The big ol' Jack Thompson thread (merged) [Archive]

SAMAS

07-22-2005, 11:32 PM

Gamespot Link (http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/07/22/news_6129609.html)

Sims 2 content "worse than Hot Coffee"
[UPDATE] Miami attorney Jack Thompson claims cheat codes make EA's life sim a pedophile's paradise by showing genitalia; calls for ban on T-rated game.

How do you like your hot coffee? If you're Jack Thompson, you like it scalding game publisher's laps. The Miami attorney and antigaming activist has done his share to see that games don't fall into the wrong hands. And lately, those hands have belonged to almost everyone.

Thompson was among those who spearheaded the recent effort to slap an "Adults Only" rating on Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and he's often been on the forefront of many other gaming issues, several of which have targeted the crime-spree-based GTA franchise. In the past, he's represented defendants who have been the victims of GTA-inspired crimes, including the triple homicide of three police officers by an 18-year-old boy in Alabama.

His beef with San Andreas? Unused code in the game that depicts sexual acts. These minigames can be unlocked by using game-cheat devices or patches available on the Internet.

Thompson is on a roll...and he's not done yet. His latest goat is a game that doesn't involve guns, carjacking, or prostitutes: He's going after Electronic Arts' The Sims 2.

In a manifesto sent today to press outlets, Thompson focuses on dismantling the Entertainment Software Ratings Board and exposing what he calls the industry's "latest dirty little secret." The secret's out now, and it involves nude sims.

In the statement, Thompson says, "Sims 2, the latest version of the Sims video game franchise ... contains, according to video game news sites, full frontal nudity, including nipples, penises, labia, and pubic hair."

The Sims 2 is a "life simulator." In the game, players steer their digital beings around their cyberlives. Actions include everything from the spectacular (getting married, having children, receiving promotions at work) to the mundane (cooking microwaved meals, going to the bathroom, mopping the floor). Such activities, as in real life, sometimes require nudity. EA circumvents inappropriateness by "blurring" out the nether regions, almost to a comical sense.

Knowing that the game is popular among all ages, EA has even taken steps to ensure that Sims fans aren't exposed to indecent depictions. In the recent expansion pack, The Sims 2 University, gamers can send their teenage sims off to college. However, instead of packing the expansion with "keggers" and "reefer," EA chose to use juice and bubble blowers.

Thompson doesn't seem to care. He cites a cheat code that can remove the blur that covers the nether regions. "The nudity placed there by the publisher/maker, Electronic Arts, is accessed by the use of a simple code that removes what is called 'the blur' which obscures the genital areas. In other words, the game was released to the public by the manufacturer knowing that the full frontal nudity was resident on the game and would be accessed by use of a simple code widely provided on the Internet."

It's not just the adults that are liberated from their wardrobes. Sims kids can also be nudified, "much to the delight, one can be sure, of pedophiles around the globe who can rehearse, in virtual reality, for their abuse."

Were this to be true, Thompson would have his smoking gun, and EA would be forced to recall all copies of The Sims 2. However, it's what's under the blur that Thompson's after. And what happens when the blur is lifted? A simple mannequin-esque smooth body, according to EA.

Jeff Brown, vice president of corporate communications at EA, in response to the accusations, told GameSpot, "This is nonsense. We've reviewed 100 percent of the content. There is no content inappropriate for a teen audience. Players never see a nude sim. If someone with an extreme amount of expertise and time were to remove the pixels, they would see that the sims have no genitals. They appear like Ken and Barbie."

Thompson doesn't buy it. "The sex and the nudity are in the game. That's the point. The blur is an admission that even the 'Ken and Barbie' features should not be displayed. The blur can be disarmed. This is no different than what is in San Andreas, although worse."

[UPDATE] Thompson this afternoon updated his earlier statement, saying he is aware certain mods only remove "the blur," but adds that "Electronic Arts has done nothing about this." Thompson's new conclusion: EA is "cooperating, gleefully, with the mod community to turn Sims 2 into a porn offering."

The last time we checked, The Sims 2 was rated T for Teen by the ESRB, which means that anyone 13 years of age, with $50 to spend, can purchase the game.

Geez is he stupid, or what?

DrewTheXenocide

07-22-2005, 11:42 PM

I believe this falls under the category I like to call "douchebaggery".

The Sims is a good, somewhat wholesome, game. Fine, he helped put a limit to the devil scourge that is GTA. Now he's expanding his grasp to a life simulator? So.. I'm guessing this leaves around 3 years or so until Mario jumping on top of turtles and dinosours and bullets is considered beastiality.

Sanagi

07-22-2005, 11:57 PM

This is a truly remarkable case of not getting the damn point.

"Barbie doll" nudity is now taboo, apparently. So why does he not go after Mattel?

I'm guessing this guy's ultimate plan is to ban every element of popular culture until Sesame Street is the edgiest thing around, and then ban that.

Headhunter

07-23-2005, 09:38 AM

I'm guessing this guy's ultimate plan is to ban every element of popular culture until Sesame Street is the edgiest thing around, and then ban that.
Actually, Sesame Street is heavily censored and edited in various parts of the world. :(

Convoy

07-23-2005, 09:48 AM

I'm surprised he hasn't gone after Nintendo for using the phrase "Touching is Good" in marketing the DS.

Draconomicon

07-23-2005, 10:41 AM

Shot him.
Seriously.
Shot that guy.
(no, not seriously, but geez... politicians with an agenda... *retch*)

JDogindy

07-23-2005, 11:11 AM

Jack Thompson is the Normal Solomon of the Video Game world.

Lightbend

07-23-2005, 11:32 AM

Again, he's someone who's never played the game.

For those who take this guy seriously:

Sims, when sans clothes (showering, for example), are covered in censor-type blurred pixels. To remove those pixels, you enter in a cheat that allows the pixels to be removed (involves setting grid size to 0), and you find out they HAVE no genetalia or nipples, save for possibly the guys.

To add on genetalia, you need to download hacks made by third-party programmers.

So, essentially, there is no genetalia in the game. Any genetalia added to the game is not endorsed by EA Games in any shape or form-and the suggestive content the game DOES contain is exaggerated to become parody.

A sort of sublety he apparently does not get.

Hiromi

07-23-2005, 11:54 AM

Jack Thompson is simply a Jackass whose willing to sue anyone with a pulse.

Wondering when the attacks on video games will end? Not any time soon, at least according to part-time lawyer and full-time lunatic, Jack Thompson.

In case you only know One Eyed Jack from his assault on your beloved games, take heart – he’s gone after just about everyone. He started back in 1992 when he took on 2 Live Crew for being rude. Of course, that only managed to sell a billion extra copies of As Nasty As They Wanna Be, much to the chagrin of music lovers worldwide. After that he represented Oliver North’s Freedom Alliance (yes, that Oliver North) as they tried to take down Ice T’s group Body Count for the song Cop Killer. Since then, he has brought lawsuits against films (The Basketball Diaries), disc jockeys (Howard Stern) and just about every video game ever made by Rockstar, not to mention labeling nerdy ESA president Doug Lowenstein a “nazi” and a “thug.”

We tip our hat to this brave man for making sure no one is held accountable for their actions anymore. Once that day comes, expect the GR staff to stop publishing and start looting like REAL revolutionaries.

Donald M.

07-23-2005, 12:57 PM

I like how nude codes are gaming's "newest dirty little secret". Nude codes and mods have been around since Tomb Raider ten years ago, and probably before. It's a symptom of the same sexual immaturity that leads to x-rated fan sketches and fiction. Trying to go after games because of codes or mods created by the fans is like going after Buffy the Vampitr Slayer because there are 14 year old girls out there writing stories about Spike and Angel having sex.

