Video Game Industry Cartel Conspiring to Harm Jack Thompson

[Sword_Of_Truth]

And now for something completely different: A man unhealthily obsessed about something other than 9/11 (http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/06/16/breaking-us-marshals-pay-jack-thompson-quota-visitquot)


I have been asking the Justice Department simply to meet with me about [the video game industry's] criminal targeting of me for harm... Our US Attorney here has obstructed that effort... Instead of being afforded the Justice Department investigation to which I am entitled, I get today harassment from that same Justice Department...

Enjoy the change of scenery, friends.

[MarkyX]

Jack Thompson...

Glad he is getting the boot. He even dared try to cater to the anti-war crowd by saying video game industry was run by the military to recruit kids.

[Cobalt]

He's just mad he isn't getting his way. Also could be that he might be in a bit of trouble (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080520-judges-report-in-jack-thompson-case-guilty-on-27-charges.html).

[Gazpacho]

Jack, meet whirlwind.

[abenja1]

Jack Thompson is a modern tragedy. A man brought down by his own ego and thirst for power. I shed not a tear for him.

[DarkMagician]

We were going to jump over three times our own height and land right on his head, but then we realized we were too out-of-shape to pull it off.

We're now trying to break bricks, hoping to get a star so we can just run into him.

[HENTAI DOUKYUSEI JP]

Again, which NWO agent is selling secrets to the ouside world? (http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/use-a-ps2-controller-for-your-next-missile-launch/)

And if letting outsiders know our secrets isn't enough.... (http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/use-a-ps2-controller-for-your-next-missile-launch/comments.xml)

Originally posted by Ignite:
this makes a lot of sense
for one thing, the PS2 controller is really well designed
for another, Saddam Hussein (allegedly) used them for something similar. he had thousands of Ps2's shipped to Iraq a few years ago.
to play games with? doubtful. theories abound that they were used for weapons control/programming etc

Good thing no one knows our real weapons!

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/218634858b2622b19e.jpg (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=12633)

some NWO agent will get fired!

[Brainache]

So we're not talking about this bloke then? :

www.flixster.com/actor/jack-thompson

[Drudgewire]

2 Live Crew = residents of Liberty City projects in Miami.

Grand Theft Auto IV = Set in fictional "Liberty City."

Took a decade or two, but the chickens finally came home to roost. :D

[CptColumbo]

He's just mad he isn't getting his way. Also could be that he might be in a bit of trouble (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080520-judges-report-in-jack-thompson-case-guilty-on-27-charges.html).

What's with the squirrels?

[dudalb]

What weapon will the Video Game industry use to off Thompson?
The BFG ("Big F-----g Gun") from "Doom"?
The Shrink Ray Gun from Duke Nukem 3d?
Talk about paranoia/
Jack Thompson is Mrs. Grundy squared.

[jj]

Maybe we can introduce him to the 'BADD' people, the ones who were running around badmouthing D&D, and introducing a 'questionaire' that showed that they didn't have a hint of a guess of a small clue how an FRP game worked.

[geni]

Jack Thompson...

Glad he is getting the boot. He even dared try to cater to the anti-war crowd by saying video game industry was run by the military to recruit kids.

If that isn't the point of America's Army I feel that it may be time to look at some of the militry's spending.

[Cobalt]

What's with the squirrels?

Hm? Happy birthday, by the way.

[abenja1]

What weapon will the Video Game industry use to off Thompson?
The BFG ("Big F-----g Gun") from "Doom"?
The Shrink Ray Gun from Duke Nukem 3d?
Talk about paranoia/
Jack Thompson is Mrs. Grundy squared.

Perhaps the gravity gun from Half Life. Gamers love that weapon.

[Tomblvd]

If that isn't the point of America's Army I feel that it may be time to look at some of the militry's spending.

So, since the US Army made and aggressively marketed AA, that proves the "video game industry was run by the military"?

Do you see a difference there?

[LashL]

What's with the squirrels?

And what's with Paul Simon, Paul Newman, Ray Charles, Ed Bradley, Jack Nicholson, etc.?


The court described one of Thompson's recent filings in detail. He dubbed it a "children's picture book for adults," interspersing images with text in his motion due to "the court's inability to comprehend" his arguments. Images included "swastikas, kangaroos in court, a reproduced dollar bill, cartoon squirrels, Paul Simon, Paul Newman, Ray Charles, a handprint with the word 'slap' written under it, Bar Governor Benedict P. Kuehne, a baby, Ed Bradley, Jack Nicholson, Justice Clarence Thomas, Julius Caesar, monkeys, a house of cards," the order said.

