July 14, 2008
Video-Game Version of Beer Pong Sparks Controversy
A new video game simulates beer pong, a drinking game popular in fraternity houses and dorm rooms across the country. But not everyone thinks the game — part of a series called Frat Party Games — is good fun. Some education groups and state officials have argued that the game glorifies alcohol abuse, and they have called on its creators to pull the title or label it for adults only.
The beer-pong simulation runs on the Nintendo Wii, the popular game console that lets users control the action by waving a controller around. So to throw the virtual ping-pong ball into a cup, users simply make a throwing motion while holding the controller.
The Association of Fraternity Advisors issued a statement last month criticizing the game. “Why would you choose to promote a game that glorifies unsafe or detrimental behaviors, especially one that is to some extent targeted to young people at a most impressionable time in their lives?” asked the group’s president, Jay Anhorn, in the statement.
The game even drew the ire of Connecticut’s attorney general, Richard Blumenthal, who has spoken out against the Wii game, which was rated “T” for teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board, meaning it is appropriate for ages 13 and up.
“The video game rating board is under the influence — rating frat party video drinking games suitable for minors,” said Mr. Blumenthal, in a statement. That is “absolutely inappropriate,” the statement added.
In response, the game’s developer, JV Games, changed the name from Beer Pong to Pong Toss. But the company’s co-founder, Jag Jaeger, said in an e-mail interview with The Chronicle that the game never depicted alcohol, and he defended the company’s series of virtual fraternity games.
“I can respect their concerns, but in regards to this being a video game I think it’s misplaced,” he said. “As an example, a racing game is marketed to under age kids but we all have a reasonable assumption that they won’t climb into a car and pattern their driving from the game.”
He argued that the game’s rating is appropriate. He said the company has not yet decided what its next game in the Frat Party series will be. —Jeffrey R. Young
Posted on Monday July 14, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
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Coincidentily, this game is scheeduled to be released in August. Although the company took out the word “Beer” in the original title, the meaning is still there and will pose a challenge for student affiars staff across the country. As a member of the Greek community, I am appalled that a company called “Frat Games” is in existence putting out titles called “Pong Toss.”
— Jeff Jul 14, 05:06 PM #
It’s a game. A little media literacy passed from parent to child will allow teenagers to play the game without deciding that they want to live it. And Jeff, if you’re going to be appalled at something fraternity-related, how about the gang rapes and hazing rituals that lead to alcohol-induced death? Those seem a tad more pressing than a video game.
— Beth Jul 15, 08:16 AM #
Unfortunatly it is a game that promotes alcohol abuse be it directly or indirectly. The game being released in August is no coincidence as it corelates to new students coming in. And Beth, although the rare occurances of rape and alcohol abuse is widely publicized (as it should be) in the American Media, positive Greek like does create leaders within the academic community. Beth you are correct, I am appalled at the gang rapes and hazing rituals that Greek Life has brought on themselves.
— Jeff Jul 15, 08:30 AM #
It would have been more innovative if they had worked alcohol more firmly into the game, with the Wii remote’s accuracy decreasing as the Wii Mii character imbibes more beer.
And, yeah, bump it up to a “Mature” rating; it’ll sell more games that way.
— Ike McCaslin Jul 15, 09:06 AM #
Once again, let’s try to remember that there is a difference between games and reality. Maybe if you take the game away, the students will play a REAL drinking game instead, and how is the world better off? Now let’s rally around banning Moby Dick, lest students model these even more dangerous behaviors, and start losing legs while chasing whales.
— Spot Jul 15, 11:10 AM #
All of this could easily be taken care of if game characters also endured the subsequent consequences of overindulging/binge drinking. Characters could experience hours spent hovering over their own (or worse, someone else’s) commode watching reruns of a previous meal, dropping out of college in order to support the child they inadvertently conceived, the joys of slurred speech when trying to give directions to a cabbie, and — what should be very popular with Wii technology — the walk of shame.
— KFL Jul 15, 11:59 AM #
God save our impressionable souls!
— Kelly Sutton Jul 16, 02:20 PM #
If kids are so impressionable then shouldn’t it be the parents job to keep their kids away from games such as this. We cannot blame media and technology for the way our children grow up. Instead we should blame ourselves for letting them be exposed to it.
— Lucky Jul 26, 05:10 PM #