Software designers have no control over what users do with a game once it's in the market. This just shows how desperate peope like Jack Thompson are. He's really grasping at straws here. Does anyone take this goofbag seriously?

mgs

07-23-2005, 03:55 PM

Again, he's someone who's never played the game.
I bet he has, but that's not the point and I don't think it would change his mind anyway.

This guy's conservatism is dangerous (in light of Hilary has done) and he should be noted carefully, basically though, this is an appropriate way to view his beliefs:
I believe this falls under the category I like to call "douchebaggery".

Mike Pothier

07-24-2005, 06:13 PM

This has gone beyond the point of ridiculousness. Jack Thompson is on a vendetta, making wild accusations and using gradeschool insults to anybody that criticizes him. I honestly thing people will look back on him like they did Joseph McCarthy.

BlairH

07-24-2005, 06:22 PM

This guy is an absolute arsehole.
What can I say that hasn't already been covered. The dude needs to get with the programme.

MKTerra

07-24-2005, 06:59 PM

Wow, that's... stunningly moronic.

UncleBob

07-25-2005, 08:40 AM

I love this man with all the fibers of my being.

He has given me so much material to work with!

Shellhead

07-25-2005, 10:45 AM

Just wait until this guy Thompson discovers internet porn. If his head doesn't explode, he will launch a really big stupid lawsuit that will fail.

Chevan

07-25-2005, 11:18 AM

Hey, does anybody have a copy of the Sims 2 EULA, or know of somewhere that I can look it up? I was curious about something, so I wanted to look at it, but I'm having a bit of trouble finding a copy. I tried the Sims 2 site, but it doesn't seem to be there, and a Google search isn't turning up much relevant stuff.

And a bit more on-topic, something tells me that there's no way JT is going to win this one. Disregarding the fact that his arguments are a little off, I don't think he's going to have a lot of luck against a company as big as EA.

Donald M.

07-25-2005, 12:42 PM

And a bit more on-topic, something tells me that there's no way JT is going to win this one. Disregarding the fact that his arguments are a little off, I don't think he's going to have a lot of luck against a company as big as EA.

Yeah. He and his lot scored a victory with San Andreas, but Rockstar was really stupid to not only leave that code in the game, but then try to lie about its origins. Dumbasses.

In the case of Sims 2, the "pornographic" content is being created by the users and not already present in the game in any form. He'll have a hard time convincing anyone that Barbie-doll nudity warrants an AO rating.

Chevan

07-25-2005, 12:45 PM

In the case of Sims 2, the "pornographic" content is being created by the users and not already present in the game in any form. He'll have a hard time convincing anyone that Barbie-doll nudity warrants an AO rating.

Yeah, that's why I was curious about the EULA; I was wondering what it had to say about modifying the code. I haven't had much luck with that, though. Do you know if EA has a stance on modding?

MKTerra

07-25-2005, 07:04 PM

If we're lucky, the guy will destroy his own credibility with this BS. That'd help restore some of my faith in humanity, at least.

Donald M.

07-25-2005, 07:31 PM

Yeah, that's why I was curious about the EULA; I was wondering what it had to say about modifying the code. I haven't had much luck with that, though. Do you know if EA has a stance on modding?

Based on my own minor experience I would say they very much encourage it, at least as far as the Sims series goes. I'm sure they don't support "adult" mods though. I think they're covered. The ability to mod is one of the major draws of the game, but there's no way they can control what content users create, nor can they reasonably be expected to.

UncleBob

07-26-2005, 07:45 AM

If we're lucky, the guy will destroy his own credibility with this BS. That'd help restore some of my faith in humanity, at least.

I'm amazed he hasn't already destroyed it.

With his big stupid pointy elf ears...

Stupid elves...

Mike Pothier

07-26-2005, 01:13 PM

Found this interesting interview with Jack Thompson at the CBS website. It predates Hot Coffee, but its still relevant.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/24/tech/gamecore/main676446.shtml

This part got to me.
Kids took guns to school for 200 years in this country without turning them on one another. President Clinton understood that if we want to do something about gun violence, we need also to look at the stimuli to use those guns. 3000 gun laws on the books. Not a single law on the books to stop the sale of murder simulators to kids. Idiotic.

Say what?

UncleBob

07-26-2005, 01:56 PM

Found this interesting interview with Jack Thompson at the CBS website. It predates Hot Coffee, but its still relevant.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/24/tech/gamecore/main676446.shtml

This part got to me.

Say what?

What?

Kids were always bringing guns to school back in the 50's. They had to. Cause they had to fend off them commies.

StoneGold

07-26-2005, 03:52 PM

What?

Kids were always bringing guns to school back in the 50's. They had to. Cause they had to fend off them commies.
WOLVERINES!!!!

UncleBob

07-26-2005, 04:01 PM

WOLVERINES!!!!

TODAY I AM A REVERSE WOLVERINE!

By the way, I like the fact that Spider-Man's name is Marion.

MKTerra

07-26-2005, 05:04 PM

Found this interesting interview with Jack Thompson at the CBS website. It predates Hot Coffee, but its still relevant.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/24/tech/gamecore/main676446.shtml

This part got to me.

Say what?Man, I can hardly read that. The guy's views are so fundamentally incompatible with mine that reading them feels like snorting antimatter, or pouring battery acid on my brain, or something.

Draconomicon

07-26-2005, 07:21 PM

http://www.vgcats.com/comics/
http://www.vgcats.com/comics/images/050725.jpg

Chevan

07-27-2005, 10:38 AM

Found this interesting interview with Jack Thompson at the CBS website. It predates Hot Coffee, but its still relevant.

Say what?

Ah, I remember that interview. So much BS. I love how he avoided the "percentage of violent games" question.

3000 gun laws on the books. Not a single law on the books to stop the sale of murder simulators to kids.

Well, there have been proposed laws against violent games, but anyway... Isn't what he's saying kinda like selling ammo to somebody, but never letting them have access to a gun?

Not sure if this got linked before, but has anybody seen his 60 Minutes (http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/search/search.php?searchString=jack+thompson&source=cbsvideos&sort=1&type=any&num=10&offset=0);) interview? It's number 8 if you're interested.

Heh. Cranial menus.

Edit: Just wondering, anybody here ever stopped by the Gamers Alliance (http://www.gamersalliance.org/)?

StoneGold

07-27-2005, 11:27 AM

For whatever it's worth, it might be working. EA stock was down this morning.

mgs

07-28-2005, 07:47 PM

WOLVERINES!!!!
*prepares hunting knife* :)

Chou Blaster

07-29-2005, 12:37 PM

Daaaaaaaaaaaamn.

That guy actualy needs to like, play and research before attackin gthe stuff.

Because he sure does sounds like a dumb rat bastard.

SuperSaiyaMan12

07-29-2005, 01:01 PM

Jack Thompson, world's greatest idiot! I mean, how stupid can you get? There is pixelated nudity in an E rated game, ban it! Why not ban Barbie dolls then? God, this guy is going to go down like McCarthy sooner or later...

MKTerra

08-03-2005, 06:04 PM

In other news... FFVII's been banned (http://auritribe.net/cnn/).

Hiromi

08-03-2005, 09:05 PM

In other news... FFVII's been banned (http://auritribe.net/cnn/).

I feel the need to point out that that's fake, as you always get people ready to jump on something like that without bothering to look it up, or even look at the url a bit closer.

Such as this http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/victories.html

MKTerra

08-03-2005, 11:04 PM

I feel the need to point out that that's fake, as you always get people ready to jump on something like that without bothering to look it up, or even look at the url a bit closer.

Such as this http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/victories.htmlHah, there's one I haven't seen :p

MKTerra

08-08-2005, 05:02 PM

...and Ctrl-Alt-Del (http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/?t=archives&date=2005-08-08) weighs in... :p

Hiromi

08-08-2005, 05:55 PM

I was going to bring that up, curses!

