V-Tech Rampage Creator Demands Payment to Remove Game
V-Tech Rampage Creator Demands Payment to Remove Game
May 15, 2007
In the history of video games, perhaps in the history of the Internet, this is something never seen before: an audience held hostage.Ryan Lambourn, the Australian man who created the highly offensive V-Tech Rampage, has posted a message on his GooGumProduce website demanding payment to take the game offline:
ATTENTION ANGRY PEOPLE:
I will take this game down from newgrounds if the donation amount reaches $1000 US, i’ll take it down from here if it reaches $2000 US, and i will apologize if it reaches $3000 US.
Newgrounds, of course, could take the game offline without regard to Lambourn's wishes. It remains to be seen whether the site will do so.
It's unclear whether Lambourn's Dr. Evil-style demand is for real or just part of an elaborate prank. Either way, the clock is now running on Ryan Lambourn's 15 minutes of fame.
UPDATE: We're running a GP poll (see sidebar) on the V-Tech game situation. Be sure to vote!
UPDATE 2: Lambourn writes on his website that the money demand was a joke:
...the donation thing is there as a joke against all the people commanding me to take my game down. I didnt think anyone would donate money to it and so far my paypal account has proven me right...
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Comments
Sick humour also requires a level of detachment that not everyone has. For people who feel things deeply or people who were involved it is highly offensive and upsetting. Newgrounds.com is therefore the perfect place for it, the site having it's roots in bad taste flash content. When it gained notoriety is when it became a problem. What possible reason apart from ratings and clicks could the media have had for giving it as much attention at it has received? Is it in the public interest? No; is it particularly interesting? No; is it the sought of thing that would offend people? Yes. When push comes to shove the media are the ones making money from this game. The only reason the games creator said he's take it down for $2000 and apologise for $3000 is to say "F@$k you" to the torrent of ridiculous death threats and hate mail he received(and probably sniggered at). And as for refusing to be interviewed on TV unless he got paid. Why would you expose yourself to the danger of appearing on national television as the bad guy of the hour for free?
Sure, the game is offensive and I'm not saying that its creator is the victim but he probably isn't the insane, twisted, evil, pathetic, freak that people seem so certain he is.
Not to defend the VT shooter, but he didn't give a "flying fuck" about the people that taunted him growing up, or picked on him..etc....Didn't care about their "free speech", or "freedom of choice"....and he thought they were disgusting people too.
Know what might have stopped all of this in the beginning? If he we all learned to just IGNORE shit that drives us mad.
I was TORTURED all growing up.....but I like to think I survived it, and I learned to ignore it and I'm leading a great life.
Those same feelings you're spewing that you don't care about someone else or their freedoms is EXACTLY what got us in this situation in the first place....
So for all of you up in arms...learn what "peace" is really all about.
Unpopular speach has to be protected, however, it also preserves your right not to hear it, or to counter it.
I'm tired of people making a fool of themselves and putting themselves out of the line to think of retarded ways to get this man in jail? WHAT? Nonconsent of what being killed portrayed in a video... what?! You really can't get more ignorant than that. How about you funnel your anger into more productive causes than looking like a complete idiot. This man is not breaking any rules. And what, freedom of speech should be taken away?
WOW. You guys are almost as idiotic as this guy.
Personally,
I didn't like the V-Tech Massacre. I don't think anyone of you can disagree on that. I didn't like the fact he was South Korean (like myself) and how I turned the South Korean news and found an extra segment just because he was South Korean. I mean I believe in the power of the individual, I mean just because he went and shot and killed people doesn't mean that we should watch out for South Koreans. Also, just because Iraqis bombed the World Trade Center doesn't mean that Iraqis should be watched out for...
In the days and weeks following the tragedy here at Virginia Tech, we experienced a wonderful outpouring of emotions from around the world. It's almost as if time stood still while everyone offered their open arms to those of us in need. It was a wonderfully comforting time. It's such a shame that it had to end.
I completely agree with many of the posts here that the freedom of expression, of thought, and of intellect must certainly be preserved. I only question the perverted minds creating such entertainment venues, and the totally sick people supporting this effort.
If you don't like the game, don't play it. If you don't like the movie, don't go to see it; and if you don't like the book, don't read it. If it's not played, it won't be sold. If people don't go to violent movies, they won't be made. It's that simple.
I guess I long for a day when the purpose of free speech is to express opinions, not taunt emotions. When reaching out to comfort those in need would last longer than a week.
There is suffering around the world. Couldn't we all focus a little more effort on ending this suffering, and and a little less time on these perverted thoughts.
