Florida-based lawyer Jack Thompson has launched his latest attack on the interactive entertainment industry, telling the media that Grand Theft Auto was used by a Massachusetts teenager to prepare for a planned massacre at his high school. Sixteen year old Tobin Kerns was arrested after police discovered that he planned to kill students and teachers at his school on the anniversary of the 1999 Columbine massacre next April, and then to kill firefighters and police who responded to the emergency calls.
According to Thompson, detectives in the case told him that Grand Theft Auto was one of Kerns' "favourite games," and he has told the media that he believes the boy used the title to prepare for the planned massacre. "The technique of killing civilians and then first-responders when they get there is the primary scenario to win in all the Grand Theft Auto games," he is quoted as saying in newspaper reports over the weekend, before going on to accuse GTA titles of being "killing simulators actually used by gangs."
News source: GamesIndustry.biz
According to Thompson, detectives in the case told him that Grand Theft Auto was one of Kerns' "favourite games," and he has told the media that he believes the boy used the title to prepare for the planned massacre. "The technique of killing civilians and then first-responders when they get there is the primary scenario to win in all the Grand Theft Auto games," he is quoted as saying in newspaper reports over the weekend, before going on to accuse GTA titles of being "killing simulators actually used by gangs."
News source: GamesIndustry.biz
Cont...
At present the new venture is being called "Exclaim," but this is apparently only a temporary name and is likely to be replaced before the firm starts trading. Cousens is joined in the new venture by Europlay Capital Advisers, the Los Angeles based firm which is headed by industry veterans Sean Brennan and Mark Dyne and has advised on a number of major industry deals in recent years.
It's expected that along with the Cheltenham and Manchester studios - accounting for some 160 employees - "Exclaim" will also take possession of several of Acclaim's products in development, including Interview with a Made Man and Heist.
"killing simulators actually used by gangs." ? Oh, come on.
These articles always piss me off. I mean how many millions of copies of GTA are sold, and just because one kid goes crazy (whom obvioulsy has deeper issues if they are persuaded by video games) they blame the industry for creating "killing simulators".
Im hooked on tetris and I dont go around throwing crazy shaped bricks on people. I love Mario but I dont go around stomping on turtles, jumping in pipes, and stealing money from brick walls. Its just stupid to think that the only reason these people commit these acts is because of a video game. Look at the millions of gamers that DON'T commit crimes. And what really pisses me off is that the assholes who do this stuff then blame the games themselves, because then they can get off easier. I hate that about the human race, no one can take responsibility in this world. Everything bad is someone else's fault.
if you tried to pull this anywhere else in the world they would laugh at you. people are so up on passing the blame here, no one has the balls to take it.
in the words of chris rock "why cant people just be crazy"
NO!
Sure, someone who is sick might get more sick ideas from a violent video games. But they will also get sick ideas from a violent movie, or what have you. Are we to ban all of it? Or just be selective?
I also agree it seems it human nature to lay the blame on something else.
The worst thing to do is ban the games. Rather than banning them, why don't they simply let it go? This stuff happens because that is simply the way that life is these days. Rather than fight it, just accept it. This thing is on an elevated scale too large for the world to handle.
Just out of curiosity, are those movies STILL banned in the UK, or have the been made available again (seems some movies have become unbanned with DVD releases, such as A Clockwork Orange, and The Excorcist, at least I believe that to be the case).
The claim that this game is used as a training simulator is probably the most ridiculous thing that I've ever heard. Pointing at something with a mouse bears no resemblance to aiming a gun. The punches and kicks in the game are hardly physical combat training. "Killing" computer graphics will not give you the stomach to take a real life.
The common theme amongst these cases is people refusing to take responsibility. The kid doesn't take responsibility for being a psychopath/sociopath. The parents don't take responsibility for being too busy smoking crack to raise their kids to know the difference between right and wrong. The society takes no responsibility for creating a culture of violence, where people consider it their "right" to own assault weapons - weapons that have NO purpose whatsoever other than killing other human beings, where people are sent to war for a pack of lies by a president who was too much of a pussy to go to war for his country when he had the chance, where a country such as France, to which they owe their ENTIRE country (America didn't fight their own war of independance, they wouldn't have stood a chance against the British, France fought it for them) are considered to be the enemy and the scum of the Earth because they are not so stupid that they can't see through the lies used to justify the war, where the bulk of the GDP is spent on militarization, while people are refused treatment and allowed to die because they're unable to pay for medical treatment, even though the *civilized* world, and most third world countries provide medical treatment for free, because it is every human's right to live and to have good health.
