Jack Thompson Says GTA 4 Mission Target is Him; Threatens to Block Release
Plenty of gamers would give their left arm to be included in Grand Theft Auto IV.
Miami attorney Jack Thompson, however, claims that he’s depicted in the game and wants out. And he threatens to block the release of GTA IV if Rockstar doesn’t comply.
In a document filed yesterday with a federal court in Florida, Thompson includes a letter written to Take Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick which reads in part:
I have this morning read with interest an article on page 80 and 81 of the September 2007 issue of Game Informer magazine which was generated when, according to its author, Rockstar Games “stopped by the Game Informer offices for an impromptu hour-long gameplay session with the Xbox 360 version of the game.”
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.’”
…The fact that the lawyer, killed on Niko’s first mission, would bring up video games, makes it clearly a reference to me… This is not the first time Rockstar Games and Take Two have targeted me in this fashion. Take Two references to me as a bisexual pedophile on its corporate website…
GP: What’s he referring to here? See GamePolitics’ September, 2005 article Jack Thompson Accuses Rockstsar of… Parody. Thompson’s letter continues:
You have until five o’clock P.M. this Friday… to inform me that you are going to delete the above references and any other references that could reasonably be construed to be references to me in Grand Theft Auto IV and any other video games that are pending release…
Now you have descended this low - using one of your games to threaten my physical safety… Failure to comply with the deadline… will result in my having to take necessary and proper means to stop release of the game which targets me personally… given the copycatting of violent games…
September 18th, 2007 at 9:17 am
If you can’t take being in the public square….
September 18th, 2007 at 9:18 am
hey guess what? Parody Rights.
how is it i know more about lawyering from watching Night Court?
September 18th, 2007 at 9:21 am
hey guess what your not legally allowed to block the games!
you have fun getting your ass kicked in court AGAIN!
September 18th, 2007 at 9:21 am
Yea, there’s the right to parody covered under free speech.
And you know what, here’s some other interesting facts:
- Jack Thompson is not the only anti-gaming lawyer around (although they are rare)
- Take Two will not relent to a 2 bit lawyer moonlighting as a crusader
September 18th, 2007 at 9:23 am
What a jerk. Niko is no “here”. He is the ANTIHERO. Use the correct names jerk!
Besides, he can do nothing if his name is not mentioned or if his figure is not used.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:24 am
Good Lord! Not everything is about you, Jack! Contrary to your belief, the word does not revolve around Jack Thompson, Attorney.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:24 am
Huh, I meant “hero”… sorry, my mistake
September 18th, 2007 at 9:28 am
This is getting absurd. I think I understand why the state bar wants to examine Mr. Thompson’s mental capacity; Jack’s behavior is starting to approach the realm of delusion.
Are you a second amendment rights advocate, Mr. Thompson? For God’s sake, you don’t even fit the parody you’re griping about. And even if you did, you couldn’t file suit over it. If you could, don’t you think the industry mucky mucks who were depicted in an FPS mod you called for would have sued you by now?
September 18th, 2007 at 9:28 am
It was only a matter of time before this came up.
Does anyone think that Take two did this on purpose to get ole Jack to come out and try to sue them?
Knowing that they already had the settlement deal maybe they threw this in there to put the final nail in the coffin.
If that is true looks like T2 can use one of Jack’s phrases to describe what they knew he would do. “So sad, so predictable.”
September 18th, 2007 at 9:28 am
OMG c0nsp1r4cy!!11!!
September 18th, 2007 at 9:30 am
So now not only are video games not a form of speech in the same way as other protected media like movies and novels, but they can’t even include satire? You know maybe this hasn’t occurred to Mr. Thompson, but he isn’t the center of the world. Other lawyers are out there trying to make a name for themselves by badmouthing video games.
The world does not revolve around you. In fact, outside of a small portion of the internet that seems obsessed with every little movement you make, most of the outside world doesn’t even know who you are.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Didn’t R* also parody him in Liberty City Stories? Or that might only have been speculation.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:31 am
seems like a silly waste of time on jacks part, i keep wondering if he even has a law practice anymore?
September 18th, 2007 at 9:34 am
Kinda reminds me of the ol’ Jakcy tried to get Midway to “Cease and Desist” distribution of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon because of a user-created character which looked like him.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:36 am
So the man is every depiction of a lawyer now?
Come on. Is he suing Law and Order for depicting him as a female lawyer for the state?
September 18th, 2007 at 9:38 am
So now every lawyer that is somehow involved with video games is Jack Thompson. Last time I checked, Thompson wasn’t fighting against the second amendment, like the lawyer in the game, he was fighting video games.
So the parallels between Jack Thompson and GTA IV’s lawyer:
1) both are lawyers.
Thats it. Someone needs to give this man a clue.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:38 am
Yes, I’m pretty sure that parody is a protected form of speech.
Furthermore, Rockstar could argue that this is a parody of the “Video games made me do it” defense that has been used in several lawsuits. It could be a parody of the current “Video games are evil! Worse than guns/drugs/abuse!” mentality that seems to be prevalent in todays older and out of touch citizens.
@Jack Thompson (for when he arrives with his next off topic post)
Assuming that a parody is of yourself seems like it might be another symptom of that Narcissistic mental condition that has been referred to.
“Now you have descended this low - using one of your games to threaten my physical safety…”
A little pixelated figure shooting another in an imaginary city on a screen hundreds of miles from where you live does not exactly threaten your personal safety, does it? Does the game contain your name/address/habits which might allow people to seek to harm you? I realise that you have plastered your phone number and home address all over your press releases, but Rockstar have not done that.
“Failure to comply with the deadline… will result in my having to take necessary and proper means to stop release of the game”
Which, as far as I remember, you are not allowed to do by judicial order?
” which targets me personally…”
Which you BELIEVE targets you personally. And even then, it doesn’t so much “target” as “poke light fun at”.
” given the copycatting of violent games…”
You are obviously referring to your theory of copycatting of violent games. Which has no proof to it. And which has been shot down once already in the Devin Moore case, I think you might recall that one, it was the one which led to your licence to practice law in Alabama being revoked and was the starting point the Florida Bar having to impose disciplinary action upon you. Surely you haven’t forgotten?
September 18th, 2007 at 9:40 am
There is no evidence that the lawyer portrayed in this first mission of the game is Jack Thompson, period. Jack Thompson could do nothing beyond complaining about it.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:40 am
@Waffles
That’s part of the point, I think. User-created content is the work of a single user while this GTA4 mission is the work of the actual company. There is a difference in the two but whether the latter falls in to the category of parody is up to those who practice law (JT excluded).
September 18th, 2007 at 9:45 am
If JT really and truly wants to block GTA IV’s release, which he promised he wouldn’t do under their agreement, then he’s defninitely rendered it null and void. No big surprise there.
And before he says anything, note that all we have is his say so - which is questionable to begin with. I doubt that Game Informer’s article will be as specific.
Take 2 then is free to go after him. The smackdown they give him, combined with the one from the Florida Supreme Court, could be the one-two punch that knocks him out for good.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:45 am
XD JT forgot about the no blocking deal he made with R*.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Haha, now that’s awesome. Take it like the man that you aren’t Jack, stop being such a pussy. You deserve ever bit of negative publicity you get your lying, crazy, massacre chasing, waste of a human being. I know you like think you’re “holier than thou”, but that’s far from the truth. You’re a scum bag asshole who practically abuses yourself forcing him to do your dirty work for you. Leave us alone, leave your son alone, leave video games alone, and just go and curl up in the corner of a nice padded room.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:46 am
/yawn
He must have been starting to feel cold from the spotlight being off him. What a joke.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:48 am
Jack Thompson is no threat to the video game industry, he’s just a nuisance. His actions have never, and will never amount to anything against the video game industry. We’ve nothing to worry about.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:50 am
You know I’m sure we’d really like it if Thompson was the only lawyer this deranged from all those hours of playing Sim Law Degree, but really, it’s a broad scope.
