Keighley takes on Fox News' seXbox seXposé
by Christopher Grant 
{ Jan 21st 2008 at 10:20PM }
But oh, what's this? You invited the capable Geoff Keighley on the show to combat the embarrassingly uninformed opinions of one Ms. Cooper Lawrence (loving that book cover, Cooper), a "developmental psychologist" who literally laughs at the mere prospect of playing a video game before flapping her gums about it on national television. Sure, they don't give Geoff enough time to get as many punches in as we'd have liked to see, but that double dose of "that's completely incorrect" is sure to leave a mark in the morning.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
t_m @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:58AM
FOx news review of mass effect from December... doesn't mention anything about nudity, and calls it intelligent, well written and almost a classic. Hmm...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316996,00.html
NeverSage @ Jan 23rd 2008 1:12PM
Wow... that's an awesome point. I wish I knew that when I wrote them.
Ian @ Jan 27th 2008 5:08AM
These people are fucking retarded. "What happened to the days of Atari, pinball, and Pac man?" WTF bitch, we don't live in the 70's and 80's anymore. Dumbass retards, its not like there is no nudity or violence in PG-13 games and its not like the average age of a gamer is in his or her 20's. They way these people talk you'd think that you just turn on your 360 and Mass Effect would pop up asking what hole you'd like to take it in. Fucking retards need to UNDERSTAND what they are judging before they make a comment on it. The psychologist admitted she never played the game, shouldn't that revoke her entire opinion on something she thinks she know but really has no idea about?
Hugenot @ Jan 24th 2008 1:51AM
Gah! I'm a 38-year-old video gamer and I'm embarrassed at how completely clueless and uninformed many people my own age are about video games. The "video games will corrupt your children" idea has long been discredited by both reasearch and by the simple fact that in the year 2008, most people under the age of 40 spent a signficant amount of their youth playing videogames. I would be far more concerned about the amount of sex and violence shown on prime time television, and the ease with which young kids can access porn on the internet.
The other unfortunate fact, is that when a news media outlet runs a story or segment like this, it is usually an excercise in the ultimate form of hypocrisy, since they are hoping to boost their own ratings by injecting racy/sexy soundbites and headlines into their normal boring news coverage. And the problem is that if someone like Jeff was to point this out on the air, he would never be asked back for future segments, because news media don't like it when you point out their own hypocrisy to them, especially live on the air.
N. Eric Phillips @ Jan 24th 2008 12:12PM
Ms. Cooper also makes up the statistics for game players. She says that the majority of game players are teen boys. If you check on the demographics of game players, 65% of game players are 18+!!!!
Of course, this fact is routinely ignored by those crusaders against games who are trying to "save our children." Save the gamers, I say!!
Oreo @ Jan 24th 2008 12:10PM
"The children's fathers don't play these games".
HAHAHAHAHA
Right.... the Xbox medium age is 28 I think, that's old enough to have children.
Winwood @ Jan 24th 2008 3:30PM
Wow. That was actualy painfull to watch. While it's not a revelation that Fox News equates to tabloid newspapers more than broadsheets, I still struggle to cope with the fact that out of the 7 people that talked, only one had played the game and only one other had done (minimal) research.
Ok, everyone on 3. 1 ... 2 ... 3 - *sighs and shakes head*
gracerx @ Jan 24th 2008 3:58PM
The four people around the table on the left: OMG, can you get a more ignorant bunch. The woman with the long dark hair complaining why about the game getting an A rating. Seriously, how can you comment without playing the game? Where is a hammer when you need one!
bluestriker @ Jan 24th 2008 6:22PM
I would love to say something bad about Fox, and maybe a little hateful, because this really angers me. But, of course, that would mean all gamers are violent, killing, raping machines.
ShadzKing @ Jan 24th 2008 10:46PM
wow both those women are fucking bitches. I respect Keighley 100% now for standing up to not just them but to anyone who doesn't even play the full game or understand to just give it negative reviews.
And sadly this "psychologist" obviously has no idea what shes talking about. Looks like being a psychologist is a lot easier then I thought.
I played Mass Effect to its fullest but the choices you have to make to even get near the sexual situations are hard for anyone that isnt a hardcore gamer to get too. All this talk of "o little boys can see it" is absolute bull.
Another thing that got me pissed was the fact that she was like "o wow that was easy to go into the site" Basically any porn sites are a lot easier to get into let alone a video game site. Yet they're treating the Mass Effect site like its the only site with easy access
archie91s @ Jan 24th 2008 10:41PM
whoa, i guess i missed this post, cause im 3 days late.
But this really pisses me off.
nijigasumi @ Jan 25th 2008 1:07AM
Serious props for Geoff Keighley for maintaining his patience with both grossly ignorant women, despite his "alien boob" comment which set them off even more. Parents are responsible for teaching their children how to differentiate between video games and real life, it's a responsibility not a burden.
