Rockstar Games has a rocky history when it comes to the media. They’re the company behind the recent Grand Theft Auto series. These games encouraged illegal behavior in a surrealistic world, which made them an easy media target and puts them at the top of the the censor lists for conservative groups around the world.

Yesterday Rockstar released a trailer for their new game “Bully”. It puts the player in the shoes of a high school student who, like their other games, is forced into a world where good behavior is impossible. However, this time around it seems that the goal of the game is to solve the bully problem in the school, not be a part of it (or maybe that’s a choice to be made). As with the GTA series, you’ll have the freedom to choose how you go through the world, be it good or bad.

Bully seems to be much closer to reality than the GTA series. It will be interesting to see how the media and parents accept this initially good intentioned game. The message of the game may be good natured. It may give insights into the sociological make up of today’s schools. But at the end of the day, it’s a Rockstar game. Players will have the freedom to experiment in their environment as they please. It won’t be a big leap for the media to label this game as bully trainer.

Download the trailer from IGN.