Besides, Thompson doesn’t have enough context. If this really is the first kill, maybe the line that the lawyer says haunts Niko and he continues to wonder whether his life of crime is the fault of playing Tetris in the ’80s, and ultimately change his life to become a crusader against video game violence.
…or it’s just a beta and is a mission that they just threw in there for kicks.
Besides, why would you trust a gaming publication, they’re just a bunch of lying untrustworthy jackasses who’re puppets of the industry, right?
And what are you doing reading Game Informer, anyway? Or are you annexing all your poor kid’s stuff? You might want to check his wallet for an ACLU card, you’re steering him in that direction.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:50 am
EDIT: Damn place and the no edit feature!
Haha, now that’s awesome. Take it like the man that you aren’t Jack, stop being such a pussy. You deserve every bit of negative publicity you get you lying, crazy, massacre chasing, waste of a human being. I know you like think you’re “holier than thou”, but that’s far from the truth. You’re a scum bag asshole who practically abuses your son forcing him to do your dirty work for you. Leave us alone, leave your son alone, leave video games alone, and just go and curl up in the corner of a nice padded room.
By the way, parodies of public figures, such as yourself, are 100% legal, you can’t stop them from using an anti-video game lawyer just because you happen to be the inspiration for it.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:51 am
(Now you have descended this low - using one of your games to threaten my physical safety… Failure to comply with the deadline… will result in my having to take necessary and proper means to stop release of the game which targets me personally… given the copycatting of violent games…))
copycatting GTA to go over to kill you? You are afraid of a bunch of 17-40 year olds running over to your house and sticking a controller in your face while pressing R1 and O at the same time? And Where does it say it targets you? HEY!! Well this just proves it. Jack Thompson is the ONLY video game hating lawyer around. And this lawyer in the videogame has to be him on the sole fact that he is a lawyer and that he hates videogames.
No dice Jack. Enjoy the contempt of court charge.
- Warren Lewis
September 18th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Wow way to jump to conclusions there Jack. You have no idea in fact no one has any idea thats its meant to be you except R* and GI guys who saw the game. I’m guessing that the person looks no where close to you otherwise GI would have stated that it looks very much like a game hating lawyer we all know.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Since Thompson is the only lawyer out there that targets video games, it’s definatly him.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:54 am
LOL.
…dude…
Let me state for the record that I’ve never been a huge GTA fan, I haven’t liked the franchise since 3 really, and I’m an old enough fart that I remember 2. I was NOT planning to get the game.
That being said, oh yeah, if there’s a Tack Jhompson in this game? You might as well sell me a pre-order right now.
Although frankly, looking at this article - he’s reaching - reaching quite a bit. Lawyer in game + video game comments and he takes it seriously? Dude… hopefully he’s not the only lawyer on the planet. (Geez, what an ego.)
September 18th, 2007 at 9:54 am
“…You are afraid of a bunch of 17-40 year olds running over to your house and sticking a controller in your face while pressing R1 and O at the same time?…”
Then when he acts stunned and confused at what you’re doing, you run over to his car and start screaming “TRIANGLE TRIANGLE TRIANGLE!”.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Vanity - One of Satan’s favorite sins (according to Devil’s Advocate
) and Jack Thompson is full of it… and himself. Jack, you’ll be burning in hell unless you make some life altering changes very soon. Go find God and peace.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Guys, guys.
Video Games and the Second Amendment are both trademarked phrases of Jack Thompson. Come on.
Wait, no, they’re not. This sounds more like an NRA lawyer, not Jack Thompson.
So Jack, this is, therein, clearly your weakass ploy, and I’m sure that Rockstar’s lawyers, all of whom are bigger successes than yourself, will shoot your lawsuit down so fast you’ll swear they were the Red Baron.
Paradies of public figures are legal; otherwise, how would South Park make money?
Go bitch in the corner you jackass.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Wow, I guess this mean that Keith Richards can sue Johnny Depp for his Jack Sparrow character. Face it Jackie boy, you’re no threat any more…just a nuisance.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:57 am
Right… so, because some lawyer in a game said that video games kill people, he automatically assumes it’s him…
And he claims he has no mental problems.
Ehh, I had no intention to buy this game in the first place, I’m not really into the whole GTA thing… except for Vice City, that’s the only one I’m interested in.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:58 am
“…The fact that the lawyer, killed on Niko’s first mission, would bring up video games, makes it clearly a reference to me…”
Because we all know that you’re the ONLY lawyer in the country who’s allowed to mention video games. Get off yourself already, and just.. go away.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:59 am
oKAY, NOW THIS SHOULD BE GOOD.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:01 am
Wow! Just Wow! Jack reads Game Informer. I thought he only trolled the internet. I guess we are all wrong. Other than that, I see nothing surprising about this developement.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:01 am
And one more thing, and I’m sure it’s going to be brought up at some point but… isn’t Jack forbidden from trying to block the release of a game by Rockstar, under the terms of his settlement?
September 18th, 2007 at 10:03 am
@Maxed Pixelante.
Yes. Yes he is.
But when has a little thing like the law gotten in his way before?
September 18th, 2007 at 10:04 am
Well, if anything, JT certainly brings the latest games to the front page for free advertising. I think more folks wouldn’t know or buy the games hadn’t JT mentioned them in the first place.
Way to go JT, you just increased the sale of this game by 20%+!!!!
September 18th, 2007 at 10:07 am
I have a hunch that Jacky Boy would have raised a stink about this game whether or not it “personally threatened him.” Now we just have to sit back and watch as Jack Thompson makes a huge ass of himself once again in his crusade against the “evils” of video games.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Oh, goddammit…
September 18th, 2007 at 10:09 am
I read the full leter and he said that he google the quote and found that it has been attributed to him. I did the same, and could not find any site that said he said it. any one else check this?
September 18th, 2007 at 10:10 am
@E.Zachary Knight.
Yeah, I did the same, and couldn’t find the quote except for here.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Talk about a paranoid human being. Jack’s comments in this article are based on vague assumptions.
He also has no sense of humor.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:14 am
“Now you have descended this low - using one of your games to threaten my physical safety…”
Jack, here’s a novel concept, try to wrap your feeble mind around it: EVERYBODY HATES YOU BECAUSE YOU’RE AN EGOMANIACAL ASSHOLE. Any threat to your own safety, real or perceived, exists not because of GTA IV, but because of your big mouth and bad attitude over the years. You don’t see threats of violence against Leland Yee or Dave Grossman, do you? Believe me, if you do indeed have some kind of beat down coming in your future, this GTA IV parody came along WAAAY after the scales had been tipped.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:21 am
Hm, I need to go get some popcorn. Jack always fails, but this is going to be a failure of epic proportions! Oh and Jack, the copycatting thing has never been proven neither in a court of law nor in a scientific study. It is your own erroneous pet theory. And your pet theories are bupkis in a court of law.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:24 am
oh here we go again. good luck with that Jacko. They could put a parody of the pres in and as long as they dont use his real name they’re in the clear. You know this. and you know its doomed to fail.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:25 am
“EVERYBODY HATES YOU BECAUSE YOU’RE AN EGOMANIACAL ASSHOLE.”
This isn’t so far off. And it’s not just the crazed video gamers saying it either. David Walsh publicly denounced you, and you’re supposed to be on the same side! You seem to have a long history of not getting a long with people. Why does it seem like every person you work with is incompetent or an industry shill? At some point you have to think that maybe the problem is you.
Good luck with the Bar investigation.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:27 am
“Guns don’t kill people, video games do!”
