Jack Thompson to bully Rockstar over Bully

by Vladimir Cole { Aug 2nd 2005 at 9:00AM }

bully A good bully knows to kick his opponent when he's wounded and vulnerable. Jack Thompson, the ranting anti-game activist, has decided that Rockstar's upcoming Bully game must not be released. In a letter to Take-Two Interactive CEO Paul Eibeler, Thompson wrote:

"I and others are today calling upon you to STOP the release of Bully. 'Columbine' changed the face of America, but you are about to come out with a game that celebrates, glamorizes, and trains kids to do what Klebold and Harris did. Are you nuts?"

How is this man obtaining and playing all of the latest Rockstar releases before they're finished? Do we need to say mean things about Rockstar games before we get that sort of access?

[via Joystiq tipster Bandersnatch]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

asdf @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

What the hell?
I haven't even heard of this game and this douchebag's already playing it?

frst

Whuh? @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

This bitch never shut up!

Icelawn @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Everyone already knows (without me even saying anything) that this guy is an ASS. I would LOVE to send his ASS (and anyone else can send him one too) a letter telling him what an ASS he is. I would also like to include a nice pic of my chocolate salty balls!

Why Rockstar anyways? With all of the other games out there with violence and sex, why attack Rockstar? Is it because they are the most successful at producing these type of hits? Or maybe because you can do it all in one game. Maybe thats it. Its like an overload on everything negative in one game. If one game concentrated on sex, another on violence, another police chases, etc. Oh wait they already do that..........

Ben @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

just wait, Nintendogs is next in line for an AO rating when this guy digs up a video of the Nintendo E3 conference ;)

zero2dash @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

I hate to say it but I agree with this guy this time around (and I'm sick of him just like everybody). This upcoming Bully game (EGM covered it in their latest issue, or soon-to-be-release newsstand issue if you're not a subscriber) is all about being a Bully and messing around with other kids, picking fights, etc. Totally and wholly inappropriate. I don't give a rats ass about the content of GTA because GTA has been the way it is for a long time; making new games (which as Thompson says, teaches kids to be bullies) is a really fucking inappropriate thing. Shame on Rockstar for this one. *sigh*

vladimir cole @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

I read the EGM story. Are you certain that this game teaches children to be bullies? How, then, does every school and every class within each school seem to have its own bully despite the fact that the game has not yet been released?

Where are kids learning to be bullies?

It's not the game, folks. Art imitates life. The game exposes the mechanisms and institutional cruelty and just plain old crappy parenting that result in a nation of bullies.

Blaming an unreleased video game for Columbine and for our sick culture is what's really wrong here.

locknroll @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Wow I never heard of this game.

Now I must play it.

Just out of spite.

shadow @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Games don't make kids become bullies, or shoot up there schools. If someone does that its because they have problums already and would do so with or without a game to coax them on. As a parent I guess it's just easy to point the blame upon something else then admit that you screwed up in raising little johnny nut job

swl72us@yahoo.com @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

TWO WORDS: POLITICAL AGENDA

All the important "causes" were taken, I guess!

David @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

This game is about a dangerous idea. Ideas must be managed and controlled by those who are better mentally equipped to handle them. We common folk can't distinguish between reality and fantasy. This kind man is good enough to prevent you from accidentally playing this game and potentially getting not-good thoughts into your little head. You should all be thanking him.

ChronoZaga @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

jackpeace@comcast.net

Hey, there's Jack Thompson's Email from his site (http://www.stopkill.com/). Let HIM know what you think about him and his crusade.

White Rose Duelist @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

#3 & #10

Do not feed the troll, especially the politically inclined lawyerly ones. He will just respond with a one-"sentence" insult without actually reading what you write, and feel more important because he's annoying people.

White Rose Duelist @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

swarmster @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

"This upcoming Bully game is all about being a Bully and messing around with other kids, picking fights, etc. Totally and wholly inappropriate."

I don't think this game is intended for kids, what with what's sure to be an M (or higher?) rating. I think there's probably a fair market for gamers out of school that would find entertainment in playing behind the bullying they were on the receiving end of for years. (Not that I understand the entertainment value of beating on animated kids myself, but it'll probably have a similar appeal to people as firing missle launchers at animated pedestrians *shrug*)

And it sure as hell isn't going to have any guns in it. Even Rockstar isn't that stupid. I'm not sure where these Columbine comments are coming from.

Belgand @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

I find it amazing that he's comparing bullies to the shooters at Columbine. They were the effect of long-term bullying in the schools, not the bullies themselves.

swarmster @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Whoops, actually meant to quote the "teaches kids to be bullies" comment from #4.

