GamePolitics reported on a pair of tempests involving Grand Theft Auto IV this week.
First came Wednesday's report on shoot-from-the-lip comments attributed to Connecticut State Sen. Gayle Slossberg (D), who apparently used the terms Grand Theft Auto IV, rape, legislation and sociopaths [as in GTA gamers are...] in a rant that she only thought was off-the-record.
Oops...
A day later, cops in Nassau County, New York busted six teenagers for a bat-swinging, crowbar-wielding rampage that one of them apparently said was inspired by Nico Bellic, protagonist of GTA IV.
The week's happenings - in particular their sizeable publicity potential - were not lost on GTA-hatin' attorney Jack Thompson, who has waded into both situations with press releases blazing.
First, Thompson dashed off a breathless paean to Sen. Slossberg:
I commend you for your concerns about the Grand Theft Auto games. I have been on 60 Minutes about the killing of police officers by teens who train on the game to do so. I have addressed NOW in New York about the targeting of women by the game.
I do not believe there is a "rape" in the game, unless it is in a mission that has yet been discovered (that is possible), but there is plenty in the game by way of forced sex, killing of women after sex, and murdering police officers that must be addressed. I am, for better or worse, the leader of the effort against this game, and if you saw the New York Post yesterday, a gang of teens went on a crime spree on Long Island in acting out the game! Please contact me asap, and I can help on this.
Miami Jack, please explain how there is no rape in the game, but there is "forced sex"?
The likely-to-be-disbarred barrister also weighed in on the Nassau Six, cc'ing GP on an exchange with someone at G4TV. Not surprisingly, the camera-cravin' Thompson hopes to grab some air time for his mug:
...G4TV, as usual, gets it wrong. Why am I not suprised? The headline on this story is ridiculous. The "hoods" are not the ones blaming the game. The cops are! Note this from Detective Cote: "These teens have difficulty separating fact from fiction, fantasy from reality . . . It was quite alarming."
...Thus, Cote has handed all of the defendants a "video game defense." It will be used. How do I know? Wouldn't you like to know.
I think it is time for Jack Thompson to be back on G4TV, don't you all think. There's so much disinformation on the channel and so little time to correct it all. Somebody tell Kevin to get off his lazy butt and give me a call...
Comments
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
Ahah! G4 should put him on...with Adam Sessler. That'd shut him up.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
I think Jack is bashing G4 because Adam Sessler kicked his ass all over "Attack Of The Show!" that one day.
I AM A LOST SOUL, CONDEMNED TO HAUNT THE DREAMS OF JOHN BRUCE "JACK" THOMPSON UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS. SOMEONE, PLEASE! END MY SUFFERING!
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I AM DOOMED TO HAUNT JACK THOMPSON'S DREAMS UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
I think Jack Thompson forgot the fact that in relation to the Long Island incident that Long Island in general is going down a shithole long before GTA 4 or even GTA was ever made.....so blaming a problem on GTA before GTA even existed is a moot point.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
Wow! He's getting pretty desperate for airtime...
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
I want to be on TV too, Mr. Thompson! Who do I attention-whore myself out to?
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
Wait, he wants back on G4?
Sure says something about how low he has fallen, and that the higher ups like 60 Minutes won't listen to him....
What next, him going the infomercial and public TV route?
Did Jack Thompson even make much of a sound with the other GTAs?
Like I have said, with each GTA release there seems to be less and less of a uproar, even with the controversial elements(i.e that one in-game site, the drunk driving, etc). Lately I've seen TV news shows and other media taking notice of the games sales while not making any comments about the game's content.
Here we have someone desperately screaming for attention, and writing mentally masturbating PR pieces trying to make things bigger then they are while also claiming credit from others.
This is someone who makes up FUD about these games, and for the most part hasn't had any real "controversies" that they could claim responsibility for. The only thing the leech could probably claim some credit for would be Hot Coffee, yet I think the media would have given it as much attention without him. And while I'm speaking of such an incident..