That said, I still support this guy, horror movies, and violent games, etc. We, by our nature, are a very violent species, and I believe that a valuable and cathartic outlet is poking fun at ourselves, no matter how horrible the subject matter. Doesn't mean that it feels nice when we're the ones who are the subject matter, but it doesn't mean that we should try to stop it either.
If we personally don't like it, we don't have to pay attention to it.
However, since we have one of you from VT on the site, I'm sorry you had to go through what you went through. It truly sucks.
You say you'd be honored if someone made a game where your family and friends were killed? Shot multiple times and left to die for no good reason? How about if they actually were killed in that same manner less than a month ago? Would you still be honored and laugh? I honestly doubt it. Poking fun at a memory? For those of us involved its not just a memory, its still a fresh wound that won't heal for some time. Those are the types of issues you need to think about before making posts that say as much.
You say it doesn't hurt those involved... How about the fact that theres a girl named emile in his game? ok, so he miss-spelt the name but the intent is still there. How do you think her family and friends feel about that? I doubt they're laughing and feeling honored.
I do however understand what you're saying about our obsession with violence in general and our desensitization to violence in media. I myself was a big fan of the Saw trilogy, and enjoyed watching movies such as Hostel, The hills have eyes, and movies of that sort. But since April 16th I haven't been able to bring myself to watch such movies anymore... They have lost the appeal they once had and actually going through what happened at VT makes me wonder why I liked those movies in the first place. I don't think human suffering should be such a large source of entertainment and I now understand why my parents, older friends, and earlier generations in general don't watch those types of movies as much as younger generations... Most have been through tragedies themselves, felt the loss of family and friends, and just don't find entertainment in watching someone else go through it. I hope this is something most do not have to go through or at least not on as large or painful a scale as VT, Columbine, 9/11; But I believe if you do experience such a tremendous loss, a loss so close to you, you get a better understanding of what you actually consider entertainment.
(Pardon the length of my last paragraph as it is the first time I've actually delved into this aspect of the tragedy and its aftereffects on me personally)
Maybe his server provider has shut down his page? I don't know.
But I do hope its down for good.
Saying it was free speech is the lamest excuse for assholism that I've yet heard.
Good riddance to bad rubbish!
No one thought of creating a VT game? Wrong. I'm sure many did prior to this. I'd bet most who considered it opted not to.
And... you think it's funny to mock people for mourning lost loved ones?
Also, "most people" aren't saying the game should be taken off Newgrounds or wherever else it's hosted now. Most people are in support of free speech, despite how repulsive it is in this case.
It reminds me of the religious groups that picketed the Matrix movie when it came out. "OH MY GOD THE VIOLENCE!!!" "I WOULD NEVER LET MY KIDS WATCH THIS"..................then they went to see Passion of Christ...because they had to see how Jesus had it. If you have seen the movie, you will understand my irony.
I have seen material on the holocaust making fun of it, and I have laughed.....why? because I can separate the actual event from the media/fiction created about it. Same reason I could goto a horror movie and watch someone slaughtered, and it does not phase me....but to see someone hurt in real life...is a VERY horrible event. I relate it to a car crash I witnessed recently that shook me up. I can watch car crashes on TV and it does not phase me a bit. But when I saw an SUV flipping multiple times in front of me, that is a completely different story. THAT is reality...not fiction based around it.
To you, I have all the respect and prayers to you for going through what you did....it honestly was a horrible thing to happen. But if you can't ignore media and have to get over sensitive about it...then shame on you....you should be stronger than that.
For that matter, I honestly believe most of you bashing this are complete utter hyprocrits. If you bash this....then bash moves like United 97....bash "World Trade Center"....bash the movie "Pearl Harbor" *more than it is already bashed for bad acting*.....Heck I could go on an on about profiting off of a tragedy. But OHHH NO....those were tasteful...those were wonderful movies...showing how the tradegy was in a "heroic" way.........Just more words to say "I am a hypocrite".
I found this hilarious honestly. Was the V-Tech shootings horrible? Absolutely. Can I separate reality from a videogame? Yes I can. Were you to make a game about me, or my family, and make us look stupid or die....I would laugh..and be honored...know why? It's media..it's entertainment..it's fiction. We have WAY too many sensitive people in this day and age. He is poking fun at a memory....a historical event....he's not actually HURTING the people who were involved.
