Rockstar's 'Bully' Spurs Controversy

Take-Two Interactive Software's Rockstar Games subsidiary may be in hot water yet again. One of its latest titles, which features a 15-year-old boy bullying his way through his new boarding school, breaches a subject still sensitive to many: homosexuality.

Rockstar was most notably in the news last year for the so-called "Hot Coffee" mod within "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas." While at first the company denied any wrongdoing, it later caved to pressure and admitted its role, while also issuing an updated version that removed the questionable scenes.

'Bully' has received similar scrutiny. In fact, several anti-violence group attempted to block the game ahead of its October 17 release, saying it promoted violent themes to minors. At the time, however, the apparent swinging tendencies of the game's protagonist were not yet publicly known.

Jimmy Hopkins, the 15-year-old star of the game, must make friends and win fights while completing missions at Bullworth Academy. He must also win the hearts of girls, by giving them flowers and candy in exchange for a kiss.

But Hopkins' skills can win over the boys, too. Approach a tall blond haired boy with flowers, and it elicits a positive response: "I'm hot, you're hot. Let's make out."

This latest discovery has provoked a response from noted anti-gaming advocate Jack Thompson, who also headed efforts to block the game from coming out in the first place. He claims the latest discovery breaks laws that protect minors from harmful sexual content.

However, gay gamers see it in a completely different light. "Across the nets' I've seen hundreds and hundreds of (mostly) positive comments," a reader commented on the gaming Web log GayGamer.net. "Rockstar has done it again, and quite well, might I add."

But that feeling is not unanimously shared. One user of GameSpot called the move "morally reprehensible." Analysts also agree that putting the content into the game may have been an unnecessary risk.

Rockstar had no comment, although it should be noted that the kissing scenes, both boy and girl, were part of the ESRB's decision to give the game a "teen" rating.