How very...odd.

Happy birthday, Captain!


:hbd::wave1:hbd:

[dudalb]

Perhaps the gravity gun from Half Life. Gamers love that weapon.


I am kicking myself in the butt for forgetting that one. Nothing is more fun then using it to throw huge piles of scrap metal at your foes and crush them.

[geni]

So, since the US Army made and aggressively marketed AA, that proves the "video game industry was run by the military"?

Do you see a difference there?

Sure but I think when countering that claim the disclaimer about AA is needed.

[Rika]

Jack Thompson is just odd.

[AgeGap]

He's just mad he isn't getting his way. Also could be that he might be in a bit of trouble (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080520-judges-report-in-jack-thompson-case-guilty-on-27-charges.html).

Jack Thompson (Campus shooting expert) is not mad and he has a certificate to prove it. Though if someone I knew was proud that they had a certificate that proved their sanity I would think they were ****ing nuts.

[Travis]

The man is a loon3. He compares video games to polio, introduced gay pornography into his own trial (who knows why?) and said the unbanning of Manhunt 2 in the UK was like molesting children.

Nobody should be listening to this nut.

[dudalb]

For those who are unfamiliar with Jack Thompson:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_%28attorney%29


I think the terms "Crackpot", "Fanatic" and that wonderful Aussie term "Sticky Beaker"(someone who always sticks his nose in other people's business) can be applied to Thompson.
I also bet he is the kind of lawyer who, when he walks up to a courthouse, every judge who sees him says "God, I hope he is not on my docket".

[dudalb]

Jack Thompson is just a stark,raving loon.

Fixed that for you.

[Alareth]

For an interesting insight into Jack's mind, I submit the following email exchange he initiated with the creator of the VG Cats comic:

http://vgcats.com/jack.php

[rwguinn]

For an interesting insight into Jack's mind, I submit the following email exchange he initiated with the creator of the VG Cats comic:

http://vgcats.com/jack.php
Kind of a more radical Tipper Gore (http://www.cas.sc.edu/socy/faculty/deflem/zzcens97.htm)?

[Drudgewire]

Kind of a more radical Tipper Gore (http://www.cas.sc.edu/socy/faculty/deflem/zzcens97.htm)?

Yeah, with much more of a racial overtone to it. The day after 2 Live Crew got arrested in Broward, a (GREAT) alternative band called Too Much Joy played the same club and performed the entire Luke Skyywalker set list and not a thing happened to them.

FREE LUTHER!! Oh wait, he's been free for 19 years now. http://www.lethalwrestling.com/upload/redface.gif

[Alareth]

And in breaking news, Jack is possibly facing lifetime disbarment:

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/07/09/breaking-disbar-jack-thompson-forever-bar-trial-referee-says

[l0k0]

I love how he considers himself an expert, and yet, blamed videogames for the VT shooting before the identity of the suspect was even announced to the public. I sware he has Fox and MSNBC on speed dial by now. Almost as much of a tradgedy whore as Alex Jones. Well, almost.

[Rika]

I'm an expert too! On watching people self destruct!

..anyone want popcorn?

[Alareth]

If you have the patience to read the 169 page referees report attached to that link, you will see examples of some truly unforgivable behavior by Jack. Not all of it is related to his video game shenanigans.

[Rika]

Alareth: I decided Jack Thompson was too much. I have some standard to my insanity, you know. :cool:

[Cuddles]

In sending documents to opponents, Thompson would frequently attach a photocopy of his driver's license, with a photo of Batman pasted over his own, just to make sure they knew who they were dealing with.

How on Earth did he ever manage to get certified as sane?

[dudalb]

When A state Bar Association, who are notoriously forgiving toward bad behavior by members of the Bar, recommends that someone be permamnently disbarred, you know things are really, really, bad.

[scotth]

Looks like his career of nuissance is at its final end.
http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/09/25/disbarred

[Travis]

Considering his in court antics I'm not surprised.

I sure am glad he got his comeuppance.

[Drudgewire]

Looks like his career of nuissance is at its final end.


Wow, are you ever an optimist.

"Now the fun begins." (http://kotaku.com/5054801/thompson-responds-to-disbarment)

Thompson looks forward to successfully litigating his federal claims, now before US District Court Judge Marcia Cooke in the Southern District of Florida.

