Josh H

http://planetgamecube.com/news.cfm?action=item&id=3552

Great news! I'd love to see this immature piece of crap tank. Unfortunately it will sell like hot cakes to the thousands of loser gamers that can't get a girlfriend, and once again get the politicians pissed off at video games.

The article also mentions that Best Buy will be selling a censored version of the PS2 version.

Static Cling

So Best Buy will be selling BMX R?

Jackskeleton

I'm sure parents (the big factor in buying games for there childern) won't like the game. I don't blame Toys R Us and the rest of them not willing to carry it. whats really the point of the nudity and all?

Gallant Pig

Gallant Pig

Sure it's a cheap gimmick, but come on Jack, isn't this a little hypocritical? I mean they have no problem selling Grand Theft Auto 3 which sells by the ass-load, but they turn their noses to a few boobs? I think they can make a big deal about not carrying it because they know it'll barely sell. If it was expected to sell like GTA3, they'd have it on the rack.

Josh H

GP,

I think violence has became some what acceptable in video games, where as sex and nudity has been very rare (really non-existent in mainstream games).

That's the difference. But I'm sure sales has a lot to do with their decision as well.

Jackskeleton

Nudity and violence are two different things.

I know parents who let some violent programs go, but when it comes to sex and nudity its still a big no no. our society has become more open to violence, but nudity is still an issue.

s}{ammer

I could have sworn when I play GTA3 I pick up hookers and park in the park and the cars start rockin. Wonder what is going on in there? Just because a game comes out that you don't like doesn't mean you have to insult people who might actually like it. I think the game looks funny as hell and I will be getting this one. Oh and in case you care to know, I am not a loser gamer and I can get dates.

Josh H

The sex in GTA 3 has a point. BMX XXX is BMX game, there is no reason for nudity.

GTA 3 is about being a criminal, the violence and sex fit the story, they're not just a gimmick to appeal to teenage boys. Plus there's no nudity shown in GTA3 that I'm aware of, so it's a bad comparison.

BMX XXX is pointless, and will only mean bad things for the video game industry, that's already been under fire from politicians in recent years.

mr.snowmizer

I don't get the feeling that there's a big demand for this among any demographic.

Where's any positive internet buzz about this game among the hardcore? What casual over-18 gamer is going to pick this up in the middle of a blizzard of quality 4th quarter titles? What mom or grandma is going to buy this for their 8-12 year old? The answers are nowhere, none, and none, respectively.

The Acclaim name + shoddy graphics = failure.
The Acclaim name + shoddy graphics + retailer boycotts = bomb.

In fact, just the Acclaim name may be a killer now... look at sales of a critically successful Aggressive Inline. It's a company scraping out survival of past glories (All-Star Baseball, which is still plenty viable; Turok; [Legends of] Wrestling).

The only successful new series, which this unlicensed, dramatic departure from the Dave Mirra games now qualifies as, Acclaim has had recently is Burnout. And that's a game that they had no hand in developing.

If I could sell short on Acclaim stock now, I'd do it.

Jackskeleton

they should take a lesson from xbox. if your going to try to make eye candy. make it a good render and have the female in bikini's playing volleyball.

s}{ammer

Do you really think that shooting cops, having sex with hookers, and running over street folk doesn't appeal to teenage boys? Do you really think those aren't gimmicks? As I said, just because you won't like that game doesn't mean there aren't adults out there who won't like it.

Stoolie

This is interesting. For me, I'd rather wait and see if the game is fun. A little nudity wouldn't be bad if the game is fun. Sure, I haven't heard too many great things about the game, but I'll wait before making any sweeping judgments.

What I'm wondering is how this is different than any other entertainment mediums. Porn sells on film, in print, and on the internet, and from what I can tell there aren't really that many porn films, books, or sites that have a lot of inherent value that mirrors their mainstream counterparts. So let's say Fight Club is the GTA 3 of film. There's no reason to think that someone who plays GTA 3 would not want to play a game with explicit nudity simply because it's there, the same way a viewer who enjoyed Fight Club on many levels might enjoy Debbie Does Whatever, despite the fact that the porn film is not as good on as many levels. It's not like most porn films are stellar examples of filmmaking.

Just some thoughts.

stoolie

Groucho

You would think parents would rather have their kids playing games with a little nudity rather than graphic violence, but in fact it's the other way around. I never understood that mentality. It's not like this is Custer's Revenge or something.

I can understand the decision of Walmart, Toys R Us, and KB however. You know that some soccer mom is going to buy this for little Timmy and then file a lawsuit when she sees what the game is about. They are just saving themselves a lot of unnecessary grief.

I wonder if Hollywood and Blockbuster will offer this bad boy up for rent? I'd like to check it out for a few laughs.

Lastblade

The game is a stupid idea to grab headlines and attention... I can't believe anyone even cares about a game like that (but you are right, it will probably sell alot of copies b/c people don't buy good games, they buy into the hype).

Aghama

GTA3 wasn't advertised as being a game in the "whore beater" genre.

s}{ammer

Actually GTA3 is known for this. Every article that describes GTA3 that I have read have mentioned it. My buddy told me about GTA3 and here is how he had described it to me.

You run around this town shooting people, shooting cops, working for and fighting the mafia, and you pick up hookers and screw them to heal yourself.

Aghama

GTA3 wasn't advertised as being a game in the "whore beater" genre.

Josh H

I didn't say GTA 3 didn't appeal to teenagers.

The point is the sex (which isn't shown other than a rocking car) and violence have a point in that game. You couldn't be a criminal if you didn't go around breaking laws. Being able to do that stuff is the point of the game. They aren't gimmicks, they're the whole point of the game.

