Retailers Won't Sell New Acclaim Game 748
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..."
What ever happened to Leisure Suit Larry? (Score:5, Insightful)
Traditional game content (Score:5, Insightful)
The walmart spokesman cleared his throat and continued, "The staple of gaming content has always been VIOLENCE. Sure, we'll sell games where you can watch someone get their head cut off, THATS good clean fun."
Freudian slip? (Score:5, Insightful)
From the article: "[...]all said they would not carry the game, a potential blow for the game's exposure. "
Never mind, of course, that loud refusal to carry the game because of its content will only BOOST interest in it overall...
(On a more serious note, I actually sort of approve of Wal-Mart, Kay Bee, etc. taking this sort of action. Not that I agree that people shouldn't sell the game, but that I'd much rather see those bothered by it saying "I'm not going to sell it" rather than "Others must be prevented from selling it" [e.g. by legislation] any day.)
Double Standard. (Score:2, Insightful)
Nothing much to see here; carry on (Score:5, Insightful)
"Developers have the right to make it. Stores have the right to carry it or shun it. We have the right to buy it, ignore it or shop elsewhere."
Sure, it serves as an eye-popper and conversation piece for news outlets since there's (gasp!) nudity in a video game, 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
Re:Walmart sells R rated movies, but not X rated (Score:5, Insightful)
Not unusual... (Score:3, Insightful)
That being said, what retailers _are_ going to be selling the uncensored version of the game?
Not a big deal unless its legislated. (Score:5, Insightful)
If this game gets that popular, then either they will sell it or miss out on the profit.
I really dont have a problem with things like this unless it is the government (federal, state, or local) saying that something can't be sold in town, state, or country. If Wal-Mart et al want to not sell it, frankly, its their business.
Of course it is good that the public stays informed... Wal-mart doesnt get my money when I need paper towels any more if they choose to censor this.
But that their choice, and I imagine plenty of other people who like dirty games will continue to buy their paper towels at Wal-Mart.
Re:Walmart sells R rated movies, but not X rated (Score:5, Insightful)
This just means... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Walmart sells R rated movies, but not X rated (Score:2, Insightful)
GTA 3 comparisons? (Score:5, Insightful)
BMX XXX is a.... bmx game. Now I'm not going to say that GTA 3 is a Goodfellas or even a Sopranos but it at least had a semi-adult theme: criminal underworld. It was about as accurate as... I dunno, a CBS Sunday Night movie on the mob. And so there was little stretching the imagination to see that prostitution and drugs and violence would be involved.
But a BMX game? 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.
Eminem (Score:3, Insightful)
So the following sample of Eminem lyrics -- "Ya'll niggas wanna dead..Then wanna ride..Ya'll know the niggas that be steady screamin'.. (Fuck you!).. It's murda murda.. you know it's murda murda.. We scream it.. we yell it.. we livin' murda murda murda" -- is perfectly wholesome, family-oriented poetry, but the aforementioned dorky BMX racing game is just too crude to sell?
Re:Traditional game content (Score:5, Insightful)
Thalia
Free market. (Score:3, Insightful)
This is likely because video games present an interactive environment. While movies may desensitize us to violence and sex, video games give us the feel that we are part of the action. When presented this simply (which is how the general public is likely to perceive it) video games with similar adult or violent content are worse than movies of the same genre.
That said, this move by these retailers isn't something to poo-poo too much. Retailers are free in this society to choose what they carry. No one goes into a WalMart and demands they sell hardcore pr0n. As a corollary these businesses have their respective markets to think about. For instance, one may prefer to buy a book at B&N over some Christian book stores, even though they may carry the same book (I don't know what book but just as an example), because of the "JESUS! JESUS! JESUS!" mentality that store may push on its customers. While they aren't the same, IMHO proselytizing in a bookstore isn't all that different than big SALE signs and such over merchandise. Let's not also forget we do have a free market and where there is a demand for the game there will be someone willing to sell and produce it. I predict much of the sales of this game will be online.
Walmart, thinking of the children (Score:3, Insightful)
Pretty sanctimonious words for the largest retailer of firearms in the US [stopgunviolence.org].
Re:Not a big deal unless its legislated. (Score:2, Insightful)
Exactly, thats what I mean. And sears lost a little video game revenue by doing so. Whether it was made up by new shoppers proud of Sears' moral stance i'm not sure, but either way, its their decision.
Not worth bitching over unless you hold Sears stock.
Re:In related news... (Score:2, Insightful)
You're right! Their target audience of lonely guys will probably have enough time on their hands to sit on IRC and wait for slow transfer from the DCC server.
