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WiiWare's 'Beer Pong' causing a fuss

chautemoc | June 12, 2008 | News | Wii 
That Beer Pong game announced awhile ago for WiiWare came to fruition, and has been causing quite a ruckus. For anyone who doesn't know, the game consists of teams tossing ping pong balls into the opposing team's cups. Beer Pong is part of a line of "Frat Party games" released by developer JV Games (most recently behind Warhammer: Battle for Atluma).

But yes, apparently Fairfax County (why is it these things always happen in Virginia?) school groups, drug-free coalitions and anti-underage-drinking groups are protesting the release of the thing. Beer Pong, social hazard or simple fun? What do you think?


“Beer pong is an activity that normalizes and encourages heavy binge drinking, shows blatant disregard for the dangers of alcohol poisoning, and can cost lives and result in injury,” said Gen. Arthur T. Dean, chairman and CEO of the D.C.-based organization, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, a national membership organization representing more than 5,000 community anti-drug coalitions across the country.

“Furthermore, promoting the video game Beer Pong in the Frat Party Games series under a Teen rating ignores the fact that many youth involved in fraternities on college campuses are not of legal drinking age and that youth as young as 13 can purchase the game under this rating,” Dean said of the game's upcoming release.

Larry Dilworth, a vice president of CADCA, is a Herndon resident and sits on the board of GHCC.

“I think it's kind of funny,” responded Vince Valenti, a spokesman for JV Games, about the controversy. “The game promotes the sport of beer pong. We are not advocating drinking any more than watching cartoons or watching the TV show 'Cheers,' or even going bowling or to a baseball game.”

With this game, “if anything, you're going to be drinking less,” Valenti said on Monday. “Because you are too busy playing the game, trying to beat your opponent, to be constantly picking up a beer and drinking it.”
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  • 1 thumbs!
    slumpy monkey | June 12, 2008
    Some people literally feel the need to fight against everything.
  • 1 thumbs!
    phowell23 | June 12, 2008
    its just a game, these people need 2 find something else 2 do with there time
  • 3 thumbs!
    chautemoc | June 12, 2008
    Saying Beer Pong will make people go out and become drunk idiots is like saying Monopoly will make people go out and become greedy business tycoons.
    • 0 thumbs!
      kik36 | June 12, 2008
      Being a greedy business Tycoon isn't illegal either......but underage drinking is. I believe that is the difference they are looking at.
      • 0 thumbs!
        chautemoc | June 12, 2008
        I think I'd like the legal drinking age to be lowered if it meant the elimination of greed.
        But yeah, I know there are differences, just an analogy for the purposes of illustration.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Jaw Knee | June 12, 2008
    Yeah that's exactly why the people who're getting their undies in a bundle over this need to *bleep* off.
  • 1 thumbs!
    Raziel_326 | June 12, 2008
    Regardless of the situation, who the *bleep* would play wii beer pong over real beer pong?
  • 0 thumbs!
    kik36 | June 12, 2008
    IMO they shouldn't market any type of game involving drinking to minors. The Teen rating is pretty stupid. I drink.....at times like a fish, pretty much since I was 13....that was ohhhhh so long ago!! I'm not against drinking at all, but I am gonna have to side with the crazies on this one. Keep the Beer pong real folks, or make it a Mature game.
    • 1 thumbs!
      chautemoc | June 12, 2008
      Except..it doesnt involve drinking. If it did I'd agree with ya.
  • 0 thumbs!
    kspiess | June 12, 2008
    OMG Beer Pong on the Wii! That's incredibly awesome.
  • 1 thumbs!
    TwilightPrince | June 12, 2008
    omg. you virtually throw plastic balls into plastic cups filled with a refreshing beverage. What harm could this game possibly do?

    I mean seriously, stop blaming all your problems on video games. Its not funny anymore.
  • 1 thumbs!
    kspiess | June 12, 2008
    Its the ole video game double standard for ya. All the baby boomers freak out because they still have it locked in their mind that only kids play video games.

    You don't see an uproar when a book about drinking comes out, or a movie like, Old School for example, which has under-age drinkers in it.

    BTW 21 y.o drinking age in the States is so dumb. Feel sorry for you guys. Your 18? Vote: check. Star in porn: check. Buy a gun: check (I think..?). Join the military and kill people? check. Drink beer: NO WAY! Lol.. doesn't make any sense.
    • 0 thumbs!
      chautemoc | June 13, 2008
      It gets funnier..in most places, prostitution is illegal unless you take photos/video of it. Then its classified as porn and is fine.
  • 1 thumbs!
    Seproth | June 13, 2008
    Well it's really a shame that this is an issue.

    However this game is strait up ridiculous. Why not just play Wii tennis and make up some rules to a drinking game.

    I just don't understand the draw to this game. Unless it's intended for people who can't drink...in which case it's probably not a great plan.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Team Xtreme | June 13, 2008
    This game really annoys me. Why play a drinking game when the game cannot give you literal alcohol? Rediculous concept for a video game and due to the nature of the game has attracted far to much attention because of it. Go and play a real game of beer pong ffs.

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