Retailers Won't Sell New Acclaim Game

DrEnter writes "According to this Yahoo article, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, and Kay-Bee Toys are refusing to carry Acclaim's new video game 'BMX XXX'. Best Buy has stated it will sell a censored version of the game. Acclaim is billing it as the first major release game to feature full-action nudity, with prostitutes and pimps and main characters. A Wal-Mart spokesman stated "We're not going to carry any software with any vulgarity or nudity -- we're just not going to do it." I'm pretty sure Wal-Mart sells rated-R movies (including those arguably targeted at the same age group as this game is), so make your own judgement..."

In related news...

[Dimensio]

Acclaim has announced that the refusal of some retailers to carry the game would have no impact on sales, as no one has planned to buy the worthless piece of crap anyway.

slashdot grammar

[bo-eric]

[...]with prostitutes and pimps

and main characters

Prostitutes and pimps - sure, but main characters? Won't somebody please think of the children?

sigh

[tx_mgm]

good, my little 6 year old billy is way too young to see such vulgarity! the makers of this game should be thrown in jail for exposing our children to this filth!
now, if you'll excuse me. i need to take billy to the movies, he wants to see the transporter.

Thank You from Acclaim!

[Perdo]

Dear Walmart,

Thank you for insuring that our new game "BMX XXX" becomes the most sought after title to ever hit the market. You see, in our business there is no such thing as bad publicity, which you have provided us in spades. We are now the "Sopranos" of the gaming world. There is nothing like controversy to insure we have an audience.

Again, Thank You.

P.S. We're sorry you are going to miss the sales revenue generated by this sleeper cult classic... On second thought, we could care less about your puritanical revenue model destroyed by a week's loss in imports.

comment

[sstory]

I can't see that this is a big deal. I'm a member of the ACLU, and don't see anything wrong with Acclaim making the game, or people buying it, but is it a big deal that a store doesn't want to sell a bmx game with naked chicks in it? No. I can't even remember the last time I was in a Wal-Mart.

On another note, this game might be just what it takes to get me into gaming. Final Fantasy didn't do it, but if Aki had been naked....

cmon, where's the luv, baby...

[_PimpDaddy7_]

Cmon, they made me look REAL great in the pimp outfit, you guys gotta check out this game!

Little Johnny on the Redline, performs endos and bunny hops for my ladies....

Doesn't affect me..

[Anonvmous Coward]

... until Kazaa users turn ethical.

Re:What a joke

[Hektor_Troy]

Actually it's worse that you think.

Think about it for a moment; there are only two words you need to mention, to show the bias in the media: "fucking" and "farting".

You can have a fuck-specialist on the news, who's just written a book about how to fuck, who to fuck, how to feel after you fucked and who you should fuck next. You just don't call it fucking. Hell, look at day-time TV. You know that in that soap-opera you enjoy, all it really revolves around, is did he fuck her, has he fucked her, who else did he fuck, did she fuck someone else and what the fuck is going on.

But - when was the last time you saw ANYONE even talk about farting? You've never had anyone on the Late Show who's just written a book about how to fart, who to fart at, how to feel after you farted and who you should fart at next.

Farting is WORSE than fucking! Think about that for a while.

(With apologies to George Carlin).

X rated!?!

[penguin_punk]

now THAT's more like it. I haven't seen this good of a game since Leisure Suit Larry!

screenshot [bmxxxx.com]

oh baby! - Jenni-cam move aside.

Acclaim Responds To Criticism

[Anonymous Coward]

When Acclaim was asked to comment on the current situation, the CEO had this to say:

"I am outraged that consumers are even THINKING that we are targeting children. Every CD bought comes with a EULA that requires them to return the merchandise if they are not at least 21 years old."

When asked why Acclaim gives 5 packs of Pokemon Trading Cards with each purchase, he had no comment.

Thank Goodness...

[mythosaz]

Thank goodness Wal-Mart still sells shotguns and rifles in the sporting goods section. (Milage in your state my vary..)

Re:What a joke

[cheese_wallet]

"Farting is WORSE than fucking!"

I'm going to have to agree with you there. I'd much rather fuck than fart.

