Thompson vs. Gates, Round 1
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Mar 14th 2005 at 12:03PM }
Early this morning we had a letter from none other than Jack B. Thompson (a.k.a. Whacko Jacko Jr.) dropped in our tip box. It's supposedly a copy of a fax he sent to Bill Gates concerning GTA: San Andreas on Xbox. We're gonna go out on a limb and say this one's a hoax, but we thought it would be fun to post anyway:
Nearly two years ago I wrote you to alert you that the Microsoft XBox game Halo helped
train D.C. Beltway Sniper Lee Boyd Malvo to kill. I received no response from anyone at Microsoft in that regard. Last
Tuesday I testified before the House Judiciary Committee of the Maryland General Assembly and noted your company’s
aforementioned role in terrorizing the residents of Maryland.
Last Sunday I appeared on CBS’s 60 Minutes to explain a wrongful death lawsuit we have filed in Alabama on behalf of the families of three law enforcement officials slain by a teen who trained on Grand Theft Auto III and Vice City to kill. As you know, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is even more violent. Already there have been killing incidents linked to this latest GTA game. However, despite this public safety hazard posed by the GTA games, it is reported that your Microsoft Corporation is set to release GTA: San Andreas for play on Microsoft’s XBox on June 7, 2005. I intend to make sure that does not happen.
Two things to ponder, Mr. Gates, as June 7 approaches: The Washington State legislature is considering a new law to codify a civil tort remedy by any individual harmed by a minor who copycats such a video game. Further, on 60 Minutes II you said, “The cool thing about these games is that they transport you to a world you think is real.” Mr. Gates, I demand, on behalf of all past and future victims of your murder simulation games, that you not release GTA: San Andreas.
Regards,
Jack Thompson
Oh yeah, and here’s the contact info (just in case you wanted to…):
John B. Thompson, Attorney
1172 South Dixie Highway, Suite 111
Coral Gables, Florida 33146-2750
305-666-4366
Jackpeace@comcast.net
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SenorWeird @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
My neck of the woods. Awesome.
JR @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
Well... lets email this guy with some intelligent responses. Anyone who emails and gets a response make sure you post it back here.
Zachary @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
I've played through Halo, Halo 2, GTA 3, and GTA Vice City and i've never killed anyone, get this idiot to explain that one.
Jellodyne @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
Jack really needs to get the message out there -- really get the media whipped up into a frenzy. Make sure that by launch day, San Andreas is on every news anchor's lips. Make sure people really know what sort of powerful, intoxicating brew the game really is. Let parents know that it should be considered taboo, forbidden, and corrupting of young children, due to how wildly immersive and additive the game is. That sort of all out media blitz, I sure will hurt sales and that'll surely show Microsoft.
Jellodyne @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
Jack really needs to get the message out there -- really get the media whipped up into a frenzy. Make sure that by launch day, San Andreas is on every news anchor's lips. Make sure people really know what sort of powerful, intoxicating brew the game really is. Let parents know that it should be considered taboo, forbidden, and corrupting of young children, due to how wildly immersive and additive the game is. That sort of all out media blitz, I sure will hurt sales and that'll surely show Microsoft.
Tommy Walker @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
everyone look out for my new game coming soon to a store near you. Its called Jack Thompson Assasination Simulator.
B @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
This letter is clearly a hoax. He didn't compare Gates to a nazi, didn't pine about a potential bloodbath in Redmond when the game is released on the XBox, and he uses complete sentances without any glaring grammatical or spelling errors. There's no way Mr. Thompson wrote this letter.
Ari Finkelman @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
I played ESPN NFL 2k5 and have yet to go out and play real football...
Tim? @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
Hm. I've written extensively (and am in the middle of another article) on Thompson. He called them murder simulation games in the 'fax'...not his style. But it doesn't matter, either way this is something he is more than capable of doing.
In regards to the guy who suggested emailing him...wonderful idea. I say email him as much intelligent stuff as possible, however the response you get is usually condemning you as a gamer, or just a "bugger off."
Terminal Dogma @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
Hmmm... videogames train us to do things do they... I suppose now I can quarter circle back into my ultimate battlemode and XAAB for all the money I'll ever need in the world.
By the way, when I take over, resistance is futile, my soldiers will know how to ^^vvBA START
Bill Collins @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
I just sent him a short, polite email asking about why Japanese gamers buy a similar portion of violent video games, yet have a ridiculously low violent crime rate. I'll be shocked if I get a reply.
Ben Z. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
That's a great question Bill. He's not looking for answers, though, he's looking for bookings.
