Thompson vs Gates

[haard]

Linky

Posted 05-22-07
Written by: David Chapman

Just when you thought it was safe to check your inbox. Miami attorney and anti-game activist Jack Thompson was back at it again today. It seems Mr. Thompson is taking issue with the pending release of Microsoft's Halo 3 game, currently being enjoyed by 360 owners everywhere with its multiplayer beta.



Thompson forwarded Game Almighty a copy of the following letter supposedly sent along to Microsoft Chairman, Bill Gates:

Bill Gates

Microsoft Corporation

Redmond, Washington



Re: Halo 3



Dear Mr. Gates:



As you know, the Federal Trade Commission has repeatedly found that games rated “Mature” by the video game industry-captured Entertainment Software Rating Board are routinely sold to kids under the age of 17 despite the age rating. The most recent failure rate of the ratings on “Mature” games, according to the FTC, is 42%. The entire rating system is a fraud, and “broken,” the latter description aptly provided by Senator Hillary Clinton.



As you also know, Lee Boyd Malvo trained on Microsoft’s Halo to further enable him to become the remarkably efficient “DC Beltway Sniper.” That was reported by NBC News at the time and was noted in Malvo’s criminal trial.



You appeared on CBS’ 60 Minutes II and rather revealing and usefully noted that “the cool thing about these games is that they transport you to a world you think is real.” Precisely. Capcom has recently disclosed to investors that your video game industry’s violent games, sold to children, pose a real hazard to the health of the industry. Right on.



The hyperviolent Microsoft Xbox 360 game Halo 3 is scheduled by your company for commercial release in September of this year. The Beta version that was released last week shows us all just how violent the game is and how inappropriate it is for play by anyone under 17, as the “Mature” rating it will surely receive indicates.



Here’s the deal, Mr. Gates: Either Microsoft undertakes dramatic, real steps, through its marketing, wholesale, and retail operations to assure that Halo 3 is not sold, via the Internet and in stores, directly to anyone under 17, or I shall proceed to make sure that Microsoft is held to that standard by appropriate legal means. I have done that before successfully as to Best Buy, and I shall do so again as to Microsoft and all retailers of Halo 3.



Regards, Jack Thompson

So, having been essentially barred from threatening to sue Take Two over its games, it would seem that Thompson has set his legal sites on another big fish: Microsoft. So, will Thompson follow through on his latest legal threats? And if he does, how will Microsoft respond? We'll keep you posted on how (and if) things continue to develop.

It's like... evil fighting evil!

[Cao Cao]

Well, if anybody still had doubts that the man is completely delusional it's confirmed now.
Though it would be funny to see Microsoft's army of lawyers curb-stomp Thompson into next year.

[haard]

Ah, I can see it coming now...

"Sorry, we can't sue all those patent infringing linux distros, our lawyers are all busy defending against Thompson. We'll sure sue once we're done though. Yeah."

[Ritterin Sophia]

Wait... he lost to Take 2, and now hes taking on the Company that idly sits by and throws billions of dollars at their console in an attempt to enter the market place, like it was nothing?

[Ted C]

As you also know, Lee Boyd Malvo trained on Microsoft’s Halo to further enable him to become the remarkably efficient “DC Beltway Sniper.” That was reported by NBC News at the time and was noted in Malvo’s criminal trial.

Yes, because XBox controllers are so much like real weapons that you can use them to perfect your rifle skills. The man is insane.

Here’s the deal, Mr. Gates: Either Microsoft undertakes dramatic, real steps, through its marketing, wholesale, and retail operations to assure that Halo 3 is not sold, via the Internet and in stores, directly to anyone under 17, or I shall proceed to make sure that Microsoft is held to that standard by appropriate legal means. I have done that before successfully as to Best Buy, and I shall do so again as to Microsoft and all retailers of Halo 3.

I hope he does sue Microsoft; they'd crush him in court.

[Cao Cao]

As you also know, Lee Boyd Malvo trained on Microsoft’s Halo to further enable him to become the remarkably efficient “DC Beltway Sniper.” That was reported by NBC News at the time and was noted in Malvo’s criminal trial.