Re:What ever happened to Leisure Suit Larry? (Score:3, Insightful)
Anyway, I don't think Wal-Mart wasn't around back then. If they had been around I'm sure they wouldn't have carried those types of games.
So, Wal-Mart sucks, and toy stores like Toys-R-Us are generally for kids so it's no surprise that they won't carry any 'pr0n' games either. I don't think it's a big deal.
Even a GameCube release (Score:3, Insightful)
Yes, I know Nintendo's changed their policy over the years to accomodate fighting, but I'm surprised that they are going beyond the line that WalMart draws.
Re:Eminem (Score:2, Insightful)
Act of Desparation by a Floundering Company (Score:2, Insightful)
Wal Mart doesn't have to care about videogamers (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Pervsion (Score:3, Insightful)
Someone doesn't have to be "psychologically repressed" just to disagree with you about what represents normal human behaviour and what represents perversion, you know. As long as they're not trying to tell you how to live your life, it's kinda impolite to call them names.
On a side note, I've met a fair number of "zealots" who aren't Christian, too. Zealots come in all shapes and sizes: Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Pagan, etc.
The LCD of games... (Score:3, Insightful)
Granted I'm not a BMX person, but what exactly do strippers and nudity and copulating poodles have to do with BMXing??? I mean whats next?
Water Polo XXX?
NHL Strip Hockey 2003?
I mean I am in shock at how low some of these game creators will go; there is nothing special, creative or artistic here. At least other risque games such as GTA or LSL were unique and original. This is completly rediculous. A game like BMX XXX makes pr0n look like tasteful entertainment.
I am saddend that Acclaim chose to sink to this level and I honestly hope this game does not gain a huge following and become a great sucesss; although, concidering all the free publicity that Toys R' Us and friends are giving this game, I wouldn't be surprised.
Re:Walmart sells R rated movies, but not X rated (Score:4, Insightful)
This is about WalMart, et al, making a decision about what they'll sell or not sell, and also avoiding a great deal of bad publicity by carrying the games. The game section of these stores are meccas for kids; no store manager wants to explain to the local news folks why they let school kids buy the games.
Re:What a joke (Score:5, Insightful)
I can see the reasoning behind the ciolence argument (although I am not sure to what extent I agree)
watching lotsa violence -> violent behavior
But for nudity...
watching lotsa nudity -> ???
Spontanious stripping? Unlikely.
Will young men start raping girls if they see somebody naked? C'mon.
Will there be more unprotected sex? No, lack of information has to my knowledge never stopped anyone that wanted to get at it.
Could somebody with longer time in the US please explain. I really don't get it.
Tor
usa == sick perverts (Score:2, Insightful)
You've got some sniper running around taking pot shots at anyone in the wrong place, kids shooting school kids and tv news showing people with blood spurting out and dying - but don't mention sex!! Some New Yorker was taken down for fare evasion - a whole $1.50 - good to know the value of life!
I'd rather have my kids making love than shooting each other We all have a body - we don't all have guns.
Re:What a joke (Score:5, Insightful)
Last time I checked, I haven't heard about anyone writing a book about stamps appear on TV. By your logic, Stamp collecting must be far-far worse than sex or farting.
In other news... (Score:4, Insightful)
I must admit, I'm a bit confused as to when, in the eyes of "Your Smut Online" retailers lost the right of choosing how to stock their shelves while, somehow, you retain the right to buy it. You have a right to speak: you don't have a right to make me or anyone else listen.
Did they actually do anything to improve gameplay? (Score:2, Insightful)
So let me get this straight... (Score:5, Insightful)
Wal-mart won't sell a computer game because of a little bit of nudity, yet it continues to sell guns.
Is there anyone _inside_ the US that doesn't find that just a tad strange?
Re:Walmart sells R rated movies, but not X rated (Score:5, Insightful)
Do they sell Time / Field & Stream / Sports Illustrated? Yes?
Then why isn't everyone here getting their panties in a bunch over _that_ bias? Why would not the clear policy they have for which print media they retail carry across into the electronic media they stock? Why should a retailer like Walmart make an exception for a one-trick pony console game?
Hey, Mr. Magazine Man! Yeah, you! You're selling House & Garden, but I don't see no Juggs! What kind of friggin' hypocrite are you? Don't you know this is America, Land of the Free, and I gotta right to buy what I want where I want to? [spit]
[sigh]
Sometimes it seems everybody is spoilin' for a fight, but all these Walmart guys are doing is looking to make a living and not piss off their core clientele. Seems to me they're behaving sensibly.