Aaron @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

So this game supposedly "trains kids to do what Klebold and Harris did"?

How are kids getting this game to begin with? Knowing this company, this is a mature title no doubt.

Parents, do your job. Know what you buy your kids. Take an active role for once.

Adam @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Just check out these images

http://www.rockstargames.com/bully/

http://www.rockstargames.com/bully/screenshots/_pix/bully_03.jpg

Thats pretty disgusting

patchman @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

I could have sworn that this game said that you will stand up to bullies, and get picked on? That doesnt much sound like I play as a bully to me.

"you'll stand up to bullies, get picked on by teachers, play pranks on malicious kids, win or lose the girl, and ultimately learn to navigate the obstacles of the fictitious reform school, Bullworth Academy."

Or does this mean that you start off as a punkass and turn into a bully? Anyone know?

TJ @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

TBH I'm not behind Thompson on this either, but the game is bloody pathetic to say the least and I for one will not be putting my hard earned cash on this.

I wonder if this would even appeal to adults once bullied at school, it's looking so badly cliched and cheap that I think it wouldn't.

Rockstar would have been much better paying for the rights to "Scum" or something and making a worthwhile game, IMO.

tpp @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Why is it that people get all upset about a freakin 5-pixel nipples and other mature themed games when there's like a million games out there you can maim and kill anything within sight? Nobody got upset about Punisher, for example. Someone tip Thumber Thompson over that one, pronto!

Personally I think the whole idea of Bully is lame. How exciting can pushing people around be in the long run? Looks like Rockstar is just trying to milk their GTA game engine by releasing pseudo-sequels with updated graphics and slightly changed storyline. What next? Football Hooligan 2K7?

Rence @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Afaik the game is about out-smarting bullies, not about being one yourself? Or am I talking horsesh$t now?

zander106 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

The dumbest thing about Thompson's quote is that he has Columbine all backwards. Kleebold and Harris were outsiders in their high school and were in all likelihood victims of bullies. They weren't the kind of kids who routinely flushed kids' heads in the toilet or extorted lunch money out of the weaklings.

This is not to say that their actions were OK or excusable. But last I checked, the object of Rockstar's game is to be a mischievous miscreant, not to unload an AK into your fellow classmates. THAT kind of game would have been absolutely reprehensible.

Bully might be morally questionable, but it is certainly no Manhunt or Postal.

Rick @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

It reminds me of a spectrum game, "Back to school". Played it a lot, and I never picked fights, bullied anyone, or hit a teacher with a slingshot ...... :)

LaughingTarget @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

It looks like a game about a bald guy beating up Harry Potter's classmates...I'm in!

Joe @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

I can appreciate what he is trying to do (create a more informed populace about the violence in video games), but at the same time I tend to think he is placing the blame on the wrong entity. How about the parents? Where is the responsibility there to take care of your child instead of using mainstream medida to be parent/teacher/babysitter. THe most obvious example is the class action lawsuit against rockstar games by an 80+ year old grandmother who is upset about the content in an M (17+) rated game that she bought FOR HER 14 YEAR OLD SON!! Get a clue lady, it is your fault it is in his hands, not Rock Stars.

I actually applaude Rock Star for having the testicular fortitude to put out the games they want. Though I do not care for the GTA series, i find it comforting that at least 1 game studio is not catering to the masses (cough cough bungie cough cough) and releasing games that are exactly what they and their hardcore fans want

Kuyu @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Someone should tell this guy that most gamers are 20 somethings. Kids can't afford games and usually play the two games they get each year on birthdays and x-mas.

If he wants to go after someone, how about the game retailers that happily sell San Andreas to 10-year olds. Instead of trying to crush the development community JackOff Thompson should lobby congress to enforce the ESRB ratings as they stand.

How hard is this?
Parent: "I want a copy of San Andreas, it's my sons birthday tomorrow."
EB employee: "You understand that this game is rated M, 17 or over, and that it includes murder, drugs, sex, felony theft, etc. GTA stands for Grand Theft Auto. This game is not intended for children."
Parent: "I had no idea that's what it was. What else do you have, he'll be 12."
EB employee: "Any title with a T rating would be appropriate. This one received very high ratings."

Opportunistic publicity whores JackOff Thompson and RamRod Clinton should be forced to play pokemon for the next year. Way to solidify the youth vote for whoever runs against you, Sen Clinton!