You know, in a way the Hot Coffee incident might have helped Rockstar and such games in the long run... While there are always going to be people complaining about such content in games, I think it made the public realize that games are not all for children and such titles do exist for those of us who like something like a R-rated mob/gangster film.
Now this is what he really fears, the franchise he has relied on for all these years doesn't have people batting an eye at him --or the game for that matter-- anymore.
Re: Did Jack Thompson even make much of a sound with the other
Actually, after some scrutiny, you'll find that Thompson had very little, if any, involvement even in the Hot Coffee incident. David Walsh, not Jack Thompson, was at Hillary's side during her conference, while Thompson was keeping busy posting inconsequential press releases and generally screeching in the background as usual The only time you'll ever hear about Jack Thompson being involved in Hot Coffee in any way whatsoever is from Jack Thompson's own delusional press releases. At best, I suspect it is his spin on him sending her people emails and her people may or may not even have sent a polite, generic reply back.
Re: Did Jack Thompson even make much of a sound with the other
Oh I know he had very little involvement in that, I just said that because this incident actually got him a bit more screen time then his other attempts.
So yeah, he could claim credit for it just as much as him claiming credit for getting Howard Stern "off the air..." But I do know that doesn't mean it is true, nor do I believe such claims from a notorious lier.
Re: Did Jack Thompson even make much of a sound with the other
It's like I mentioned in one of the threads.... I think it was one of the 'OMG RE5's RACIST' attention-getters' posts that had me asking 'well what nationality IS Niko, anyway?' (I hadn't played the game very seriously since I don't own my own 360... but since my brother moved in I hope to check out the online free mode someday XD from what I"ve seen on JTV broadcasts of it, it looks like a riot :P)
But most of the controversy was the usual 'OMG look at this game its so appaling!' just because it ain't candy canes and koopa troopas... :/
400 Episodes, TEN YEARS and counting: http://www.orangeloungeradio.com/ | Voice of Geeks Network - http://www.vognetwork.com
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
If Jack Thompson runs his mouth yet again about "violent video games", does anyone even listen? Hell no. His credibility is down the tubes.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
Both my parents are a year younger than JT and they don't look nearly as old as he does. LOL.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
Hell, both my parents are mid 60s and they don't look that old.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
I love how he says that cops are concerned about GTA IV. My brother is a cop and he, and according to him everyone on his force, loves the game. Just like my brother has been saying for years. It's not the game. It's the parents.
I also think it's time Jack got on G4 again. I'd love to see him get his ass handed to him by Adam Sessler again. I really don't think Jack understands just how much of a laugh he gives us gamers. I look at him and think "wow, they'll really give any idiot off the street a lawyer license in Florida. I hope the rest of the country isn't that stupid". Just him saying that there is not rape in the game, but there is forced sex (which doesn't make any sense at all considering forced sex is rape) proves my point.
I hope if he does get back on G4 they make light of his misconduct trial and possible disbarrment. I'd love to see how he tries to get out of that one. Probably threaten to sue if they ask him about his trial even though he has no grounds.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
I love how he says that cops are concerned about GTA IV. My brother is a cop and he, and according to him everyone on his force, loves the game.
Not surprised, one of the stories here about GTA4s released was about some officer expressing concerns over that, while a few off duty officers wait in line in the background for their copies.
I'd love to see him get back on Fox News, seeing as how he has/is going to lose his "Attorney" marker and how he has failed it hard as a so called "First Amendment Expert."
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
Wait wait... since when does "First Amendment Expert" mean "Guy that thinks the First Amendment applies to him and him alone"?
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
I think it is time for Jack Thompson to be back on G4TV, don't you all think. There's so much disinformation on the channel and so little time to correct it all. Somebody tell Kevin to get off his lazy butt and give me a call...
Wait! Isn't it the other way around? How about Fox News which loves to put him on. Go onto youtube and find liberalviewer and you would see many times when Fox News disinforms people to a point that it's not even the same story.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
Huh, I wish Adblock plus would make up its mind!