Since nobody in the studio has ever played the game, anything they said is irrelevant. This is the news, not a smear campaign. Report on things that actually matter instead of misinforming the general public and flaunting your over sized egos.
jaredwork @ Jan 25th 2008 12:58AM
I'm actually a fan of Fox News and have watched a great deal of it in the past (as well as the other networks -- they all have their own bizarre flare), but I've never seen such adamant points being made against something in which a they know nothing about. From the title of the story to the panel gossiping about it -- they just come off as insanely ignorant on the topic.
Martha's a smart woman, but that whole segment was a ridiculous joke for anyone who knows anything about the game, really any info about the ratings on games.
"I've only seen pictures of what a zebra's ass looks like, but I can tell you right now they're violent, blood-thirsty, killing machines with only rape and porn on their minds". That's about how dumb they sound...
JWLynch @ Jan 25th 2008 3:08AM
Did she really just say that "unfortunately" she had to look after her children?
Sam @ Jan 25th 2008 6:21AM
hahahahahaahaa
I couldn't stop laughing when she said that boys couldn't tell the difference of what they're seeing in game and in the real world.
ugg.tryptophan @ Jan 28th 2008 3:58AM
but thats true...up to about age five, she shouldn't misqoute her "facts"
John L @ Jan 25th 2008 4:12PM
This is so typical of Fox News
They are so good at giving MISINFORMATION.
FOX news loves to report
THEIR OPINIONS as if it was the news.
as if its the news.
This is why CNN pWnz Fox News.
Jon @ Jan 25th 2008 4:08PM
I saw plenty of porn when i was an adolescent, didn't really screw me up that much. stupid woman
All the parent has to do is look at the rating on the box, how hard is that??
Batzarro @ Jan 25th 2008 11:42PM
The research part was funny. Universities come up with percentages in their studies, not with a big white paper that says "teenagers and young adults can't tell the difference between reality and fiction". Besides, they mostly can. You can find out by talking to them.
metalgearrask @ Jan 27th 2008 1:00AM
Debbie does Dallas meets Luke Skywalker...
Yeah, that makes sense.
datsylel @ Jan 27th 2008 6:01PM
"It begs the question" being used falsely again.
See http://begthequestion.info/ for correct usage.
Samuel Pollock @ Jan 28th 2008 6:00PM
So boys who play video games can't tell reality from fiction unless they experience it? Well damn I guess I'm just waiting to become a secret agent from all those games of Goldeneye I played when I was younger.
At least the panel were more sane, some misguided opinions but in the end it comes down to the parents, if you don't want your kids to see it don't get it for them!
lrod1455 @ Feb 10th 2008 8:38PM
Mass Effect is just the newest game they can tip toe around just to bring up video games in a negative light.
john sgorrano @ Apr 5th 2008 4:22PM
Wow, these reporters are completely ignorant. First they say grown men don't play video games then they say kids go home and play their dad's video games. Oh and dumb bitch, would you like to know why this game didn't receive an AO rating? Its because THERE ISN'T FULL NUDITY! I like how its says there is on the bottom but of the screen, all you see is the side of the butt and boob. No nipple or vagina. They continue on with the whole sex scene thing and its not even a big part of the game. I like when the ladies talking about how easy it is to get into the site, NO SHIT its an rpg not a fucking sex game.
PointyThings @ Jan 21st 2008 10:28PM
Fox: Fair and Bollocks.
BigD145 @ Jan 21st 2008 11:15PM
From the 'people' (I use the term lightly or not at all) that brought you gay marriage = sheep marriage and snake marriage.
Matt @ Jan 21st 2008 11:17PM
"Miss Cooper, have you even played Mass Effect?"
*five second pause, as she realizes she's been owned*
"Um... no, of course not!!!"
Dan @ Jan 21st 2008 11:37PM
WTF, Full nudity?? where's mine??
StrangeBum @ Jan 21st 2008 11:38PM
Pretty much stole the words from my mouth there.
Me thinks it's time to author a couple of emails to the senior editors/writers or whoever is in charge of this bullshit. Fox is the most biased media corporation that I can possibly think of and they really have no right to say these things. Especially considering that they didn't give Geoff Keighley any time at all to make a valid rebuttal.
Consider me pissed.
Fandel @ Jan 21st 2008 11:52PM
Fox News...
We Lie. You Comply
PointyThings @ Jan 22nd 2008 12:48AM
What's really sad is, at least one kid out there is going to have his Mass Effect taken away but some ignorant parent that has, somehow, learned to associate Fox News with journalism, and actually believes this shit.
Slogo @ Jan 22nd 2008 12:52AM
Well just wait until next week when they have a whole big segment on how the playstation 3 can play ultra-realistic blu-ray porn.
It's funny because even a Pg-13 movie is allow to show a little bit of nudity. Meanwhile a 16+ rated video game can't.
phosphor112 @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:00AM
Feedback@foxnews.com
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US SHOULD EMAIL THEM.
lets do it.
