC. "I'm concerned that its message for violence is undermining what we're doing in schools to counteract bullying," she said. The Minister had not returned our call to enquire if she had played the game at time of publication.

Unsurprisingly, Australia's mainstream press have used taken this opportunity to beat up upon Canis Canem Edit – however none seem to have got the memo regarding the name change, with all continuing to call the game Bully. The Daily Telegraph reported yesterday that the game features "twisted action" by allowing you to "hit kids with dodgeballs and punish opponents with slingshots". Sounds like its about time we banned Dodgeball the movie and The Simpsons cartoon, eh? The Telegraph also reported that Rockstar was promoting the game as an "action adventure in which you can rip your school apart". Nothing could be further from the truth. Phrases like "groundbreaking", "original gameplay" and "humorous tongue-in-cheek storytelling" appear in every press release that we've seen.

PALGN recently had an opportunity to play Canis Canem Edit and none of the sensationalist claims we've heard mentioned seem to hold any merit. The game is on par with an M rated film or television show and there are no guns, no blood and no deaths to be seen.

It is disappointing to see video games continually treated as an inferior entertainment medium by both the press and government bodies alike. We can only conclude that it comes from a lack of understanding of the depth and maturing nature of the industry. Maybe if everyone sat down to play video games for a few hours each week, the world would be a better place.

PALGN is currently running an exclusive cover story on Canis Canem Edit. You can read part one, "Who is Jimmy Hopkins?", here.

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27 Comments

onggie

6 years ago

Heres one, how about you lazy parents actually watch what you kids buy, read the ratings, etc. If you actually knew what your kids were buying then you wouldn't have these problems, hence why games like this maybe rated M, etc. I really think it is up to the parents to watch what your kids are doing, not anyone else.

James

6 years ago

Having the media and government continually villianise the gaming industry really pisses me off. It's clear that many of them know nothing about the industry and the culture that is evolving out of it. I think the NSW Education Minister needs some Education herself.

littlemo

6 years ago

There should be a body that goes to MP's that make these claims and actually plays the game infront of them and then compares it to some of the stuff that they allow on SBS, which kids also have access to.

Never understood how an M rated game which can't legally be sold to minors is cause for a media circus yet TV which has no barrier to entry can show stuff well beyond GTA...

Jellyfish

6 years ago

onggie wrote

Heres one, how about you lazy parents actually watch what you kids buy, read the ratings, etc. [...] I really think it is up to the parents to watch what your kids are doing, not anyone else.

Well I think they should start watching their kids do, when they are right in front of them! Today I was at an indoor kid's play centre for work, and it was amazing how many parents with sub-primary age kids had their backs turned to the equipment. I saw 4 kids get cleaned up by other kids (this one kid got nailed 9 times that I saw), because they were standing too close to the slide exits. My co-workers had to go and rescue them (I work at an OSHC not the centre) and take them to their parents.

renegadesx

6 years ago

I posted this on the site, but I doubt they will post it because it actually makes sence

1) The game is not called Bully anymore. And its about a kid learning to survive in a school where there are bullies everywhere. If your kid gets bullied at school, what do you expect him/her to do? Take it?

2) Its funny that people who bash violent games are the idiots that have never played games themselves. Games are a 2nd class citizen alongside Music, Movies and TV, it shouldnt be.

3) People just really over exagerate when it comes to games which has ANY sort of things that offends more than 3 people in this country. Leisure Suit Larry: Manga Cum Laude was a funny game with no more nudity or sexual content than American Pie or Eurotrip and yet it got banned.

4) Ratings are there for a reson too, if you buy your 10 year old a game rated MA15+ its your own fault.

5) Its pretty selecting too, Canis Canem Edit, GTA and Leisure Suit Larry get picked on, but nobody picks on the game rip offs, or even games that offer much worse content While were at it, lets just ban video games altogether.

