The video game maker that sparked uproar over a hidden sex scene in "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" is courting new controversy with its latest schoolyard title "Bully"--featuring boys kissing.

That sexual twist came to light only after Take-Two Interactive Software released the "Teen"-rated game on Oct. 17, having weathered protests from antiviolence advocates who tried unsuccessfully to block its sale to minors.

"Bully" stars 15-year-old Jimmy Hopkins, who must navigate cliques, fights and young love at his new boarding school, along the way winning brawls, completing missions and plying girls with candy and flowers in exchange for kisses.

But Jimmy can also use the same approach with boys. When Jimmy approaches a tall, blond boy with some flowers, the boy replies, "I'm hot. You're hot. Let's make out."

Gay video game enthusiasts have embraced "Bully," which was was the U.S.'s third top-selling game in the week ending Oct. 27, according to figures from UBS.

"Progress!" wrote one reader of Gaygamer.net, who applauded the move by Take-Two's Rockstar Games studio. "Hot Gay Coffee," quipped another on the same site, referring to the controversial "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" sex scene that was dubbed "Hot Coffee."

Others, however, were not so enthusiastic.

"I can't have my kids playing this game. This is morally reprehensible. GTA (Grand Theft Auto) is a real man's game, Bully is a disgrace," wrote a poster using the handle spideRRR on GameSpot.com (which is owned by CNET Networks, publisher of CNET News.com).

Risky move by Take-Two?

The inclusion of the explicit sex scene in "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" also had some parents, along with regulators and lawmakers, fuming.

Take-Two was forced to pull that game from store shelves at the cost of millions of dollars to the company because it had not disclosed the existence of the scene.

The "Grand Theft Auto" series has reaped revenue in excess of $1.5 billion, around 30 percent of Take-Two's sales in the period since the first game's debut in 2001, said Michael Pachter, a video game analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities.

In "Bully," the controversial scene was not hidden, but it also was not advertised to consumers.

The video game industry rating board considered the boy-kissing-boy scenes in "Bully" before assigning it a "Teen" rating, spokesman Eliot Mizrachi said.

A spokesman for Rockstar declined comment.

Brenda Brathwaite, a professor at Savannah College of Art & Design and author of "Sex in Video Games," said gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgendered characters are "more and more the norm" on television and that Rockstar is in the vanguard of game makers to include this type of content.

Most video games target a young male audience and focus on shooting, racing or sports. Same-sex displays of affection are largely unexplored, although they are possible in Electronic Arts' popular "Sims" titles and in online games like "Second Life."

"It's symbolic that the diversity that's appearing in broader media is making its way to games in a way that's not insulting or necessarily sensationalistic," said Brathwaite.

But Pachter, the analyst, said considering the baggage Take-Two brings to the table after "San Andreas," introducing a homosexual aspect to "Bully" was an unnecessary risk for the company to take.

"It doesn't glorify anything...Do I think that many parents would have a problem with their kids seeing it? Yes."

Source

How stupid is that!!

yup i remember reading about the "Hot coffee" in GTA which i thought was too far. But this is not such a big deal. Its really pointless to put it in the game (mibi they wanted publicity?) and its pointless to create such a big fuss over nothing imo.

Well in Rockstar!! The arguments from these parents are the most moronic thing I've ever seen.. "yes I don't mind my kid playing a game where you beat the crap out of random people, but what if my kid sees two male computer characters kissing!!!!" !????!?!?!?

i hve one thing to say..SICK SICK SICK!!! wut is this wrld coming to????????

*Yawn*.. Keep your homophobia to yourself next time

Dude its not homophobia...its a freak show..if u made games like tht 10-20 yrs ago u and ur company wudnt live to see the light of the next day

This is an example of progression then

*Yawn*.. Keep your homophobia to yourself next time

Puleese.....

Just because someone is against the "kissing scene", that automatically brands a person homophobic?

I have straight and gay friends but just because we are friends does not automatically mean that I must and/or would agree with them on certain moral issues. To my straight friends to whom I disagree with, does that make me "heterophobic" ? if there is even such a word?...

This is a sign of progression going the wrong way (the Sodom and Gomorra way).

Oh and yeah, ---- it's sick....

Edited January 1, 200719 yr by jedicri

Well in Rockstar!! The arguments from these parents are the most moronic thing I've ever seen.. "yes I don't mind my kid playing a game where you beat the crap out of random people, but what if my kid sees two male computer characters kissing!!!!" !????!?!?!?

