Bully gets name change

By Ellie Gibson Published 1 September, 2006

But will it silence the critics?

Rockstar has told Eurogamer that controversial PS2 title Bully is getting a name change.

From now on, the game will be known rather less catchily as Canis Canem Edit - Latin for Dog Eat Dog.

'Bully gets name change' Screenshot 1

At this stage, Rockstar isn't saying why the name's been changed. But it's not difficult to have a guess, when you consider all the criticism it's had from anti-bullying campaigners, members of parliament and, er, peaceaholics.

So, does this mean the game will be delayed while they reprint the boxes and press a load of new discs? Apparently not, with a Rockstar spokesperson telling us, "The game is set for release in October," just like it always has been.

Meanwhile, rumours that Rockstar's other forthcoming game will be retitled Biggus Nickus Autorum IV are completely made up.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (33) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • coojam #1 6 years ago

    That's not gonna go down well with the chavs...why not just Dog Eat Dog?

  • TwistidChimp #2 6 years ago

    presumably thats going to turn out to be the motto of the academy the game is set in. I like it, good way to avoid any more ludicrous protests by idiots who have no idea what the games going to be like.

  • aldo_14 #3 6 years ago

    Presumably they're reckoning it'll take the protestors so long to figure out what it means, that it'll already be released by the time the next Institute for Freeing Parents From Responsibility For Children press release is sent out.

  • Chtulie #4 6 years ago

    It was indeed the title rather then the actual game content that got the protestors riled about.

  • Blerk #5 6 years ago

    Is this name change just for the UK, or worldwide?

  • Kiigan #6 6 years ago

    That name will kill sales.

  • numptyboymatt #7 6 years ago

    I can see why they felt that they had to do it, but the fact that they had to purely because of the pressure of banner waving idiots is pathetic, frankly.

    BAN ALL THIS POLITICAL CORRECTNESS NONSENSE NOW!!!!!!!

  • Corvus #8 6 years ago

    I get the feeling that this name change was intended from the start, so they could use the name "Bully" to whip a bit of controversy (and therefore free publicity), then change the name before it goes on sale, so they don't get completely lynched by the press/pressure groups/morons.

    That said, I'm surprised at the name they have chosen. As Kiigan said, I can't see it helping sales at all.

  • Kingsadist #9 6 years ago

    For a moment there I thought it said 'Biggus Dickus' at the end there...

    Oh Monty Python, you slay me so!

  • Talha #10 6 years ago

    SELLOUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • chupachups #11 6 years ago

    That new name isn't going to do much for its chances commercially, Latin hasn't been taught as standard in American (or British for that matter) schools for a long time, is anyone going to have any idea what that means?

    Like coojam says, why didn't they just call it Dog Eat Dog?

    If they really really wanted to use Latin, they should have used just one word, at least that would have sounded mysterious instead of baffling.

  • abigsmurf #12 6 years ago

    They can't protest a game they can't pronounce!

  • Pastici #13 6 years ago

    Meh, its made by Rockstar, people have know about the game for ages. Chances are people will see the Rockstar logo and pick up the box to take a look. Pretty much instantly sold to a fair few people =/.
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/06 @ 12:12

  • UmBongo #14 6 years ago

    Well know from all the rendering and cut scenes and in game graphics with the new logo, whether this was the title decided

    long long ago.......

  • chupachups #15 6 years ago

    "Meh, its made by Rockstar, people have know about the game for ages. Chances are people will see the Rockstar logo and pick up the box to take a look. Pretty much instantly sold to a fair few people =/."

    That's not a good strategy for the future though, this indestructible reputation used to surround all kinds of companies from Atari to Sierra to Origin, but they all came to a sticky end.

  • the_dudefather #16 6 years ago

    now ancient romans will protest as they will assume the player will control a dog that will attack and eat other dogs (especialy puppies)

    this game is bananas!

  • bad #17 6 years ago

    Enough people bought Disgaea and that isn't even a word (is it Japanese for something?) so I don't see why latin should be a problem.

  • kangarootoo #18 6 years ago

    Disgaea is easy to remember and pronounce though. This new title is rather more clumsy. The "edit" bit seems almost glued on.

    That said, I'm sure game store staff will know what the kids are on about when they try and regurgitate the title from their mindsocks. So even if they saunter in and ask for "that game wiv the stoopid title that sounds like homework" they will probably get what they ask for (age restrictions allowing of course...).

  • Lagto_Soa #19 6 years ago

    Enough people bought Disgaea and that isn't even a word

    Except the kind of chavs who'll be buying this wouldn't have gone anywhere near Disgaea even if it was called Giant Magic Gangbang IV. It might have sold a few, but not to the same crowd.

    [Edit: I knew I should have included the original comment in the first place - that kangarootoo, I swear he's watching me type just so he can jump in before I finish ;) ]
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/06 @ 13:03

  • Mr_Whacker #20 6 years ago

    I think its a good name, have no idea about sales. I think when you balance it with the hype of 'GTA in a school' then it should still do OK.

  • decibel #21 6 years ago

    i like it. it automagically sounds 'clever' thanks to the Latin, and it'll give its critics something to chew on. It's a lot easier whipping up a fuss about something called "Bully" rather than CCE..

    who cares if some people "dont get it"?

  • Genji #22 6 years ago

    This is a joke, right? It has to be a joke.

  • rhinoxious #23 6 years ago

    Very odd,

    i guess it will be known as Bullworth, as that's the only word on the cover that sounds like a name.
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/06 @ 13:17

  • Golgo #24 6 years ago

    Maybe it should be called 'Lovely Liberals'...that should get the heat off.

  • Royal Fool #25 6 years ago

    Biggus Dickus!

  • adman123 #26 6 years ago

    In agreement with the_dudefather, this game really does look

    "B.A.N.A.N.A.S"

    :p

  • the_dudefather #27 6 years ago

    dang, i always have trouble with the spelling of banananananananas

  • J.C #28 6 years ago

    YA FUCKING BASTARDS!

  • J.C #29 6 years ago

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  • Redeye #30 6 years ago

    Should have called it 'School Daze' and included authentic colour clash. :)

  • Machetazo #31 6 years ago

    The hell am I asking for a game at the store with that for a contrived title! It'll always be Bully. I can't believe that Rockstar would do something so blindingly bloody stupid!
    Oh well, we're a year(ish) from GTA IV which may yet be able to buoy my belief in R* anew, and reassure me of their strength of commitment to their projects; rather than their newly unveiled ability to pander repeatedly to a bunch of whining, agenda-led (and ultimately entirely ignorant) attention-seekers.

    The thing that should matter is the game, and its integrity. All these PC clowns that have no interest in gaming other than to squeeze it's boundaries to further their own ends, should have their mics essentially switched off. The developer/publisher should have stuck to their guns.

  • Lagto_Soa #32 6 years ago

    According to CVG, it's still Bully in the US. Not that I'm naturally inclined to take CVG at their word, but it seems like a stupid thing to just make up.

  • evad_lhorg #33 6 years ago

    I CANT HELP BUT NOTICE THE 15 TBC