I heard a funny quote on XM Comedy today on my commute to work that I believe relates to this. When Janet Jackson showed her tit on TV....the entire world freaked out...........but change the channel to any of the other 20 main channels *abc, nbc, fox..etc*....and you will see someone shot right in the head, and more violence than you can count your finger at that doesn't get near the amount of attention. Personally? I'd rather my kid look at a titty. Just goes to show how damn sensitive and hypocritial people are today.
Congratulations, you immortalized a lame and rather dumb game. Next time, try to ignore it and get on with your lives.
rules 1 and 2 pal
I also remember seeing on stickdeath the prisoners at Guantanemo Bay and them getting shot etc. I know the VTech slaughter is a grave trgedy, but here in Aus we don't have the right to bear arms either. Seems like you have to take the good with the bad.
This type of pressure will hopefully see my fellow Sydneysider reflect a bit, and maybe donate any monies to an appropriate charity, although I doubt he will get anything.
The comment about the Iraq war and Darfour seems poignant.
I also remember seeing on stickdeath the prisoners at Guantanemo Bay and them getting shot etc. I know the VTech slaughter is a grave trgedy, but here in Aus we don't have the right to bear arms either. Seems like you have to take the good with the bad.
This type of pressure will hopefully see my fellow Sydneysider reflect a bit, and maybe donate any monies to an appropriate charity, although I doubt he will get anything.
Looks like they are right.
Let the morons self-destruct!!
Joking or not, alot of people look down on asking people to pay for an apology.
I also agree with Xlorp that it does seem that there are a couple responders that seemingly want their IPs banned.
I think it's a safe bet to say if Super coulmbine tried the same thing the game would be off the web by now.
Detractors have every right to say that this game should not be made. Pushing them to the side and saying simply, "Don't play it if you don't like it," is ignoring the plain and simple fact that this is a moral issue and not simply a matter of preference. If the complaints brought against the game were a matter of gameplay mechanics, genre, or art style, the "ignore it if you don't like it" argument would hold water. However, since opponents find the subject matter and presentation of the game to be morally reprehensible, they feel compelled and are in fact obligated to bring up their objections.
This can be applied to anything. For example, saying, "Well, if you don't like savery, don't own slaves," would be absurd. If someone believes that something is morally wrong, they have an obligation, which should be recognized by all other individuals, to voice their opinion in a reasoned, well-thought manner. This is how we get to have progress in the first place. When people simply pursue whatever shallow impulses they have, and when they keep all their values strictly to themselves, what results is a stagnation that builds into resentment and decay.
Also, cocks.
Believe me we when I say we all know not to ban something just because it is offensive. Most of the comments are either knee-jerk or made out of digust over his monetary offer (since no one guessed that he was joking). You also must understand that a lot of people think pigpen made this to offend not to offer light on the tradgedies or anything remotely noble but rather as a grasp for attention (I have not played the game so I can't offer you my opinions on this part). I have seen much worse stuff on newgrounds as well (in fact just go to the bastard collection and you'll see what I mean).
People need to get a grip and stop calling for content that offends them to be removed. There isn't a law that says you have the right to no be offended. If something offends you, ignore it and go elsewhere. Change the channel, go to another game, etc.
THE HARD PRESS NEEDS SOME MEDICINE AND NONE OF YOU CLOSED MINDED FOOLS ARE GETTING ANY"
-Insults are not a valid form of debate
-He wouldn't be interviewed on TV unless the station paid him. I think that prtty much shows his motivations.
THE HARD PRESS NEEDS SOME MEDICINE AND NONE OF YOU CLOSED MINDED FOOLS ARE GETTING ANY
"Help, help, [we're] being oppressed!"
I hope he doesn't get a cent.
I hope he winds up in prison for extortion or blackmail.
It's bad taste but it ought to be free.
It's in poor taste, definitely. However, it's freedom of expression for him to create it. At the same time, though, Newgrounds has all right to remove it. Because he is hosting it on their site; now, if he created his own website for it, then that'd be different, because it would be HIS site.
So, in the end of it all, I think yes, Newgrounds should take it off. However, if he makes his own site, then whatever; he'll be diving into his own problems with that, and whatever happens to that site, I don't care.
Persoanlly I think this could be stopped if the game contains references to actual people. They should be having some kind of protection by law against being 'virtualized' in a video game without their consent.
Although I didn't like SCMRPG, I have to recognize that at least, Danny Ledonne had something to say.
Jack Thompson thanks you. You just stated that commercial products aren't protected under the first amendment.
If not, well then this guy is just a retarded, greedy asshole.
Enough said.
