10 Controversial Video Games Everybody Totally Misunderstood

6. Bully 'Glorified' Bullying

Rockstar can't seem to stay out the firing line for too long either, but they're most definitely aware of the sorts of controversies coming their way when designing something called Bully, that just happens to have been built with GTA III's engine.

However, as is the case with all of these entries, if the outlets and outraged parents actually spent hands-on time with the product itself, they'd have realised the reality was a far cry from what was being shouted about at the time. Playing as one Jimmy Hopkins and attempting to survive in Bullworth Academy, you were thrown into the same sort of hierarchal public school structure millions of us endured every day.

At no point were you encouraged or told to 'bully' anyone, any more than GTA III let you kill prostitutes if you decided that's how you wanted to spend your time. No part of the game was scored on causing misery to those less fortunate than yourself - actually quite the opposite, as you occasionally worked with all the various factions to gain the upper hand on the Bullies themselves, who were portrayed as monosyllabic neanderthals.