Sanagi

08-09-2005, 04:13 AM

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-johnson27jul27,0,1432940.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions

This pretty much says every sensible thing there is to say on the topic of video games' influence on children and society.

FearTheMoose

08-09-2005, 02:05 PM

http://www.vgcats.com/jack.php

Hiromi

08-09-2005, 02:25 PM

well....just...damn

saintjon

08-09-2005, 03:18 PM

it would be nice if as a gaming community we didn't have these frothing at the mouth morons threatening to kill the damned lunatic, thereby making him look like a credible lunatic.

Hiromi

08-09-2005, 09:31 PM

I found this little bit on that funny: "Bogus or not bogus?: With members of the Bar (aka lawyers) compelled to tell-the-truth-the-whole-truth-and-nothing-but-the-truth, and an FBI agent who doesn't overtly deny that an investigation is underway, likely not bogus."

So basically because a lawyer says so(color me unimpressed or convinced) and because an FBI agent didn't "overtly deny" it(nor did he "overtly confirm" it)...

Any case sounds like the letter are sent from the usual frothing hate mail suspects, kids whose age is fairly close or smaller than their shoe size.

And in this specific case it's quite clear on who the nutball is.

Mike Pothier

08-15-2005, 04:22 PM

JT is slipping further and further into paranoia, it seems.

http://gr.bolt.com/articles/jack/jack.htm

I can't help it. Its just so funny! :D

Chevan

08-15-2005, 08:32 PM

Heh. We should give him one of those personalized pieces of paper.

Mike Pothier

10-10-2005, 10:37 PM

The attention whore loses his mind.... uh, again.

http://gc.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=5883

Miami, Florida Attorney Jack Thompson, a long-time outspoken critic of violent and sexually explicit videogames, has done something totally unexpected. Thompson today actually proposed a violent videogame, and will pay $10,000 to the favorite charity of Paul Eibeler (the Chairman of Take-Two Interactive) if any videogame company will "create, manufacture, distribute, and sell a video game in 2006" based on a scenario he created.

Donald M.

10-11-2005, 02:52 AM

The attention whore loses his mind.... uh, again.

http://gc.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=5883

Once again, Jack Thompson goes out of his way to prove to the world what a joke he is. With enemies like this, the video game industry doesn't need friends.

Sanagi

10-11-2005, 03:21 AM

*gives JT the silent treatment*

Mike Pothier

10-11-2005, 09:05 AM

*gives JT the silent treatment*

If the news industry did this, he would only disappear long enough till he found another ambulance to chase.

GremlinClr

10-11-2005, 09:40 AM

O.K. first hops a plane from LAX to New York to reach the Long Island home of the CEO of the company (Take This) that made the murder simulator on which his son's killer trained. O.K. gets "justice" by taking out this female CEO, whose name is Paula Eibel, along with her husband and kids. "An eye for an eye," says O.K., as he urinates onto the severed brain stems of the Eibel family victims, just as you do on the decapitated cops in the real video game Postal2.

I would so play that! C'mon Take Two, make it happen!

DrewTheXenocide

10-11-2005, 11:27 AM

Douche Bag.

Genma:TheDestroyer

10-11-2005, 02:11 PM

Douche Bag.

Well said.

Seriously, we've had folks committing crimes, then referencing books, movies, magazines, etc, etc for years.

Why doesn't he start going after them? Books have been around for years, and they have a much more mainstream audience! *Gasp*

SuperSaiyaMan12

10-11-2005, 03:11 PM

How much longer do you think until everything Jack Thompson says comes and bites him in the ass?

Mike Pothier

10-11-2005, 04:11 PM

Well said.

Seriously, we've had folks committing crimes, then referencing books, movies, magazines, etc, etc for years.

Why doesn't he start going after them? Books have been around for years, and they have a much more mainstream audience! *Gasp*

Its quite simple, to any level headed person. Violent books, movies and games are the symptoms, not the cause. You won't see a violent, troubled teen going to Gamestop and buying Kirby's Adventure or Final Fantasy. He's goes straight for the latest FPS.

But for ambulance chasers and politicians? They don't let a little thing like logic get in the way of the latest headliner.

Phrozen

10-11-2005, 11:28 PM

and Postal 2 really sucked also.

Dr. J

10-12-2005, 07:11 AM

...I'm speechless.

Donald M.

10-12-2005, 07:41 AM

and Postal 2 really sucked also.

I know. Who'd have thought killing people and urinating on their corpses could be so dull and uninteresting? Damn you Running With Scissors for taking all the fun out of mass slaughter!

Captain Sarcasm

10-12-2005, 09:37 AM

Its quite simple, to any level headed person. Violent books, movies and games are the symptoms, not the cause. You won't see a violent, troubled teen going to Gamestop and buying Kirby's Adventure or Final Fantasy. He's goes straight for the latest FPS.

But for ambulance chasers and politicians? They don't let a little thing like logic get in the way of the latest headliner.

The sad thing is, all this is because of an anti-video game lawsuit he lost six years ago, and can't even appeal any more. I think he may actually have gone insane at that point, and is currently living in some fantasy world where people have been giving a crap about what he said.

Captain Sarcasm

10-12-2005, 09:38 AM

I would so play that! C'mon Take Two, make it happen!

I think what they need to do is to make it in Flash, with atari graphics.

Mike Pothier

10-12-2005, 03:04 PM

Might want to check out today's Penny Arcade for Gabe's thoughts, and JT's response.

Man, that guy is a psycho.

Donald M.

10-12-2005, 03:22 PM

Might want to check out today's Penny Arcade for Gabe's thoughts, and JT's response.

Man, that guy is a psycho.

What a sad lunatic.

That this guy is one of videogamings most vocal oponents is actually quite heartwarming.

Chevan

10-12-2005, 06:24 PM

I think Jack's got some anger issues. That scenario he described seems like the exact thing he dreams about doing to the gaming industry every night.

I also find it to be extremely impolite to ask for a game where you kill the gender-switched avatar of a person you fought in court. That's cold, Jack. Cold.

Hell, if it weren't for the fact that the game he proposed involved real-life organizations, people, areas, and events, it sounds somewhat kickass.

And Jack? $10,000? You can't even make a movie with that, let alone a game. The only game you're going to get for ten thousand is a text-based game written in BASIC by some grade-school kid. The big publishing houses aren't going to make a game to have you donate ten thousand to a charity when they could more than triple that without having to spend the money actually making a game.

Mike Pothier

10-12-2005, 07:45 PM

I think somebody should make J.T. a villain in one of their games.

Pheonix Wright: Ace Attorney 2: The Wrath of Jack Thompson

Donald M.

10-12-2005, 08:24 PM

http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/images/comics/20050808.jpg

Mike Pothier

10-12-2005, 08:53 PM

you missed the new one! :D

http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/6784/200510120ot.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Donald M.

10-12-2005, 09:08 PM

you missed the new one! :D

I saw it, but the old one's funnier.

Mike Pothier

10-12-2005, 09:12 PM

True. But
"The numbers clearly show that Jack Thompson eats paint chips...

also he sodomizes giraffes."

Still gets to me.

Mike Pothier

10-12-2005, 11:06 PM

Even more. Damn, I know we shouldn't be feeding the troll, but its so ridiculous that I can't resist.

http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=5642

Unfortunately, the website won't let me C&P the relevant posts, but look for the poster ash somewhere in the middle; its quite long. He talked to Mr. T (my new nickname for Jackyboy) on the phone.

Sanagi

10-16-2005, 02:51 AM

Thompson rejected by his own allies; responds alternately with insults and ass-kissing

http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=5661

Liberals, like you, love to label things and then think that the labeling has accomplished something. If that had been the case, then Churchill's calling Hitler a Nazi would have ended the war. But no, people like me had to get into the trenches and stop the Nazis. And there were always those tut-tutting back home about what a nasty business it is to stop the bad people, and can't we all just "get along."
Jack Thompson: Media Troll.

