Thompson takes on San Andreas via retailers


GTA and games industry critic and pursuer lawyer Jack Thompson has taken a different tact with his latest case in Florida, in which he plans to take on retailer Best Buy, for selling the latest instalment of the Grand Theft Auto series: San Andreas. In a statement related to the case, Thompson describes the new GTA as a "murder simulation game in which the black villain "CJ," acting out every black stereotype that only an all-white video game company-Take 2 Interactive of New York-could come up with, takes over an entire state with cop-killing, gang-banging, and unrestrained killing of innocent citizens."
"Only an all-male company could produce this game, which trains the kids playing it to have sex with prostitutes and then run them over with their cars to get their money back," the enraged lawyer added, before attacking retailer Best Buy for breaking promises not to sell M-rated titles to minors.

"The lawsuit's purpose is to stop this charade," continues Thompson, adding that new proof connecting violent games - specifically GTA Vice City - with real-world violence, will be presented at the court. Thompson hopes the case will enforce further restrictions on the sale of games Stateside. We'll keep you posted, of course.



By Luke Guttridge, on 10th Nov 2004.


Source:
http://www.ferrago.com/story/4716




It was only a matter of time before some jackass got all uppitty about it.

Well unfortunately he's not wrong. They REALLY need to be careful to not sell/rent these games to kids, it's a terrible image.

It's fine if you're 20 years old and you know better, but children don't. Granted there's some kids who could still get their hands on it, but they really need to enforce some kind of rule to keep it away from them.

not again!!! M is for 18 and OLDER! watch your damn kids! you stupid parents! why dont we just get rid of real life crime too!! ohh yes that will make it all better! *twitch*
ohh and while we are at it why dont we get rid of counterstrike too, because of the terrorist/hostage/counter terrorist plot. tis a fictional game mr. it doesnt teach you how to shoot a gun or deal crack. yes it simulates it, but shooting a gun in a video game is nothing like shooting a gun in real life. an ex navy seal pointed that out when talking about the metal of honor games. which are supposed to be as realistic as possiable. why not go after those games too, and all the other ones that involve violence all together.

Well.

In, let's say.. Armed Forces 4, you are a soldier in the war and can kill other soldiers and pretty much anyone you want. You can shoot people anywhere, blow their heads off and watch a spray of blood.

This game is rated 14+ and the main objective is killing people. Why is he not going after this game? It's obviously just as bad.

Probably because that game isn't as popular as GTA.

Grand Theft Auto is cool, and all the kids want it.

this world is getting sent back to the stone age. soon we will be grunting and making silly hand movements, and trying to cook rocks you can download GTA SA on a p2p program. someone leaked it so its not like they have to buy it at a store. which is sad.


oh great! wonderful! now hes throwing in the race thing. the past 4 GTA games have had white main charatures....so i doubt the creaters are racist ohh i have an even better idea! why dont we just ban all video games together because its not fair to women, since video games are a male dominated industry! there we go that solves all our problems!

That's why this happens. Because kids do have easy access to it.

If it was possible to keep it strictly 18+, that's one thing, but since they're not the fact that it is a terrible game for children can and, as we see, will come up.

Yup, they do. And someone took a stand.

I really don't see anything wrong with what this guy's doing. GTA really is overly violent and it's disgusting at times. I'd hate to see my kid brother playing that game.

i would be angry if my 12 year old was playing it, but if they were 18 and over, and had a good head on their shoulders i wouldnt mind. honestly its a good anger reliever. have you ever gotten angry to the point where you could just punch the next thing you see? thats when you play GTA or some virual violent game, 30 mins later you feel much better.

Well, whatever floats your boat I guess...

But GTA really isn't the best thing to relieve stress in the long run.

I agree with DD to a point. The parents need to control what their little kids are playing. There needs to be a v-chip or something (perhaps there already is) to police what the kids play while mom and dad are out. They have them for tv and the internet, why not gaming systems as well. Its not any easy solution and most likely won't be cheap but, what else is there besides taking the game off the shelves completely?

You cannot legislate morality.
Don't outlaw, inform. Parents come on now wake up. It is not up to the designers, or the manufacturers of the games to monitor who is playing. Step up parents your kids will not hate you if you tell them no once in a while. As for this lawsuit, another example of the flaw in the court system. Same logic as sueing Mc Donalds because your coffee burned you, DUHHHH. When are people going to begin again to accept responsibility for their actions and the actions of their children.

I agree wholeheartedly with twpdyp.
The warnings are there. The game designers intend these games for audiences that are mature enough for them. Just like movies, the ratings are placed to educate. It is not the game designers fault if the warnings and ratings do nothing to stop a parent from banning a child of playing the game.

First videogames, then our gory movies are taken from us, then TV with anything remotely offensive. Oh wait, that happened already. *coughTBScough*

*coughs* what about 14? I had vice city since I was 12 and I turned out fine. Im a vegan for christ sake.
Gta
Gta!
Gta!!
Gta!!!
Gta!!!!
Gta!!!!!
Gta!!!!!!
Gta!!!!!!!

*cough*

*cough*

Most of the people, so far, agree that parents need to start becoming more involved in their kids lives and hold themselves accountable for their activities. It would not be right to take this game away from adults because mom and dad can't control JR. Some parents are not going to care no matter what. Hopefully this issue can be solved in the home and not in the courts.

i guess it all depends on how the child was raised. it just seems like people are so quick to ban anything thats remotely offensive, i mean look at the banned book list. when they start banning books, and educational sex ed books especially, things are getting out of control.

AHHH!!!!!