Thompson always wanted to own a Bar. Now, armed with multiple US Supreme Court rulings that no state bar can do what it has done to Thompson, he is set to own that Bar.

http://www.lethalwrestling.com/upload/rollbarf.gif

[dudalb]

If he would have halfway followed the standard rules of legal behavior, Thompson would not have been disbarrred. It was not his kooky stand on video games that got him disbarred... The Bar association, quite rightly, did not think the merits of his cause were the issue here....but his being a total stupid jerk about it.
Thompson can still file lawsuits though, like any citizen can. And he can also play the poor persecuted Matyr now, which is the only downside to this.
Now will the Gaming Industry cancel the Contracts it had out on Thompson?

Gee, I would have seen him shrunk down to a few inches by the Duke Nukem Shrink ray weapon, then stomped by the Duke's mighty foot....

[gtc]

Wow. I knew he had a bee in his bonnet about videogames, but I didn't realise how out there he was.

[Gazpacho]

Wow. I knew he had a bee in his bonnet about videogames, but I didn't realise how out there he was.

From Wikipedia:
In 2006, two Michigan gamers began a project dubbed "Flowers for Jack", soliciting donations to deliver a massive floral arrangement to Thompson’s office. The flowers were delivered in February along with a letter aimed at opening a dialogue between Thompson and the video gaming community. Thompson rejected this overture and forwarded the flowers to some of his industry foes, with such comments as "Discard them along with the decency you discarded long ago. I really don't care. Grind them up and smoke them if you like."

Apparently he doesn't even respond to the North Korea treatment (http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2008/200809/news09/06.htm).

[Cobalt]

Awesome! What excellent news.

[8den]

Wow. I knew he had a bee in his bonnet about videogames, but I didn't realise how out there he was.

At trials he would hand out copies of his drivers licence to opposition council and their clients. Oh and he replaced his photo with a picture of Batman, to let them know "who they were dealing with".

The man is 100% bat guano crazy.

[Travis]

I'm waiting for Penny Arcade to chime in on this.

[geni]

Bad day for video gamers. Means that in future the critical talking heads will be slightly saner.

[8den]

I'm waiting for Penny Arcade to chime in on this.


For some background.



Thompson's "high-profile crusades" have made him an enemy of video game aficionados.[64] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_%28attorney%29#cite_note-Krueger-63) On occasion, Thompson has sparred directly with the gaming industry and its fans. In 2005, he wrote an open letter to Entertainment Software Association (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entertainment_Software_Association) president Doug Lowenstein (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Lowenstein), making what he described as a "a modest video game proposal" (an allusion to the title of Jonathan Swift (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Swift)'s satirical (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satire) essay, A Modest Proposal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Modest_Proposal)) to the video game industry: Thompson said he would donate $10,000 to a charity designated by Take-Two CEO Paul Eibeler (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Eibeler) if any video game company would create a game including the scenario he described in the letter. The scenario called for the main character, whose son was killed by a boy who played violent video games, to murder a number of industry executives (including one modeled on Eibeler) and go on a killing spree at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Entertainment_Expo). Video game fans promptly began working to take Thompson up on his offer, resulting in the game I'm O.K - A Murder Simulator (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_O.K_-_A_Murder_Simulator), among others. Afterwards, he claimed that his proposal was satire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satire), and to date he has not made his proposed donation.
In response, Jerry Holkins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Holkins) and Mike Krahulik (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Krahulik), the creators of gaming webcomic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webcomic) Penny Arcade (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Arcade_%28webcomic%29) and of the children's charity Child's Play (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child%27s_Play_%28charity%29), stepped in to make the donation instead, writing in the memo field of their check, "For Jack Thompson, Because Jack Thompson Won't." Afterwards, Thompson tried to get Seattle police and the FBI to investigate Holkins and Krahulik for orchestrating "criminal harassment" of him through articles on their site.

[dudalb]

And Jack Thompson's attempts to be the Frederic Wertham for the 21st Century ends.

[gtc]

Apparently he doesn't even respond to the North Korea treatment (http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2008/200809/news09/06.htm).

KCNA and Jack Thompson, a perfect match.

[Alareth]

Hey, at least this helps in the distribution of cake (http://kotaku.com/5054962/impromptu-disbarment-parties-starting-to-pop-up)

[technoextreme]

For some background.
Thats not even the least of his problems. What happened to the racketeering?http://www.penny-arcade.com/2007/3/23/
Hey, at least this helps in the distribution of cake
Nah.... He'll get his license back and then we will all discover the cake was a lie.

[Travis]

For some background.

I remember when that happened which is why I'm sure they are quite gleeful at the outcome of his disbarment hearing.

