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View Full Version : Jack Thompson claims GTA IV mission target is him; threatens to block release......


Mizzou B-ball fan
09-18-2007, 12:30 PM
http://gamepolitics.com/2007/09/18/jack-thompson-says-gta-4-mission-target-is-him-threatens-to-block-release/

Plenty of gamers would give their left arm to be included in Grand Theft Auto IV.

Miami attorney Jack Thompson, however, claims that he’s depicted in the game and wants out. And he threatens to block the release of GTA IV if Rockstar doesn’t comply.

In a document filed yesterday with a federal court in Florida, Thompson includes a letter written to Take Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick which reads in part:

I have this morning read with interest an article on page 80 and 81 of the September 2007 issue of Game Informer magazine which was generated when, according to its author, Rockstar Games “stopped by the Game Informer offices for an impromptu hour-long gameplay session with the Xbox 360 version of the game.”

The showcasing play of the game to Game Informer revealed that the first killing mission of the “hero” of the game, Niko, is to kill a certain lawyer. When Niko comes into this lawyer’s office, having used subterfuge to do so, Niko pulls a gun on the lawyer who says, “that the firm supports the second amendment and that ‘Guns don’t kill people. Video games do.’”

…The fact that the lawyer, killed on Niko’s first mission, would bring up video games, makes it clearly a reference to me… This is not the first time Rockstar Games and Take Two have targeted me in this fashion. Take Two references to me as a bisexual pedophile on its corporate website…

GP: What’s he referring to here? See GamePolitics’ September, 2005 article Jack Thompson Accuses Rockstsar of… Parody. Thompson’s letter continues:

You have until five o’clock P.M. this Friday… to inform me that you are going to delete the above references and any other references that could reasonably be construed to be references to me in Grand Theft Auto IV and any other video games that are pending release…

Now you have descended this low - using one of your games to threaten my physical safety… Failure to comply with the deadline… will result in my having to take necessary and proper means to stop release of the game which targets me personally… given the copycatting of violent games…

SirFozzie
09-18-2007, 12:36 PM
Knew Whacko Jacko couldn't resist attacking the new GTA

Mizzou B-ball fan
09-18-2007, 12:39 PM
Knew Whacko Jacko couldn't resist attacking the new GTA

I wonder if they just used the engine to make that level and demo it, fully knowing that he would give them a ton of free publicity for it.

TargetPractice6
09-18-2007, 12:42 PM
"Now you have descended this low - using one of your games to threaten my physical safety… Failure to comply with the deadline… will result in my having to take necessary and proper means to stop release of the game which targets me personally… given the copycatting of violent games"

Threatens his physical safety? I don't think he's made the discovery every 4th grader has: Games aren't real! Maybe that would explain his idiotic crusade against video games.

cartman
09-18-2007, 12:45 PM
I thought there was a court order in place that keeps him from trying to do anything to interfere with GTA?

Mizzou B-ball fan
09-18-2007, 12:51 PM
I thought there was a court order in place that keeps him from trying to do anything to interfere with GTA?

I think that was relative to the violence dispute. I would think he could have some recourse if his likeness was used without permission. He could as for it to be held until it was taken out or ask for a cut of the profits.

BrianD
09-18-2007, 12:54 PM
I think that was relative to the violence dispute. I would think he could have some recourse if his likeness was used without permission. He could as for it to be held until it was taken out or ask for a cut of the profits.

If his likeness was used in the game, I'm guessing there would be a direct quote about that. The only thing included in the article is the fact that it is a lawyer who talks about video games and violence. Seems like a pretty weak link.

spleen1015
09-18-2007, 12:54 PM
He's wasting his time.....again.

Mizzou B-ball fan
09-18-2007, 12:59 PM
If his likeness was used in the game, I'm guessing there would be a direct quote about that. The only thing included in the article is the fact that it is a lawyer who talks about video games and violence. Seems like a pretty weak link.

Absolutely. He'd have to prove that it was 'him'. He's only got second-hand info at this point.

Coder
09-18-2007, 01:09 PM
At least we have a topic here that brings ALL gamers together in one corner, and not spread out between the X-Box and the PS3 :D

TargetPractice6
09-18-2007, 01:21 PM
So I wonder what Jack Thompson looks like reading Game Informer?

Cringer
09-18-2007, 04:52 PM
What a pathetic loser. I support the pedophile rumor.

Mantle2600
09-18-2007, 05:02 PM
I support the pedophile.

Not cool man!