Re:What ever happened to Leisure Suit Larry?

[mmol_6453]

Of course, I only played it because the game play was good.

Right...and I only read Playboy for the articles.

Wait...I'm 19, and I've never seen a Playboy. What's wrong with me?!

(scrambles out the door)

They don't have to worry,

[Sarin]

I'm pretty sure alt.binaries.cd.image is going to carry Acclaim's new video game, so distribution is all fine.

CENSORED?

[Moirke]

Who would purchase the software censored? If you have some moral opposition to the software then you wouldn't purchase it at all cause you would not want to support the game. Purchasing a censored version of the software is like hiring a hooker and then telling her "never mind, lets just talk dirty."

Re:Not a big deal unless its legislated.

[ultramk]

of course, the real question is, what are you doing with all those paper towels?

hmmm?

nevermind. i don't want to know.

m-

Re:What a joke

[BeBoxer]

Well, I haven't seen the author on Letterman yet, but at least Amazon isn't afraid to carry it. The Gas We Pass: The Story of Farts [amazon.com] And a childrens book at that! Somebody please think of the children!!! :-)

Re:Traditional game content

[dillon_rinker]

and the puritans did approve of killing people (remember, they burned witches for entertainment value)... just not of sex.

PUH-LEASE!

How do you think they made little baby Puritans?

For the LOVE of GOD!

[Anonymous Coward]

Where the hell are the SCREENSHOTS?! What the hell is wrong with you people?! Show some fucking screenshots!

Re:Traditional game content

[voidware]

So, that's why there are no more Puritans!

Sex in the Gameplay

[Vegan Pagan]

VGs with violence always integrate it into the gameplay but VGs with nudity or sexual content make it some side bonus that isn't really part of the game.

What if there was a video game that did integrate sex into the gameplay? In Japan they've had point-and-click dating games, but what if nudity/love/sex were part of other genres?

For example, the Japanese have a comic book about a sex sport where a man and woman try to make the other person come first. What if there was a video game about that, styled after 1 on 1 fighting games? There'd be the usual selection of characters and backdrops, but instead of a damage bar there'd be a horniness bar. There'd be plenty of flashy special moves, but instead of doing damage they'd be foreplay moves that raise the other person's horniness bar. Horniness would also be represented visually by clothes falling off, blushing, trembling and heavy breathing. Instead of Mortal Kombat's "Fatalities" or Street Fighter's "Super Finishers" there'd be orgasm moves. I'd want an anime-style game company doing this because the Japanese put sex in their entertainment way better than Americans do.

I also wonder if abstract or "cartoonized" sex is better than realistic sex. Think of the arguments about realistic violence vs cartoon violence. Some say that kids will be less harmed by seeing fake, cartoon violence because perhaps if kids don't see the real thing, they won't do the real thing. Others say that kids will be less harmed by seeing realistic violence because they'll see the real consequences and fear them. I don't know the answer to that argument, but I do ask: Is fake looking sex or realistic looking sex better for kids? If that 1-on-1 sex game kept the moves but hid the crotches, would it be OK for kids of all ages?

Uh oh, the secret is out!

[jasonditz]

Its only a matter of time until Namco announces Cocksucker Pacman

Re:How about both

[Hektor_Troy]

Well, during unprotected anal sex, if she farts, when he comes, that might just produce a mess you don't even want to think about ...

It goes like this:

[ActiveSX]

|
R |
e |
s |
p |
e |
c | Acclaim's somewhere around here
t | X
+--------------------
Free Advertisement

Making Love??

[tuelpo]

I'm not exactly sure that oogling a naked girl on a bike equates to making love. Nor do I ever recall any pimps being equated to eros for helping desperate men find their star-crossed lovers.

While I'm all for gratuitous nudity, I don't see why this is such an issue, As big as Wal-Mart is it has the same right as any mom-and-pop location;
to refuse to sell whatever it wants, whenever it wants to.

Wal•Mart's big mistake

[goon america]

I don't know about you folks, but I know what I want is a place to buy shotguns, Nirvana albums, nudity-containing video games and R-rated movies. I only want to buy these things at a single location.