I agree, that is dumb! I'ma wack those parents upside da head

...To my straight friends to whom I disagree with, does that make me "heterophobic"

Only if you find the idea of a man and a woman kissing to be disgusting and you make your opinion known to everybody. If you disagree with homosexual relationships that's fine, it's your life. But if you can't think of another reason to dislike it besides "eww, gross!" or "Sodom and Gomorrah" please keep your opinion to yourself.

I completely agree with Shrensh and Raek here. If you just think that men kissing is 'gross' or 'eugh' then you're homophobic and that is wrong.

I too, do not agree with gay people, but not because I think they are being gross or that it's disgusting. I would never not be friends with someone because they were gay and I wouldn't stop being friends with someone because they were gay. The reason I am against it is because, in my opinion, you are going against nature but like I said, that doesn't mean someone can not be gay as afterall it's their life, and not mine.

A lot of parents these days do not give their children a chance and immeadiately think that they are really naive. I knew when I was 9 where babies came from, I knew about sex and I knew about gay relationships (I also knew Santa didn't exist when I was 9 but I faked it to please my parents...has anyone else done that?). My mother was always really protective of me and my brother when we were children and anything closely related to sex or violence was taboo, but I just sat her down one day and told her everything I knew about life...she was very surprised.

So, yeah, I think Rockstar are making progression in this game! Just like The Sims, can you imagine the uproar if EA refused to put gay relationships in The Sims? Either way, our population are never going to be happy, you've just go to compromise and allow the options to be available.

MsC

This is an example of progression then

well i'll tel u wut if rockstar gets away with it..so will other companys and if u wanna see the next line of games with guys kissing go ahead. i am totally ok if pp hve decied to b gay thru other ppl but...if its getting promoted in the media then i'l hve 2 disagree sry...and i hve to agree with wut jedicri said

Edited January 1, 200719 yr by tino croft

Only if you find the idea of a man and a woman kissing to be disgusting and you make your opinion known to everybody. If you disagree with homosexual relationships that's fine, it's your life. But if you can't think of another reason to dislike it besides "eww, gross!" or "Sodom and Gomorrah" please keep your opinion to yourself.

That was sarcasm in case you missed it: the point being man and a woman kissing is the norm and not the exception

You're missing the point I'm making. Immediately charging someone of being "homophobic" just because one finds the idea of boys kissing distasteful or even offensive is welll... idiotic or perhaps being intolerant to one's personal beliefs and opinion. Immediately charging someone with "homophobia" effectively silences an individual even if one weren't one particularly in this current political climate we live in.

My reason to dislike it is based on absolute moral grounds and not on moral relativism of which nowadays many are prone to lean towards the latter.

I completely agree with Shrensh and Raek here. If you just think that men kissing is 'gross' or 'eugh' then you're homophobic and that is wrong.

Nope. Using your own words, they "are going against nature", ie. the norm of what has been and will always be the true basis of society and its future promulagation.

I too, do not agree with gay people, but not because I think they are being gross or that it's disgusting. I would never not be friends with someone because they were gay and I wouldn't stop being friends with someone because they were gay. The reason I am against it is because, in my opinion, you are going against nature but like I said, that doesn't mean someone can not be gay as afterall it's their life, and not mine.

A lot of parents these days do not give their children a chance and immeadiately think that they are really naive. I knew when I was 9 where babies came from, I knew about sex and I knew about gay relationships (I also knew Santa didn't exist when I was 9 but I faked it to please my parents...has anyone else done that?). My mother was always really protective of me and my brother when we were children and anything closely related to sex or violence was taboo, but I just sat her down one day and told her everything I knew about life...she was very surprised.

So, yeah, I think Rockstar are making progression in this game! Just like The Sims, can you imagine the uproar if EA refused to put gay relationships in The Sims? Either way, our population are never going to be happy, you've just go to compromise and allow the options to be available.

MsC

Once someone compromises what one knows to be true and right, he/she might as well join the ones they oppose. You know the words from Hamlet: "To thine ownself be true." My opinion and my belief.

Let's just agree to disagree and let it go. This is not a political forum. If you don't like it, don't buy the game, it's that simple.

But most of all, let's all try to be tolerant of everyones ideas and opinions. Thanks.

LMAO WTF is this all about anyway i dont even understand it all, what its about exactly and what all of you are trying to say, about it and i think lots of ppl dont why dont just delete this topic

Edited January 1, 200719 yr by SlamBoy

Okay, Everybody should calm down. I am a guy yes, I am not gay or bi, but i don;t have a problem with people being gay. It's their life and we have no right whatsoever to tell them otherwise. I even have friends that are gay. I don't mind them, just as long as they don;t come on to me in any way.