In Bulletstorm, written by The Last Days of American Crime and Uncanny X-Force scribe Rick Remender, players take control of surly space pirate as he battles his way across a pleasure planet-turned-mutant breeding ground. The main hook of the gameplay is the “skill-kills” system, where players are awarded bonus points for experimenting with unique and brutal ways to dispatch foes. For example, shooting a bad guy with a bolo-style explosive and detonating the bomb to kill multiple enemies is called a “Gang Bang”. Bulletstorm is full of blue-tinted jokes and innuendo played for laughs, all pretty commonplace to anyone who’s read Remender’s XXXombies. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a fun time to me!
But over at the Fox News offices, another opinion has emerged. This week Fox News released an article attacking the upcoming 360/PS3/PC shooter Bulletstorm for promoting sexual violence. I can’t make quotes like this up:
“If a younger kid experiences Bulletstorm's explicit language and violence, the damage could be significant,” Dr. Jerry Weichman, a clinical psychologist at the Hoag Neurosciences Institute in Southern California, told FoxNews.com.
“Violent video games like Bulletstorm have the potential to send the message that violence and insults with sexual innuendos are the way to handle disputes and problems,” Weichman said.
Also,
Carol Lieberman, a psychologist and book author, told FoxNews.com that sexual situations and acts in video games — highlighted so well in Bulletstorm — have led to real-world sexual violence.
“The increase in rapes can be attributed in large part to the playing out of [sexual] scenes in video games,” she said.
There's a big black 'M' on the box, indicating that Bulletstorm is intended for players seventeen and older. The Electronic Software Ratings Board has been around for awhile, providing tools for parents to help them judge if a game is appropriate for their child. Walk in to any game store and you'll see the rating symbols everywhere. Comics companies and, of course, movies have had similar ratings systems for ages.
The person at Fox who wrote this article tried to contact the developers and publishers of Bulletstorm, but there’s no mention of Rick Remender. He was the lead writer on the game, so I’m sure a lot of these terms and ideas came from his head. A quick Google search yields a bevy of interviews with Remender, revealing that his intentions were never more than making a funny game for mature players. Here’s a few choice quotes from an interview Remender did with Brian LeTendre of CBR, Remender’s intentions with Bulletstorm are clear as crystal:
My writing style in "Bulletstorm" is tonally similar to my creator-owned work like "Black Heart Billy," "XXXombies," "Fear Agent," "Last Days of American Crime" and, yes, my work on "Punisher." Coincidentally, the projects I'm most proud of. I think those book are in my natural voice, and "Bulletstorm" is as well, with a bit of the subversive humor of "Mr. Show" and the cheeky dialog from films like "Evil Dead II" and "Big Trouble in Little China." I like taking the over-the-top, bestubbled, man of action stuff, and twisting the expectations and traditional tropes a bit. Humor is a big part of that. Getting an unexpected laugh in a tense moment, well, yeah, comic relief is a big part of what I do.
Everyone responded incredibly well to the B-movie schlock as well as the amazing game play.
Fox News, evidently, doesn’t get the joke. And it’s not the first time. Back in 2008, Fox issued a rallying cry over Bioware’s Mass Effect, falsely claiming it showed full “digital nudity,” allowing the players to engage in “graphic sex,” and choose “how to interact” (wink, wink) with their partner. The Fox anchor and the psychologist on the show openly admitted that they did not play the game, and only saw clips online. Geoff Keighley, of G4 and Spike TV fame, is the other guest on the show and does his best to shine some truth on the situation.
This piece against Bulletstorm is just the latest article trying to link violence to entertainment we’ve seen a million times before. In the 50s, it was Fredric Wertham’s Seduction of the Innocent that claimed comic books and television would breed juvenile delinquents. In the late 90s and early 2000s, it was infamous lawyer Jack Thompson who led a fevered crusade against violent video games. Jack Thompson was disbarred in 2008, and Wertham was laughed out of a comic convention in the 70s and never talked about comics again.
Critics and crusaders will come and go, unable to grasp that comics and video games aren’t necessarily for kids. At the end of the day, adults are still allowed to make their own content choices, and discuss their children’s choices in a healthy manner. If you'd like to check out Bulletstorm for yourself, there is a demo currently available on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network.
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I love how nobody blames the parents and they act like violence wasn’t around before video games. Imagine a kid in the 80’s seeing Taxi Driver for the first time at the age of 6. That would probably mess him up for a few days, but you know who is responsible for making sure he doesn’t see it? his folks. You raise your kids, not their xbox. If video games are influencing your kids social behavior more than you are, that’s your bad.
