Just last week I blogged about the controversy surrounding Take-Two Interactive Software’s new video game “Bully.” An anti-video game attorney, Jack Thompson, filed a lawsuit against the game before it was released. “Thompson’s lawsuit likens ‘Bully’ to a ‘murder simulator,’ alleging it will teach minors about methods of bullying and school violence. He asks the court to declare the game a ‘public nuisance.'”

Well, it looks like the game “Bully” has hit the news headlines again, but not because of violent content. According to the recent news article, “‘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.'”   

To tell you the truth, I almost choked on my coffee this morning while reading this. There are people who are going to hate this game and people who are going to love it – and that’s just because of the publicity, not because they have or ever intend to play it. I still stand firm in my belief that there should be all kinds of games out there that appeal to all different kinds of people. However, violent and sexual material should be labeled as such, like the Mature ratings for games that currently exist. If you don’t like the content, don’t play it.