Ten Dolla Bill @ Jan 22nd 2008 9:24AM
An adults only rating for a little side boob?
hotnutz @ Jan 22nd 2008 9:42AM
I like how the psychologist says that the games are objectifying women. Maybe she didn't notice that every person on the show was in the good looking and higher range. What kind of message does that send to people? What if they had a smarter interviewer or a more educated panel, do you think they would get better ratings if they weren't so pleasing to the eye?
Yes, there is violence and sex in video games, but it's also in our daily newspapers, magazines, music videos, CDs and movies. When will those clowns realize that our culture is fixated on sex and violence in all forms of media? They are looking for excuses and like the whole "terrorist" thing, people are not digging deep enough to find out the "why"? Sorry for sounding like a cliché but they should be looking for the source, not the symptoms.
Also, when the host said the "parent is tough" comment I could not help but roll my eyes. She is someone we should probably sterilize - she's already had a lobotomy from the sounds of it, just a bit more and she can't no longer be a threat to our intelligence.
Platinum_Skeet @ Jan 22nd 2008 12:59PM
EVERYONE VOTE COOPERS BOOK A ONE STAR ON AMAZON AND BARNES & NOBLE'S!!!
HIT HER WHERE IT HURTS HER POCKETS!!!
Penguin Warlord @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:56PM
All of this whining and bitching for a little side boob when Fox is the network that produces a show that featured the "Sideboob Hour".
Ted @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:52PM
@ Platinum_Skeet
Amen! Just went to the amazon page and wrote a 1 star review. What a conceited obnoxious ridiculous person!
Just to make it easier for everyone else to write 1 star reviews... Here's the page:
http://www.amazon.com/Cult-Perfection-Making-Peace-Overachiever/dp/1599211793/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201045854&sr=8-1
If you take the angle that the author has no credibility then you can justify not recommending the book.
Brian @ Jan 21st 2008 10:30PM
Prudes...
Game is rated "M"; be a parent and keep it away from your 16 and under kids, quit beating this dead horse.
End of discussion.
severian00 @ Jan 21st 2008 11:10PM
Not only that, but use the GOD DAMN parental controls to block the M rated games. I love how after they let the chick spout off with complete lies about the game, then they get together in their round table and talk about how hard it is to be a parent. No kidding, really? Then the Bimbo says, "And then you have to look at the back to find out why it's rated that way. you really have to be involved in the purchasing of these things." If you are so put out by having to pay attention to what your kid is buying with your money, then you shouldn't be a parent.
Ignatius @ Jan 21st 2008 11:16PM
You _REALLY_ have to work by taking that three calories of energy to flip the box around. Hell yeah, man. You're spending $60 on a brand new game. Why the hell should you waste the same amount of energy it took to pick it up off the shelf to bother being parent?
Oh wait.
Lone Starr @ Jan 22nd 2008 12:35AM
@ Brian
Unfortunately, it's not the end of discussion. Uninformed people will watch in horror and phone their legislators as uninformed news outlets throw out hit pieces condemning gaming. In other words, the news can only report. But the law can prevent these types of games from being made.
matthew_neitzer @ Jan 22nd 2008 1:31AM
Is the rating on the back? I have some PS3 games (I know ME is on the Xbox360) and they all have the ratings on the front and back. Just curious.
FraGNeM @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:11AM
IIRC, The rating is actually required to be listed on the front, but the type of content which give it that rating are listed on the back.
E.J. @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:38AM
I love how the host says at the end of the show how much harder it will be for a parent to monitor their child's content intake.
Hi, stop being lazy. Just because you like to be a talking head doesn't mean you can't make time for your kids. Do some freakin parenting. ACTUAL parenting.
Qwirk @ Jan 22nd 2008 11:29AM
You don't even have to flip the game over. The front of the box shows the rating and the recommended age of the buyer. The back of the box shows the same information with the content descriptors.
This video was painful to watch.
Qwirk @ Jan 22nd 2008 11:29AM
You don't even have to flip the game over. The front of the box shows the rating and the recommended age of the buyer. The back of the box shows the same information with the content descriptors.
This video was painful to watch.
Cal @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:36PM
It's only a 12 over here, ohnoes all our teens are being infected with sex indistinguishable from the real world
Zeus.:God @ Jan 21st 2008 10:30PM
Wow... This is pretty sad...
Zeus.:God @ Jan 21st 2008 10:36PM
Wow, it cut off the last bit of my post...
Wow... This is pretty sad...
These people are sitting here criticizing the game, and talking about how bad it is on a child's mind and how many bad things it pretty much "implants" into their brain... They haven't even played it! They make completely false claims, and then they sit there and try to claim that they learned as much about it as they could... Fuck that... Seriously, this type of thing always ends up screwing the consumer over.