[dudalb]

Thompson is nuts, but I still think EA games is the work of the devil.
And I will find LOTS of gamers who agree with me.

[Travis]

Thompson is nuts, but I still think EA games is the work of the devil.
And I will find LOTS of gamers who agree with me.

Being a ruthless competitor that produces mediocre products is still not the same as turning children into killing machines.
:D

[gtc]

Thompson is nuts, but I still think EA games is the work of the devil.

Point - EA publishes Sim City and so can't be evil.
Counterpoint - EA publishes The Sims.

[8den]

Point - EA publishes Sim City and so can't be evil.
Counterpoint - EA publishes The Sims.

How many times must we endure a teenager inflicting a giant lizard, a tornado, or earthquake on a major population centers before we stop kids using these act of god simulators to act out their sick fantasies!

[JoeyDonuts]

There is no possible way I could ever reasonably quantify all of the digital creatures I have dispatched in my many years as a gamer, but here's my best guesstimate.

Zombies (both Armed and Unarmed) - 43,000
Cacodaemons - Meh. Couple Hundred.
Defenseless Sheep - 500ish
Generic Interchangeable Masked Terrorist Character Models - 125,000
Imps and Other Lesser Minions of the Underworld - 1.5 million. I monster-grind a lot.
Hookers - 1500

Now, I have helped these digital manifestations to shuffle off this mortal coil with implements ranging from assault rifles to dragon's breath to an oversized lawnmower (Dead Rising. My favorite by far.) I listened to Ozzy Osbourne and I didn't have the best childhood, and I was bullied constantly.

I guess I fit Mr. Thompson's profile. YEAH, me and a couple of other thousand people.

I'm glad he got disbarred. I'm all for the right of people to campaign/lobby for morality in the media, but this guy was a power hungry goon in a suit.

Since he likes Batman so much, they oughta grappling-hook him upside down in Central Park for 72 hours.

[OneShotKi11]

Jack Thompson...

Glad he is getting the boot. He even dared try to cater to the anti-war crowd by saying video game industry was run by the military to recruit kids.

I dont know about run by the military but they are definitely doing something with gaming. They hosted a national Halo3 tournament and have advertisements on xbox-live.

[JoeyDonuts]

I dont know about run by the military but they are definitely doing something with gaming. They hosted a national Halo3 tournament and have advertisements on xbox-live.

Man, all I did in the Navy was "play games." I looked at this screen so much in six years, it's practically burned into my retinas.

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/an-slq-32-r17-s.jpg

MAJOR Tom Clancy-sized kudos if anyone can identify the system this display is from.

[gtc]

It is the 17th revision of the EWS system known as AN/SLQ-32A(V).

Google, is my friend.

[dudalb]

Point - EA publishes Sim City and so can't be evil.
Counterpoint - EA publishes The Sims.

My little burst of anger toward EA was due to the problems I am having with Will Wright's "Spore"...which was released with the worst bugs I have seen in a major release game in a while. It shows every sign of being pushed out the door by EA before Maxis was done testing it.
I can't run it from my hard drive....to start it I have to click on the exe file on the DVD rom. ANd it took me three hours to get it start at all,icluding some fun work editing the games config file.. And it takes five minutes to load.

[JoeyDonuts]

It is the 17th revision of the EWS system known as AN/SLQ-32A(V).

Google, is my friend.

CRAP! Stupid right-click picture information. Foiled AGAIN!

[gtc]

CRAP! Stupid right-click picture information. Foiled AGAIN!

Actually I googled the words 'R17 Windowed Display Navy'. I thought I was being clever, but I could have just right clicked the mouse.

[gtc]

My little burst of anger toward EA was due to the problems I am having with Will Wright's "Spore"...which was released with the worst bugs I have seen in a major release game in a while. It shows every sign of being pushed out the door by EA before Maxis was done testing it.
I can't run it from my hard drive....to start it I have to click on the exe file on the DVD rom. ANd it took me three hours to get it start at all,icluding some fun work editing the games config file.. And it takes five minutes to load.

Have you seen Zero Punctuation's take on Spore? Marvellous.

[Cl1mh4224rd]

I dont know about run by the military but they are definitely doing something with gaming. They hosted a national Halo3 tournament and have advertisements on xbox-live.


That's nothing. Ever heard of America's Army (http://www.americasarmy.com/)?

*feigned horror*

[JoeyDonuts]

That's nothing. Ever heard of America's Army (http://www.americasarmy.com/)?

