So, Fox News declared Bulletstorm “the worst game in the world”, and quoted some so-called “expert” who claimed that, “The increase in rapes can be attributed in large part to the playing out of [sexual] scenes in video games.” It’s just another day on the job of being the worst news station in the world.

Now the game’s publisher, EA, has submitted the inevitable rejoinder. Posted over on Game Informer, the company’s vice president of public relations Tammy Schachter writes:

“As you know, Bulletstorm is a work of entertainment fiction that takes place in the 26th century on the abandoned fictitious paradise planet Stygia, where our heroes fight mutants, monsters, flesh-eating plants and gigantic dinosaurs. Epic, People Can Fly and EA are avid supporters of the ESA and believe in the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) rating system. We believe in and abide by the policies put in place by the ESRB. Bulletstorm is rated M for Mature for blood and gore, intense violence, partial nudity, sexual themes, strong language and use of alcohol. The game and its marketing adhere to all guidelines set forth by the ESRB; both are designed for people 17+. Never is the game marketed to children. Epic, People Can Fly and EA support the right of artists to create works of entertainment fiction for consumers of all ages, including adults who enjoy action adventures like Bulletstorm. Much like Tarantino’s Kill Bill or Rodriguez’s Sin City, this game is an expression of creative entertainment for adults.”

EA and Fox News already have a bit of history – back in 2008, Fox ran a story about Mass Effect titled “‘SEXBOX?’ New video game shows full digital nudity and sex,” claiming the game “leaves nothing to the imagination” and features “the ability for players to engage in full graphic sex.” Which was (obviously) all sorts of totally wrong, and not exactly surprisingly – the reporter openly admitted she’d not played the game. Fox was later forced to issue a retraction of the story, while everybody on the internet pointed and laughed.

Discuss the ‘rapestorm’ controversy on the MyGaming forum.