August 5, 2008 -
You knew it was only a matter of time.
In the wake of reports that a 19-year-old Thai man murdered a cab driver after playing Grand Theft Auto, embattled Miami attorney Jack Thompson has written a menacing e-mail to the top executives of Take-Two Interactive, publisher of the controversial series.
In the e-mail to T2 chairman Strauss Zelnick and CEO Ben Feder (and copied to dozens of other people, including GamePolitics), Thompson writes:
I warned you both that copycat killings by teens would occur upon the release of Grand Theft Auto IV. Now my prediction has come true...
GP: Except that it's unclear whether the alleged killer was even playing GTA IV. In fact, as we reported, it's not at all clear that GTA IV has even been imported into the Thai market as of yet.
In addition to multiple written warnings, I told you of this coming mayhem in a face-to-face meeting with you, Mr. Zelnick, on Central Park West on May 15, 2007... I am working with authorities now... as well as other remedies against Take-Two for its reckless worldwide distribution of its murder simulation training products...This is just the latest killing incident prompted by your murder simulators. I aim to make it the last...
GP: We covered the Central Park meeting which Thompson refers to here. It took place shortly after Zelnick had seized control of T2, ousting Thompson's previous favorite target, CEO Paul Eibeler.
As to "working with authorities," Thompson often makes such claims.
PS: The above latest copycat killing will help fuel federal legislation in the United States because of your company’s chronic marketing and sale of its mature-rated video games to minors. You are selling GTA IV, for example, to anyone of any age via the Internet.
Comments
Re: No Surprise Dept: Jack Thompson Wades into Thai GTA Case
YAY, first.
HA! HA!
E. Zachary Knight
http://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: No Surprise Dept: Jack Thompson Wades into Thai GTA Case
Like Jack, your claim turned out to be both premature and wrong. Oh, well. There'll always be other chances.
Re: No Surprise Dept: Jack Thompson Wades into Thai GTA Case
Jack, Jack, Jack.......Your still singing the same song over and over and over again!
Re: No Surprise Dept: Jack Thompson Wades into Thai GTA Case
"I'll sue ya...I'll take all your money...I'll sue ya...Even if you look at me funny...I'll sue ya"
Couldn't resist :D