Re:Walmart sells R rated movies, but not X rated (Score:4, Insightful)
No, I think you're missing the point -- the fact that parents have a responsibility to take care of their kids does not in any way take away a store-owner's right to decide what type of establishment he wants to run.
Nor is this `just' about morality -- the storeowner (in this case WalMart) is making a clear business decision based on the fact that many customers will choose a store without porn in it over a store with porn in it when they take their kids shopping.
Re:slashdot grammar (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Walmart sells R rated movies, but not X rated (Score:5, Insightful)
[sarcasm]
yeah, its way more moral to carjack and kill people in GTA3 than it is to ride a skateboard and look at women's boobs
[/sarcasm]
This society has a rediculous double standard when it comes to what kids see and watch
Re:In related news... (Score:1, Insightful)
On the other hand, it may very well be a "piece of crap."
Re:In related news... (Score:5, Insightful)
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.
So the message to the youth... making love is bad. Killing is good.
so mindless.
(Tan) Government-granted monopoly == censorship (Score:2, Insightful)
I really dont have a problem with things like this unless it is the government (federal, state, or local) saying that something can't be sold in town, state, or country
This doesn't apply directly to the article, but it's kinda-sorta related: Whenever a telecommunications company such as a cable company or a phone company gets a government-granted monopoly from a local government, then that company has the power to censor. Even under the strictest definition of censorship ("it's only censorship if it's done by a state"), it's still censorship because the telco's statutory monopoly prevents those who want to speak freely from setting up competing telecom services.
Re:Walmart sells R rated movies, but not X rated (Score:3, Insightful)
Let's see now... (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Walmart, thinking of the children (Score:3, Insightful)
The Constitution does not
Nor is any business
Now, at one point a specific Militia Act did require for heads of households to provide themselves with a firearm and ammunition, but that was... approximately 209 years ago, I think. And local ordinances (search for a town named "Front Sight") may strongly encourage the personal possession of firearms... but in most localities, it is no longer required.
Re:Not a big deal unless its legislated. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Guns are necessary for a free society. (Score:3, Insightful)
And I doubt that, say, a 110# female with a sedentary lifestyle could spar with a pair of 170# thugs with a habit of violent exercise... and your 70-year-old grandmother is probably too slow to even try to run. When it comes to self-defense, without weapons, the fight would generally be extremely uneven.
Makes Sense (Score:3, Insightful)
You don't need to worry so much about books which contain adult themes (these stores do not carry erotic stories, but do carry books that may contain sexual or adult content) because anyone who can read those types of books is probably old enough to handle it. Plus reading the book places those adult themes into adult context.
But when it comes to video and computer games, how often do you hear the kid asking the parent what the game is about? It's entirely the other way around; the parent asks the kid what the game is about. It's entirely plausible that a lot of parents will actually stand there and buy a game like BMX XXX for their 10 year old son and not realize what they are purchasing. I doubt the same is likely to occur for a movie that has XXX in the title let alone a magazine.
Re:What a joke (Score:5, Insightful)
I've lived in the US my entire life, and I've never understood it. People here have somehow picked up the idea that naked bodies hurt children, but violence does not.
Re:Eminem (Score:2, Insightful)
From what I've read in OXM, its supposed to be DVD quality video, that they shot themselves.
Re:Guns are necessary for a free society. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Acclaim... (Score:1, Insightful)
Acclaim is a member of the IDSA, they love the IDSA. They do not say bad things about the IDSA.
I hate this kind of marketing drek (Score:4, Insightful)
Now some guys in suits play the "we da bad boyz" card with a well-orchestrated PR blitz, stupid Walmart plays right into their hands, and all the usual comments are made.
Scott Adams, call your office!
Re:What ever happened to Leisure Suit Larry? (Score:2, Insightful)
Anyone who has access to the internet and still buys Playboy really MUST be reading the articles, why else would you by it?
Unless you are wallpapering or something of course...
Simple (Score:5, Insightful)
That's us.
We still think violence is an excellent way to solve problems, and are largely inured to it - hence the reason why we're one of the last countries in the world to allow captial punishment for mentally retarded individuals.
Besides, violence raises few anxieties in people that affect them directly. Sex, on the other hand, raises all sorts of issues that Americans never deal with - like our own lack of comfort with our bodies. I still think one of the biggest reasons why there is basically no full-frontal male nudity in movies as opposed to female full-frontal nudity, which is quite common, is related to size issues. I wouldn't be surprised if there are guys out there who have refused to se The Pillow Book because they know they'd have to see Ewan McGregor's big dick.