SuperSaiyaMan12

10-16-2005, 12:00 PM

Thompson rejected by his own allies; responds alternately with insults and ass-kissing

http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=5661

Jack Thompson: Media Troll.
He definetely needs to try a video game, or just shut up about things he cannot understand.

Donald M.

10-16-2005, 01:15 PM

Thompson rejected by his own allies; responds alternately with insults and ass-kissing

http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=5661

Jack Thompson: Media Troll.

So wait a minute, is Bully meant to be a "Columbine simulator," or a "bullying rehersal trainer"?

My understanding of course is that it is neither, but Jack needs to realize the two concepts are, in fact, mutually exclusive.

But then, he is certifiably insane.

Lester C.

10-16-2005, 02:52 PM

Chevan

10-16-2005, 08:40 PM

What scary is that Jack and his ilk are having a devastating effect on the industry. Even if you don’t count what happened with Grand Theft auto sales across the board are been on the decline. What even is that publishers are releasing censored versions of their games in North America with a recent example being Indigo Prophecy.

I'd actually attribute Indigo Prophecy's editing to be more the result of the general climate of America, where there's less tolerance for things with percieved 'sexual' natures and where games are percieved to be more for kids. JT may have some effect on the industry, but I think the edit would still have happened without him.

However, I do agree with you that Jack is definitely having a negative effect. And to be honest, I don't think he's going to let up anytime soon. Fanatacism is good news and gets lots of attention.

I believe I can sum up JT's argument in one sentence. In the words of one memorable debater: "You're just trying to confuse us with the facts!"

Oh, and VG Cats deserves some JT related linkage (http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=158).

Donald M.

10-17-2005, 03:29 AM

Yeah, all that got edited out of Indigo Prophecy was a little nudity and an interactive sex scene, stuff that's no problem in Europe where sex in popular entertainment is more openly accepted, but might have gotten the game an AO rating here in the United States. Jack Thompson, whose main focus has always been on violence in games, has almost nothing to do with that.

Honestly, I don't really see it as a loss. It's nothing whose presence adds to or detracts from the game in my opinion. Like there isn't enough gratuitous sex everywhere else without it being in video games too . . .

Mike Pothier

10-17-2005, 02:15 PM

Penny Arcade (http://www.penny-arcade.com/)

You know what, Jack? We're going to be the men you're not. You said that your insulting, illusory ten thousand dollars would go to the charity of Paul Eibeler's choice. We've got a good guess that he'd direct your nonexistant largesse toward The Entertainment Software Association Foundation, a body that has raised over six point seven million dollars over the last eight years. We've just made the donation you never would, and never meant to. Ten thousand dollars' worth. And we made it in your name.

Nuff said.

Chevan

10-17-2005, 04:56 PM

Penny Arcade (http://www.penny-arcade.com/)

Nuff said.

I cheered for PA when I saw that, and they're good people for doing it.

JT, on the other hand, is now into the negative respect points. Pulling out of a charity offer, calling it satire? Assholery of the highest order.

Donald M.

10-17-2005, 05:08 PM

Penny Arcade (http://www.penny-arcade.com/)

Nuff said.

Wow, that's awesome.

If anyone had any doubt JT is a joke, his escalating insanity over the past few months and the unfailingly mature response from the professional gaming community and its advocates should erase it.

DrewTheXenocide

10-17-2005, 05:20 PM

Hella Cool.

I didn't even know they had $10,000.

Donald M.

10-17-2005, 05:32 PM

Isn't JT involved in a few pending lawsuits involving the families of supposed video game inspired violence? These people should be made aware (if they aren't already) that they're being represented by an insane hate-spewing manchild in cases they can't possibly win. They do the dead a grave disservice by blaming video games.

GremlinClr

10-18-2005, 09:43 AM

J.T. calls the cops on Penny Arcade.

Article (http://www.livejournal.com/users/gamepolitics/110152.html)

Mike Pothier

10-18-2005, 10:01 AM

In a letter faxed to Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske, Thompson says, in part, "A Seattle business by the name of Penny Arcade... employs certain personnel who have decided to commence and orchestrate criminal [1]harassment of me by various means... This company has done this because I dared to go on CBS's 60 Minutes in March and again in July to explain a wrongful death lawsuit I have brought on behalf of two police officers and a police dispatcher in Fayette, Alabama, who were shot in the head and killed by Devin Moore who obsessively trained on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City to kill them."
"As you may know, this incredibly violent Rockstar Games product is actually a 'cop-killing' murder simulator.[2] There are a bunch of computer geeks out there who think that the video game industry has a constitutional right to paint a bullseye on your back and on your officers' backs... That is what this criminal harassment of me by Penny Arcade is all about. They're even selling an 'I Hate Jack Thompson' t-shirt, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. These idiots have been so careless as to post on their www.pennyarcade.com web site what they are doing regarding the harassment of me."

"I look forward to working with your fine Police Department to shut this little extortion factory down and/or arrest some of its employees."

1. Thats right, they're harrasing you because you went on TV. It wasn't because you're acting like a self-righteous prick, not only making up a bull-shit offer to donate $10,000 to charity if somebody makes your little ego-trip videogame proposal, but also completely reneging the offer when somebody actually carries it out.

Yes, donating money to charity in your name is horrible, horrible harassment.

2. Because we all know violence never existed before videogames. Oh no. No cop has ever been shot and killed in the line of duty before GTAIII was release upon the poor, impressionable babies that Rockstar targets with their vile, evil videogames.

SuperSaiyaMan12

10-18-2005, 10:24 AM

He is more than just a video game hater as well, he is racist...

Thoughts on Islam
In an interview with the Sun-Sentinel, Thompson expressed his views on Islam [39] [40] [41] [42]:

"The Bible doesn't promote killing innocent people," Thompson said. "Grand Theft Auto does. Islam does. Islam promotes the killing of innocent people. The Quran requires the infidel, whether Jew or Christian, to be killed. … That's a core essence of the religion. … Muhammad was a pirate who killed infidels and who advocated the killing of infidels. Not a nice guy. Osama bin Laden is in keeping with his fine tradition."

Mike Pothier

10-18-2005, 10:28 AM

Thought I might lighten up the mood here.

http://www.g4tv.com/videos/index.html?video_key=9336

Donald M.

10-18-2005, 11:13 AM

Thought I might lighten up the mood here.

http://www.g4tv.com/videos/index.html?video_key=9336

Wow, that did lighten the mood! G4 airs the Man Show now? No wonder I never watch that channel.

Genma:TheDestroyer

10-18-2005, 01:24 PM

Jack Thompson speaks out against G4's portrayal of him. Threatens court action.

www.areyoutakingthisseriously.com

Sanagi

10-18-2005, 07:53 PM

Wow, that did lighten the mood! G4 airs the Man Show now? No wonder I never watch that channel.
It's sad, isn't it? G4 can't even produce enough of their own crap to put on the air, so they have to borrow someone else's.

Mike Pothier

10-19-2005, 02:12 PM

Gabe speaks out.

Jack is not special. He is not a unique snow flake as they say. He is just the latest vocal opponent of whatever is "corrupting" our youth at the moment. When my dad was growing up it was rock and roll devil music. Then it was comic books then movies and rap music. Today it’s videogames. If we were to succeed in getting Jack blacklisted from the major news outlets someone else would simply take his place. Imagine him as an actor playing a part in a play. The point is that Jack Thompson is not important. If he were to be fired a new actor would simply take up the role. The same lines would still be delivered in the same way and the same audience would pay to see it. We are actually fortunate that the current actor is so impotent in his role. Imagine what might happen if some charming, efficacious attorney took his place. The more I consider it the more I think we may be lucky to have Jack playing the part of the alarmist. The alternative might be someone who is actually capable.