Yes, because XBox controllers are so much like real weapons that you can use them to perfect your rifle skills. The man is insane.

I remember this one guy.. I think it was on this forum.. who boasted that he was highly trained in gun combat by virtue of having played a ton of FPS games.
His claims included being able to headshot at any distance and to be able to "dodge bullets like a bastard".
In other words, he wouldn't have a clue how to handle a real gun. Anybody knows that. Except for, apparently, Jack Thompson.

[white_rabbit]

I hope he stocked up on lubricant.

[CaptHawkeye]

This is like a kitten vs. a German Leopard 2 tank. Does Thompson honestly think he stands a chance against a company could make toilet paper out of hundred dollar bills? He really is an attention whore.

Between the lesser of two evils here? I will gladly say Microsoft. Curb stomp him Mr. Gates.

[Executor32]

This retarded ass-clown really needs to learn when to just shut the fuck up. He's not fooling anyone with his bullshit rhetoric about training with FPSs, because moving a mouse to control a pointer on the screen has fuck-all to do with aiming an actual gun. Watch out, some kid might play Halo 3 and show up to school the next day with a Covenant plasma rifle and start shooting up the place!

[Cao Cao]

Using Thompson's logic, he wouldn't be a lawyer without Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. So he should be grateful to videogames!

[Jericho Kross]

Hey!! I am going to fucking play Halo 3 when it comes out no matter what that asshole dare says.

[SAMAS]

This is like a kitten vs. a German Leopard 2 tank.

... And just this once, I wanna see the squish.

[Darth Wong]

Mr. Jack Thompson, I've been playing FPS games since the late 80s, yet when I tried firing a real M16 at a target, I found that it was totally different. My first clue was the fact that the weapon was kind of long and had to be held with the stock against my shoulder, rather than sitting on my couch and holding it in my lap like my X-Box controller. Then I noticed that there were no "A" and "B" buttons. This weapon had only one trigger! Imagine that. And when I fired it, the recoil actually felt sharp and directional, rather than simply vibrating like one of my wife's sex toys! And try as I might, I could not see a glowing targeting reticle floating over the target, and I certainly couldn't see a little circle turn red when I was aiming the gun the right way. Even more strangely, I had to actually push the ammo clip into the gun by hand, instead of merely walking over it. Perhaps you should try it sometime, Mr. Thompson. The differences might surprise you.

[Setesh]

As you also know, Lee Boyd Malvo trained on Microsoft’s Halo to further enable him to become the remarkably efficient “DC Beltway Sniper.” That was reported by NBC News at the time and was noted in Malvo’s criminal trial.

Yes, because XBox controllers are so much like real weapons that you can use them to perfect your rifle skills. The man is insane.

Even worse when you consider the broken physics of the Halo sniper rifle. The bullet travels in a perfectly straight line under all conditions and can kill many Covenant troops with foot shots. While I am not a trained sniper I am a hunter (Mmmm venison), as well as target shooting, and have used a variety of rifles. Halo, Battlefield1942 and counterstrike actually fuck up my aim a little for a few rounds.

[Jade Falcon]

Yes, because XBox controllers are so much like real weapons that you can use them to perfect your rifle skills. The man is insane.

Do you remember that Lt Colonel Grossman some years ago who stated that games like Doom gave you the 'Skill and the will' to carry out mass shootings like a trained US soldier. Incidentally I wonder what soldiers thought of that ludicrous statement.

Like Mike I've been playing FPS games since the days of Wolfenstein and I've also handled guns, up to and including a .303 Lee-Enfield and a 7.62 FN FAL, they have no similiarity at all.

Plus, you don't get aimbots in real life.

[Cao Cao]

I remember talk of 'Marine Doom' way back when. But it was essentially used as a suppliment to squad teamwork training. And it seemed to me like a gimmick and a bit of fun anyway.
Saying that any modern FPS game, let alone Doom could train in firearms skill is like saying GTA trains you in how to drive a car.