6) This article itself is a classic case of bullying, so Bruce McDougall is a hypocrit

7) This moronic idea of christian ideals takes priority over freedom of choice in this country is the reason why I want to seek citzinship elsewhere

ugh the boot

6 years ago

That article pretty much sums up my thoughts on it. As i've said before the OFLC SUCK HARD!!!!!!!!!

And it's not just the mainstream australian media....I remember a few people on this board (i won't name names) along with a couple of people I know who were very ignorant when it came to this sort of subject matter regardless of how it was being depicted. So it's naysayers in general that have contributed to this negative press.

People just need to wise up and stop being so f'ing pc.

I hate how i'm paying the price for the select few morons who have caused these rules to be put there in the first place.

onggie

6 years ago

nikack wrote

On the same key of bashing hopeless parents, I can't stand parents that let there little kids run around everywhere and shouting, like seriously you inconsiderate F@$KS, there are other people here. These are the kinds of parents that would let their kids buy any games, all they do is just give them the money and let em buy what ever.

Yeah man, I bet you get a lot of accidents where you work!

Qbert

6 years ago

It was really only a matter of time I guess. I can't say too much that hasn't been said, but it just gets me really riled up that people at the OFLC are stupid enough to treat video games in the manner they do. I don't really blame the press, as they'll jump on what ever bandwaggon will sell the most, but for politicians to be so blind...just makes me mad.

Jellyfish

6 years ago

onggie wrote

Yeah man, I bet you get a lot of accidents where you work!

Most of them happen to me. I'm just the right height for everything to come at crotch level. I wish I had spider senses...

ObsoletE

6 years ago

realitybites

6 years ago

The world is full of grand standers taking the easy road to glory. NSW Education Minister being relegated to those ranks.

Sadly the true heroes who actually take responsibility for an issue and address the real concerns are few and far between.

What the NSW Education Minister should be asking herself is "Will this alleviate bullying in the school or work place today if I ban the software from the shelves?" If the answer is no than doesn't that suggest maybe the real issues for this need to be addressed? But that doesn't give you headlines and pretend browny points. Sigh!

z3d3fil3r

6 years ago

oh well if the politians continue to be dicks then i will have to continue to get my games from the uk.

MrAndyPuppy

6 years ago

ugh the boot wrote

That article pretty much sums up my thoughts on it. As i've said before the OFLC SUCK HARD!!!!!!!!!

Ugh - what did the OFLC do? They rated the game M, not even MA - how can you be having a go at them for something the idiotic NSW government is doing?

Nev

6 years ago

They also mentioned Bully (again, wrong name) on Channel 7's Today Tonight last night, in a story about how kids were using mobile phones to record video of attacks on school children, thus encouraging more violence. (Hey, if you can't blame video games, you blame mobile phones right? As long as it's SOME kind of technology the elderly don't understand).

Favourite quote: "Soon kids will be able to act out their bullying fantasies via computer."

Er... computer?

They interviewed a psychologist Evelyn Fields, who believes that the game is "encouraging more violence" and that at the least, it wasn't providing children with the means to deal with such problems.

I'm sorry. I didn't realize all video games were meant to be educational and socially responsible. Like movies are. Y'know, like how the Fast and the Furious teaches responsible driving.

She went on to say that "we" (read, meddling politicians and parents who are too lazy to take an interest in their children's lives) couldn't say "it's just a game; we don't know." The children might think "I played it this way, I can play it this way in school."

Which is exactly right! I played Grand Theft Auto yesterday, and so when I was walking down the street today, I thought, "Hey! I stole a car on that game last night and got away with it! Maybe I can play it that way in real life!"

Seriously though, I DO believe that kids shouldn't play this game. So give it an MA15 rating and be done with it. It's not like we live in the States, where retailers can sell games to anyone without fear of repurcussion.

The censorship laws are enforced enough here, and if there are breaches, either the retailer or the parents who bought the game should take responsibility. We shouldn't have what we can and can't watch or play dictated to us by middle-aged prudes simply because it's inappropriate for children.