I really wish I had something to add but... well ya know after so many of these stories I think the well's tapped out.
And I guess his book ain't selling so well, he hasn't plugged that in a while I noticed. :P
400 Episodes, TEN YEARS and counting: http://www.orangeloungeradio.com/ | Voice of Geeks Network - http://www.vognetwork.com
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
Forced sex = rape.
Once again, Jack would be served by learning how to use a dictionary.
(There's no "forced sex" in GTA IV.)
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
Jack wouldn't know how to use a dictionary to begin with. We are talking about a person who doesn't know how to spell the word "I. Q." or even "Miley Cyrus".
Re: Jack unable to read a dictionary or spell
That comment was mine.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
Of course he mentioned the years old 60 minutes appearance, and if G4 invites him on again I won't be surprised if they brign up his bisbarment and then he lies about it.
Kevin: We heard you got in some legal hot water recently and could lose your liscense, want to comment on that?
Jack: WHoever todl you tha,t like someone o nthat Gamepolitics website, is a bold faced liar and will likely be in jail soon.
One more thing.
Awww, is Thompson upset that Kevin didn't let him rule the debate last time?
-kurisu7885
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
sadly i can see him looking at it like that.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
I think I know what Jacky means by "forced sex" and how it's different from rape. There is nothing in the story of the game depicting forced sex against a woman and Jack knows it. From Jack's perpective, any game that has sex in general is forced sex. The character in the story is consenting to sex, but the game itself has no choice. When at the end of a date, the game asks if you want to "try your luck", if you say "yes" the game can't say "no". The game is forced to give you what you want to see. In Jack's opinion, that's forced sex.
I'm not siding with Jack in anyway on this. Just suggesting what might be going on in his silly head.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
No, he's referring to prostitution as forced because in a lot of cases in the real world, women are 'forced' into such a profession due to stuff like drug addiction.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
Davcub....
S and m Crap....dear god what did he say??
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
He basically based all of that content on a gameplay video that IGN released about a week or so before GTA4's release. He saw two strippers in bikini's on the same screen and went 'OH S&M, IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY OR WHAT, LOLOLOLOL?!?!!?!'
It was just one of his dozens of press releases/court filings that got tossed into the circular file before the game's release.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
"'OH S&M, IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY OR WHAT, LOLOLOLOL?!?!!?!'"
What's so wrong with liking Sam & Max?
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
In the words of the Jackie Chan Adventures' Uncle: "Aiyaaaaa..."
This is just one of the most pathetic displays i've ever seen from him. He may as well have just gone "Waaaaa!! They're not paying attention to me!! I'M the big guy against GTA4, they should be listening to ME! ME!! LOOK AT ME! I NEED ATTENTION!! YOU'RE NOT LOOOKIIIIING!!!"
Oh well. At least he didn't pull his 'oral, anal, stripper S&M' bullcrap like he usually did with GTA4.
And if G4 is at all smart, they wouldn't bring him back after that original AotS fiasco. They know better than that.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
I dont think video games will ever be looked at as "art" it will mainly stay as "a child's toy" and i've come to accept that...people will always look at it in that way so i say to hell with them and ignore it
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
Yeah, this is more of Jack's line of BS. He rolls a 1 at life.
However, there is something that I want to address and that is this meme that whenever someone like Roger Ebert says that videogames cannot be art, we (rightly) claim that they are. However, whenever someone points out something potentially offensive, we trot out the line that "it's just a game" line. Look, with any other medium, when someone points out something disturbing, fans and critics of that medium don't say "well, it's just a movie (or whatever)" They disagree or acknowledge that there are disturbing parts of the film, but that there are also great artistic flourishes and innovations.
Games are either art or "just video games". We need to start talking about them as such.
I don't mean to single anyone out. It just kind of bugs me is all.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
I disagree. If someone started murdering people in gruesome, Saw-esque ways, I'd be just as adamant that this was entirely HIS fault, and the movie, as distasteful as I might find it, is still just a movie.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
Well that's because SAW is decidedly not art...