I always try to see good in people even the gamers anti-christ JT... but what a colossal anus!
Poll need new option tho "Take it down to piss off the maker"
Now, we GPers know the issue this will cause with the anti-game crowd, but Lambourn just handed us all the ammo we need. He is just out to exort people based on his use of controversy. Been done before, and better, Lambourn. Now I know there will be the Burrell's out there that can't or won't understand, but it's fairly evident this is a quick notoriety-making, get-rich quick scheme. So most folks, even politicians, can be told that. If not them, the courts will see it for what it is.
The game is appaling and should be taken offline. This does not breach freedom of speech because Newgrounds can do whatever they want with posted content.
I feel the need to reiterate a point that seems to have been lost over the years. Along with the freedom to freely express ourselves, there also comes the responsibility to use that freedom wisely. Yes there will always be people who act like jerks and abuse the freedoms they enjoy; but if we don't start stepping up and speaking out against things like this on a moral level, then we risk losing those freedoms to the public's lemming like desire to feel safe.
Aussies don't have protected free speech. It's not in our constitution. We have an 'implied right of political expression', but there are no laws that protect us from being censored.
Though Australia is a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it has not been ratified into law through Parliament, and proposals to add free speech to our constitution were rejected back in the 40's.
I'm no lawyer, and things may have changed since I last checked, but the creator of this work has no personal right to free speech.
That being said, it would stil be morally wrong to censor him. But it would also be morally wrong to sit back and let him do this without complaint. Just as it's morally wrong to make people PAY in order to remove his work. If he knows his work should be removed, then he should remove it. Otherwise he's blackmailing people over the spread of reprehensible material.
It's definitely in bad taste, that's his prerogative. What is not, however, and grounds for removal of the game is his use of copyrighted music without the permission of the label or artist. Someone call the RIAA... haha
Making a game like this, knowing it wil cause outrage and hurt people who have lost loved ones in this tragedy, putting it on the web and then asking for money is an act by a very very sick person.
I personally hope that something very horrible happens to him, preferably over a period of a few months involving a cheese grater or similar device.
Now, I'm not big on SCMRPG myself, but at least with that there was a point: The author had something to say and the nerve to do it despite the subject. But this? This is a cheap copy cat attempt devoid of that point. And now he's trying to make money off it.
Free speech? Yes, of course he has his right to create this game and post it online, just as I have mine to think he's an idiot for it. That's how it works, right? It's Free speech, not "I have to agree with everything put in front of me" speech.
Or, for those of you calling from outside Australia, that's: +61 2 9670 2947.
It's just past 10:30pm here Sydney time, so you won't want to call in say, 3 hours time from now.
And he lives here if you're interested:
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=8+Barossa+Close,+St.+Clair,+N...
The part of me that believes in human decency doesn't want to accept the idea that Pigpen would make a game that trivializes over 30 deaths just for the hell of it. He's been acting the fool ever since he finished it, but I can't help but wonder what train of thought got the ball rolling, if maybe there was a more meaningful purpose to it all at one point.
Then again, I'm the type of guy who'd trust Al Capone with my lunch money, so...
Does he have the right to do this? In the USA, yes. I'll defend Ledonne's right to go forward with SCM. I'll laud his bravery, and the fact that he didn't back down under pressure. I'll definitely defend his right to freedom of expression. I acknowledge this fellow has the same rights. But please don't defend freedom of expression in this one particular case, because he doesn't care about his freedom of expression here--if he did, it wouldn't be for sale.
I will say this, though: I don't want Newgrounds to pull the plug, for one reason: it sets a precedent that would likely cause meritorious, but potentially offensive things to be pulled as well. I would much rather see pressure from people who know him, and are disgusted with him, cause him to remove it.
There's a clear difference between what he's done and made and the Columbine Game.
For what its worth, I hope this stays with him, and that no legitimate workplace, game industry or otherwise, find hims a worthy person to employ. For all the rights he has, human, moral or governmental, I can't, now, find a way to respect him or what he's done.
Technically, this isn't correct. Anyone remember savetoby.com ??? Some other jackass tried to extort money out of people by saying that if he had found a bunny, posted pictures of it, and said that if he didn't receive a certain amount of donations, he was going to eat him. The idiot not only received mainstream media coverage, but he actually succeeded and got money. The asshole behind this game is probably just trying to pull the same stunt.
1. This isn't blackmail or extortion because we choose to view it on one site on the vast internets.
2. There is no governing body of the internet.
3. Newgrounds is the only company with the authority to remove the content.
4. Anyone willing to see this medium go to status of art and rightfully be protected better think twice against censoring this man.