Otherwise, what about porn? If they try to take THAT away from us, then I think it might be time to take a leaf out of Thailand's book.

COUP!!!!!

(No, that's a Coupe, they're cars...)

Nev

6 years ago

onggie wrote

On the same key of bashing hopeless parents, I can't stand parents that let there little kids run around everywhere and shouting, like seriously you inconsiderate F@$KS, there are other people here.

As a parent of a 3-year old... Try not to judge us too harshly. Toddlers are evil. And these days, if you even LOOK at your child the wrong way, the government can swoop in and steal them away from you.

onggie

6 years ago

Nev wrote

IMO, the government are screwed!!! I think parents should be allowed to smack their kids. Physical punishment I reckon is the best way, I was smacked when I was little kid if I did the wrong thing, that set me straight. Now I look at kids at school and you can tell that the parents don't discipline them. I want to be able to smack my kids when I have em, like this may sound harsh or what not but thats just what I think. Look at the old days, kids who mucked up in class got the cane, did the majority of those kids muck up again. Hardly think so.

Yeah but that's just my little say!!!

jackbauer85

6 years ago

This is the one thing i hate about Australia it's runned by a bunch of soccer mums that complain about everything. People who just have to much time on there hands.

i really think it needs to change imo

btw i really think there needs to be a R+ system in the video game industry i know it wouldn't be implied for this game i just think it would stop a lot of angry mums getting angry and a lot of banned games.

that's my 2 cents anyway sorry if it offended anyone

ugh the boot

6 years ago

hEH....i guess i'm just angry at the OFLC from the Twisted Metal Black incident still. But if I remember correctly....wasn't it the OFLC that started the controversy in the first place (before there was any proper details of the game)...and now it's all blown out of proportion?

Sorry if I got that all wrong though.

Also Lol @ Ob's post....

...and I agree with realitybites last post. If people spent a little bit more time understanding things could be different.

DrTim

6 years ago

These mentally challenged MP's and such should stop coutning their chickens and actually play some bloody games before making any bloody judgements. And how about stop putting the cart before the horse (oh yea two in one post!) and acknowledge that violence in society is not a result of video games/films/music etc...

onggie wrote

Nev wrote

Bloody oath! I don't think I would go so far as to bring the cane back, but physical discipline by parents is a must. And teachers should be at least allowed to physically "move" a child from a class room and such without being called a "paedophile" or a "rapist" and have pants sued off them.

Chris-Leigh

6 years ago

Truth is, most of us will probably be knee-jerk moaners when it comes to the dangers of new technology in 2060.

Nev

6 years ago

Chris-Leigh wrote

Truth is, most of us will probably be knee-jerk moaners when it comes to the dangers of new technology in 2060.

Yeah... When the new microchips come out that you implant in your brain and allow you to experience full virtual reality just by closing your eyes, we'll voice our concerns that it might screw with people's heads, and all the young people will be complaining in their telepathic forums about how ignorant and old-fashioned we are.

Of course the only thing that's going to keep me going past middle age is knowing that I can spend my remaining years in a state of blissful senility, bitching about everything, making everybody repeat everything they say 3 or 4 times, and generally spoiling everybody's fun.

Otherwise, what's the point in being old?

troublemaker

6 years ago

I think Rockstar should wear some blame in this uproar.

They continually seem to use controvery as a means of promoting their products. This game has drawn the attention that they wanted to get.

The game itself seems pretty tame IMO, a bit like Harry Potter without the magic ... which also involved getting back at bullies and playing pranks.

renegadesx

6 years ago

jackbauer85 wrote

This is the one thing i hate about Australia it's runned by a bunch of soccer mums that complain about everything. People who just have to much time on there hands.

There called Christians, Australia is infested with them

onggie

6 years ago

renegadesx wrote

There called Christians, Australia is infested with them

Whats that supposed to mean! Huh?

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Canis Canem Edit

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Australian Release Date:
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European Release Date:
  Out Now
Publisher:
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Developer:
  Rockstar Vancouver
Players:
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