*feigned horror*

YAWN. Why play a blatant U.S. Army Recruiting tool when you can play COD4 which pretty much owns AA in just about every conceivable way?

I confess, though. Haven't touched COD4 or any shooter since I got the Rock Band 2 wireless drum kit. Neil Peart is my bitch.

Christ, who am I kidding? "Limelight" kicks my arse every single time.

[JoeyDonuts]

Actually I googled the words 'R17 Windowed Display Navy'. I thought I was being clever, but I could have just right clicked the mouse.

Could have used you in Intel. That certainly requires an healthy amount of open-source googling. Hell, Jane's Fighting Ships was basically my giant paper intel-Google back in the day.

[gtc]

Could have used you in Intel. That certainly requires an healthy amount of open-source googling. Hell, Jane's Fighting Ships was basically my giant paper intel-Google back in the day.

Thanks! I was impressed with the amount of military material we can find on the internet. Though not exactly comforted.

[Travis]

Thanks! I was impressed with the amount of military material we can find on the internet. Though not exactly comforted.

Strangely the Field Manual for the new direct fire Stryker, the MGS, is classified while the Manuals to all the other Strykers aren't?

Weird.

[Drudgewire]

Thompson is nuts, but I still think EA games is the work of the devil.


Certainly would explain the Madden curse (http://www.snopes.com/sports/football/maddencurse.asp).

[JoeyDonuts]

Strangely the Field Manual for the new direct fire Stryker, the MGS, is classified while the Manuals to all the other Strykers aren't?

Weird.

If it has technical data about any steps they might have taken on the armor side to mitigate EFPs and shaped charges, that's certainly not something I would want floating out there in open-source land.

[/conjecture]

[abenja1]

I dont know about run by the military but they are definitely doing something with gaming. They hosted a national Halo3 tournament and have advertisements on xbox-live.

Are you saying the military shouldn't be allowed to advertise?

[JoeyDonuts]

Are you saying the military shouldn't be allowed to advertise?

I wouldn't have enlisted in the Navy if it wasn't for those slick high-energy commercials with the Godsmack music and SEALs jumping out of planes and stuff.

That and 9-11 of course.

I'd like to see a Navy commercial showing some E-4 chipping paint for hours or unclogging a toilet...or dewatering spaces constantly flooding out by potable water overflow tanks.

Ahhh...memories. To this day, I bet if somebody yelled GENERAL QUARTERS next to me I'd start fumbling around for my flash gear.

[TheDaver]

My little burst of anger toward EA was due to the problems I am having with Will Wright's "Spore"...which was released with the worst bugs I have seen in a major release game in a while. It shows every sign of being pushed out the door by EA before Maxis was done testing it.
I can't run it from my hard drive....to start it I have to click on the exe file on the DVD rom. ANd it took me three hours to get it start at all,icluding some fun work editing the games config file.. And it takes five minutes to load.
That’s all? Still doesn’t compare to Battlefield 2, their online-only wargame that couldn’t maintain a stable connection until a good six months after release.

[Darat]

My little burst of anger toward EA was due to the problems I am having with Will Wright's "Spore"...which was released with the worst bugs I have seen in a major release game in a while. It shows every sign of being pushed out the door by EA before Maxis was done testing it.

...snip...

Maxis is EA. It's only a label.

[gtc]

Maxis is EA. It's only a label.

You are right, I thought they were still a seperate studio but apparently they are not anymore. The wikipedia article doesn't mention their translation of A Train (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-Train) which is my favourite game of all time.

[Arus808]

spore runs fine on my pc and my ds....

and jack thompson needs to be sued by every video gaming company in the world for his frivolous lawsuits.

[abenja1]

I'm still interested to know if One Shot Kid believes the Army has a right to advertise.

[Travis]

I'm still interested to know if One Shot Kid believes the Army has a right to advertise.

If he does he has an awfully ironic user name to be sharing a view point with Code Pink who also seem to think the military shouldn't even exist.

[KingMerv00]

Hey, at least this helps in the distribution of cake (http://kotaku.com/5054962/impromptu-disbarment-parties-starting-to-pop-up)

Which, of course, is a lie.

[JoeyDonuts]

Which, of course, is a lie.

The cake is NOT a lie! And my Companion Cube will be with me all the rest of my days.

Did I miss something with that thing? It didn't make noise or dance or anything particularly endearing. It just had a pink heart on it. Were they hoping for the "Wilson" effect with it? Coz I wasn't all that attached. Maybe it's because I beat that part pretty quick.