I'd say those things probably have a LOT more to do with it than some game. Still, it's some free publicity for Rock Star Games, and should get the few remaining people that haven't heard of the game curious about it and make some sales, so they can continue to develop great ENTERTAINMENT products (note, video games are entertainment, the fact that the kid can easily obtain automatic weapons is of far greater concern to any rational mind than obtaining some game).
Bah, people make me sick, it's pathetic.
Edit:
Maybe things such as this - a quadrapalegic in Washington DC sent to jail for using marijuana to ease his pain, and not receiving the medical care that he needed there, and being allowed to die in a cell should be what's under investigation as the cause, clearly the kid comes from an uncaring and egocentric society.
Last edited by 8585 on 11 Oct 2004 - 19:16
where a country such as France, to which they owe their ENTIRE country (America didn't fight their own war of independance, they wouldn't have stood a chance against the British, France fought it for them)
That is true, but many people who would read this would think that France was actually shooting at the British during that entire time period. France supported the colonies (it wasn't a nation of United States yet) financially and about halfway between the middle and the end, the colonies started losing. France then took an active role in the American war of independence.
I am a citizen of the United States and there is one thing that really makes me angry. When the colonies needed help fighting the British, France to the colonies' aid. However, when France needed help in the same way, the colonies refused to help France! Why does that make me angry? I am a person who feels that anybody who receives help should repay their kindness/sympathy. It's as simple as that.
"I am an American."
Sorry, for driving this more OT.
Has America repayed that debt to France? Sure they bought the Louisiana territory from Napolean, and that was simply because Americans were hungry for land even after they had more than enough to expand for decades to come!
And what about the Iraqi nation? I agree with AJ. We Americans were attacked on September 11, 2001, and we had supposed hard-evidence, but I don't think we should have gone to the extremes that we already have.
I admit that I believe many political officials are corrupt, but in these times, who isn't? Money makes the world go 'round. Money = Power = Dominion. Whoever has the most money and power has a huge advantage over someone with less money and power.
(Back on-topic): Games like the GTA series don't cause people to go to the extremes like in this case. Take the Columbine case, for example. Did video games cause that? NO! It was peer pressure. Too many people are self-conscious and afraid to speak out for what they think is right. This causes the pressure to build up and eventually explode. I am like that except that I can contain my pressure and voluntarily let it out, a rare trait. That's probably because I was bullied when I was really little and took everything thrown at me.
Bottom-line: Games are tools for entertainment, not death.
Secondly it seems just a wee bitty odd to me that this emerges just short of San-Andreas` release.
Either its a coincidence or this poor fool hasnt realised that by condeming a game which has already won several courtcases to this effect will only boost sales further.
If indeed this guy is for real, then all I can say is WOW its amazing what a quick 5 minutes in front of video game and some exageration can lead to.
In no way is GTA an accurate depiction of how anyone would carry out these haneous crimes. I could play GTA 24hrs a day fro a 3 weeks solid and it wouldnt be a trained assassin, chances are Id step up wuth my gun fire abput 3 times then get shot.. woops GAME OVER!
Its great cause no one has actually looked at how this kid became the way he was, I mean why got o the bother of spending cash to find out why some kids in society are becoming like this, I mean it wouldnt be the fact that hes probably been bullied since he stepped in the school doors, or that his parents abuse him oh hell no. Lets not spend money trying to prevent that, instead well blame some software house thats made a violent game.. notice the word "GAME" not accurate real life simulation, but instead well make cash back by sueing them.
Now Im off to put some babys on spikes and sacrifice my parents to the dark god "Rasmap-bull****-lawer" so that he may grant me dark powesr to thwart those that stand against me.
Dunno why really just all of a sudden have the urge... think it was that violently spcy curry I had, yeah thats a good enuff scape goat.
I'd say DRIV3R in free mode is a lot more realistic that GTA c'mon mr laywer man ( I bet he aint even played it ).
Chris
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