The real problem that I have with this stuff is that the talking heads who ramble on about the supposed ‘problems’ that these games cause are of an age group that played video games and probably played games that were controversial themselves. Or at the very least, had friends that did.
I think if your kid has enough walking around money to buy Bulletstorm without you knowing it and he is home alone enough to play through the whole game without you ever noticing then violent video games are the least of your problems.
im 27 years old, and i fanatacize about killing my in-laws with a chainsaw Gears of war style.
I can’t wait to buy this for my kids! I hope they let me play it too.
I dream of the day when something I write causes this reaction.
When will they learn that it’s up to the parents to police what their kids see. Whether it be violent sex filled TV, movies, music, or video games, the parents must enforce what their children have access to. It is not up to the government or anyone else to decide what I can and can’t do because a child may see it.
“Oh god, will someone please think of the children!!!!”
Should have watched the video before I replied. Man, what a bunch of fear-mongering idiots. I love it when people go off on something they know NOTHING about. “That’s BAD!” “How do you know? Have you seen/played it?” “No, because it’s BAD!” Sometimes the jokes write themselves.
It’s a good thing Fox News (and other mainstream news organizations) have a long history of opposing war and American Imperialism where, you know, actual violence and death occurs. So at least they have the moral authority to speak out against violent… oh, wait. They support that kind of thing.
As RioVampire suggested, people ought to raise their own kids. The game is obviously M rated for a reason.
The fear of sexuality also cracks me up. I played the Bulletstorm demo. It was fun and obviously over the top. It’s up to the player to understand the difference between reality and (ridiculous) fiction. The Mass Effect hit piece was also a gem. Of all the games they could pick on they pick the one where you actually have to develop a relationship over several hours and then are treated to a cutsceen that is PG-13 or less.
I am curious as to what games Ms.Liberman is referring to that have lead to the increase in rapes. And apparently no one informed Mr. Weichman that the Media Effects school of thought has been dismissed as having any value since the 80s. I say, buy copious copies for all the children in your life!
Well, considering kids shouldn’t be playing this video game, I’m not that worried.
And why are we surprised? Crap like this has been happening since Tipper Gore formed the PMRC back the 80’s. Stories like this just end up being nothing more than good advertising for the game. I hope CNN and MSNBC pick it up, sales will be through the roof!
I don’t know guys. I deal with space pirates every day and I am constantly sending memos to HR regarding sexual insults I receive from those same space pirates. Maybe Dead Echo affiliates should realize that in this new intergalactic confederation, they are all under far more scrutiny, and often looked up to as role models by future space pirates. Just because someone has a ginat gun and exists in a fantasy world does not mean they get a free pass.
All this press is a fantastic win for Mr. Remender et al… I’m a pretty casual gamer and normally a game like this is well off my radar, but if it’s so bad for me, then I want it for sure! It reminds me of the time GTA III showed me how to be a car-jacking, prosty killing maniac. Ooooh, first you do the hooker, then you kill her and take your money back… life lessons.
Seriously, no wonder everyone involved is more than happy to spread this article all around. I bet they sell thousands more units on the merit of this article alone.
“The game’s climbing in your windows, it’s snatching your people up, trying to rape them, so you need to hide your kids, hide your wife and hide your husband, because they’re raping everybody out here!”
I like how people like to go after video games for how they portray sex and violence, yet they’ll talk to Kim Kardashian about whatever. Lets think about who sending negative messages about sex here.
@RonSwanson Now that’s comedy.
I re-enact super mutant rapes when iam not playing fallout…also i look at mole rats with dirty infection err affection…I am most certain that real life stupidity makes me do it.
@Ronswanson THIS THIS THIS!
Also, it’s funny how they are willing to blame a kill reward in a game called the “drilldo” on the rise in violent sexual crimes when this is the same network that supports candidates that literally want to change the meaning of the word rape.
It’s a complete and utter joke. The worst news article I have read in a while.
By the way, I can’t wait to get a finished copy of Bulletstorm because IT IS AWESOME.
What a bunch of blow-hard assholes. Seriously. On a side note, has anybody played Epic’s parody of CoD? Amazing!
