Educators Make Anti-Bully Game

The pre-release controversy over Rockstar's much-maligned schoolyard sandbox title Bully continues. Gamasutra reports that nine universities are banding together to create a video game that teaches kids how to deal with bullying:

...the universities' game, created with input from both teachers and students, will look at various bullying scenarios and help children learn how various actions can create various subsequent outcomes between the bully and their victims.

Not a bad idea, in general: I like the idea of using video games as an educational tool, as the interactivity and fun factor are great for keeping kids' attention. But if this is really being developed out of some sense that Bully, the game, is going to warp childrens' minds and that there needs to be some kind of pre-emptive pushback against the impending assault... well, I'm sure you know what I think of that.