Of course, I can't really say this is all that much different from other cultures, since I have never lived anywhere but the USA. Let's hope I'm providing some insight, though - I'd be depressed if this is the way it is around the world.
Re:What ever happened to Leisure Suit Larry? (Score:2, Insightful)
Oh yeah, there's some hot chicks in there, but you can see hot chicks stuffing themselves with dongs or being stuffed with dongs in other magazines, playboy just has chicks pretending like they're turned on. I'd rather see them getting their poop chute turned inside out, which is why I love the internet.
Seriously, Playboy has righteous articles. That's why there's a braille edition. The interviews, in particular, are some of the best, or at least have been.
Desperate attempt by Acclaim... (Score:5, Insightful)
Since then we've had countless other fighting games, some of which were purely copycat games, others which introduced new technology such as 3D arenas, which Acclaim hasn't really been keeping up with. Now that gore fest fighting games are no longer so offensive, perhaps even tame compared to gore fest shooters like Quake 3 and Unreal Tournament, they decide to make money off the next most provocative cultural taboo--Sex.
What's next? A game about wife beaters? Kids who set fire to animals? No, I'm not some paranoid Rosie 'O Donnel wannabe, and I'm glad id won their lawsuit against those neglegent deadbeat Columbine parents, but there is a point when it just becomes painfully obvious that some in the entertainment business are out to take advantage of stupid kids with too much money by offering them the forbidden fruit in a medium their parents are likely very ill-informed about.
Re:Walmart sells R rated movies, but not X rated (Score:3, Insightful)
I know many parents (my wife and I included) who work very hard at raising their children responsibly. Many of them forego income so that a parent can remain home with the children and many of those home-school because of deficiencies in our local public schools.
Trouble is, no matter how responsible you try to be, each of us is only human. Each of us gets tired, has off-days, etc. Even at our best, we have only two eyes, two ears, etc.
In the (not so) old days, people watched out for their neighbors' children, not just their own. That doesn't happen so much any more, at a time when parenting is harder than ever.
I greatly appreciate that Wal-Mart makes the job just a little bit easier.
Re:So let me get this straight... (Score:3, Insightful)
That is why we in the United States of America see little wrong with selling guns. As for why we aren't as keen on nudity, well, that I can't say.
Either way, this is a moot point. Wal-Wart is as free as any other company in America to sell or not sell as it pleases. There is nothing inherantly wrong with taking a moral stand even when I don't agree with it.
Ummm.... yeah. (Score:4, Insightful)
And frankly, there are larger marketing issues here which I'm sure you can't appreciate. Wal-Mart has spent a lot of money to cultivate a family-friendly image. A BMX game that overtly promotes sexuality would cost more to repair the PR damage than the revenue it would generate.
Re:I DONT GET IT! (Score:0, Insightful)
Re:In related news... (Score:3, Insightful)
So in short, they're perfectly free to stand behind their morality issue in order to keep the majority of their customer base happy. Losing a few hundred thousand dollars on the sales of one video game is nothing compared to losing a few thousand customers in disgust.
Working in a retail environment, I can tell you that unhappy customers do tell many, many people about how pissed off they are. When it's a huge conglomerate like WalMart they tend to get more incensed and get the media involved. I'm sure they don't want that kind of bad press - bad press that could wind up costing them millions.
Just some info taken from "Bowling for Columbine" (Score:3, Insightful)
On August 27, 1999 Bryan Midgette was arrested for abusing his wife, Marsha. Despite a restraining order, Bryan tracked Marsha down three days later at the Wal-Mart in Pottstown, Pennsylvania where she worked. He purchased bullets for his
For ten years, James Easton Kelly had studied towards a graduate degree in English at the University of Arkansas. Then, his professor, John R. Locke, informed him that due to his lack of progress towards his doctorate, the school was dismissing him. At 11:27 AM on Monday, August 28th, 2000 Kelly went to a Wal-Mart 10 miles from the Fayetteville campus and purchased 50 rounds of
On May 22, 2001 Laura Gassaway entered a Wal-Mart in Rockford, Illinois, went to the sporting goods section and tried to purchase bullets for her handgun. After the clerk refused to sell to her because she did not have a state firearm owners identification card, Gassaway began shoplifting other items before store security stopped her. The security officers called the police and then took Gassaway to the back of the store. There, she pulled a handgun from her purse and shot three security guards before police burst in and killed her.