What if a store wanted to sell me a shotgun, a Nirvana album and an R-rated movie, but no nudity-containing video game? Well I'd settle for a few porn magazines. Point is, I need a one-stop-shop, and WalMart ain't got it.

Please, Walmart, for the decent people out there, give us a place to buy recordings of violent acts, endorsements of violence, instruments of violence and porno. Think of the children.

Re:Sex in the Gameplay

[Mandomania]

There is (was?) such a game whose name completely escapes me. It was an old Mac OS 8 game, and it consisted of a nude woman laying provacatively on the screen. All along the left side of the window were various sexual devices that one could use to 'pleasure' the woman.

Funnily enough, my friend and I were in the library at university when he busted out his Powerbook to show me this game. A mutual friend happened by as we were chuckling like college freshmen and joined in on the fun. The largest library at the University of Texas was then treated to our friend scream "Use the cucumber! USE THE CUCUMBER!".

--
Mando

Re:In related news...

[gnovos]

So the message to the youth... making love is bad. Killing is good.

Darwinism in action.

Re:In related news...

[rotre]

What red blooded male doesent like sports + nudity + pimps + hookers + weapons..

don't forget main characters. they really complement the full-action nudity.

Re:Traditional game content

[SmittyTheBold]

How do you think they made little baby Puritans?

Spores, IIRC.

Naked women in magazines

[intermodal]

...but it's not like 99.6% of all 15-year old guys haven't already seen a naked woman on video, in a magazine, or (hopefully ;-D) in person.

and the other .4% have seen it in national geographic and emphatically deny that it counts

Re:Traditional game content

[KnightStalker]

My guess would be, clothed except for the important bits, and with averted eyes and lots of guilt and penance afterwards...

Re:In related news...

[Gyorg_Lavode]

Seriously, the trailer makes it worth a rent at minimum... What red blooded male doesent like sports + nudity + pimps + hookers + weapons.. Especially in digital form!

If I want Nudity + pimps + hookers + weapons/sports, I'll download porn.

For those of you whining...

[Anonymous Coward]

...about how "In America, kids watching sex on TV == bad but kids watching violence is OK" really need to learn something about American kids.

We'd rather have them kill each other than reproduce. It's all part of a master plan.

"Kill your family, kill the band, then kill yourself. Please make sure you get your WHOLE HEAD in front of the shotgun."

poor little johnny

[The Kow]

he got sucked in by that vulgar computer game, and next thing we know he's running around his school like a madman.. flashing everyone!

On other related news...

[0x0d0a]

Acclaim has amended their previous announcement, stating that because of all the free publicity they got from the furor over their game, they were able to market it enough for it to sell well. Plans for a sequel are to be announced shortly.

Re:What ever happened to Leisure Suit Larry?

[Timmeh]

OH HELL NO. I can't believe they'd use a video game to force that anti-Oswald bullshit on us! EVERYONE knows it was the mafia in concert with cuban dictator Fidel Castro, Local 502 - Circus Clown Union, and the Jews, always the Jews....

twajs....

Re:Traditional game content

[akruppa]

>PUH-LEASE!

>How do you think they made little baby Puritans?

This I'd like to know as well. It might be the answer to all of our geek problems.

Alex

Re:GTA 3 comparisons?

[isorox]

It's like trying to get people to switch to Linux by lacing nekkid girlie pictures into the kernel. A shallow attempt to spice something up.

Link?

Re:In related news...

[tswinzig]

but it is ironic that they will usually carry games where you can KILL others but the minute you show some one naked it's vulger.

Not only that, but Wal-Mart is the only national chain I know of that continues to sell all sorts of guns and ammunition (mostly shotguns and rifles).

BTW, it is NOT funny to go into Wal-Mart and tell them you need more .223 ammo, "because you ran out."

Trust me!

Check out this screenshot

[RedWolves2]

Screenshot [gamescreenshots.com]

Death == good, Boobies == bad

[supabeast!]

So Wal-Mart will glady sell me a pump shotgun, ammo, and a bandoleer strap, everything needed for a killing spree, but they won't sell me a video game with titties in it?

Christian America has some very, very fucked up priorities.