This is something I've been saying for a while now. While Jack is an annoying pest, he's harmless. All his screaming and whining, his trolling methods of handling criticism, just shows rational people what a joke he is. If this is the worst that the gaming community has to contend with, then we have nothing to worry about.
In fact, the last thing we want to do is make a martyr out of Jack. I get more angry at the childish gamers who send him death threats then any sort of crackpot scheme for attention he comes up with every week. All it does is stir the hornets nest, gives him more ammo, and allows him to point the finger and say "See, see? I was right all along!"

Draconomicon

10-20-2005, 10:33 PM

Jack Thompson, a Florida lawyer who became infamous in 1988 for accusing Janet Reno of being a closeted lesbian with a drinking problem and a strong candidate for blackmail, has recently been making waves with his crusade against the video game industry. Earlier this year, he launched a wrongful death lawsuit against Take Two Interactive and Rockstar Games, makers of the Grand Theft Auto series, claiming that the video game was directly responsible for 18 year-old Devin Moore's shooting of three police officers in 2003.

Jack recently appeared on CBS's 60 Minutes trying to drum up support for his efforts. However, this publicity was apparently not satisfying enough for him, as he went on to try and create more outrage on his own. Attempting to emulate Jonathan Swift, he issued a "Modest Proposal" that offered a US$10,000 reward to anyone who would create a video game featuring Osaki Kim, a father whose son was beaten to death with a baseball bat by a 14-year-old gamer. The game would feature Kim extracting brutal revenge on the video game industry itself, including beating game company executives to death, removing their heads and urinating on their brain stems.

What Jack did not expect was that the enterprising PC gaming mod community would turn around and make this mod a reality. Jack then reneged on his promise of a US$10,000 donation to the charity of the modder's choice, saying that his original bounty had been "satire", and therefore not a legitimate promise.

This is where Penny Arcade, the popular video game-themed online comic strip, entered the story. One of the co-creators of the strip, Mike "Gabe" Krahulik, emailed Jack Thompson and informed him that he thought his proposed US$10,000 charitable donation was pretty small in light of Penny Arcade's more than half a million dollars, raised as part of their "Child's Play" charity event. Unfortunately for Gabe, his email contained his phone number as part of the signature, and Jack took advantage of this to phone him directly. The phone call included a threat of a lawsuit if Gabe emailed him again. In response, Gabe sent a check to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) in the amount of US$10,000 with the note "For Jack Thompson Because Jack Thompson Won't" on the bottom.

The threats then escalated. Jack then faxed a letter to the Seattle Police Department claiming that Penny Arcade was "criminally harassing" him, and urging the arrest of "this little extortion factory".

At this point, the nerds swung into action. Penny Arcade forum members wrote, edited and sent letters and faxes to the Florida Bar Association detailing Thompson's activities and urging the review of his license to practice law. Jack Thompson has already received a reprimand by the FBA for his antics in 1998, and according to a spokesperson, the letters and faxes have been received and forwarded to the disciplinary committee.

Already, other activists against video game violence are starting to distance themselves from Jack Thompson. Earlier this month, the National Institute on Media and the Family wrote a letter to Jack, asking him to remove the link to their organization from his web site. While Mr. Thompson's fifteen minutes of fame may be waning, the issue of violence in video games remains a hot topic.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051019-5458.html

--------

Well, well, well...
look who got bitten into his own butt now...

Genma:TheDestroyer

10-20-2005, 10:57 PM

Should have done his research a bit better.

Some of the hardcore PA fans do not $&#^@ around.

Captain Sarcasm

10-20-2005, 11:08 PM

Should have done his research a bit better.

Some of the hardcore PA fans do not $&#^@ around.

Yeah, but ten'll get you 20 that this doesn't keep him off of TV. If they'll call up John "Biggest Douche In The Universe" Edward to punditize on Terry Schaivo, they'll call on anyone.

GremlinClr

10-21-2005, 07:32 AM

Jack Thompson calls for a truce (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=27089).

Mike Pothier

10-21-2005, 11:06 AM

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/733/ackbartrap9wk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Donald M.

10-21-2005, 11:34 AM

Jack Thompson calls for a truce (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=27089).

So let me get this straight, Jack Thompson is calling Doug Lowenstein a "self-immolating clown"?

That's irony of the highest order and further proof that reality is not one of Jack's strong points.

Inkthinker

10-21-2005, 12:24 PM

Yeah, when I read about the PA donation in Thompson's name I got a good damn chuckle. You'd think this guy would know when to cut his losses, but no...

Captain Sarcasm

10-21-2005, 06:42 PM

Jack Thompson calls for a truce (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=27089).

While some have been quick to point out that Thompson may have no idea what he's talking about...

...see, this is the kind of coverage that 60 minutes needs to provide.

Captain Sarcasm

10-21-2005, 07:05 PM

Courtesy of PVPonline

http://www.pvponline.com/images/news/letter.gif

I think he's got a shot.

Deathstroke

10-21-2005, 07:10 PM

Jack Thompson is a scumbag plain and simple. Always has been, always will be.

Captain Sarcasm

10-21-2005, 07:14 PM

Jack Thompson is a scumbag plain and simple. Always has been, always will be.

No, that's just what you get with your law degree. This... this, I think we'll need a BFG for.

Lester C.

10-21-2005, 09:05 PM

No, that's just what you get with your law degree. This... this, I think we'll need a BFG for.

Lawyers are the most ethical creatures on earth because they have to be. Their profession is the one of the most regulated in America and those who can’t conform to a rigid set of ethics are tossed out of the profession. Granted once the bad one are actually tossed out from ambulance chasing or whatever got them disbarred they are millonairs several times over. over but still there are rules and rules you have to follow.

As for Jack T. I have conflicting emotions. There is no question that take two slipped material past the ESRB and that version of Grand Theft Auto had to be recalled. Yes they were extraneous circumstances like hot coffee needing an unauthorized third party device in order to be unlocked but still that material is there. On the other hand I think it disgusting that Jack wants to take games away from everybody when the average person that buys M rated games are adult as most retailers ask for ID now if you want a mature game. Between the retailers and the ESRB the games are rated for content and are only sold to adults so I can’t understand what more he wants.
Lastly can someone pm me as to what bfg stands for? Damn you kids and your hip internet lingo.

Lightbend

10-21-2005, 09:45 PM

Big F___ing Gun. It's a reference to the most powerful weapon in the Doom games- the BFG 9000.

Mike Pothier

10-21-2005, 09:55 PM

*shrugs* This isn't unexpected. His over the top actions and extreme measures are bound to irritate the real lawyers. You know, the ones prosecuting and defending the real threats and victims of society, respectively.

Captain Sarcasm

10-21-2005, 10:05 PM

Lawyers are the most ethical creatures on earth because they have to be. Their profession is the one of the most regulated in America and those who can’t conform to a rigid set of ethics are tossed out of the profession. Granted once the bad one are actually tossed out from ambulance chasing or whatever got them disbarred they are millonairs several times over. over but still there are rules and rules you have to follow.

...dude... look at my name. Sarcasm.

Donald M.

10-21-2005, 10:13 PM

Courtesy of PVPonline

http://www.pvponline.com/images/news/letter.gif

I think he's got a shot.

Once again Aquaman is overlooked. Poor Aquaman.

I wonder if Jack is aware the JLA is to appear soon in a murder simulator of their own. Obviously they are all under the thrall of the Doug Lowenstein and the ESA. All save Aquaman, the only one not in the game (replaced by Zatanna) because oviously he was the only one able to overcome the mental conditioning.

Poor Jack, appealing to all the heroes but the one who can help him.

Captain Sarcasm

10-22-2005, 05:29 AM

Once again Aquaman is overlooked. Poor Aquaman.

I wonder if Jack is aware the JLA is to appear soon in a murder simulator of their own. Obviously they are all under the thrall of the Doug Lowenstein and the ESA. All save Aquaman, the only one not in the game (replaced by Zatanna) because oviously he was the only one able to overcome the mental conditioning.