Spartacus @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Lol, I had to. Here's a copy of the email I sent him:

Mr. Thompson,

As an educated man working on my master's degree in theology, one would think I would be one of the first to jump on this anti video game bandwagon. However as an American who values freedom over all else, I find your continuous attacks on this particular form of entertainment quite appalling. I'm not quite sure what is is about video games you find so threatening (or maybe you're just trying to cash in on this contoversial ticket), but it is quite rediculous. Games may be popular, but nowhere near the popularity of music, which has been in the moral gutter for quite some time. So while you're on your crusade, write a letter to Eminem for me and see where it gets you.

Joshua Stateham
Dallas Theological Seminary

RogueFace @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

I'm suprised noone has mentioned this yet.

"...but you are about to come out with a game that celebrates, glamorizes, and trains kids to do what Klebold and Harris did."

I've read about this game, and NOWHERE, in ANYTHING that I read, have I read the following statement:

"Bully will allow players to enter the academy with pipebombs and firearms, with the intent of killing teachers and students."

After all, that's what Harris and Klebold did. I doubt it would have been such a big deal if all they did was get into fistfights and give people swirlies.

The incident at Columbine was terrible, and it was something that never should have happened. But this game is not going to cause it to happen again. Those two kids were just plain F***ED UP. Probably by their parents.

Chris @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

"Someone should tell this guy that most gamers are 20 somethings."

The average is actually 30 these days.

http://www.theesa.com/facts/games_youth_violence.php

Rence @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

@ #27: it's ridiculous, not rediculous.. and I'm not a native speaker :/

Voters? @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Should be intresting to see if the the gaming voting population would finally vote to make sure these assholes stay out of office... I dont think they realize how many gamers that can vote are out there...

WizarDru @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

You do realize that Jack Thompson isn't an elected official, right?

Spartacus @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Rence- Lol, yeah, the sweet irony. I also left the "r" out of controversial, lol. I'm at work and I typed that up quickly between customers, lol.

Jake Fry @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Ahahahahaha, is what I said the first time a read this yesterday. Poor Rockstar, kickin em while theyre busy being kicked already. Such bad luck, such whiny politicians too busy banning forms of entertainment that corrupt our youth to raise their own kids.

jakk, blackrock @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

being the political douchebag that he is, he will want kirby: canvas curse banned because it encourages children to touch a pink ball that sux things.

Don Amodeo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

I don't see what you guys are complaining about. This is like free publicity for Rockstar. It's only going to increase the hype, and probably the sales, of their game...

Jacob @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

exactly, some of you didnt know about this game untill this article was made.....i knew little about it myselfe im jsut pointing it out,i too have many dissagreements aswell as many negitive comments with thompson, im sure somehow he will work racing games into teachin kids to dissobey the rules of the road.

Dave @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

How about a game where you battle "terrorists"? Just blow up anyone wearing a rag on their head. Oh, wait--that game already exists. Oh, wait, two of them exist? No...three. Four? A hundred?

I guess it's okay to teach kids to blindly follow orders. It's okay for governments to raise your children for you. It's not okay for you to try and think for yourself. I think I'm getting it.

Sheikh Yerbouti @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Hahahaha! "Hot Coffee" was the green light to crucify Rockstar and Take Two for even breathing funny. This is ridiculous. I love America.

As a former bully, I want to play it! Brings back old memories of clean wholesome fun. Do I get to wear a black trenchcoat?

MrTroy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

You know what #39... I agree 100% with you on that one. The most realistic of realistic games teaches you how to sneak around and murder people without them knowing all in the name of the good ol us of a..... Nothing is wrong here.... Move along people.

Spartacus @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

I actually got a response to my email I sent Mr. Thompson. It was short and sweet.

"God help your congregation" was all it said.

This guy is a real winner. I wish him the best and hope he goes bankrupt, lol.

jack thompson @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

This is Jack Thompson. I know you are all hardcore gamers, but just try to use your brains on this one. Here goes, now pay attention: Klebold and Harris, like many of the school shooters, were victims of bullying. The game, Bully, allows you to rehearse your revenge upon those who bully you. Got it? I represented the parents of the three girls shot and killed by Michael Carneal in the Paducah school shootings. He was a victim of bullying. The FBI identified bullying as one of the causes of school killing by those who felt they had been bullied.

The problem with you gamers is that you don't have the life experiences those in the real world have. I have sat and cried with the families victimized by this virtual violence spilling over into reality. You all couldn't give a flip less about them. It's all about you and your pixelated fantasies, isn't it? Nobody is important but you all, right?