I’ll admit, that’s funny. Rockstar does have a singular wit. Almost good enough, but not quite, to make up for the 4th iteration of a sandbox with shiney-er graphics that -by all accounts- GTAIV is.
If the first time is funny, the second time is silly, and the third is a swift kick in the ass, what is a fourth time? Oh yeah, instant best-seller because of the hype and notoriety. Hey, Jack, you want to stop R* from making another GTA? Here’s a tip, STOP MAKING IT FAMOUS!
September 18th, 2007 at 10:27 am
First of all, I want to make it clear that Dennis McCauley got this from the court file.
Secondly, this is not “parody.” This is targeting. Big difference. This is rather foolish on Take-Two’s part.
GP: That’s true. Jack did NOT send this one my way. Which is odd, because he DID send something about a gay rights debate he wants to have down in Miami (um, Jack is against , in case you were wondering). I have zero interest in that story because there is zero video game connection.
So why didn’t he send me this very relevant story?
September 18th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Weak jack, weak, even for you this is trying to make a mountain out of a grain of sand.
Remember rockstar us and the sane part of the world know videogames do not lead to violence so this isnt in any way threatening you, its parody.
Guess what parody and satire are protected speech. just like your mock offer to charity is protected.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:28 am
@Murry
Oh no doubt, ever see South Park season 10? There’s an episode where what is obviously a version of the president pretty much offs a guy execution style in the oval office to cover up that the government “is responsible” for 9/11. Considering that Matt & Trey probably aren’t making new episodes from cells in Guantanemo - I think you’re probably right.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:29 am
simple enough for Rockstar to just say it’s not him, “that the firm supports the second amendment and that ‘Guns don’t kill people. Video games do.’”
note the use of the words THE FIRM, Jackie has an independant practice and is not part of any firm, as such this character is not a direct take on him and he has no ground to stand on
September 18th, 2007 at 10:30 am
One more thing: If Dennis McCauley were inclined to be a real journalist and “fair” he would make available the entire letter as the full context makes clear not the parody but the targeting, but such fairness, such journalistic ethics, would be asking too much of this “news” site.
GP: Ummm… the entire letter IS available. It’s linked from the article.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:30 am
You go near that game, and Jack, Take-Two is going to crucify you.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:32 am
“Threaten my physical safety” my ass.
This was not a death threat, Jackass. They could care less about you because you can’t touch them anymore.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:33 am
*yawn*
It’s not even a JT lookalike, merely a lawyer who blames video games?
Jackie boy, you’re not THAT unique…
Maybe you should think about trademarking “video games made me do it”. Then maybe you’d have a stronger case than the small chance in hell you actually have…
@jadedcritic
“There’s an episode where what is obviously a version of the president pretty much offs a guy execution style in the oval office to cover up that the government “is responsible” for 9/11.”
Although that one wasn’t really a threat against the president… So not a good example.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Actually I don’t hate Mr. Thompson at all. I pity him. I’ve been the bitter angry guy in the past and it wasn’t any fun at all. It takes a tremendous amount of effort to stay that angry all the time.
What makes me indignant is his cavalier attitude towards tactics like lying and character asassination.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:33 am
I just read his letter. So let me get this straight, You, JT, think theat the game is referencing you even though:
A. You said yourself that you never uttered the quote ““that the firm supports the second amendment and that ‘Guns don’t kill people. Video games do.’
B. the lawyer the hitman takes out is named “Goldberg (of Goldberg, Ligner, and Shyster)”
http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=293408
C. The “hilarious response was actually a reference to the game, not Game Informer:
(From the site linked above) “After taking a seat, the interview began, As Goldberg chatted it up, Niko stood up and pulled a gun on him. This action was met with hilarious response on Goldberg’s part.”
Funny how you could also reference FOX News as a quote for your silly saying at th end, yet when you mentioned “copycatting of violent video games that is know by everyone” you couldn’t even reference one source.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:35 am
sorry about the double post but to Mr Thompson, go for it, i’d love to see them bury you…..again
September 18th, 2007 at 10:35 am
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I might actually buy this game now. And when I complete that mission, I will remember this article and laugh at the absurdity of it all.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:37 am
OH LAWD A LAWYER BEING KILLED IN A GAME WHO SAYS VIDJA GAMES SUCK
BAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Thompson, you’re more amusing and lulzworthy than any GTA game. Keep it up!
September 18th, 2007 at 10:40 am
Waffles had it right. This is just as bad as the Mortal Kombat Kreate a Fighter cease and desist. Seriously, did this guy EVER go to legal school. His knowledge of it is quite lacking.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:42 am
We got past 50 comments and Jackie hasn’t tried to “put us in our place”! C’mon, can I get a hooah?
September 18th, 2007 at 10:43 am
“Failure to comply with the deadline… will result in my having to take necessary and proper means to stop release of the game which targets me personally… given the copycatting of violent games…”
Wow. He truly believes the whole copycatting thing, doesn’t he? I guess I haven’t let that sink in quite enough.
So he’s going to drag Take-Two back to court, totally breach the settlement, and get his ass legally assassinated, all because he’s scared to death of a theory that no study has ever been able to prove? Oh, this is going to be fun show.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:45 am
Isn’t prior constraint illegal?
September 18th, 2007 at 10:45 am
I think that TTWO/R* should take him on, as Jack Thompson would be breaking his agreement with Take Two and Rockstar and would get a 3rd lawsuit placed against him.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:45 am
Wow. The only response that JT could come up with is that Dennis did not link the whole letter. Oh wait, the letter is linked. I guess the only thing left is to complain that Dennis is not a real journalist.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:48 am
Er, this from the guy who offered a reward if a developer made a video game where you kill an employee of Rockstar’s family?
September 18th, 2007 at 10:48 am
How dare they include a parody of Jack Thompson in their game!
The only thing worse than that would be something like offering to donate money to charity if someone made a game where someone hops a plane from LAX to New York to reach the Long Island home of the CEO of videogame company (Take This) in order to get “justice” by taking out this female CEO, whose name is Paula Eibel, along with her husband and kids 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.
But that would be just sick for someone to make such a modest proposal…
September 18th, 2007 at 10:49 am
Dennis really hasn’t left any possible arguement for Jack.
Goldenberg (the lawyers given name) is killed by Niko because he got on Mr McReary’s bad side. Not because of his views.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:49 am
@Jack Thompson
“Secondly, this is not “parody.” This is targeting. Big difference. This is rather foolish on Take-Two’s part.”
Then you have absolutely no idea what parody is. If your logic was correct, the police organizations of three states can sue Take Two, several celebrities, radio personalities, several soft drink companies, toy makers, sports organizations, rival game companies, , hell, three state governments could have sued Rockstar by now, but they haven’t, mostly because they aren’t full of narcissistic idiots like you.
Face it Jack, you have no case. Screenshots or STFU.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:52 am
“One more thing: If Dennis McCauley were inclined to be a real journalist and “fair” he would make available the entire letter as the full context makes clear not the parody but the targeting”
As Dennis pointed out the entire letter is available. Click the damn link. Secondly reading of the entire letter does nothing to further your point that it is “targeting” and not parody, so perhaps you should break it down here in your own words. Third, beyond the point that you and this character are both lawyers I fail to see what connection you are going to make. Prepare accordingly for failure.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:53 am
This seems like a stretch to me. Lawyers (as characters) are a core element in crime dramas because they represent the public’s perception that our legal system is corrupt and broken. In game characters making video game references, both pro and con, have existed since GTA III (if not earlier). These references let Rockstar make fun of themselves, and the greater industry and public opinion at large.