Everytime I hear about another GTA lawsuit, it drives me up the wall. Give it up folks.

Parents watch your kids.

Stores confirm ID and don't sell to minors.

Game Developers, keep doing a great job and publishing great games.

Lawyers, find something else better to defend like rape cases, and murders, or parking tickets....

deep cleansing breaths X

Thanks, feel much better now.

Even if parents DO watch their kids, it doesn't mean that they'll never see it or play it.

YES parents need to discipline their kids more, but there's only so much they can do when any 12 year old can go to a video store and rent it without question.

That's your opinion.

i noticed hes only sueing best buy for selling it. why doesnt he take it to the top?
if it is banned from best buy, there are ohter places you can get it. hell i got gta 3 at a local music store. no doubt they have SA too. hmm should go check that out...

He's attacking Best Buy because they promised not to sell the game to minors, and they are anyway.

1 more bit of input, maybe related maybe not. About 6 years ago, in Fort Myers Florida, I was carded by a cashier in Wal-Mart because I was buying the movie Platoon. At the time I was 37 years old, but I was not offended. Because if this cashier kept up the good work then maybe a child who is not old enough to buy a game or movie will be turned away. In fact I reported her good work to managment, I made sure they knew just how courtious and careful this employee was in doing her job. Before I left Fort Myers for the mountains of North Georgia I am happy to report that she had been promoted to head cashier.

wait...Take 2 Interactive of New York? i thought rockstar north made the game.

Disinterested


If the child brings the game home. Wouldn't the parents see it anyway? They surely have the power to take it back.

Now if he plays at a friends house, then it's up to the other parents to keep an eye on what they're kids are playing.

Parents aren't around 100% of the time, they do need cooperation from stores that provide these games.

They should treat M-rated games the same way they treat pornography. Everything should be done to keep it out of young hands.

im actually glad they made a game where the main character isnt caucasian. atleast we get some diversity.

Well, there we go! ( in reference to twpdyp's post)That is a perfect example of measures in place to prevent unsuitable material falling into young hands and impressionable minds. As long as these rules are followed, part of the problem is solved. As far as the store is concerned, that simple act of asking for ID should absolve any wrong doing on the part of the store. Assuming that these measure are followed at all times, I don't see a problem with SELLING the game.

meh..im 15, i bought this game, and i kno better not to think running around shooting people and picking up hookers. Oh well

god i hate people like that guy. what a douchebag. hasnt he realized by now most people playing that games arent gonna go out and do everything in them. i mean, im not a friggin retard. i know the difference between a videogame and actualy going on a killing spree. people like that guy should just keep their mouths shut and their opinions to their own because they should know by now that they will always lose the argument onthat subject.

^Are you speaking of the lawyer?

yes. yes i am. lol who did you think i was speaking of?

Well, I obviously did not know of whom you were speaking, otherwise I would not have asked.

hmm...good point. well, sorry bout the confusion!

I dont care what u say...the game freakin rocks!

This guy is going to get a whole lot of death threats and will have to hide from the masses that will rise up against him!

So you think this guy is going to get a lot of death threats from GTA players? The ones that aren't violent because of the video game?

i dont know about death threats, since its only best buy hes sueing. maybe if he was sueing all of rockstar or something. thats diffrent.

No matter how you slice it....
The guy is sueing Best Buy because they have deep pocket$$$$$$$$$$

Why doesn't the guy sue the parents that allow thier kids to play this game?
Oh thats right too many of them and they have no money. Silly question.

WHat isn't mentioned in the article is that this very same guy filed a lawsuit of this same nature for GTA 1, GTA 2, GTA 3, GTA VC and now GTA SA.

He lost every one, because he's an idiot with to much time and money.

wow thats sad. really really sad

Yeah. You'd think he'd learn that people really don't give a crap eh.

Why Doesn't the Guy Sue film Makers ?

Its more convincing than GTA, what kid hasn't seen a Gory Movie What about Wrestling.

This guy is a Fud plain and simple.


As you guys said , Its the Parents who have the Ultimate responsibility

I have but 1 thing too say to those lawyers, THANKS great job guys, some simple minded fool of a lawyer or knitting circle, or johnny-do-gooder has tried to get every GTA banned.
The result of which has been masses and masses of free advertising, meaning rockstar shift more units, more revinue and more future release's of this awsome game!!!

Actually, it's had some effect.

GTA: 3 was banned in Australia for some time and in Western Asia and Eastern Europe, GTA: San Andreas is released with a 15+ rating. A result of this is that bodies do not drop cash (no reward for killing) heads cannot be shot off and blood does not spurt. Hookers cannot be picked up etc etc.

There where simaler problems in germany ..green blood , no shooting coppers ect , thank god i live in the uk ..where silly lawyers just help out!

*ahem*.... VIDEO GAMES DO NOT KILL PEOPLE, PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE

imo, GTA is a raunchy game... killing people for money, picking up hookers and running them over to get their cash back...raunchy

But, its meant to be an adult game. and No kid over the age of like, 14, is gonna be influenced by the violence in video games. Seriously, tho young minds are malleable to some extent, kids know right from wrong by that age. If parents let their kids play games that are violent, its their own fault if the kid is screwed up. Lettin lil kids play this game is like letting a lil kid start watching porn, and then wondering why he grows up to be a sex offender. Raise your own dang kids, cuz if you let them do/watch/ play whatever they want, you lost the right to complain about how the media is raising them, Imo.

whew. sry.

As long as there's an "m" rating on it, there is no reason not to sell it.

and that racist crap is BS, but i wont even get started on that.