Poor Jack, appealing to all the heroes but the one who can help him.

They replaced Aquaman with Zatanna.

...

...I mean people at least know who Aquaman *is*.

Lester C.

10-22-2005, 06:51 AM

Big F___ing Gun. It's a reference to the most powerful weapon in the Doom games- the BFG 9000.

BFG. Big *******gun. I like it. I like it a lot. I think I want to use it in a sentence. If anyone ***** with me I’m going to shoot them with my BFG.

Genma:TheDestroyer

10-22-2005, 07:50 AM

Maybe they thought fishnet stockings would be more appealing than a guy who talks to fish.

Captain Sarcasm

10-22-2005, 11:18 PM

Maybe they thought fishnet stockings would be more appealing than a guy who talks to fish.

Yeah, but how would that work? You'd need a keyboard and the ability to type backwards.

DarkSoldier

10-27-2005, 02:01 AM

Lawyers are the most ethical creatures on earth because they have to be.Ethics are one thing; morals are another. I know there are lawyers who will represent pro bono for causes they believe are just, but there are just as many, if not more, who will represent the most reprehensible criminals just to get (inter)national recognition or the associated legal fees.

BlairH

10-27-2005, 07:45 AM

I've said it once, I'll say it a million times.
Jack is a prick.

Sanagi

11-03-2005, 07:51 PM

Jack Thompson blames Japan for GTA. (http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=5745) Risks adding "racist" and "with very poor sense of direction" to his unofficial title of Media Troll.

Michael P

11-03-2005, 07:57 PM

Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll send ninja after him.

SuperSaiyaMan12

11-03-2005, 08:36 PM

Jack Thompson is publically proving that he is a racist bastard. I wonder how long it'll be until he is silenced, like all bigots?

Genma:TheDestroyer

11-03-2005, 09:21 PM

The man has lost all sense he had.

Mike Pothier

11-03-2005, 10:27 PM

Don't worry, the Japanese embassador will make Jack feel much better by assuring him he as a biiiiiig penis.

yeoman

11-04-2005, 11:57 AM

Wow. That's messed up. I mean, I don't even have a point of reference to begin to describe how messed up that is.

Captain Sarcasm

11-04-2005, 06:40 PM

Wow. That's messed up. I mean, I don't even have a point of reference to begin to describe how messed up that is.

I think that, right now, the only thing we have to compare this to is other s*** that Jack Thomspon has done.

Mike Pothier

11-04-2005, 11:03 PM

Don't break out the champagne yet, but...
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6139206.html

Thompson gets his day in court

Civil suit against game companies kicks off, but Florida attorney's behavior has to stand trial first.

Before Florida attorney Jack Thompson's can argue that companies that made or sold Grand Theft Auto III are responsible for a June 2003 triple murder, Thompson first has to convince a circuit court judge that he should be allowed to practice law in Alabama.

Thompson is representing the families of two police officers and a dispatcher killed by then-18-year-old Devin Moore in a suit against Sony, Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games, Wal-Mart, and GameStop. But according to a report in The Tuscaloosa News (registration required), the defendants have turned the tables with a motion to have Thompson dismissed from the case, as well as have his privilege to practice law in Alabama revoked for violations of legal ethics.

The motion was based on Thompson's many press releases and their frequent attacks on the law firm that represents some of his favorite targets (and one with ties to some of this case's defandants)Z: Blank Rome. A lawyer with Blank Rome said Thompson was incapable of proceeding with civility and said he would "turn the courtroom into a circus."

To which Thompson responded, "I didn't start this food fight. They started it and I have a right to respond because, believe it or not, I have a life outside of this case."

The defense also motioned to have the entire case dismissed, saying that games were protected under the First Amendment and that Moore's actions could not have been foreseen by the defendants.

Fayette County Circuit Judge James Moore asked both sides to draft arguments for how he should decide on the motion to dismiss the trial, in addition to saying he would make a decision on both motions at a later date.

Sanagi

11-05-2005, 03:46 PM

Reminds of the Simpsons episode where Homer's talking to Lionel Hutz through prison bars, and when the camera zooms out it's Hutz who's in the cell.

Chevan

11-05-2005, 03:48 PM

Don't break out the champagne yet, but...

[snip]

You just made my day. Nay, week.

Perry Holley

11-19-2005, 01:31 PM

Earlier this month, outspoken Florida attorney Jack Thompson withdrew from a high-profile Alabama civil suit against several game makers and retailers. According to Game Politics, the judge today rejected Thompson's withdrawal, and instead kicked him off the case and revoked his temporary license to practice law in Alabama, to boot.

Full story (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6140117.html)

Mike Pothier

11-19-2005, 01:32 PM

Hehe. "You can't quit, because you're fired!"

Michael P

11-21-2005, 01:21 PM

Yes, our favorite bat**** insane lawyer-cum-witchfinder is back in the news again:

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/668/668345p1.html

Jack Thompson's Alabama License Revoked
Controversial attorney thrown off of GTA lawsuit.
by Wade Steel

November 21, 2005 - Controversial Miami-based attorney Jack Thompson has been removed from a lawsuit filed by the families of two slain police officers and a police dispatcher against Sony, Rockstar Games, and game retailers. Furthermore, the judge in the case revoked Thompson's license to practice law in the state of Alabama citing Thompson's behavior as the cause of the sanction.

One state down, 49 to go.

BlairH

11-21-2005, 01:44 PM

I hate Jack Torrence and his extremist anti violent ways.

NEWSFLASH FOR JACK: SOMETIMES VIOLENCE IS REALLY COOL!

Michael P

11-21-2005, 02:27 PM

I hate Jack Torrence

All work and no play make Blair think of wrong Jack.

http://www.eofftv.com/images/n/nicholson_jack3.jpg

Scorpion13

11-21-2005, 04:31 PM

Eh. So he got it wrong.

Jack Torrance aint exactly a real nice guy, either. ;)

Mike Pothier

11-21-2005, 11:14 PM

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6140202.html

"Oh yeah? OH YEAH? Well, you're just a big doo doo head!!"

Perry Holley

11-22-2005, 05:10 PM

Geez, just when I think Thompson can't make any more of an ass of himself, he proves me wrong.

Takashi_Kurita

11-22-2005, 05:42 PM

I no longer find him funny.

The very fact that Jack Thompson was practicing law at all in this country shames the entire law system, IMO.

The guy needs to be disbarred, permanently. Then humiliated publicly on national television.

Lester C.

11-23-2005, 06:21 PM

Yes, our favorite bat**** insane lawyer-cum-witchfinder is back in the news again:

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/668/668345p1.html

One state down, 49 to go.

Actually a lawyer is generally only license in one state. As it stands right now Jack isn’t a lawyer and won’t be one unless he is successful in an appeal.

yeoman

11-23-2005, 10:37 PM

Actually a lawyer is generally only license in one state. As it stands right now Jack isn’t a lawyer and won’t be one unless he is successful in an appeal.

No, he still has a license in Florida. This is just overturning his temporary lisence to practice in another state.

Mike Pothier

06-05-2006, 05:53 PM

Jack's back, and this time he's taking no prisoners!

Last week, sheriff's deputies conducting an investigation into the murder of a 55-year-old Louisiana man seized a number of games rated M for Mature from the home of a 16-year-old suspect, according to a report in the Baton Rouge paper The Advocate. The action was taken at the suggestion of controversial Florida attorney Jack Thompson.

Thompson told The Advocate that he suggested the sheriffs look for violent games in the youth's house because he felt the killings mirrored a scenario from Grand Theft Auto. The original reports indicated that the victim was beaten to death and shot in the face by the 16-year-old and a 17-year-old accomplice.

