Just in case you haven't seen this, several news sites are reporting that the DSG retail group - owner of PC World, Currys and Dixons Online - will not be stocking Rockstar's forthcoming Bully game, re-titled Canis Canem Edit for Europe. The game takes place in and around the Bullworth Academy reform school where the lead character must protect himself against bullies.
Although Rockstar are pushing the game as a 'brutally funny' satire rather than a violent revenge fantasy the title has attracted considerable controversy. In the US anti-videogame campaigner Jack Thompson has referred to it as 'Columbine Simulator'. Thompson filed a motion to delay the title's US release and subsequently a Florida judge demanded to be shown in-game footage so that it could be assessed for general release (more here).
Unsurprisingly, the release went ahead - sense and the American constitution winning out in the end. Indeed news sources are quickly discovering that the action is based more around the difficulties of everyday school life than psychotic gun violence.
Back to the UK: "We're fully aware people will be able to buy this game elsewhere, but we feel this game is not appropriate for Currys' family-friendly image," explains a statement from Currys. As gamesindustry.biz and other news sources point out, however, DSG stores are taking pre-orders on Grand Theft Auto Liberty City Stories and GTA 4. And while Liberty City Stories is an 18 certificate game, Canis Canem Edit has been passed by BBFC as a 15. Interestingly, the board made no cuts to the original submitted code.
Here's The Sun's take on the story...
