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Friday, November 18th, 2005
Time
Event
10:33a
Bully is creating a storm of controversy across the pond, as well as here in the U.S.
In recent weeks, GP has detailed the objections of British Labour MP Keith Vaz to Rockstar's controversial title. Now, as reported in Hastings Today, a second member of Parliament has joined vaz in calling for a ban on Bully.
Michael Foster, a Labour Party member who represents Hastings and Rye, believes Rockstar's game could glamorize bullying and lead to negative incidents in local schools.
"I know from my constituents how harmful bullying is and what pain it causes young people, Foster said. "This game allows the person playing it to take on the persona of a bully, able for instance to kick and punch other pupils and spit in their food. I think that can only encourage young people to find pleasure and excitement in abusing others... I understand the company has suggested the game might have an 18 rating but we all know this does not stop children accessing them."
Foster's sentiment was echoed by Liz Carnell, director of Bullying Online, who said, "Our view is that bullying is not a joke. It is not a suitable subject for computer games."
For its part, an unnamed Rockstar spokesperson told the paper, "We support and admire the groups who are working hard to address the long-standing problem of bullying. We all have different opinions about art and entertainment, but everyone agrees that real-life school violence is a serious issue which lacks easy answers... More and more people are beginning to recognize the stories in video games have as many themes and plotlines as books and movies."11:55a
Games can saves lives and teach military personnel to be more effective.
As described in the current issue of National Defense, that's a lesson that is becoming increasingly clear to U.S. armed forces.
The insurgency in Iraq, for example, led to the development of "Stability Operations: Winning the Peace." The simulation's design is loosely based on commercial strategy games like Tropico and Sim City.
"It helps the player understand the many trade-offs required in contemporary stability operations," claims a press release issued by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. DARPA contracted with Games2train to develop the product.
While simulation gaming is a low-cost means of training when compared to traditional, large-scale exercises, the military is still getting used to the idea.
Julia Loughran, president of defense consulting firm ThoughtLink, told National Defense that the Iraqi insurgency demonstrates "we need agility and adaptive training. Large-scale exercises are not suitable for fighting this enemy... We are trying to steer the Defense Department toward smaller simulations - It's a cultural change."
While the Army is ahead of the other branches in making use of game tech, none have yet explored inter-service simulations. Nor have military commanders developed games for use with officials from civilian government and humanitarian agencies
"The problem," said Loughran, "is that there isn't a joint command that is directing all training."
There's quite a bit more in the National Defense article, which is definitely worth a read.3:54p
A shocking development took place today in what, for the video game industry, is the trial of the young century.
In Strickland vs. Sony, the families of two police officers and a police dispatcher killed by Grand Theft Auto player Devin Moore are suing Sony, Take-Two, Rockstar, Wal-Mart, GameStop for damages, based on the premise that GTA turned Moore into a triple murderer. The plaintiffs were led by controversial anti-game crusader Jack Thompson.
GP readers may recall that on November 3rd a hearing was held on pre-trial motions in the case before Circuit Court Judge James Moore in Fayette County, Alabama, where the murders occurred.
During that hearing, attorneys for the video game industry argued that Thompson's Pro Hac Vice (visiting) admission to the Alabama Bar should be revoked for a variety of alleged misconduct on Thompson's part. Although the defense claims about Thompson seemed to resonate with the Judge, he did not rule at that time.
Three days later, Thompson, by then back in Florida, surprised the gaming world by announcing that he was withdrawing from the case.
"The other side wants to make me the issue," he told GamePolitics at the time. The important thing is that the clients be served."
It appeared at that point that Thompson's longtime colleague Ray Reiser would take over for him in Strickland. Today, however, in a blistering 18-page decision, Judge Moore excoriated Thompson's professional conduct, and rejected his attempt to withdraw from the case. Instead, the Judge revoked Thompson's Pro Hac Vice admission, essentially removing him from the case. Judge Moore also noted that he was referring the matter to the Disciplinary Commission of the Alabama Bar for "appropriate action."
Judge Moore employed quite stern language in his ruling. His remarks include, "Mr. Thompson's actions before this Court suggest that he is unable to conduct himself in a manner befitting practice in this state."
For his part, Thompson has responded with an angry letter to Alabama's Judicial Inquiry Commission, questioning Judge Moore's ethics. Thompson's letter begins:
"I have had the disturbing experience of appearing before the above jurist in a high-profile wrongful death action, Strickland v. Sony... In my opinion, Judge Moore has violated...the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics by his unfortunate, improper, and prejudicial acts in this case, at the expense of three bereaved Alabama families."
UPDATE, Nov. 19th / 8:05 AM: The Tuscaloosa News has coverage in this morning's edition.
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