When I was reading this article my blood started to boil, as I was in the gaming/ hi-fi retail industry when the Mass Effect thing happened and it brought up all sorts of conversations I had to have my boss and parents. It’s always annoyed me when a young kid would come into the store and try to pick up an R16 or R18 game (NZ’s ratings), then be told my me or one of our staff that we couldn’t sell it too them and then have their parents, who were outside in the car, come in and complain that their kid could buy what ever they want or that they’ll just buy it, but of course we can’t sell it too them now either because we know it’s going to the kid and we could get fined up too $10,000. BS. Parents need to learn how to take care of their kids, learn what IS and ISN’T appropriate, it’s ridiculous the way some parents behave or what they allow their kids to play or do.
On the Plus side, at least lots of people are hearing about it and hopefully the game sells better for it.
That just makes me more interested in the game, honestly
This is a trend that just won’t die.
Okay we get it media! Video Games can be violent and sometimes have nudity. Live with it because no one else gives a shit! I know my bloodlust has come from television and not killing a hooker in GTA.
Fox News did Remender a favor. The game didn’t even remotely intriguging to me until I read the “Worst Game Ever?” write-up and headline.
Dead Space 2 is banking on negative press making their game sound more enticing (the “Your Mom Will Hate This” campaign is wonderfully executed). I imagine Fox’s hysterics will help rather then hurt Bulletstorm.
Ka Ching! I’m sure Rick will say, “Thanks Fox News!”
HURRAY FOR JUDGING THINGS PREMATURELY!!! YAY!!!
video games cost at least $50-60 bucks. Don’t give your kid that money unless you know what they are doing with it. How bout the parent do 30 seconds of research into what you are buying for your kids?…i guess responsible parenting is too “Socialist” for some in this country.
Faux News did Remender a big favor by giving him the Marilyn Manson treatment…his sales will skyrocket i’m sure.
I’ve already pre ordered Bulletstorm but I wish I had waited until this shocking expose was released so I could be part the inevitable sales spike.
One of the speakers comments that once it’s in the house children can find it. Using this argument suggests that anything in the house is fair game to a child getting into and using. What if the family has guns in the house, or sharp knives? Arn’t these things a bit more dangerous than an game which doesn’t directly cause violence?
anyone else feel like writing a letter to fox and basicly saying, “dear fox news, before your piece on bullet storm, i had never heard of the game. after hearing the things you said about it and what happens in the game, i have decided to buy it. thanks for informing me on such an awesome sounding game. thank you, (your name here)
Really? Fox actually took 5 minutes to criticize something other than the liberal-socialist-Nazi-Obama regime? I find that hard to believe. Are you sure Barack Obama didn’t make this game and not Rick Remender?
The demo for this game is seriously awesome. As Josh pointed out, the rating system is meant to control under age gamers getting their hands on the product. It’s up to consumers and parents to be aware of what their buying. Personally, this game’s humor is in my wheel house. I can’t wait for the retail version.
I second that this game does look pretty fun. Not just because of the rampant violence but…..okay maybe it is just that. But the hundreds (literally) of ways to gain points in the game is something I can endorse.
…..Maybe Fox News is onto something.
they are of course wrong to attack it on the grounds of a danger it may pose, even if that assertion could be proven (which is impossible) it would hardly be relevant because the purpose of a large corporation is to make money–over your children’s dead bodies if they can get away with it. better to just say it sounds ugly and crass, if you have or aspire to develop good taste this may not be the game for you.
p.s. i have never played this game–but i reserve the right, in this age of highly-sophisticated theories of marketing, to judge books by their covers.
but seriously how good is bulletstrom!
I really enjoy the way the protagonist calls me “dicktits” at the start of he demo fucking classic remender
I think they should require some kind of identification for mature games, but honestly no one seems to put responsibility on parents anymore. This whole subject is a joke. It’s like blaming Marilyn Manson for Columbine.
Holy shit, that video is infuriating. Are they arguing that entertainment for adults should not exist? That seems to be their point, even forgetting that they got all the facts about the game wrong. Wow.
@cormano i think they are arguing, muddle-headedly (and we forgive them because obviously they started out with the wrong premises), that [A.] there is no such thing as “entertainment for adults”, inevitably these things tend to permeate., and [B.] adults are not all that they might be, judging by the sorts of things they advocate and enjoy!
Wow indeed!
That Fox News clip is flat out disturbing – a bunch of trite, ignorant “pundits” blathering on about things that they openly admit to not being informed about! I’d rather let my son play Mass Effect and learn about the consequences and effects of decisions, than to have him watch Fox News and come away thinking that that’s how intelligent, analytical people present themselves. Sad.