5. The asshole posed this proposition because he worked on a project and people then screamed for its removal. He doesn't want to take this down but he's willing to see if people will pay for its removal.
I personally applaud Newgrounds for not taking this game down because they obviously know whats at stake. The creators of Newgrounds just recently dropped from an awards ceremony because of this very censorship with SCMRPG (Behemoth Studios).
Quality and choice of media be it hard coding or flash should not matter to us because we would like to see games protected as art and speech. Not just EA and Acclaim titles but also independent ones. This forces us to take in the good with the bad. So stop being hypocritical and realize what the hell you're supporting.
Yes! Almost makes me want to donate to this guy. Look at the "tragedy" which is V-Tech shootings and then look at what is being done everyday in Darfur, Iraq, Pakistan... and you'll put things into perspective. I don't care at all about his game, but I do care about his right to make it, his right to profit from it and his right to rub it in people's face.
Now, if someone wants to pay ME to shut up (written and vocal) on all issues, I'll take 10 billion dollars. Non negotiable
To pay me to speak only in favor of someone else's opinions and beliefs, even if I don't agree with them, the bidding starts at 1 trillion dollars.
Relly, you're gonna have to do better than a few thousand dollars, even for an apology I wouldn't mean.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
The game sucks anyway, though. It's more likely that he's scum.
This guy is an idiot, and is clearly trying to profit off a tragedy in a heartless way. However, the way he's doing it, though tasteless, is not illegal.
The solution is simple. The guy's manipulating the media to create the controversy that will drive traffic to his website, and therefore more people who might be willing to pay up. Media, therefore, needs to ignore this guy and anyone else who tries a stunt like this, to minimise the traffic.
Complaints should also go not to Newgrounds for hosting the site - free speech reasons, etc. - but to whoever is processing the credit card payments, be it Paypal or whoever (I didn't bother to grace his site with a hit to find out). If the payment facilities are pulled, then free speech and morality are restored.
The best free speech is antagonizing. Also there are no speech laws on the internet. There is no ransom being held so what did he do wrong? The guy made a shitty controversial game and everyone else got upset. We're not forced to play it and we aren't forced to look at it. We're not here to discuss the moral fiber of his character but of the right for his work to remain uncensored.
Yeah, the kid is a moron and clearly has no concept of his actions or the repercussions. Like I said, if he keeps on rolling like he's doing with these ridiculous demands, the gaming industry won't have to ostracize him -- he's doing a pretty good job of making himself look like a crack-pot as it is.
We have the right to call him a duche and show the world that he is the abberation. We do not, however, have the right to sensor him. Yes, that would be the easy thing to do...but the consequences of that one act will come back and bite us.
But that *can't* trump free speech. The response to garbage like this should not be censorship, but to drown it out with our own speech. Make it clear that he does not represent us, and then just hope that the mainstream gets the message. That's all we can do, really.
And I don't see any relationship with the video game industry.. it's one person.. It's when people try to generalize the situation when it turns into something like good and evil..
"Aussies don’t have protected free speech. It’s not in our constitution. We have an ‘implied right of political expression’, but there are no laws that protect us from being censored."
Yes, there is no governing body on the internet. But this was posted by an Australian from an Australian computer. It's abhorrent and disgusting that this child has taken it so far and asked for money to take it down and is selling an apology. But if it was to be censored, it could happen here and he could scream "freedom of speech" til the roos come home (to put a twist on the old saying) and we'd just laugh at him.
Yes, Aussies are considered to be laid back people and a lot of things that people say tend to get shrugged off. But there is a line, and this kid didn't just step over it...he stepped over it, spat on it and gave the line the finger before walking away.
You want to make the game, fine. You want to host it... okay.
You want to charge a ransom? Get a life.
Also, where is this money going? In this loser's coffers? nt kk baibai.
But those same people in the political and media ring are out of touch with the average people.. if anything, the people out of touch with video game would be drawn to those conclusions.
But when it comes to blame.. it would be illogical to blame the industry.. But I think it's just the time.. in 10 or so years things will change. Right now, it's people picking up on things while ignoring more important matters....
though maybe the problem is I can't see it and can only think of it in a technical and objective view.
I see your point... it can be easily taken down if enough demand for it comes up.
Where the hell did you read that? As stated in headline of this article, he is asking for donations now, that means he wants to make a profit from the item, hence the statement it is not 'free', he wants money for it.
Believe it or not, not everything is about Jack Thompson.