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
Theres points where I do and don't agree. I can agree the 'concept' of saw is decidedly artisticly cruel. While I personaly hate the movies and wouldn't watch them ever, the idea of making someone face a life and death situation to appreciate what they have isn't lost on me.
On the other hand, something like Hostel is just pure snuff film as far as I'm concerned and disgusting. I take much the same issue with manhunt. It's just murder for the sake of murder and what 'plot' there is, is rather flimsy and poor.
And somehow both hostel and manhunt got sequels? I can't understand how. Saw I can understand, it's disgusting but there's some sort of 'substance' there to all the grotesqueness.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
Lol i think i spent like over a few thousand dollars in the game just getting the lap dances....pretty damn fun actually...just wish they would of put in a custom soundtrack...awwwwww running over peds while listeing to hannah montana...oh well saints row 2 will come out eventully
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
For all we know, the hookers and the strippers are weeping on the inside... they don't want to have sex... or give you .. err.. full friction lap dances - its just that they've been programmed to do it by fiendish sociopaths.- the just can't say no.
@ the guy a couple of posts above me.. I see you haven't forgotten the Scottish sociopath dig either.
Anyways gotta go - I'm off out to abuse alcohol and stab someone - It is Saturday night here in sunny scotland after all
Nooo I want to see adam pwn jack again
i'm sure they will have him on there somehow in the future to discuss whatever....i want to see it since adam ripped him a new one that day on aots...
G4
I think that Kevin (Pereira, I assume?) has better things to do with his time than put you back on TV, Mr. Thompson. Attack of the Show is doing just fine with funny videos, skits, interviews, etc. The only place where you belong on G4 is AOTS's segment called EPIC FAIL.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
awwwwww gta 4 such a wonderful and awesome game...too bad so many people are beyond stupid to see that its just a game and nothing more
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
The kids were usin' crow bars, maybe they were influneced by Half Life? Next thing you know their gonna be building teleporters and gravity guns in their basements.
Also, I got GTA4 recently and I am surprised at how anti drug it is so far, I mean sure, you do pick up drug shipments for gangs, but most of the drug users are not shown in a negative light (ie, paranoid, screwed up).
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
Watch out when they tame antlions and wield BLUE gravity guns!!
I still like his original quote to me
"I do not believe there is a "rape" in the game, unless it is in a mission that has yet been discovered (that is possible), but there is plenty in the game by way of forced sex, killing of women after sex, and murdering police officers that must be addressed. I am, for better or worse, the leader of the effort against this game, and if you saw the New York Post yesterday, a gang of teens went on a crime spree on Long Island in acting out the game! Please contact me asap, and I can help on this."
Wait what????? "a mission that is yet to be found".....*shakes head* dear god he gets more dumb by the day...Is that even possible??
Re: I still like his original quote to me
Seeing what they did with the Hot Coffee mod, you can never be sure what missions were taken out, but not completely. As for if there IS an actual rape scene, I doubt it.
I love it though, how jack always mentions his breif time on 60 minutes like it was his defining moment. Get over yourself jacky.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
From one of my fellow 'Scottish sociopaths' :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7b9SbFzIp0
Limmy, yer a genius.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
I love the article title.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
I finished reading the entire note and I have to say to the people of G4TV:
DON´T INVITE JACK THOMPSON ANYMORE.
He doesn´t worth you time anymore. He has been disposed by his own people. He doesn´t have the support of any important organization. He doesn´t have a job.
Give him some air space on Comedy Central or something like that. Launch him from a plane with parachute.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
And he'd brag about THAT, too.
"I was on Comedy Central at a time virtually nobody with a life watches TV and you weren't. HOOAH."
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
A Swiss parachute.
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
He is leading the anti-game forces? Since when? I didn't even know they were organized.
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
Re: If There's a GTA IV Controversy WITHOUT Jack Thompson, Does
His imaginary friends count as additional anti-game crusaders in his mind.