During an argument with his estranged wife on July 31, 2001, John VanGraafeiland threatened to go to Wal-Mart, buy bullets and kill himself. Police contacted the two local Wal-Mart's in Wilmington, North Carolina, warning them not to sell bullets to the man, but no one told the clerk selling the ammunition. After purchasing the bullets, VanGraafeiland went to his car and killed himself. Wal-Mart eventually settled a lawsuit brought by his family, paying them $130,000 for their negligence.
Irony (Score:3, Insightful)
From AP: Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer, is refusing to carry Sheryl Crow's upcoming album, because one song says the chain sells guns to kids.
In both cases Wal Mart seems to be simply protecting its most profitable sales: GUNS. We all know video games and good music detract from gun sales. And certainly, kids would want to buy a video game with naked chicks over a new rifle.
And can we blame Wal Mart? After Congressman Pat Kennedy "motivated" Wal Mart to move Guns away from the toy department in 2001 (effectively destroying the under 18 sales market) and with cigarette sales at an all-time low, Wal Mart must protect its last REAL AMERICAN profitable sales area: GUNS.
Re:In related news... (Score:2, Insightful)
you are right about one thing, though, in that their goal seems to be to *try* to attract the "happy housewives" and families. however, this goes hand in hand with making more money, because a large percentage of gamers consists of kids between age 13 all the way up for people in their 40's. fathers and kids play the games.
sure, they're free to stand behind morality in an attempt to keep customers happy..but i don't see it happening anywhere except for their commercials. if they really stood behind it, they wouldn't carry games like GTA3. this goes back to my original point, though: as long as standing against the game is more profitable than actually selling it, they'll stick by it.
i worked in retail for about 2 1/2 years as an assistant manager at blockbuster.. i dealt with more "unhappy" customers in that period of time than i ever care to again. however, i can also tell you that no matter how pissed a customer got, regardless of the reason..they still came back, time and time again..but why? many of them were so angry, there were instances of the following:
1.) a customer kicked, and broke, our out-door, all because of a late fee.
2.) a customer threw a movie at one of my clerks, because of a late fee.
3.) a customer screaming at me that i'm a fucking idiot, because our VCR units were all rented out. in turn, i screamed something back at him, and told him to get the fuck out until he could act like a rational person.
each and every single one of them came back again, despite their previous displeasure.
through all of this, NO ONE complained about our rather large selection of soft porn and violent video games. even soccer moms.
while it's very true that bad press can hurt a company, it's all short term. the average customer does just that: they consume. their thirst for product or a good deal is greater than their personal code of ethics and morality, and in the end, their wallet determines where they shop..not their conscience.
Atheists can be moral (Score:3, Insightful)
However, when you make that statement, you do two things:
1) You are stating a moral absolute. (That no absolute exists.)
2) You are saying that your opinion has more or less merit than someone else's. This too, requires a moral judgment dependent on some sort of moral standard.
The DC sniper, and Al Queda terrorists are probably acting within the guidelines of their conscience - as do I, and as you suggest above - as do you.
The fact that we claim to have a standard does not address the validity of that standard. I'm pretty sure that the DC sniper and Al Queda are in violation of what your conscience and mine would agree is reprehensible. The question to answer is why would you and I agree?
WRT the existence of God:
When one asserts that there is no God, by the nature of that statement (assertion of a logical negative) one must in one instant have all knowledge of all that exists.
Otherwise would it not be possible for the thing that is asserted not to exist - simply exist in a portion of the universe about which the person making the assertion is not knowledgeable?
In short - to authoritatively assert that no god exists requires that one posess attributes that only god could have. I belive that this refutes the premise.
This leaves us with the concept that God may or may not exist, and we need to determine whether we belive that He does or does not. This depends on evidence and our interpretation of it.
WRT the provability of the existence of God - I'm curious...what evidence would be sufficient to convince you?
Respectfully,
Anomaly
Re:In related news... (Score:3, Insightful)
WalMart, however, has to contend with the likes of Zellers, Sears, Canadian Tire, Home Depot (for their hardware sections), and several other retail outlets. They're not in a safe enough position to tell their customers to go somewhere else if they don't like it, and gratuitous sex/nudity seems to be a really hot button for a lot of otherwise (seemingly) amoral customers.
And like it or not, gamers are still a small segment of a very, very large society. Typical lower- and middle-class people looking for a bargain on towels and garden rakes make for a much larger segment, and until gamers account for more than 25% of their overall profits (or some other outrageous figure), I doubt they'll put "hookers and pimps" above the wishes of their target market.