Serial suit launcher Erik Estavillo is making a little name for himself in the game space, as his latest complaint seeks $1 million in damages from Activision Blizzard over the design of World of Warcraft. GamePolitics reports on the complaint, which claims that the publisher maintains a "harmful virtual environment to many of its customers by forcing them to follow the game's sneaky and deceitful practices." Estavillo alleges that the "calculated slow pace" of the game makes turning quests in take longer and thus generates more subscription revenue for Activision Blizzard.
If that wasn't enough, Estavillo also subpoenaed actress Winona Ryder and Depeche Mode's Martin Lee Gore to testify on his behalf regarding alienation. He explains that his health issues, which apparently include OCD, agoraphobia, depression (and more), mean that he "relies on video games heavily for the little ongoing happiness he can achieve in this life."
Estavillo had previously sued Sony after being banned from PSN and also has another suit against Microsoft and Nintendo, for his Xbox 360's Red Ring of Death and Nintendo's disabling of the Homebrew Channel in an update. Perhaps he'll have more luck suing over the design of a game in which millions happily pay to participate.
Reader Comments (126)
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 11:19AM jonjon72 said
Someone needs to get laid!
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 11:08PM (Unverified) said
why would you wish that on those poor farm animals, though?
In all seriousness, I really hope he never reproduces.
Reply
In all seriousness, I really hope he never reproduces.
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 11:20AM MrAlex said
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 12:05PM AmericanNinja said
Stop giving this guy publicity Joystiq. Stop posting every time he sues someone.
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 12:11PM MowDownJoe said
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 12:12PM (Unverified) said
These companies are probably settilng with this douche for 10-20 grand just to avoid dragging it out and making it more expensive...
He'll probably keep doing it till there is nobody left to sue, or if somebody doesn't pay...
and he is a little turd who cannot be called a man...
I'm comin Carlin!
He'll probably keep doing it till there is nobody left to sue, or if somebody doesn't pay...
and he is a little turd who cannot be called a man...
I'm comin Carlin!
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 12:26PM (Unverified) said
At first this was amusing even laughable but now it's just plain sad. Clearly something aint right with this guy.
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 12:31PM (Unverified) said
One word describes this poor excuse for a human. DOUCHE!
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 12:36PM (Unverified) said
my beloved joystiq,
I'm afraid that if you keep giving this guy media attention..... well.... then he'll probably end up suing you for defamation or something.
I'm afraid that if you keep giving this guy media attention..... well.... then he'll probably end up suing you for defamation or something.
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 12:43PM (Unverified) said
One sad human being, he is.
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 12:42PM creiij said
My god that guy must have the worst case of stupid ever.... hope someones sues him until he's broke...
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 1:09PM pika2000 said
Well, the fact that our justice system allow this guy to do what he's doing is the real problem. Shouting profanity and threats to this guy won't change a thing. In fact, this guy is smart the fact that he plays the game and can potentially reap some big dough.
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 1:13PM cbarrentos said
"He explains that his health issues, which apparently include OCD, agoraphobia, depression..."
that tells me all I needed to know.
that tells me all I needed to know.
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 1:23PM TreyIM2 said
"He explains that his health issues, which apparently include OCD, agoraphobia, depression (and more), mean that he "relies on video games heavily for the little ongoing happiness he can achieve in this life.""
That says it all, right there. I didn't think dude was sane after the first Sony filing but now that he's not only trying to appeal his first complaint after basically being thrown out of court, he then went after MS and Nintendo and now this. He's certifiable, obviously, and if he uses that health issues excuse, he will DEFINITELY be banned from ever filing again, if he even gets to court, this time. Hopefully, he will be impeded before hand after realizing that he keeps filing frivolous lawsuits.
That says it all, right there. I didn't think dude was sane after the first Sony filing but now that he's not only trying to appeal his first complaint after basically being thrown out of court, he then went after MS and Nintendo and now this. He's certifiable, obviously, and if he uses that health issues excuse, he will DEFINITELY be banned from ever filing again, if he even gets to court, this time. Hopefully, he will be impeded before hand after realizing that he keeps filing frivolous lawsuits.
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 1:46PM (Unverified) said
Is attention-whore a crime?
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 2:00PM (Unverified) said
Where the heck does this guy find lawyers willing to pursue these things? What a useless waste of air this guy is.
You know, maybe I'll sue HBO for unnecessarily dragging out series to force me to watch (and pay) them longer.
You know, maybe I'll sue HBO for unnecessarily dragging out series to force me to watch (and pay) them longer.
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 2:19PM Discotheque said
Wait wait wait...why the hell is he calling Winona Ryder and Martin Gore to the stand?
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 2:51PM fourblades said
If we were in Mafia Wars, I'd put a bounty on him by now...
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 2:53PM spencer8ab said
Quadruple Facepalm.
http://www.brawlsnapshots.com/snapshots/82470.jpg
http://www.brawlsnapshots.com/snapshots/82470.jpg
Posted: Nov 25th 2009 3:36PM (Unverified) said
WTF? Is his uncle a lawyer of something? We need to get a pic of this guy so that he can become a meme, maybe that's what he wants.
Posted: Nov 26th 2009 12:03AM emperorzeroxx said
pretty hilarious suits, however nothing will ever top the idiot that sued over spilling hot coffee on themselves. Whats next is this guy going to sue a company just because they make bad games?
Posted: Nov 27th 2009 5:57AM (Unverified) said
Hey guys, dont be so rash on this guy.
I mean if the guy really does have these conditions he says he does, even going outside of his front door could trigger the same effect as you being chased by a murderous psycho with a chainsaw, If his phobias are that bad, heck, it could be even worse for him then that. So give him a break, sure, some of his claims are questionable, but he sort of has a point, this guy cant go out in public really without having a panic attack, so if his Xbox RRODs (A problem millions have but microsoft doesnt fix), he cant get it repaired easily, If he believes these slow methodologies of blizzard do this, that could in turn, effect one of his psychological symptoms! Give the dude a break, he may be sueing like a madman, but he might actually have a justifiable point and may need help in ways these companies could compromise with him but are not even attempting.
I mean if the guy really does have these conditions he says he does, even going outside of his front door could trigger the same effect as you being chased by a murderous psycho with a chainsaw, If his phobias are that bad, heck, it could be even worse for him then that. So give him a break, sure, some of his claims are questionable, but he sort of has a point, this guy cant go out in public really without having a panic attack, so if his Xbox RRODs (A problem millions have but microsoft doesnt fix), he cant get it repaired easily, If he believes these slow methodologies of blizzard do this, that could in turn, effect one of his psychological symptoms! Give the dude a break, he may be sueing like a madman, but he might actually have a justifiable point and may need help in ways these companies could compromise with him but are not even attempting.
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 6:27AM x3r9g6 said
then don't play the fuckin game, moron!
agoraphobia.......i looked that shit up....someone needs to bitch slap him!
seriously, if he's got so many health issues why not just commit suicide instead of waste time on video games and then complain that they're not good enough.
agoraphobia.......i looked that shit up....someone needs to bitch slap him!
seriously, if he's got so many health issues why not just commit suicide instead of waste time on video games and then complain that they're not good enough.
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