It seems flawed, if not purely self indulgent for Jack Thompson to assert these claims. Unless the character in question features mister Thompson’s likeness (on a photographic level), I don’t see his other assertions holding merit.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:55 am
@Quad9Damage
At the risk of defending the devil - he’s not totally without cause. Gamers are like any other group of people we have our good ones, and our bad ones; and there’s very little doubt in my mind that over the course of decades of his sidewalk-puppet-shows he probably has recieved what could be called legitimate harrassment/threats. No doubt they’ve only served to reinforce his perception of himself. Of course, that’s got nothing to do really with the subject at hand, and is hardly Take2’s fault. There’s actually a quote in GTA2: Vice where one of the characters says “Just because I think everybody’s out to get me, doesn’t mean they aren’t”
What I’m basically trying to say is that Jack taking some precautions to protect himself doesn’t strike me as unreasonable. Where it becomes offensive really is that he’s long since gotten to a level where ALL gamers are guilty until proven innocent, and that’s just offensive.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:58 am
one more thing:
if Jack Thompson were inclined to be a decent human being, he wouldn’t continually make personal attacks to make up for his inadequacies.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:58 am
I think there’s an old saying:
If you can’t take it, don’t dish it.
With all the verbal abuse John Bruce has dealt, all the false and fraudulent claims he’s made, all the lies and deceit he’s committed, a simple parody (yes, parody as John Bruce’s name isn’t referenced and the comment is a direct statement that John Bruce has only really implied through his ignorance and lies).
SHOULD Rockstar give in? Pah! Doesn’t matter. There are ways to get the same comment across, making such a claim seem just as stupid as those who DO say it or even imply it in reality. So, no, it wouldn’t be a big loss. Nor would it be a “win” for John Bruce because, in TRUTH, it would prove beyond any shadow of a doubt his FALSE claim that he supports Freedom of Speech. Way to go John Bruce! Let the world see you for the liar and fraud you really are! Woo hoo! You go boy!
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
September 18th, 2007 at 10:58 am
@ Jack
A threat is when someone tells YOU directly or in some cases indirectly that your life is at stake. It must name you and be sent to you. This does not name you. It does not aim its message at you. If anything this bit is a character assasination of the whole “video games are evil” debate. They could have easily used a politician for this, its just that they have a more personnal relationship with certain lawyers.
I suggest you look up the definition of paradoy and satire. Then I suggest you actually study some law for once and learn why those are protected speech.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:59 am
@GP
you know, the in comment rebuttals are quite amusing dennis, and kinds make up for not banning jack, thanks for the laughs.
Its funny to notice jack jump from point to point, does he even know youre answering him?
September 18th, 2007 at 11:00 am
@jadedcritic
He’s basically a mix of Edgeworth and Von Karma. He villifies EVERYONE on the opposite side on the off chance they might really be psychopaths, much like Edgeworth got every defendant guilty on the off chance a killer might get loose, and like von Karma Jack is building up so much bad karma it’s coming back to bite him, hard.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:01 am
I love the end of his pleading: “Govern yourselves accordingly, or else”.
Gosh Jack, they teach you that in lawyer school? I hope BLANK ROME crushes you. BLANK ROME.
How’s the ol ticker doing now, Jack?
Oh, and Janet Reno.
How about now? You goddam nut.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:03 am
So, where was JT when Capcom released Phoenix Wright?
September 18th, 2007 at 11:03 am
I don’t see how satire and parody rights don’t fall under the rights of developers, as many games have both in them. Television parodies games all the time as well, so if JT really has a problem he needs to merely create a skit about Rockstar games in such a way that it reflects his distaste, the violence, whatever. Without resorting to slander, which might be hard to pull off. Smartly written, there is not a thing T2 or Rockstar could do, and they would laugh all the same. There have been countless GTA spoofs online and on television, including the famous Coke ad seen in theaters/TV/Web that does more to make parents think about the games their children play than a word he will ever say. To be parodied or spoofed is the American way it seems.
Honestly, do you think the Daily Show could exist without that freedom? Editorial cartoons, comic strips, sketch comedy shows, stand up comedy acts, and so forth? It is one of those things that may make the target upset and resentful of their portrayal, but that is when you turn the momentum. For example, Rudy Giuliani was getting hammered on SNL for a while, and then who shows up dressed in drag? That’s right, Rudy Giuliani himself. He had a sense of humor about it and likely got more support off that appearance than many speeches given. So, JT wants to change public opinion of him, make the skit, and then appear in a skit. If he parodies himself, while at the same time ribbing Rockstar he will have shown he has a sense of humor and is a human being.
As a footnote, and in regards to people thinking there is no proof of important and powerful people being spoofed in videogames, one need look no further than NBA Jam: Tournament Edition’s secret characters. Fully covered in magazines, online, and probably by some news outlets the secret players included: Bill Clinton F1, B, F2, I, F3, L, F4, JUN, F5, 3,
Hillary Clinton F6, H, F7, I, F8, L, F9, NOV, F10, 6, and Prince Charles F6, C, F7, H, F8, A, F9, MAY, F10, 4. If the Clintons and British Royalty can be use for satire and/or parody, I do not think there is a lick JT can do about his own supposed inclusion. Especially if it is as vaguely just a second amendment lawyer as it seems. But if you must JT, go ahead and pull Hillary off the road trip of debates, and get Bill and Prince Charles to submit to the courts also. But wait, they will likely testify AGAINST your argument and show how they may not have liked seeing themselves slam dunk basketballs half and full court with a RAZZLE DAZZLE. It is one of the prices we pay for living in this land called America and being in the public eye.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:04 am
also, way to misuse the ‘too clever by half’ saying jack.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:06 am
Anyone else going to load up on ammunition as soon as possible before completing this particular mission?
September 18th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Hm, I read his letter to T2, and all I can think is, “Nah, I’m not really into Pokemon.”
September 18th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Yes, but that’s just me.
And it’s not for Thompson. Actually it’s only for foxes.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:10 am
@ Jack Thompson
Doesn’t this scene evoke some kind of debate over the measure of violence in society?
In GTA IV, a law firm who claims that violent games are responsible for violence are taken out by a plain, ordinary, non-game influenced protagonist. From the inside, it points out the terrible point that (a) guns have a bigger habit of launching bullets than games do, (b) the person behind the gun makes the choice to pull the trigger (and the way that trigger is pulled) rather than a video game, and (c) there are more reasons for violence than “I saw Sonic do it”.
Highlights the idea that violent people do violent things under their own cognizance, rather than being zombies to violent media.
To look at it all from outside of the game, we see a game in which a violent act is being committed by a video game character, which brings irony to the whole affair.
But to say the attorney in the game is you explicitly, without possibility of it being based on someone else, or simply it being a representation of the IDEA you put forth, is a tad egotistical.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:15 am
Jack, you can claim it’s targeting all you want. but here’s the funny thing, you have to prove it in court. and even then the chances of “blocking” the game are about the same chances you had to block bully, NONE.
also: how is it targeting you? your just a lawyer, last time I checked you weren’t part of a firm. the only way it could be targetting you is if you worked at a firm. and I’m pretty sure you would have rubbed it in our faces if you were working for a firm.
get your facts straight and then speak.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:16 am
Chris,
To be honest, it throws me off too.
John Bruce’s posts show up way back in the field, long after I’ve read up to a certain point, so I have to go back and look.
Plus GP tacks on his responses to some comments, rather than quote them, which means going back also.
Now, if there were a nice little GUI that could auto pull comments and highlight new (even if they were just released from hold) or edited comments (such as when GP adds their comments to someone else’s), that would be great.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
GP: for some reason, his posts get caught in a moderation queue. Don’t know why. I suspect he may be using a proxy server or something. I’ve asked him, but it’s like talking to the wall. No response.
So… his comments don’t show up until I get around to clearing them.
The secret good news is that we’re exploring a re-design of GP (but you didn’t hear that from me - LOL) …and I am asking the developer for nested comments.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:17 am
@David
Isn’t egotistical Jack’s middle name?