"Nobody shoots anybody in the face unless you're a hit man or a video gamer," Thompson told the paper.

While the police did seize the games, it's unclear exactly what role they will play in the investigation. West Feliciana Parish Sheriff's Captain Spence Dilworth told the paper, "I think it goes beyond video games, but who's to say?"

Sanagi

06-06-2006, 02:49 AM

Says Jack:"Nobody shoots anybody in the face unless you're a hit man or a video gamer."Well, that's just plain logical.

Urusai Wrangler

06-06-2006, 03:27 AM

Jack Thompson is the legal equivalent of a humpback whale. He spends most of his time under the water, and every once in awhile during whale-watching season he breaches the surface to make some waves, make a big splash, and give the whale watchers a bit of a show. The whale watchers, if they happen to be looking in the right direction, ooh and aah at the display, but ultimately the whale slips back under the waves, the whale watchers go home, and life continues on unchanged.

"Remember that time we saw that whale? Man, that was amazing...Liz-Beth, go ask momma if we got any more spinach dip, hun."

Sanagi

06-06-2006, 03:40 AM

Jack Thompson is the legal equivalent of a humpback whale.
Or a proboscis monkey.

I don't have a metaphor for that, I just think they're both really funny in a baffling sort of way.

Mike Pothier

08-11-2006, 12:40 AM

In case you missed it: http://youtube.com/watch?v=DmJ7IXeqG7k

My thoughts:

Jack Thompson is quieter in person. His letters make him sound a lot more threatening then he really is.

Adam Sessler is a lot more intelligent then I gave him credit for.

Sanagi

08-11-2006, 03:24 AM

Beating a dead horse like it's going out of style...

I think Sessler just wanted his turn to kick Thompson while he was down.

blackdragon6

08-11-2006, 06:30 AM

Game Daily guy tried to disrupt the debate by blaming music and television.

JDogindy

08-11-2006, 08:21 AM

I read a recent article on Jack Thompson in EGM. Believe me, there is no guy hated in the industry than this whack job. A lot of people would want to do him in.

DrewTheXenocide

08-11-2006, 08:35 AM

I read a recent article on Jack Thompson in EGM. Believe me, there is no guy hated in the industry than this whack job. A lot of people would want to do him in.
The thing that I hate most is how most gamers express said hatred towards him. It's like that Calvin and Hobbes strip when Calvin says somethign like "some guy said that violence in cartoons made kids more violent." He then goes onto say "I'd like to shoot the guy who said that."

Kid Kamikaze10

08-11-2006, 08:54 AM

The thing that I hate most is how most gamers express said hatred towards him. It's like that Calvin and Hobbes strip when Calvin says somethign like "some guy said that violence in cartoons made kids more violent." He then goes onto say "I'd like to shoot the guy who said that."

Not all gamers act that way. Really, only the GTA and MK fanatics act that childish.

Me, I just don't think he's a very creditable lawyer, and he needs to get his priorities straight.

Mike Pothier

08-11-2006, 01:44 PM

Beating a dead horse like it's going out of style...

I think Sessler just wanted his turn to kick Thompson while he was down.

LOL, true. Sessler was definitely coming on a little too strong. Honestly, I agree that Thompson is old news, but as long as he keeps thrusting himself into the spotlight, he deserves every ounce of mockery he gets.

Count Vertigo

08-11-2006, 03:50 PM

Adam Sessler is a lot more intelligent then I gave him credit for.

It's the new writers at G4. They're goddamned hacks. Back when it was TechTV he was smart, eloquent and dressed NORMALLY. He didn't act like a f****** dork and the jokes weren't bad or suited for whatever's current in the pop culture.

Headhunter

08-12-2006, 05:33 PM

Adam was too aggressive, Mark was too passive, and Jack was too...wrong.

The thing of it is, Jack Thompson does have a valid point now and again amidst his rhetoric and mostly vitriolic spiel. His problem is that he presents himself as a paranoid, preaching psycho lawyer out for his 15 minutes when a few understated interviews and a decent PR rep could have accomplished a lot more.

There's a huge list of ills with society that need to be dealt with before we get to friggin' video games.

It's the new writers at G4. They're goddamned hacks. Back when it was TechTV he was smart, eloquent and dressed NORMALLY. He didn't act like a f****** dork and the jokes weren't bad or suited for whatever's current in the pop culture.
More and more, wish I had been watching TechTV in its heyday... :(

kel25

08-13-2006, 12:10 AM

Wow claiming a kid trained to use guns by playing Doom. I’ve hear a lot of stupid comments in my life but that is one of the best. Shooting a gun in a game and shooting a gun in real life are nothing alike.

By Jack's reasoning I could grab Madden NFL 07 and could become the next great football star just by playing it. :rolleyes:

BigBoss

08-15-2006, 07:46 PM

good I hate that man. he doesent deserve too state his opoiin.

AndyAnime

08-15-2006, 08:17 PM

good I hate that man. he doesent deserve too state his opoiin.

Hey, settle down... everyone's entitled to their opinion, even if it's uninformed and, quite frankly, a bit crackpot. :p

What Thompson doesn't deserve is people who will listen to his self-righteous "save the children" rants.

Genma:TheDestroyer

08-15-2006, 09:17 PM

What Thompson doesn't deserve is people who will listen to his self-righteous "save the children" rants.

Seriously.

The guy claimed industry leaders were worse then Hitler and the Nazis.

When later asked about it, he said it was wrong. "That's insulting the Nazis".

P-Man

08-16-2006, 12:28 AM

Not all gamers act that way. Really, only the GTA and MK fanatics act that childish.

Well that was ignorant. In fact, it was rather childish. Kinda funny, that.

Alex

08-16-2006, 08:44 PM

Adam Sessler is a lot more intelligent then I gave him credit for.
He's clearly not used to discussing issues though.
When he first opened up, he didn't despuit anything thompson said (Who is, i admit, a bit of a lunatic), he instead ignored the question, except answering it with a no, and went on about bad education and health care system.
Which was true, but i'm fairly certain a better healthcare system has nothing to do with this game.
In other words, to emotional, and if this wasn't a videogame show, he would have been snickered at.

the_coldest_sun

08-17-2006, 09:24 AM

This whole thing just upsets me. Just because kids AND adults play video games doesn't mean games made for adults shouldnt be released. Hell, kids and adults watch MOVIES too, but you didn't see anyone looking to shut down the release of movies like Hostel or The Hills Have Eyes. :/

Genma:TheDestroyer

08-17-2006, 10:23 AM

Well, a big difference is 95% of the politicians involved don't know a single thing about game development, or how they work.

They all thought "Hot Coffee", and the bare chest file in Oblivion were things readily accessible by young children who had a copy of the game.

They don't understand the fact that you needed to do some modding and altering of files (PC) or use a cheat device where you could input the lines of code (console). They think it was a normal part of the game.

What makes it worse is that, to put it bluntly, children shouldn't have been within twenty feet of either game in the first place.

This is what's making companies who provide modding tools with thier game nervous. Because if someone decides to make nude mods (like, say, in Morrowind), a politician could try to lamblast the company who made the game, like they're the ones who did it.

And the public, with a majority being just as bloody ignorant, following right along.

creep

08-17-2006, 11:06 AM

It's the new writers at G4. They're goddamned hacks. Back when it was TechTV he was smart, eloquent and dressed NORMALLY. He didn't act like a f****** dork and the jokes weren't bad or suited for whatever's current in the pop culture.

Back when the show was on TechTv, wasn't that when they kept showing that bit where Sessler was always stappling himself in the crotch?

Kid Kamikaze10

08-17-2006, 11:40 AM

Well, a big difference is 95% of the politicians involved don't know a single thing about game development, or how they work.

They all thought "Hot Coffee", and the bare chest file in Oblivion were things readily accessible by young children who had a copy of the game.

