Where Politics And Video Games Collide

Alright, seriously, what's so bad about standing up to an oppressor? Really? Because if that's what this game is actually about, then I'd greatly recommend it, if you show a bully you have a spine, he'll likely bother you a lot less.

Anyway, I'm about to get off on a rant here, and feel free to correct me on anything that's inaccurate, as I haven't played the game yet.

1st paragraph: I don't remember hearing ANYTHING about a 'good student training device.' And as far as the Judge's ruling goes, he'd felt he had seen enough of the game to make an informed decision about the game, and I feel he made the right one.

2nd paragraph: Well, see, those Take-Two employees are probably gamers, and the Judge may not be. Why not put someone adept at gaming instead of letting someone who doesn't game just sit around and flounder in the game? That, I feel, would accomplish absolutely nothing.

3rd paragraph: Since when did Jack associate with gamers, other than to spew vitriol at them? Regardless, I'd like to hear about exactly WHAT this gamer found, and whether he was following the plot or just sandboxing and dicking around doing that (though whether that really matters, I'm not sure.)

Paragraph 4: The ESRB is being grilled on Capitol Hill by politicians who don't care to research this stuff and go on what they hear in the media, and come off as little more than (quoting Jon Stewart) 'out-of-touch jackasses.'

PG 5: In the USA, ESRB ratings can't (CANNOT) be given the force of law. The British Board of Film Classification either is a government entity, or Britain doesn't have an analog to the 14th amendment (or whichever amendment states that a private org. can't be given force of law.) Apples to oranges, and all, Jack. I don't see how the ESRB is lying to american parents. American parents just aren't paying attention to their kids and their habits. The ESRB, in my humble opinion, is fine.

PG 6: A charade, eh? If not going to class prevents you from finishing the game, then technically, Jack, you do have to go to class. As far as the male-on-female and male-on-prefect assaults, there appear to be two conflicting accounts, at least, now. Now I may have to see for myself.

PG 7: The worst explosive device in that game is probably a cherry bomb. Yeah, they can probably burn you and injure you, but unless you swallow them or stick it in your ear or something, I doubt it'd kill you. (Note: My experience with cherry bombs is nil.) As far as sniping with 'lethal projectiles' goes, a slingshot like that depicted in the game probably isn't lethal unless you're slinging knives. Jonesboro? That wasn't a slingshot, Jack. That was with a GUN. Big difference.

PG 8: 'Bully-Back tactics?' That's what you call killing over a dozen people? I'd think a bully-back tactic would be to whack him on the nose so he'd leave you alone. Klebold and Harris didn't engage in Bully-back tactics, they were bullied, and nobody helped them. It seems like they felt that was the only way. I'd rather have a bully victim beat his bully down than shoot 20 people, but you sound like you want bullies to have diplomatic immunity.

PG 9: Watch your words, Jack. They found a correlation between violent game play and aggressive behaviour. And again with the bully-back scenarios. I'd like to see bully victims get a spine and stand up to the bully. Or pull the school staff's collective head out of the sand.

#10: Hang on, Jack, there's reportedly no death, no permanent damage to the NPC's. And the coat of arms? Some coats of arms feature weapons like swords, spears, guns, who knows what else, but you don't get bent out of shape over that.

On Hot Coffee: That wasn't playable without third-party modification of the PC version of the game. The player had to actually alter the code to unlock it. Sure it was there, but it wasn't playable in the release version, ergo, not pertinent to the rating. Even when it was found, I think the ESRB handled themselves accordingly, though I can't really say the same for Take Two.

On Oblivion: No, Jack, the players PUT nudity in the game, they didn't FIND it. Actually, they just stretched the male topless skin over the female character, they didn't really add anything, but this one goes on the players, either way, and not on Take Two.

I'm gonna skip a bit, since most of this stuff is pretty old-hat and we all know that song and dance...

#17-18: Jack's usual bluff-and-bluster, You have until such a time to change this or I'll change it for you and sue you!!!!!11!11

#19: Why not blame the people who made the game, Jack? Wait, you tried that, and you choked. What about the people selling it? Tried that too. I don't think blaming the people who RATED the game is going to work either. I don't think american ERs are going to have much to worry about. And worst case scenario and it does happen? Better the ER than the morgue.

#20-22: Okay, Jack, seriously, these games are NOTHING compared to Thalidomide. These games aren't going to cause babies to be born with three arms and no legs, or no limbs at all, or one arm and one leg. This vendetta has got to stop, and this is the most irresponsible thing he's said about games. You know what, I thought the Hitler Youth comment was bad, but comparing Bully to THALIDOMIDE!?" That is wrong wrong wrong on so many levels.