September 18th, 2007 at 11:18 am
@Jack.
actually, they didn’t threaten you, nor your personal wellbeing. You just WANT people to take it that way.
Case in point;
1. I am going to kill Jack Thompson.
2. 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.’”
Which of these is a direct threat on your life, and the only one that would bring any harm to your person?
But when you make statements like number 2, its first amendment protected speech. Like the whole “Paula Eibel” thing? The game you wanted to see?
September 18th, 2007 at 11:18 am
How great would it be if the lawyer character’s name was something along the lines of Tack Jhomson.
Watch out Jack. Fictional characters are coming for you.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:20 am
@DCOW
You know, I think you’re probably right. I sit here and try to think when he’s ever succeeded in blocking ANYTHING. He couldn’t stop Bully, couldn’t stop Manhunt2… Has he stopped anything at all? Since Cop Killer???
September 18th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Jack Thompson Said:
“One more thing: If Dennis McCauley were inclined to be a real journalist and “fair” he would make available the entire letter as the full context makes clear not the parody but the targeting, but such fairness, such journalistic ethics, would be asking too much of this “news” site.
GP: Ummm… the entire letter IS available. It’s linked from the article.”
Dennis, I think the answer here is obvious. He’s got “you didn’t post the entire letter” written in a file somewhere and automatically copy/pastes it whenever a story is written about him.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:23 am
@ Jadedcritic
“You know, I think you’re probably right. I sit here and try to think when he’s ever succeeded in blocking ANYTHING. He couldn’t stop Bully, couldn’t stop Manhunt2… Has he stopped anything at all? Since Cop Killer??? ”
Heck, he can’t even stop his son from buying Bioshock…….
September 18th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Good lord Jack, get it through your head that you’re not actually important enough for any of us to physically harm. You’re not worth facing jailtime over.
Now, first and foremost, parody is protected, regardless of what you believe in the la-la land in your head. They can have this in the game, as they are not targetting you for harm. Your “copycat” theory was shot down in the Devin Moore case, and it’s shot down here. Why? You have no proof, just and outlandish theory.
Secondly, you’re not allowed to attempt to block sales of a Take Two, Rockstar - or whatever moniker they’re going by today - game. You’re actually legally blocked from doing so. I wouldn’t be surprised if this letter was taken as exactly that by Take Two.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:29 am
Also, I should have added this - Jack, will you stop trying to insult Dennis’ integrity and standing as a reporter. He, at the very least, has the decency to use facts, as opposed to you and your willingness to twist facts.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:29 am
AHAHAAHA this mission sounds awesome, i cant wait to play it over and over and over and over and over….
September 18th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Hear that sound Jack….?
That’s the sound of you violating your court agreement and opening yourself up to litigation. I hope your wife has DEEP pockets, because you’re about to empty her coffers. Unless of course you believe that signing that agrement was ’satire’ so you don’t have to adhere to it. Try telling THAT to any judge, it will probably get you contempt of court at the very least.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:35 am
I think I know what my favorite mission in this game will be then. Care to comment Jack?
-Auto
September 18th, 2007 at 11:38 am
Jack Thompson said;
“First of all, I want to make it clear that Dennis McCauley got this from the court file.
Secondly, this is not “parody.” This is targeting. Big difference. This is rather foolish on Take-Two’s part.
”
It IS parody… and you know it.
Crowing victory already, huh, Jack? I’m checking your track record and I have to ask, are you retarded, or just unable to count?
September 18th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Its so hard sometimes to believe jack is a real person, how can any human being be so idiotic and morally bankrupt? so fecitious and childish while keeping a law lisence? How can such a man exist?
I have faith in humanity, but it really stretched the benefit of the doubt when Jack comes along spouting nonsense and drivel like its divine intervention.
@nightwing
It can be a pain looking back for jack comments but dennis has made it clear its due to the system, I dont know what the rumoured change would do but I hope it will be interesting. in the meantime the setup is unavoidable and by no means problematic.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:39 am
The really interesting thing here would for Rockstar/T2 to not sue him for monetary compensation when he is found guilty of breaching the terms. Instead ask for community service, specifically selling videogames in several busy chains, with their full cooperation to show him how it really is. With the condition he can not deny sales of M games to youth if their parents are the ones paying for it and standing right there. He cannot deny how some parents really are then, and it will let him have a taste of the joy that comes from giving a child a game their parents said was OK even though it was rated M. I wonder if he will somehow slip up after 300 hours on the job and sell to a kid that looks old enough because he stopped checking IDs religiously.
It won’t change his mind on who is to blame naturally, but it surely will make him think about opening his mouth in a negative and slanderous fashion in the future. What he is doing IS slander, as he ignores the evidence to the contrary, puffs himself up on opinion rather than fact, and targets only one company who he has promised to “take down” many times. Farmer JT is basically targeting one pig in the pen because he doesn’t like the way it grunts or defecates around the yard. What do you expect a pig to do? Every grunt and fecal expulsion will not be letters and numbers, grammatical exercises, or PG fairy tale adventures… At least some of the other critics are trying to make sausage of ALL the developers more equally, and not merely focusing on T2/Rockstar. They won’t have much success in the end, but they know what the actual score it a whole lot better.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:40 am
You know honestly I likely would not have made the connection between Jack and this Goldberg character if Jack hadn’t made a stink over it. The only one targeting Jack is Jack.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:40 am
[…] [._.] […]
September 18th, 2007 at 11:44 am
*yawn*
okay Jack might be time to either up the medication dosage or cut it in half. The video game industry isn’t out to get you, they couldn’t care less about you, you started the fight with R* and Take Two and now they can’t use lawyers in their games because they’re parodying you? Uh might want to read those first amendment laws again. Where under it, public figures are completely legal targets. Honestly it’s gotten to the point where when I read about Jack I don’t even bat an eye any more, this is what he does. Quick someone set up a camera on the back of a truck and start driving, I want to watch him run after the truck for 30 seconds of airtime as an “expert”.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Don’t worry Jack- your behavior is enough for people to want to shoot ya.
Why hasn’t anyone killed Gary Coleman in real life? He was in Postal 2…
September 18th, 2007 at 11:45 am
And we all hate Thompson, all over this land!
And we all hate Thompson!
It’s because he’s not yet banned…
September 18th, 2007 at 11:49 am
You know, if you’re tired of Thompson comments coming up someplace you’ve already read and it wasn’t there, you can just use ctrl+f. That works pretty well, and he always signs his posts ‘Jack Thompson’ which makes them nice and easy to find.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Oh this is too rich. I swear to god I hope this goes to court, just so I can see Jack get bitch-smacked by a judge… Again.
Guess what, Thompson. You’re hardly the first anti-game lawyer to pop up. Take-Two is take a jab at a very well known sterotype; the ‘let’s blame games’ figure. Unless I see a carbon copy of your ugly face on that figure being shot, you don’t have a case. This is just more of your incessant high-pitched whining meant to make us all sick to our stomachs from hearing about you. Get over yourself, Mr. Martyr.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:50 am
@BlackIce
I don’t hate Thompson. I don’t hate anyone. I just don’t agree with him and find problems with his knack for taking attention away from serious social problems facing this country. His crusade is one fueled by a moral opinion, not scientific fact. You may hate whom you like, but that too is a waste of energy spent in better avenues.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:52 am
@Zerodash
“Don’t worry Jack- your behavior is enough for people to want to shoot ya.”
Careful! He could claim you’re threatening him!
I swear, November is so close and yet it feels so far away…
September 18th, 2007 at 11:53 am
@DragonBomber
I enjoy making up songs about people I hate. Also, if you don’t hate you’ve left a part of life unlived.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:54 am
I hope this situation means the end for Jack, although I seriously doubt this is the last of him.