They don't understand the fact that you needed to do some modding and altering of files (PC) or use a cheat device where you could input the lines of code (console). They think it was a normal part of the game.

What makes it worse is that, to put it bluntly, children shouldn't have been within twenty feet of either game in the first place.

This is what's making companies who provide modding tools with thier nervous. Because if someone decides to make nude mods (like, say, in Morrowind), a politician could try to lamblast the company who made the game, like they're the ones who did it.

And the public, with a majority being just as bloody ignorant, following right along.

This is the one essential part of this whole topic that is never brought up. Quite a shame, because if it were to be brought up, it would be the catalyst of a major victory for the video game community.

Jared H.

09-19-2007, 10:41 AM

This is bloody rich. (http://gamepolitics.com/2007/09/18/jack-thompson-says-gta-4-mission-target-is-him-threatens-to-block-release/)

Outspoken anti-games lawyer Jack Thompson has decided that a representation of a 2nd amendment lawyer in GTA IV is a mocking version of him. He has declared that if the representation is not removed he will attempt to block the release of the game. Excerpt from GamePolitics: 'The showcasing play of the game to Game Informer revealed that the first killing mission of the hero of the game, Niko, is to kill a certain lawyer. When Niko comes into this lawyer's office, having used subterfuge to do so, Niko pulls a gun on the lawyer who says, that the firm supports the second amendment and that 'Guns don't kill people. Video games do.'"

But here's the best part: (http://gamepolitics.com/2007/04/19/breaking-grand-theft-auto-publisher-settles-lawsuit-against-jack-thompson/)

In the settlement, filed with Federal District Court Judge Cecilia Altonaga, Thompson has agreed that he:

1.) will not sue or threaten to sue to block sale or distribution of any game published by Take Two or its subsidiaries (i.e., Rockstar).

2.) will not communicate to Take Two or anyone doing business with T2 (like, say Wal-Mart) any accusation that the company committed any wrongdoing by selling its games. Thompson is not restricted from criticizing the content of T2 games, nor is he prevented from acting as counsel in lawsuits brought against Take Two by other parties

3.) will make any future contacts with T2 through its attorneys

For its part Take Two has agreed to dismiss the federal lawsuit and Thompson will drop his counterclaim. T2 has also agreed to drop the Bully contempt of court matter. There was to have been a hearing on the case tomorrow morning, and Thompson could potentially have been jailed if he were found to be in contempt by a Miami-Dade County judge.

Jack Thompson is breaching a court settlement to try and go after Rockstar yet again. And, of course, Rockstar is covered under parody laws, so he's even MORE screwed this time around.

Thorlief

09-19-2007, 11:21 AM

Jake Thompson should be forced to play a real life version of Manhunt, as a victim of course

seriously, this guy is truly one of the biggest idiots on Earth

StoneGold

09-19-2007, 11:45 AM

JDogindy

09-19-2007, 11:49 AM

To be fair, considering they are engaged in legal matters with the man, it's probably not best to poke him with a sharp stick. Parody may or may not completely stick in this one as well. Although it probably will, but it has as much to do with the changing nature of what constitutes a public figure.

You really shouldn't do stuff like that, but consider that Jack Thompson is essentially, to video gamers, Public Enemy #1 for his constant crusades on the groundless belief* if you play one hour of GTA, you become a car-jacking mass murderer.

Plus, he dosen't care about anyone besides himself.

*I do believe there is some elevation in attitude, but I doubt it's enough to go shootin', IMO

Jared H.

09-19-2007, 11:52 AM

StoneGold

09-19-2007, 12:00 PM

But Jack himself has already done worse than what he's threatening to sue Rockstar for. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Modest_Video_Game_Proposal)

And so that makes sense to poke him with a sharp stick?

Jared H.

09-19-2007, 01:05 PM

And so that makes sense to poke him with a sharp stick?

Probably not, but it's still free publicity, and they're likely quite well covered legally.

GremlinClr

09-19-2007, 02:20 PM

It shouldn't matter how hard they poke him. He's signed a contractual agreement never to sue Take Two about their games. I think they could name the lawyer in GTA4 Jack Thompson and he couldn't do anything about it, parody or not.

If I were Take Two I would do everything in my power to goad Jack into breaking the contract then have his ass thrown in jail. Less Jack Thompson is always a good thing.

Genma:TheDestroyer

09-19-2007, 02:38 PM

Jack would have sued the game, anyway. He's mentioned wanting to 'bring down' games just because they're made by companies *related* to Rockstar. The man has such an obsession with the company that it really doesn't matter.

He's advocated making games where crazy parental figures massacre people from the ESRB, Rockstar, and many other game companies. Using their exact names. For him to get all pissy when someone does something that he interprets as a parody of him is pure hypocrisy.

Even if it is a prod by Rockstar, screw it. Let them throw a few pokes in retaliation.

DaeJi

09-19-2007, 03:12 PM

I don't think anyone takes Jack Thompson seriously anymore. He makes a lot of noise that is mostly ignored, and when he is paid some attention it's either mockery or lip service. Not actually the kind of guy people should look out for.

Perry Holley

09-19-2007, 06:25 PM

Merged this with the other Jack Thompson thread (which was in and of itself the result of merging several Thompson related threads).

Because, quite frankly, this loon doesn't deserve to have more than one thread about him.

Thorlief

09-23-2007, 08:25 PM

Jack strikes again

http://www.gamepolitics.com/images/legal/JT-halo3-nuisance.doc

Genma:TheDestroyer

09-23-2007, 10:34 PM

Jack strikes again

http://www.gamepolitics.com/images/legal/JT-halo3-nuisance.doc

'Bout cracked up when I read the 'have been in good standing with the Florida Law Board for X-many years' part.

He's almost gotten his right to practice taken away several times because of the kooky antics he's pulled.

Genma:TheDestroyer

09-26-2007, 07:20 PM

Jared H.

09-26-2007, 08:14 PM

Oh Jackie, when will you figure out that sneaking gay porn into the files you give a judge won't help make your case? Tsk, tsk, tsk.

http://gamepolitics.com/2007/09/26/judge-spanks-jack-thompson-for-sending-gay-porn-with-court-filing/

That is absolutely FANTASTIC.

http://gsm327.googlepages.com/thomptest1.gif

http://gsm327.googlepages.com/takethat.gif

http://www.court-records.net/animation/judge-surprised.gif

"............"

Sanagi

09-27-2007, 12:57 AM

Wait, let me get this straight. So the judge has a friend who linked to a gay porn site, and in the process of using this fact to discredit the judge, Jack committed the legal equivalent of a "send to all" e-mail?

That clinches it, in the movie of Jack Thompson's life, he'll be played by Leslie Nielsen.

Jared H.

03-21-2008, 02:02 PM

The latest development (http://gamepolitics.com/2008/03/20/breaking-florida-supreme-court-sanctions-jack-thompson/) with Jack Thompson. Could the disbarment come next month? I hope so!

And the following is from the actual court order:

Thompson has submitted over fifty filings directly with this Court, all of which have either been forwarded to the referee, dismissed, or denied. Additionally, Thompson’s most recent filings are repetitive, frivolous, and, like his earlier ones, insulting to the Court. One of Thompson’s recent filings contains what Thompson refers to as a “children’s picture book for adults” that rehashes his previous arguments in illustrated form which he states was necessary due to “the Court’s inability to comprehend” his arguments. Between the text of the motion, Thompson pasted images depicting swastikas, kangaroos in court, a reproduced dollar bill, cartoon squirrels, Paul Simon, Paul Newman, Ray Charles, a handprint with the word "SLAP!" written under it, Bar Governor Benedict P. Kuehne, a baby, Ed Bradley, Jack Nicholson, Justice Clarence Thomas, Julius Caesar, monkeys, and a house of cards, and the motion concludes with a photograph of the cover of Thompson’s book, Out of Harm's Way.