Bill Collins @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
I got a reply! Here's my email:
Quick one, Mr. Thompson. As a life-long player of everything from Tetris to Grand Theft Auto 3, your campaign against violent video games concerns me. I have to ask... Japanese consumers buy violent video games at a level on par with Americans, yet their violent crime rate is amazingly low, even amongst young men. Why isn't there a link between crime and violent gaming over there? This could also be applied to Britain, France, or Canada. Thanks for your time.
And his reply:
Real simple. They don't have guns in Japan, Britain, and France. Canada
has had school shootings by gamers. Any tough questions? Jack Thompson
PS: The worst school shooting in history was in Erfurt, Germany by Robert
Steinhaueser. He rehearsed on Counter Strike. Lots of guns in Germany.
Hitler didn't get them all.
Bill Collins @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
I must give him credit for replying. My answer to him:
You have a point, however, are you for strict gun control? Because
there's a ton of shootings out there not caused by "training" from
games. You're trying to prevent a few murders a year even
peripherally caused by games (by your assertions), when you could be
putting your notoriety and resources into a far larger cause. Or is
it easier to go after EA than the NRA?
As for Canada, which does have a large gun culture, I found record of
one school shooting, in Taber, Alberta in 1999, and no links to video
games. Hardly a trend. In Germany, they already have strict measures
in place to restrict violent video games. For years, game companies
have removed blood and replaced human characters with robots or other
substitutes for German releases. I'm all for restricting sales of
violent games to adults only, as it already is on paper, but not in
practice due to lack of enforcement. Total censorship, however, will
simply move this underground. Thanks again for the discussion.
*eagerly awaits reply*
Terminal dogma @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
Notice how his big huff is nearly COMPLETELY over GUNS. Japan and France have SWORDS, Britain has Chainsaws, shall we continue with common sense? Only half the weapons in GTA VC were actually guns. Does this mean I've been trained to kill men with a screwdriver?
Bill Collins @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
And my final reply:
we have 3000 gun laws in this country, junior, and no video game laws. stop
bothering me
He started out good, then managed to crush all credibility. Oh well.
Mr. Falcon @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
3000 gun laws, huh? Funny how, with all those laws, we still can't seem to keep guns out of the hands of children. What makes people think that a bunch of video game laws are going to keep voilent games out of their reach?
I keep thinking about a recent Daily Show, when John Grisham said that having his first book banned caused a huge boost in sales. Banning things just doesn't work. It only costs taxpayers huge amounts of money for another "war on x".
deba @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
what u got againts GTA its a great game we all not the same to go kill gangs where inveted before games were out so whats u point ppl kill ppl all the time games didnt kill ppl but when ppl get in troubel they blame games to get their ass out of troubel a little especially they blame GTA games
arse @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
yo deba its not like wacko jacko jr actually knows this page exists, if u got something to say to him just send him a mail
Kill Jack Thompson @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
I'd like to add a note, WHAT THE FUCK IS JACKS PROBLEM!? A game is a game, is a game...well, IS A Fucking game. A game is not reality. Just as killing people in video games isn't killing people in real life. Whoever it may be that is against GTA, have you ever tried actually to PLAY THE GAMe, instead of complain about it? I mean, come on people. Who doesn't like Grand Theft Auto?
Jonathan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
It's really sad. He's not looking to solve the problem but rather Mr. Thompson is out for a good scapegoat to exploit. If he really wanted to help out with the problem of violence, he'd stop with censorship of the games and instead look at more practical means such as campaigning for stricter enforcement of the game rating system or encouraging members of the government to start programs to educate people about monitoring what their children are playing. Only by sitting down and making sure that the games are appropriate can we ensure that kids are not getting into the nasty stuff out there. Sadly, parents seem not to give a hang what their sons/daughters are doing and so we are getting 10 years olds playing M rated games and not fully understanding the context of the game's material, whether sex or violence. Although people should take responsibility for their actions (like certain person who blaimed GTA for their heinous actions), we should also take note about what children are exposed to as well. Thank you :)
DoubleDeath @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
Alls I got to say is i can't wait to buy a copy for xbox first day it comes out. I might buy 2 or 3 just so it gets a better sales rating. GTA for life ho.
BBR @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
u guys shouldve bought ps2 instead of xbox, its way better!!! but o well, too bad for u guys. Ur missing all the fun, hahahaha
avidvideogameplayer @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
I love GTA, but I do agree that it teaches violence. the difference is I am mature enough to know the difference between reality and fantasy. THE REAL ISSUE HERE should not be the game makers, it should be the PARENTS of the children. People who have copycatted violence in video games, all have a history of a bad family environment. The games should not be marketed to young children but the real people at fault are the PARENTS. There are tons of people playing violent video games that will never kill. DON'T PUT THE BLAME ON SOCIETY, PUT IT ON THE PARENTS.
Dice @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
I emailed him a couple of days ago didn't get a respones but really though my mom and dad won't even let me touch any GTA game and IMO anyone who s Halo is evil