Jack Thompson Says:
September 18th, 2007 at 10:27 am
First of all, I want to make it clear that Dennis McCauley got this from the court file.
Secondly, this is not “parody.” This is targeting. Big difference. This is rather foolish on Take-Two’s part.
way to defend your claim Jack. If he is going to argue with journalists he needs to learn that simply repeating his claim that it IS targeting, will not suffice. Defend your claim with sound evidence that the game play you saw was targeting rather than parody, otherwise be quite.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Good luck with that Jackhole.
I shall dub thee: Jack “Don Quijote” Thompson
September 18th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Jack Thompson doesn’t like video games and will attempt to stop another GTA game.
In other late breaking news candy is delicious, kittens are cute, and Jack Thompson isn’t so good at this whole “lawyer” thing.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:59 am
[…] Via: GamePolitics […]
September 18th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
Jackhole, did you miss taking your paranoid schizophrenia pills yesterday?
September 18th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
If mocking Whacko Jacko was against the law, I’d have had the chair by now. Has anyone else depicted him as a superhero with a douchebag on his chest?
The chair. Bzzzzt!!!
September 18th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Yes jacko is using a proxy. In fact the proxy he is using is btunnel.com
We know that because several weeks ago he posted a link to youtube but he wasn’t smart enough to realize that the anonymizing site makes the url include btunnel so when he posted the link to youtube it was really a link through that site. Since we know that he used that site at least once, and we know that his real ip address wasn’t unblocked, it makes sense to assume that he uses that site post here.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
[…] anything goes in Liberty City, Jack. Deal with it. Link to this | E-mail this | Digg this | Post to del.icio.us Published Tuesday, September 18, 2007 11:36 AM by tylertodd Filed under: Controversy, JackThompson, GTA IV […]
September 18th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Sorry Jack but I don’t think the connection to you is strong enough for you to be able to say undeniably that it is you. There are plenty of other anti-game lawyers and while I’m sure in most peoples minds it is a direct poke at you it is just as easily a go at the whole game/law/constitution battle that wages continuously. But hey, don’t feel too bad, there are a few of us (non-Americans mostly I imagine) that see the unconstitutional argument to be completely counter productive. If both sides would tone it down a bit I’m sure everyone would get what they want.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
YOu know, since he hasn’t tried to sue G4 for parodying him, and since he hasn’t sued Comedy Central for south Park making fun of his religion, his argument is null and void.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Since when is being an attention-whore douchebag who is addicted to seeing his face on television or name in the news a RELIGION?
…and ..is he like the Pope of it?
September 18th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
@Coyote Sharptongue
I was talking about christianity, which he does a good job of mocking on his own.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
I’m confused.
Isnt GTA 4 in new york and not in florida?
In otherwords it happens compleatly away from jacks home, so in no way could it be jack.
But if in jacks world parody is illegal, should he not get himself arrested for parodying himself?
September 18th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Anyone have any pull at GI? I’d like their impression if they think the lawyer is in any way similar to Jack, rather than Jack’s paranoid rantings.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
@ kurisu7885
Oh….in that case…how about..
“Every time you play a video game god masterbates a kitten”
Or something of the like? I read that somewhere, maybe it was the internetz.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
I don’t recall him complaining about his depiction in The Matrix: Path of Neo.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
I hope the name of the lawyer in the game is Tom Jackson. haha.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
*yawn*
parody = protected. Sorry, you loose.
Oh and im so not surprised hes anti gay rights…. hes most likely anti-rights for anyone apart from people like him.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
“Secondly, this is not “parody.” This is targeting. Big difference. This is rather foolish on Take-Two’s part.”
Jack, the only way this could be targeting you is if you can prove that T2 specifically tried to target YOU with this video game. Which I don’t see any evidence if, by the way. All I see is a layer who just doesn’t hate video games, but the second amendment. That could be ANYONE, Jack. I’m sure you’re not the only lawyer in the world who hates video games. Otherwise, this is a parody. PERIOD.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
I’m on Jack Thompsons side… this time.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Targeting would be if the name of the lawyer was Jack Thompson (which it wasn’t), the lawyer looked exactly like Jack Thompson, the whole premise of the scene was to kill an “Anti-violent videogame” lawyer.
THEN you MIGHT be right about targeting Jack.
But what you do now, is actually making stuff up to blackmail T2. Since you have no basis to stand on, you run the risk of breaking the terms of the settlement.
Oh, and Dennis, why haven’t we heard anything from the Florida Bar, concerning his possible disbarment ?
September 18th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
If there was a game called “Jock Thumpson: Game Raider” similar to the Panty Raider game, but with a twist of trying to eradicate cities full of game stores by busting into them and taking out the supply of filth (vigilante style), then perhaps JT would have have a case. It would be easy to find someone else named Jack Thompson, or even the same exact name he has to legally be the basis for the game, but it still would be close unless the game character looked exactly like him. That would be a sweet game actually, given that you get to create your own custom character. Also get to choose your side, pro, anti, neutral. Or more like the AD&D continuum, with chaotic lawful and chaotic evil players running around the sandbox towns. Some players could also be the game store clerks with weapons under the counter, wall-mounted lasers, trap doors in the floors and other fun mishaps to keep the enemies away. Other players could be deliverymen dropping off truckloads of games, or bike couriers passing around promotional copies of games. Just think about the possibilities of such a game.
@BlackIce
I hated enough in the hells of Junior High until I got the muscles and weight to defend myself better. I let that rage go when life stopped being a horrible experience for me however and I realized how little I gained from it. I can still be angry, just not hateful.
When I was full of rage I could beat doors down off hinges. So I know quite well the experience, thanks.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
what a moron haha
September 18th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
you know guys, your just getting him all riled up. hes probably trying to for gp to give him your email so he can track you down and throw you in jail for making fun of him.
@Jack
Seriously Jack, STFU your old news. no one cares about what you think anymore. go ahead and break your settlement. your just pissed that the guys at penny arcade actually care about other people. thats were this all started. they proved that gamers are not selfabsorbed killing machines, and that makes you a retard. enjoy the contempt of court charges. Also, stop accusing Dennis of being a crappy journalist. this is one of the most factual news sites i have seen.
@all GP patrons.
I say we need to just completely ignore him. when JT stories are posted, read them, laugh at them, tell Dennis hes doing a good job, and leave it at that. when he stops getting the spot light, all this will go away. if we do that , his posts on here will amount to “WHY ISN”T ANYONE PAYING ANY ATTENTION TO ME?!!!!
@GP nice job on all of your stories. i enjoy reading all of them. keep up the good work.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
there’s 3 days and a few hours until the deadline! I’m so giddy! I only know EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
Thompson won’t follow through. He tried that with bully, didn’t work. He should know that there is nothing to change, so that he can’t have anything done.
also: jacky boy, please work on your writing skills, they are degenerating.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
The document mentions a “new Bar complaint” from Take Two. What’s he talking about? How new is it?
September 18th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
jack is an ass
September 18th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
wow……It sounds like this guy has become ultra-paranoid like coke addicts do
September 18th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
@ Max
Why? He’s the first one to draw the comparison. There’s a few previews around which mention this scene, and not a one of them draws the conclusion that it’s a parody of Thompson. Most other people didn’t either.
Only good old Jack, who see’s what he wants to see.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
normaly i dont reply to these, but wow, this jack fellow seems to be a bit on the delusional side. i mean with all due respect, even if rockstar was poking fun at him, could you really blame them? jack is bringing this on himself by blowing stupid stuff like this out of proporsion. if he is so concerned about violence, why doesnt he speak out again war? video games should be the least of his concerns. what about fathers who take their kids hunting? does shooting a deer not give kids an idea of violence? or the stuff they watch on the news, or television in general. frankly they are going to learn about it at some point, either way. the only people who would take any violence they see in video games to an extreme, are people who are already unstable. and frankly, maybe ‘unstable’ is why jack takes it to such an extreme.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Um no.
