Miss Bimbo Game

[stanchat]

Me and my wife were watching CNN Sunday when they featured this game. The basic premise is that you have to take care of a Bimbo ( ala Paris hilton ). You must find diet pills to keep your bimbo skinny and take here to clubs to search for rich men and also find men to get them boob jobs. It seems to be getting a lot of attention but the feminists groups seemed really pissed off about this game. And no this isn't Aprils Fools joke.


http://www.missbimbo.com/

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/eu...bo/#cnnSTCText

[papillon]

Was discussing this with some friends of mine - the general response was that we didn't have a problem with the game itself, but with the fact that the game was being marketed to very young children. And that when confronted about that, the makers response was that it would be educational because it would teach the children to take care of their bimbos!

.... which should explain why some people were really pissed off about the game.

However, from looking at the website, it seems they've been bitched out a lot and may tone it down. Which I have mixed opinions on. From what I heard about the game, there wasn't anything actually wrong with the content - a brainless bimbo sim could be quite funny - just in the non-ironic way it was being presented.

[luggage]

You couldn't buy PR like that. It was on the news here in the UK as well.

[princec]

Are you sure the whole thing isn't a very elaborate April Fool?

Cas

[tentons]

I think it's an April Fool's joke. Forums are "missing" and the game isn't released. The only thing you can do on the site is give them information about yourself and follow some links to other sites.

Too bad, actually. I wish someone had the chutzpa to make this for real.

[Desktop Gaming]

I don't think its an April fool - it was on the news in UK a good ten days ago.

Either way, I think its about time that A) parents start to take some damn responsibility for what their children see and do instead of whining about things they don't want them to see even existing, and B) these serial-complainers work out for themselves that not everybody is controlled by what they see on TV.

[defanual]

I saw this on the news too, so I don't thinks it's an Aprils fool.

Either way, I think its about time that A) parents start to take some damn responsibility for what their children see and do instead of whining about things they don't want them to see even existing, and B) these serial-complainers work out for themselves that not everybody is controlled by what they see on TV.

Somewhat true, but I always hear the creators blaming the parents and the parents blaming the creators. I think it's every adults responsibility to protect children's (non-adults) understanding, thinking and development.

I don't think that being a creator exempts anyone 'adult' from the responsibility of looking out for theirs and others children (where possible) just because it's not YOUR child that is or may be affected by what you or others put out there. Being a parent is hard enough without more and more crap coming out everyday putting more pressure on parents and practically forcing them to watch their child every second

I have no problem with the game as such, but wouldn't it have been just as easy and all the more wiser to show the real results of living the bimbo lifestyle or make it very clear that it's not a wise lifestyle choice? But then again, this is a world where when the likes of paris hilton can make porn movies and then become eligible for presenting kids award shows! Boy oh boy, the job of parenting becomes more and more pressured every day it seems

EDIT: Its a shame that being even slightly irresponsible, stupid or off-key rewards you with so much coverage and viral marketing. For instance you know that GTA4 is going to get a lot of media heat, meanwhile the likes of Mario Galaxy (one of the highest rated games of all time, equal and in some case more so to gta games) gets nothing (at least as far as the mainstream media is concerned)

[Desktop Gaming]

But parents should monitor what their children are doing on the internet. As a parent, its your responsibility.

It isn't the responsibility of the developer to ensure that children are only playing games which are suitable for their age group. Although in today's society its much easier to try to pin the blame for your anorexic/obese/kleptomaniac/arsonist offspring on somebody else rather than accepting that you're the one at fault.

[papillon]

It isn't the responsibility of the developer to ensure that children are only playing games which are suitable for their age group.

No, it isn't. But it is the responsibility of the company not to directly market to an inappropriate audience (Which is at least what I heard they were doing. My statements are based off a discussion I had with people last week and are secondhand at best.) and to take reasonable steps to inform both children and parents of the nature of the content.

If, when questioned about kids playing the game, the company had responded with something like "It's meant for adults, any kids playing lied in the signup procedures." then fine. It's the response of "What's wrong with kids playing this game? It's educational! It teaches them about dieting!" that's problematic.

Although in today's society its much easier to try to pin the blame for your anorexic/obese/kleptomaniac/arsonist offspring on somebody else rather than accepting that you're the one at fault.

... Well, *some* things are more a matter of biology than a parent being 'at fault', but yeah, pinning the blame on television or school or governments or video games is equally stupid.

[ChrisP]

EDIT: Its a shame that being even slightly irresponsible, stupid or off-key rewards you with so much coverage and viral marketing. For instance you know that GTA4 is going to get a lot of media heat, meanwhile the likes of Mario Galaxy (one of the highest rated games of all time, equal and in some case more so to gta games) gets nothing (at least as far as the mainstream media is concerned)

Aye. It is a good "evil marketing" strategy, if you take the (short-sighted?) view that all exposure is good exposure. It's just not very socially responsible, especially in this case it seems.

Meh. Karma will bite them in the ass one day. :P

[Applewood]

The moment I saw this on TV, some thoughts appeared in my mind almost instantly.