[Jade Falcon]

I remember talk of 'Marine Doom' way back when. But it was essentially used as a suppliment to squad teamwork training. And it seemed to me like a gimmick and a bit of fun anyway.
Saying that any modern FPS game, let alone Doom could train in firearms skill is like saying GTA trains you in how to drive a car.

I know Wiki is dubious as a source, but here's the article on him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Grossman_%28author%29

[Einhander Sn0m4n]

I believe the explanation behind this latest burst of suicidal behavior on Mr. Thompson's part is strongly related to the fact he's a fundie. Fundies are indoctrinated (sometimes almost from birth) to not reason or think. If you don't reason, you quickly lose the capability for it and become an automaton. If that's not mental illness right there, then the concept is meaningless.

Even worse when you consider the broken physics of the Halo sniper rifle. The bullet travels in a perfectly straight line under all conditions and can kill many Covenant troops with foot shots. While I am not a trained sniper I am a hunter (Mmmm venison), as well as target shooting, and have used a variety of rifles. Halo, Battlefield1942 and counterstrike actually fuck up my aim a little for a few rounds.

That's one of my pet peeves as well. Games are to the point that it's down to an art to simulate wind drift and bullet drop, yet most don't. They all shoot like lasers. It's the same thing as modeling a 'grenade launcher' but with very small, extremely fast projectiles affected by gravity and air resistance. And it's not like there's no resources to fall on to put proper ballistics in game, either.

I also hate the idea of oversimplification of targets, like your 'lethal foot shots' example. If I blast some fucker's foot off, I wanna see him hop on one leg, maybe grab the wounded foot, or start crawling on hands and knees as he engages me, not simply keel over because I hit him with a weapon that would cause instant death upon a chest hit or headshot. The exception would be an impact-fuzed explosive weapon like a grenade or rocket launcher, of course, in which case he should go flying in multiple pieces and a big spray of red provided it's large enough. BOOM!!

[Darth Servo]

I'm wondering what Thompson would think of people like AdmiralTDM thinking real life soldiers have "god mode".

[Setesh]

I remember talk of 'Marine Doom' way back when. But it was essentially used as a suppliment to squad teamwork training. And it seemed to me like a gimmick and a bit of fun anyway.
Saying that any modern FPS game, let alone Doom could train in firearms skill is like saying GTA trains you in how to drive a car.

I know Wiki is dubious as a source, but here's the article on him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Grossman_%28author%29

You know its kind of strange, every bio of him says what units he was with, and that he served 23 years. Yet I can't seem to find any record of him having been in combat. You'd think with the emphasis he puts on the psychology of killing he would make mention of having to do it himself.

Then again his book 'On Killing' didn't really impress me. That soldiers have to be trained to kill and that it has damaging psychological effects is not exactly news. His later book of video games was a farce really. All his othe books has exhaustive notes and research, but that one is mostly the, 'because I think so', garbage we get from gits like Pat Pulling and good ol JT himself.

[Nephtys]

I'd /love/ if some random gunman trained using Halo. For one, he'd know not to bring his assault rifle, since that never hits crap. He'd try to snipe people from 200 yards away using a handgun.

If he gets closer, he'd drop the gun and try to punch the target in the back of the head. Because that does a lot more, trust me, really.

Maybe Thompson is railing against this, because it promotes violence against Xeno-Americans. Like himself.

[Cao Cao]

I'm wondering what Thompson would think of people like AdmiralTDM thinking real life soldiers have "god mode".

That's the guy I was thinking of!
Yep, god mode is certainly a real life feature that people train for in those there murder simulators.

[Gil Hamilton]

BILL GATES: "Have Jack Thompson killed!"
ADVISOR: "Sir, you are only rich enough to get away with having 3 people killed a month and you've used up your quota last week."
BILL GATES: "Blast! No matter, unless my lawyers and serpent men!"

[The Yosemite Bear]

you know I've been playing HoI, and risk so much, I should be overthrowing a small country by now....

[Cao Cao]

Lightweights, all of you!
Between my experience with the Civilization games and various 4x space games I'm perfectly qualified to be supreme ruler of the universe.