You don’t ignore Jack Thompson. The tantruming three year old being ignored bit doesn’t work with this guy. He’s a couple of power pellets short of a pacman game if ya get my drift.
You ignore Jack and he feels vindicated, like he WON something, and that makes him bolder to where he acts out even harder.
You can’t ignore him. Instead, do what I do.
Photoshop pictures of him in that little glass pane as he gets sucked into the Phantom Zone.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
The thing that never ceases to amaze me about Jack is his stubborn arrogance. No matter how bad his track record, he thinks he’s always right. Well, he’s not always right. Quite the opposite, in fact. And point of order, I cannot for the life of me recall a time Jack has EVER been proven right about ANYTHING. So where is all this arrogance coming from?
My theory? It’s all a front of denial. Let’s face it: we only know Jack from his press releases, TV appearances, and blog postings. We are not privy to his private life at home, however. For all we know, Jack ends his days curled up in a fetal position crying himself to sleep over what a spectacular failure he knows his life and career are. But is he about to let us see that side of himself? Of course not. So he puts up a brave, macho front that he’s always right and will eventually have his way, even though he knows better.
Of course, this is all just speculation. He could also just be a nut.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Jack is a real “shoot from the hip sort of guy”. Unfortunately he also doesn’t remove the gun from the holster, or even point it away from his foot. He doesn’t bother gathering trivial things like “evidence”. All he needs is a hastily born opinion, a fifth of Jack Daniels, and a barely coherent letter written in Microsoft Word and he is ready for some litigatin’!
September 18th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
@gamebrain89
JT’s tangent reality just gives me ideas for games I will never have sufficient coding skills to produce. But in my head they play wonderfully. So in this real reality I should thank him for being such a moral hypocrite. Thank you!
September 18th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Another day, another windmill for Jack Thompson to charge at. He must be practically giddy, he has an excuse to bring more lawsuits against Rockstar. After all, for a while I figured the only people listening to him were GP posters.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
My money says JT tries to argue attempted entrapment or something similar. “Take-Two knew I’d respond, so the tried goading me into violating our settlement.” Which will just get thrown out because proving that would be nearly impossible, even if it were true. Just a hunch though…..
-Mike Schwinger
September 18th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
@DragonBomber
Uh.. I can do that… I just need to be wearing my.. *runs*
Seriously though, you just can’t help but hate the man/feel sorry for him.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
First of all, I want to make it clear that Jack Thompson should apologize for thinking this is newsworthy.
Secondly, this is not “targeting.” This is parody. Big difference. This is rather foolish on Jack Thompson’s part.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Man That guy sucks ass.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
You’re absolutely right, Jack. This isn’t “parody.”
It’s PARODY, in big capital letters, underlined three times, and thrown at your face by an MLB pitcher.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
OBJECTION!
September 18th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
JACK THOMPSON you are so gay.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 18th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
add me PSN GTAmanx
September 18th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
*popcorn* *soda*
Let’s see how long this goes on before T2 invokes the settlement agreement and sues Thompson into the ground.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
@BlackIce
I don’t feel sorry for him really. I feel ashamed sometimes that people like him are given any societal weight or credibility above trained doctors and other researchers whose jobs is has been to judge the medium of video games and media in general to decide their impact on youth and adults. I feel ashamed to know he gathers headlines, yet the real plights of youth in America goes unheard or ignored by politicians, parents, and the media. To see the years of his education and talents go wasted on this crusade and know he could have been an actual champion of children really depresses me sometimes. If only the children would write him letters to tell him how they feel, and what they really need changed to insure their positive futures. Like Santa Claus, only hopefully with less references to PS3 and Wii. Teachers and parents around the country should write the man to give them their opinions, though I imagine the ones supporting games shall likely be burned or used as evidence that their minds have been corrupted. *shakes head*
“I call Little Susie Allen to the stand. Susie, that is a bible. Do you swear not to make the baby jesus cry by lying? That’s good hon…ok! So, when did you first begin playing with murder simulators?”
I OBJECT! donotwant
September 18th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
I’m on vacation and come back to this. Brilliant!
September 18th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
I thought the last case Jackie-boy lost against Take Two ordered him to sieze all future attempts of holding back the launches of Take twos products, that being through lawsuits or any other means?
September 18th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Wow.
Anyone else have the urge to offer Jack’s son $50 a day just to follow him around with a tape-recorder to hear what other rants spew from him that never actually make it to the public eye. Come on, think about it, if this is what he thinks will get a reaction, imagine how awesomely ridiculous everything Jack discards as too out there must be … I bet it would be great to listen to some of the crackpot theories, if this is what he throws out as “sane.”
@Dennis
Your patience is astounding. I’m nominating you for Sainthood.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
@GP
The secret good news is that we’re exploring a re-design of GP (but you didn’t hear that from me - LOL) …and I am asking the developer for nested comments.
Really? Nifty ^_^ that developer would be my new favorite person.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
jack thompons is stuped because he riery think that rockstar would put time and efered into putting him in thire game.!!!!! jack thompon=gay
PSN GTAmanx
September 18th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Sorry Jack, but public figures are subject to parody. Larry Flint proved that in the US Supreme Court. Take 2 still has those pesky First Amendment rights that make America great.
Suing Take 2 over this would be the same as a class-action suit by gamers against you for defamation of character.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Aaaaaand my spellcheck just vomited up a couple of vowels and some blood. Thanks a lot Chris.
I just find it amazing that Jack Thompson STILL has the ability to pull the strings and waste tax payer money like he does. He should be finded for the trite and petty childish crap that he puts through the legal system everytime he gets his tail feathers ruffled.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
@Iniquuis
“Take-Two knew I’d respond, so the tried goading me into violating our settlement.” Which will just get thrown out because proving that would be nearly impossible, even if it were true. Just a hunch though…..
You have to admit - that would be delicious irony. Seeing as how a couple weeks back he was trying to goad what’s-her-name.. Gena Feist? I seem to remember an exchange of letters where he tried to email Strauss Zelnick, something about age verification and she rebuffed him - which of course ended up in “Are you crazy/stupid?” I don’t remember the exact choice of words - but he was obviously trying to pick a fight and she was obviously trying to find a polite way to tell him to sit down and shut up.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Chris - please stop using gay in a negative way like that.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Jack, you need to get laid. Have fun in court.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
It is targeting Jack…..for parody. Which is protected under free speech.
You lose.
“Conejo Says:
>how is it i know more about lawyering from watching Night Court?”
Because Dan was The Man.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Lmao Oh well at least i dont have to worry about Wacko Jacko Asking for my email addy…Seeing as how he really thinks im a “Girl” now as for this whole “gTA is targeting me” seriously dude find a freaking hobby and learn to enjoy life and laugh on occasion….
I mean besides make an ass of yourself on here and use your son to your advantage do you do ANYTHING that you get enjoyment out of (sorry idiot attempting to “destroy take two” doesnt count and well its not going to happen jack so move along and find something else to complain about (how about tv or music…..I know how about you target disney channel because it promotes children to date by showing High school Musical 1 and 2 (laugh at me if you want but its a damn good movie…ok and ashley tisdale is hella hot) or better yet jack why not attempt to take down wwe and vince mcmahon for having The D-Generation x angle all that time and teaching the “children” on it do crotch chops and yell out “suck it” because of course as you mentioned quite a few times and i know once when raw was still on spike tv you claimed that it was a show watched by “millions of children”
Of course that is bullS**** and well any one can really call it of course except you since you seem to have the iq of stimpy from ren and stimpy…
Now jack Take two and rockstar are not “targeting you” as you like to think that they are its simple parody and as usual Moron Boy if you dont like it then dont pay attention to it and seeing as how you feel that all “gamers” are just seriel killers in training (curious jack seeing as how i’ve probably aquired around close to probably over 1 million kills in all of my ps2 gta games in the entire time i’ve owned them i havent killed anyone so i guess we can call your idea there about that BullS****
Now execuse me jack i have things to do and people to see
Seriously jack get a life and a hobby i have a suggestion for you why dont you start watching wwe monday night raw
You may really enjoy the angle of hornswoggle being mcmahon’s Bast*** child…come on jack watch it its like a Soap Opera For men…..
