• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Popular noughties video game was banned from UK shops after backlash from parents

Home> Entertainment> Gaming

Updated 20:41 24 Nov 2023 GMTPublished 20:40 24 Nov 2023 GMT

Popular noughties video game was banned from UK shops after backlash from parents

The game sold more than a million copies

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A once-popular video game was banned from shops in the mid-2000s due to its violent content.

The game had more than its fair share of violence, and, as such, was released with a 15 certificate in the UK.

The Millennials amongst us may remember Rockstar Games’ 2006 game, a single-player, open world game which centred on protagonist, Jimmy Hopkins. Hopkins was packed off to Bullworth Academy boarding school, where he attempted to rise through the ranks of the school system to put an end to bullying once and for all.

Advert

I am, of course, talking about Bully.

Bully, which was also released under the name Canis Canem Edit - Latin for dog eat dog, was a commercial success selling more than 1.5 million copies.

However, in a slightly unusual move, British retailer Currys PC World decided against flogging the game in its stores, saying that it was not in keeping with its ‘family friendly’ image.

Advert

Hamish Thompson, a spokesperson from DSG International, the parent company of Curry PC World, told BBC at the time that it was a ‘very unusual move’.

He told the outlet: "We took a view that because it touches on a sensitive issue - violence in school - that it is not a product we would stock.

"We are committed to a good working relationship with Rockstar Games and will continue to stock all of its other titles.”

Rockstar Games’ Bully caused quite a controversy when it was launched.
Rockstar Games

The company had previously removed Hitman and Manhunt.

Advert

Thompson added: "We decided to take them off our shelves. There was a lot of tabloid focus on them. With Hitman, there were religious sensitivities.”

Former Labour MP Keith Vaz called on the government to raise the age certification on Bully to 18 - or ban the game altogether.

Liz Carnell, director of the charity Bullying Online supported a ban, telling the BBC in 2005: "Our view is that bullying is not a joke. It is not a suitable subject for computer games."

Bully faced calls to be banned altogether.
Rockstar Games

In response Rockstar Games said: "We support and admire the groups who are working hard to address the long-standing problem of bullying.

Advert

"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.

"Bully is still a work-in-progress, but when it's finished we believe most people will agree it offers an exciting experience and tells an engaging story.

"More and more people are beginning to recognise that the stories in video games have as many themes and plotlines as books and movies.

"Just as books aren't judged by their covers, video games shouldn't be judged by their titles or individual scenes."

Featured Image Credit: Rockstar Games

Topics: Gaming, UK News, GTA

Claire Reid
Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
10 hours ago
11 hours ago
12 hours ago
  • Kevork S. Djansezian/GC Images
    8 hours ago

    Jack Nicholson found out his sister was actually his mother aged 37 after they had both died

    The Hollywood legend was shocked to discover the dark family secret

    Entertainment
  • Todd Antony/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
    10 hours ago

    TfL responds to Ricky Gervais sharing controversial 'banned' 'stab vest' ad on London Underground

    The comedian claimed his ideas were rejected

    Entertainment
  • BBC
    11 hours ago

    Celebrity Traitors star speaks out about Alan Carr and Paloma Faith 'feud' after he called himself 'most hated man in the UK'

    Carr has also spoken out about the supposed feud between the pair

    Entertainment
  • Disney
    12 hours ago

    Keira Knightley makes Pirates of the Caribbean admission after going through ‘years of therapy’ following it

    It seems her 'pirating days' are truly over

    Entertainment
  • Comedian ‘banned from venues’ after making ‘vile’ joke about Liverpool FC parade crash
  • Educating Yorkshire teacher won't appear in reboot after being banned from teaching
  • GTA 6 insider issues crushing blow for those expecting 2025 game release
  • Man is banned from every pub in England due to what he did on last visit