BMX XXX is just basically another Dave Mirra game (that he asked to be removed from). The sex and nudity has no point in this type of game. There've been several great extreme sports games that have sold tons of copies without these things. They just gimmicks, to try to get some people to buy the game just to either get turned on by the nudity or to laugh at it. The game will probably suck, and just rely on the nudity to sell enough to make a small profit, so they hope anyway.

Get Me Coffee

damn all those soccor mom, damn them all to heeeeellllllllllllll!!!!

I don't really give two _____ about this game. All that matters to me is if I will make moeny selling this game on ebay! That's all!

And by these retail giants pulling out.....makes it all the easier to sell online!

CharlesC

I could see why they (the retailers) would do this. Especially with the 'sniping' portion of the game I've read about. From what I've read, you basically snipe other BMX bikers with a scope. For me there is a big difference between sniping in a game where you are playing a soldier shooting another soldier than one where you play a BMX biker shooting another unarmed BMX biker. Too close to today's headlines.

Zodo

Here's another article, this one from CNN, about this POS game:

Using the tagline "Keep it Dirty," video game publisher Acclaim Entertainment Inc. is gearing up for the Nov. 19 launch of "BMX XXX," a game that also features copulating pink poodles and a variety of racing bike stunts.

But major retailers Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Toys R Us Inc. and KB Toys all said they would not carry the game, a potential blow for the game's exposure.

"We're not going to carry any software with any vulgarity or nudity -- we're just not going to do it," Wal-Mart spokesman Tom Williams told Reuters.

However, Best Buy Co. Inc. said it intended to sell a censored version of the game for Sony's PlayStation 2.

Game maker responds
Acclaim Chief Executive Gregory Fischbach said the critics were being unfair and missing the point of the game, which he said was intended as a kind of spoof along the lines of movie comedies such as "Austin Powers" and "Airplane."

A promotional video clip first bills "BMX XXX" as a "game of cultural sophistication and artistic aspiration" then launches into a hard-rocking montage of clips, including bike tricks and shots of strippers in action. The video ends with the admonition: "We're going to hell for this and you're all coming with us."

"I still believe that we'll get substantially full distribution in the United States," Fischbach said. "I don't really think it goes much further than some other video games on the marketplace."

He added, "I think the game stands on its own and I think that ... we have no intent to change the content of the game."

Glen Cove, New York-based Acclaim wants the title to be a hit and reverse its sliding fortunes the way that "Grand Theft Auto 3" did for Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. .

"GTA 3," which like "BMX" carries a "Mature" rating from the Entertainment Software Review Board, featured controversial scenes of violence but went on to become the top-selling video game of 2001.

While "GTA 3" was exclusive to Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 2, Acclaim has a broader strategy for "BMX," with releases planned for the PS2, Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox and Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s GameCube.

Fischbach said there has been no decision yet on changes to the Sony version, though he said if Sony asked for changes Acclaim would make them. He added that any changes would not affect the game's release date.

A Nintendo spokeswoman said the company had not asked for any changes for the GameCube version. A Microsoft spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment.

Attention helps company
Since Oct. 1, shares in Acclaim have gained nearly 12 percent, the best performance among the listed U.S. video game publishers. Even so, the stock, which rose 13-fold in 2001, is off nearly 77 percent this year and down 41 percent since a Sept. 19 profit warning.

That warning jarred investors at a time when most video game companies expect to post record profits and sales. Acclaim warned of a fiscal fourth-quarter loss of up to 13 cents, compared with the 13-cent profit analysts polled by Thomson First Call had on average had expected. As a result, many analysts cut their ratings and estimates on the stock.

Besides "BMX," Acclaim had bet its holiday season on the games "Turok: Evolution," "Aggressive Inline" and "Vexx." But both "Turok" and "Inline" were major sales disappointments, and Vexx has been postponed into 2003.

"BMX XXX" will also compete with "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City," the follow-on to "GTA 3" and an expected top seller in its own right. The marketing for "Vice City" has also relied heavily on images of near-naked women and thuggish men.

"What we're doing here is funny," Fischbach said. "The people that we're selling to are the people who bought 'Grand Theft Auto."'

I think it's pretty clear that Acclaim has NO idea what's going on.

joeblow69

Just hope that Ebay doesn't make you list it in their Mature Audiences section. You never know, Ebay is funny that way. All it would take is a few complaints from soccer moms about an XXX title laying around in the General Games section, trying to tempt their poor innocent little Jimmy. Then "poof" your auction is sent packing to the land of perverts.

Actually, it might be kind of fun to make a few of those complaints myself

fujishig

So Best Buy's gonna sell a censored version of this? Who in their right mind would buy it? (Of course, I wouldn't buy the uncut version either, but still...) I mean, maybe 10 people will buy it for the gameplay...

Gee, what major retailer is left? I doubt Target or Kmart will carry it. Will only the EBs and Funcolands of the world have it?

Josh H

I've never understood this either. Our society is just bass akwards on this issue. Violence which is inherently evil is a ok, but sex and nudity, which are completely natural, are unacceptable.

I have no objections to the game on any moral grounds or anything, it's just pointless and will give the politicians more to bitch about and increase the likelihood of games being censored if they can't get retailers to not sale M-rated games to minors.

I'd be shocked if Blockbuster carried it as they don't carry any unrated or NC-17 movies. I'm not familiar enough with Hollywood Video to comment on them. There weren't any where I grew up, and I haven't been to the one near my house here since moving.