Oh and one more thing
GET LOST oh wait you already are…
Hooooah
*starts to blast “kiss the girl” from ashley tisdale*
later moron boy
Hilaryduffgta
Jack’s number 1 fan and Last time i checked i wasnt a female
September 18th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
@chris
Are you a Homophobe? Because I can understand your use of the word “gay” in context then. However, I really don’t have a problem with Homosexuals, Bisexuals or strange looking sheep. Niether does any civilised person on this website, so please, Shut Up.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
@Jack Thompson:
>>> First of all, I want to make it clear that Dennis McCauley got this from the court file.
That’s good to know, Jack, because you do have a habit of widely cc’ing pleadings and filings that are never, you know, filed. One might even say you deliberately misrepresent the status of your filings in implying that you actually filed them with the court. That’s a bad thing, Jack, in case they didn’t teach you that in lawyer school.
It’d help if you just posted PACER links, and maybe I can find some fellas at groklaw who haven’t gone over their quota to pull your entertaining little epistles, rather than chase down another dead-ended fantasy filing.
By the way, have you noticed that I’m baiting you? You’re more entertaining than any video game when you’re mad.
(how do I quote, BTW? Is it bbcode for italics or something? There isn’t even a preview for me to try it)
September 18th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
I actually want this game more now.
And how would he block all of the sales? (serious question)
September 18th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
With the slightly crazy and hectic day that today has been, this was just chuckle I needed.
Here’s to Jack and his willingness to continually make an ass out of himself. It’s like having front row seats at the circus.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Afterthought: Before JT calls me gay, I am sraight and there are thirty people who can testify to that.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
“# Minisnor Says:
September 18th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
I thought the last case Jackie-boy lost against Take Two ordered him to sieze all future attempts of holding back the launches of Take twos products, that being through lawsuits or any other means?”
This isn’t the end-all. If, for example, Take Two or Rockstar used his ACTUAL likeness in a game without his permission and refused to remove it, no judicial order can prevent him from seeking to block on the grounds that his ACTUAL likeness is used.
In that case, Take Two/Rockstar/whoever has used someone’s likeness without permission and by making a profit is depriving someone control of their own ability to market themselves.
As that violates other federal laws, a regional judicial order cannot trump established legal precedent, if not federal copyright law, and he could sue.
That said, it appears they do not use either his name (an inherent trademark) or his actual physical likeness so he can’t without first proving that they are CLEARLY (in the eyes of a judge/jury). If he can convince said judge/jury that they are clearly and obviously referencing him, Take Two must obtain a signed release to use that likeness or remove it from the game.
Ya follow that?
September 18th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
GP,
you could remove the unnecessary homophobic rants of Chris, please?
September 18th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
“control of their own ability to market themselves”
Who else had an image of a hooker spring to mind then? Classic wording.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
This pretty much summs up Jack : http://jacksoul.ytmnd.com/
September 18th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
I hope no one is confusing me with the other chris, the difference seems to be a link in the name.
Maybe I should have invested in some more originality to avoid dopplegangers…..
@Blackice
Oh trust me, jack wont bother with witnesses, since apparently hes against in some gay rights debate he seems to be picking up a new enemy. Next he’ll likely accuse games of turning youths into homosexuals.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Someone in Star Ocean 2 has my name.
Time for me to sue them for irresponsibly representing me as some unlucky dumbass with dragons on his back and a fascination with barrels.
September 18th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
That’s the point, Ashton. They used only your name. They didn’t also use your profession AND your publically stated beliefs.
Is Thompson right? I don’t think so. But it does give him an argument and that is sloppy. on Take Two’s part.
September 18th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
@chris
Just stick something on the end of your user. Like I did.
Jack never bothers with witnesses does he? Unless they tesify in his favor. Which they do. Sometimes.
September 18th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
By Jack’s own logic, Gary Coleman and Michal Jackson should both be dead right now, since they both were targeted in video games; Mr. Coleman of course being in Postal 2, while Jackson, fittingly, finds himself in the Space Channel 5 series.
September 18th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
You know, I’m thinking about it…
Jack has to argue this one, even if he know sit’ll fail. If he doesn’t, then it’ll be the silver bullet against his own argument. “If people copy video games, then why didn’t you try to stop this obvious parody?”
Doesn’t make it any less crazy, though.
-P
September 18th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
I see it like defending a trademark. If you don’t at least put forth the argument - even if you lose - you lose the right to argue the point another day.
September 18th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
He’s still an idiot, though.
September 18th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
@JT:
You seem to think the world revolves around you. My advise: stop staring at the GPS.
September 18th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
“One more thing: If Dennis McCauley were inclined to be a real journalist and “fair” he would make available the entire letter as the full context makes clear not the parody but the targeting, but such fairness, such journalistic ethics, would be asking too much of this “news” site.”
Jack, the rest of the letter doesn’t matter. You say they are targeting you. Your proof is that a New York lawyer who works for a firm that supports gun rights but not video game rights is a facsimile of you. But he doesn’t look like you, doesn’t live in the same area of the US as you, doesn’t work from home (he’s clearly got a “real” job), and doesn’t claim he’s a god warrior.
He’s just a lawyer who doesn’t like video games. The judge who reads your filing with either shake their head at the stupidity, or laugh out loud. Either way you’ve got nothing.
The fact that they may or may not be engaged in sending lewd gifts to your wife, or whether you are at “war” with them doesn’t make the lawyer in the game any more you than had they come out and said “THAT IS DEFINITELY BASED ON A CERTAIN LAWYER WE HATE”. It’s still protected under parody.
Just like you advocated the murder of a CEO Paula Eibel of a company called Take This in a proposal for a video game. But that was just parody, right?
September 18th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Jack, will you represent me against Take2? I want to sue them because I am a 6′ 1″ white man, with brown hair and I do a lot of walking on city sidewalks.
I have been terrorized for YEARS because the GTA games allow people to drive cars and run over people that LOOK JUST LIKE ME! I am sick of this terroristic threatening, and promise of painful harm upon my person. I want it to end, so I want to sue so I do not have to suffer any longer.
You are nothing more than a bully, hypocrite, and punk.
September 18th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
what a cry baby!
September 18th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
“That’s the point, Ashton. They used only your name. They didn’t also use your profession AND your publically stated beliefs.”
That still wouldn’t matter.
If a doctor in GTA said when you killed them, “I like pies!” should every publically pie-loving doctor feel the need to sue Take Two? This is a spin on the whole “Games kill people” theory, and Jack Thompson is obviously not the only hearse chasing, game hating lawyer.
September 18th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Jack,
In the past you have stated that you are “in a cultural war” against the video game industry and that your faith allows you to “do what was necessary” to win that war. Yet when Zelnick tells you the same thing, you cry foul?
Let me get this straight:
1) Accusing the Japanese of instigating another “Pearl Harbor” = okay.
2) Referring to people as “worse than Saddam” = okay.
3) The constant labeling of video gamers in general as “on drugs,” “sociopaths,” etc. = okay.
4) Basically, any slander against someone that doesn’t agree with Jack Thompson = okay.
But, what might be a parody of Jack (or might not be) in a video game = not okay.
Jack, you set up the rules in this fight years ago, and now you’re on