Jack Thompson

PiratePete @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Jack Thompson, (If it is in fact you) Did you ever stop to think that for just one moment the problems and issues that lead up to the Columbine shootings have to do with a lot more than just "Video Games". Yes, it's so easy right now to pick on the video game industry and you'll get a lot more supporters then if you were to go after the gun makers and people with all that real life experience in the real world that have made it so easy to get guns in the first place.
What are you doing to get guns out of the hand of kids? What are you doing to make parents more responsible for instilling proper values and morals in kids. For making them more responsible for what they are doing and who they are doing it with. Don't think these kids just got like this over night. They had a lot of trouble in their life that their parents SHOULD of known and did something about. What? Do you think that if you were to get rid of all the video games in the world now that kids and teens would just instantly become well behaved and future upright standing citizens of America. Right, you don't even believe that one. Look, gamers or what ever you want to call them are a lot smarter then you think. Your just using this campaign against "video games" and the very sad situation of what happened in Columbine to further your own agenda and goals. That's real sick. What is it your really looking for? Some hush money hand outs from the industry to keep you quiet, turn down the heat? Lookin to retire on a big fat nest egg??
Well you can sleep on this one tonight.
No matter what you do, video games and gamers will still be here, playing the games that they want to play. Y don't you try working with the industry in stead of against it making all that background noise.

vladimir cole @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Based on the email address used to verify and post comment #43, I can verify that that is indeed Jack Thompson.

jakk, blackrock @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

are you trying to tell mke that this guy has enough of an IQ to post a comment. i seriously doubt it. by fighting rocktar with the help of hilary clinton he is taking away our rights without merit.

TJ @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Dear Mr Thompson, first of all being pedantic will get you nowhere.

More to the point I live in the UK where we thankfully don't have any ignoramuses like you, but from what I have seen regarding you and your opinionated and self righteous smear campaigns you need a reality check and to act your own age, if indeed you aren't fourteen.

Maybe the proven beneficial cognitive development gaming can allow would be best served on you, have you ever tried gaming? Thankfully I have no doubt that you will fail and that Rockstar will continue expressing their art and providing games to those that seek them, and besides GTA games that isn't even me.

I would pose some questions to you and ask for answers. Do you actually have one proven correlation between gaming and detrimental psychological behaviour (i.e. show me a punk that wasn't a punk before he played GTA)? What you have to say on either the study that youth violence has dropped since the gaming market took off or what you have to say about the facts that gaming increases cognitive responses in children. Sadly you are an opinionated headline grabber not interested in fact or arguments against your "claims" but only to reply with one liner clich?

I look forward to the day that we stop hearing about you, you will eventually fail, and people will tire of hearing your pathetic crusades; Mark my words.

Cole @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Reply to #43
I live in canada and am a very hardcore gamer. I have played almost any game you can name and am 14(mst of my friends are just like me hardcore gamers)I also play WELL over 24 hours a week. I own most of the gta series and have been playing them for years and i do very well at school and dont have any problems like you suggest,i play the games you suggest train to kill or run around with guns killing innocents. I agree fully with thoes in here who protest against you Jack and guess what...No matter how hard you try to bring these games down you will never succeed.

Booba @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Check it out: http://www.americasarmy.com/
State-sponsored training! Kill and gain honor!
For America!

I want all of you to shut-the-fuck-up.
It's going to be rated MATURE 17+ so stores shouldn't sell it to minors and the parents of minors shouldn't buy it. That's it. Done. There is no proven causation between violent deeds done by children and video game exposure. Don't blame the damn gaming companies for shitty parenting and the general dehumanization of violence from the media.

And anyway, read the damn description of the game. Only the protesters are saying that it emulates Columbine and whatnot. I don't see anything about shootings. Just kids fighting in schools and pulling off pranks. It's the topic of countless movies, shows, and books.

GGRRRRrRRRRrrR!!
These damn idiots are pissing me off.

Jack Thompson @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Dear Mindless Gamers Who Are Incapable of Thinking for Yourselves,
As a lawyer who sues helps people sue videogame companies for a living, it is vital that you listen to me. I realize that because you play video games, you are in your room all day and you fear the sun, but do not fear, I have discovered that the Internet is a wonderful medium of passing my limitless knowledge to you! Listen to me! Video games are deteriorating our society and we must rise up and become my clients against the video game industry. I have come from the real world to this realm of virtual reality to pass on the concept to you lifeless gamers that these violent video games are not immersive experiences and are certainly not an amazing artistic medium or form of escapism. Video games are rehearsals for murder! When Bully comes out and you play it, even if you are incapable of seeing this, I know that secretly, you are using this game to formulate ways to give people swirleys, tie their shoes together, and retaliate against bullies! Video games are the spawn of the devil. Now that I have clarified the intent of my crusade against evil, it is time for you to realize that you are incapable of thinking for yourself and accept my ideas and become my clients.

-Jack Thompson
Here to help you fight video game violence!
Only $500/hr.

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