AfterDawn: News

Video game 'Bully' banned in Brazil

Rockstar Games' popular title "Bully" has been banned in Brazil, the largest nation in Latin America, over fears the title is too violent for children or teenagers. Judge Flavio Rabello banned the game from being important, sold, distributed or promoted on websites and in stores in the country on Friday. Retailers now have 30 days to comply with the ban.

"The aggravating factor is that everything in the game takes place inside a school," Rio Grande do Sul state prosecutor Alcindo Bastos said. "That is not acceptable." JPF Maggazine is the main distributor for the title in Brazil, but did not comment on the ban or indicate in any way yet whether it wants to appeal or not.



The request for a ban of the game, which lets players act out the life of a 15-year-old student, came from a local youth support center. Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. spokesman Edward Nebb said the decision will "prevent Brazilian consumers from enjoying 'Bully: Scholarship Edition,' it will not have a material impact on the sales of this popular title."

The game was released initially for Sony's PlayStation 2 (PS2) console in October 2006, and was later released for Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 console and Nintendo's Wii console.

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Written by: James Delahunty @ 13 Apr 2008 3:45

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• 17 comments

• jony218

  Theres nothing like free publicity to boost sales. "Never look a gift horse in the mouth" is what I always say. Having your game Branded "too violent" is definitely not a bad thing in the cutthroat gamming industry.

  13.4.2008 04:27 #1

• 21Q

  Not to sure about this one. It may lead kids to act out what they played or maybe it won't. This game is just a moral issue.
  
  Side Note: Judge Flavio Rabello banned the game from being important, sold, distributed or promoted on websites and in stores in the country on Friday.
  
  Do you mean imported?

  13.4.2008 09:54 #2

• i1der

  Who cares??? Probably only 10%(if) of the gamers in Brazil pay for legitimate copies of games... Can't blame them cause it cost from 150.00 to 200.00 Reals (Brazilian money)... When a bootleg goes for 10.00 Reals.
  I'm Brazilian and lived there till i was 18, and never saw people buying legitimate copies. And most of the time somehow the bootlegs are even better, with different versions of the same game... Smart people do that stuff around there(bootlegs) off course them with other countries around there.

  13.4.2008 10:18 #3

• DXR88

  There still the internet to promote the game,and to buy the game.
  
  its a well known fact people get what people want no matter the law's
  
  
  this is stupid, i play violent video games all the time doesnt mean i wanna go out there and do that stuff. There's at least 5 bullies per school these days. a certain perspective would see this game as anti-bully.

  13.4.2008 10:52 #4

• ZippyDSM

  I always find it amusing when socialist countries ban anything that might question authority yet don't gogonzo over nudity.

  13.4.2008 11:13 #5

• i1der

  Quote:yet don't gogonzo over nudity.
  You crazy man? Who doesn't like see some nudity?
  People get to realize that entertainment media is not supposed to educate their Kids, Parent are the ones responsible for that... My dad Used to make me sleep early and never let me watch improper programs where nudity is involved (back in Brazil). Parent are much lazy nowadays they and want to blame anything else for they retarded kids.

  13.4.2008 11:21 #6

• ZippyDSM

  Quote:Quote:yet don't gogonzo over nudity.
  You crazy man? Who doesn't like see some nudity?
  People get to realize that entertainment media is not supposed to educate their Kids, Parent are the ones responsible for that... My dad Used to make me sleep early and never let me watch improper programs where nudity is involved (back in Brazil). Parent are much lazy nowadays they and want to blame anything else for they retarded kids.Because ZOMG nuidty teaches kids sex iz ok!
  
  Of coarse its the more insane countries that try and ban both.

  13.4.2008 11:23 #7

• i1der

  Kids don't know sex... Adults do, they dont have the same vision that me and you see about sexism... And like i said before entertainment should be for everyone... Nobody is making kids watch or play what they shouldn't, parents get to take care of what their kids learn, thats all see. Lazy parent wanting to ban everybody else to do what they kids are not supposed to is just pure LAZINESS. Where is freedom? freedom for who? Parent get to start been a parent and stop with bullshit. I'm a straight edge, but i think i have to educate my kids as a parent and not the government(or you).

  13.4.2008 11:43 #8

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by i1der: Kids don't know sex... Adults do, they dont have the same vision that me and you see about sexism... And like i said before entertainment should be for everyone... Nobody is making kids watch or play what they shouldn't, parents get to take care of what their kids learn, thats all see. Lazy parent wanting to ban everybody else to do what they kids are not supposed to is just pure LAZINESS. Where is freedom? freedom for who? Parent get to start been a parent and stop with bullshit. I'm a straight edge, but i think i have to educate my kids as a parent and not the government(or you).The argument goes kids near the teenage years do and thus will emulate whats on the TV thus we must protect them from reality...and the government should be protected from reality of unhappy and argumentative citizenry by baning media that questions authority.
  
  its all BS to control the populace and keep them in check while making the petty moralists feel better.

  13.4.2008 12:11 #9

• ZippyDSM

  double post!

  13.4.2008 12:21 #10

• SDF_GR

  After 2 years and both PS2 and x-box been almost dead, they have remembered to ban this game.Thats great.
  
  What is next? Resident Evil 1 for PS1?

  13.4.2008 13:30 #11

• milkyoreo

  Originally posted by SDF_GR: After 2 years and both PS2 and x-box been almost dead, they have remembered to ban this game.Thats great.I dont think so... the PS2 is one of the most popular gaming systems now, its cheep and has TONS of games. Anyways, who cares if some place bans Bully? Its still an incredibly game anyways

  13.4.2008 20:40 #12

• locobrown

  I haven't played this game yet, I heard about it. Now I'm going to have to rent it to see what's all the hype about it. We are a new generation and the conservatives when they see a little bit of blood or nudity in video games they trip over their own shadow, but they do take their children to see a rated R movie that has more than that or watch movies at home. If anybody has a rated X movie on the shelf, don’t expect your child not to watch it when the parents are not around. Parents need to protect their children but don’t take it out on video games but on their lack of parenting. Come on. I’m not a parent but I’ve seen and witness many arguments concerning this matter. Ban video games? Here in America it’s a freedom of speech and I’ve always defended these types of topics amongst my family; it’s up to the parents to decide what kinds of games they allow their children to play. Who buys the video games, who buys the movies? The parents do. Every parent needs to be informed and do research on games that have the T or M rating on such video games before they go out and purchase these types of games.

  14.4.2008 10:55 #13

• DXR88

  Wait a Minute they banned Razor's(the kind you shave with) in brazel too Didn't they.
  
  Hairy Woman fettish,Brazil Approved ***** rating
  
  Bully video game, Brazil Disaproved 0 star rating

  14.4.2008 21:20 #14

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by DXR88: Wait a Minute they banned Razor's(the kind you shave with) in brazel too Didn't they.
  
  Hairy Woman fettish,Brazil Approved ***** rating
  
  Bully video game, Brazil Disaproved 0 star ratingYa its baned...while driving....

  14.4.2008 21:33 #15

• DXR88

  OMG No shaving while driving...what a shame, Thats wrong.

  15.4.2008 11:51 #16

• sorpaqq

  The aggravating factor is that it is set in school? I suppose they will be banning Harry Potter for being set in Hogwarts next.
  

  9.4.2011 12:16 #17