1) I wish I'd done it
2) The whiners were once again moaning about something that has NOTHING to do with them at all
3) The whiners once again got on TV which is why they do it.
4) I really wish I'd done it
5) I really wish I'd done at and some parent blamed me for something stupid their child did playing unsupervised on the internet.
6) I really, really, really wish I'd done it.

[stanchat]

Here is the CNN link. It is dated March 25th

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/eu...bo/#cnnSTCText

The creator is from France his name is Nicholas Jacquart. Click on the Video tab to see video.

[defanual]

As far as It isn't the responsibility of the developer to ensure that children are only playing games which are suitable for their age group.This is true, but I never suggested (or intended too at least) this was the case. I'm merely saying that in this case just assuming that your age group (which are called kids for a purpose) is going to understand or get your motivation and/or message (whether you intended too have one) when dealing with real lifestyle choices/adult themes is a little irresponsible.

I also don't agree that once you slab a 18/M on your game/product, thats as far as your responsibility lies. Nor do I believe it's a free license to express whatever you want (regardless of who might get it) because it's aimed at adults (as many seem to think so these days).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying everyone should be 'monk of the month' with what they create, this doesn't mean that I feel that entertainment shouldn't deal with 'gritty/real life', I just don't like how some of these 'gritty/real life' things are handle often, in this kinda "leave to interpretation" tactic all the time. I suppose that's what brings the controversy, not the subject(s) themselves, but the blase handling of the subject(s), with the disclaimer being 'it was (allegedly) only aimed at adults'

Anyhow, I know that many people (especially game developers and entertainment providers for some reason ) aren't going to agree with me, and thats fine and not surprising, after all many people are scared of responsibility and don't exactly welcome more of it. In large part that's why many entertainment industries (like video games) have the image they have and are in the state their in (for the most part). Anyhow, I'll just have diplomatically agree to disagree on some points/attitudes to this kinda thing.

1) I wish I'd done it

I have to admit, I kinda thought the same thing but I would've had to done it in a way that it's very clear (at some point while playing) it's a play on irony or emphasize the fact this isn't a wise lifestyle choice. The fact that probably a few of us are thinking 'I wish I did that', despite the fact that we all fundamentally agree aspects of it is handled wrong says a lot as to why this kinda thing sucks.

Meh. Karma will bite them in the ass one day. :P

Yeah, I do think there's always something you pay (be it physical or physiological) when you do something you know is wrong/stupid or that people have a concern with regarding a certain (intended or unintended) audience and you choose to totally ignore them, getting worster (rather then improving or incorporating some of the suggestions) as you become more financially (and sometimes critically) successful.

[Applewood]

The fact that probably a few of us are thinking 'I wish I did that', despite the fact that we all fundamentally agree aspects of it is handled wrong says a lot as to why this kinda thing sucks.

The only way I think they handled it wrong was in going on the defensive. If it were me, I'd still be trying to stoke up as much publicity as possible by saying whatever seemed the most controversial thing at the time. Anything in fact that keeps the bucks rolling in seeing as they're not doing anything wrong in the first place.

This game is breaking no laws, so if its unsuitable for your child in your own opinion, please keep that opinion to yourself and simply stop your child from viewing it. If you can't do that, blame yourself and not me.

If someones child takes away more formative memes from playing this game than from their interaction with their parents and siblings, that says far more about the state of parenting than it does the state of game development.

[papillon]

I wouldn't be worried about my *own* children... If I had them, I'd let them play it, because I expect any offspring of mine to be clever enough to separate game and reality.

It's the rest of society, which is full of too many stupid people, that worries me!

Better explanation - A TV drama whose plotline hinges around the (rubbish) idea of vaccines causing autism would not directly damage my hypothetical offspring, because I'm not stupid and am familiar with the issue and the data. However, knowing that other people are going to see this idea and think it's completely legitimate and therefore not vaccinate their kids, worries me.

Negative impact on stupid people indirectly affects me. Not to the point that I'm going to storm the barricades and demand that shows be taken off-air, though.

[bignobody]

The only way I think they handled it wrong was in going on the defensive. If it were me, I'd still be trying to stoke up as much publicity as possible by saying whatever seemed the most controversial thing at the time.

I think I love you

[Applewood]

It's the rest of society, which is full of too many stupid people, that worries me!

Yeah, that's about where I'm coming from too. This Nanny state we seem to have allowed to spring up around our ears is trying to put an end to Darwinian Selection and that can't be a good thing for the race at large.

[Popcorn Boy]

Better explanation - A TV drama whose plotline hinges around the (rubbish) idea of vaccines causing autism would not directly damage my hypothetical offspring, because I'm not stupid and am familiar with the issue and the data. However, knowing that other people are going to see this idea and think it's completely legitimate and therefore not vaccinate their kids, worries me.

Negative impact on stupid people indirectly affects me. Not to the point that I'm going to storm the barricades and demand that shows be taken off-air, though.

Sounds like someone else caught the first episode of Eli Stone too.

[ZeHa]

because I expect any offspring of mine to be clever enough to separate game and reality.

I'm not too sure if this game can be really separated from reality