News - Jack Thompson calls to dismantle ESRB

so it' s ok to get hookers and shoot cops in the head and run over peole but having sex is wrong?

Read this.


http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=5381

Huh...

" Nintendo' s an innovator,
Sony' s an imitator."

Yet, for some reason, it' s Sony that gets all the credit.

The ESRB rating system is quite frankly pathetic and does need an overhaul. Games like GTA shouldn' t be played by children, and yet under the current rating system there is nothing to stop a 6 year old from buying an M rated game. Violent games should carry a legal age rating stopping them from being sold to minors.

People are upset because you can see sex in the game with the secret hot coffee crack. But it' s ok that in the game you can shoot cops, run over people, and get hookers (just as long as you don' t see the sex) but they are all up in arms because you see them having sex with the crack/mod. They seem to care more about sex then they do about Violence. First of all this game is NOT for kids it says on the box 17 years of age and older and why does one year make a difference? MA= 17 years old and AO = 18 years and older. OOOOO one stupid year plus kids are resourceful they will find a way to get the games and making a big deal about it just makes it more appesing to kids to want to play it.

Sorry but i think you are incorrect there are laws in certain states saying that if a retailer sells a am mature game to a minor they wil get fined. But i was saying that GTA says on the box 17 years and older this is not meant for kids. But kids are crafty and clever enough to find a way to get it. You remember when you wanted something you would find a way around it. plus like i just said why is violence more of an evil then sex? Sex is a natural part of life. it' s just because our country is such a prude and prissy we make a big deal about it and other countries don' t and we have a MUCH higher teen pregnancy then any other country in the world. If we just taught right from wrong this wouldn' t be a big deal. It' s all politics, some of th emost violent stuff on tv is from cartoons but no one makes a big deal about it like the road runner and coyote and tom and jerry it was nothing but violence. But if you were to show nudity all hell would break loose. It' s hypocritical. Like the grandmother who is trying to Sue Rockstar because she bought GTA for her 14 year grandson and claims she didn' t know it was for adults even though it SAYS IT ON THE BOX. I personally don' t care for the GTA series i think it' s boring. I played the first one and the second one and it was fun and funny for a bit but it got old fast.

http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=5349

Except most stores don' t sell AO games so they seem to be trying to discourage the developers from making violent games by insuring that the games will not sell well.

yeah but that is why there is the thing called the internet which you can get alot more stuff and cheaper then in stores plus if the hype is big enough doesn' t matter if it has a XXX rating the game will sell. Also the reason is because there aren' t any or many AO games ESPECIALLY with like i said hype. GTA has LOTS OF hype and popularity all this talk just makes it sell better. Rockstar is getting free publicity. Same thing happene with Mortal Kombat and look how huge that got and is stil pretty big to spawn another movie which i read on gamespot. They are making MK3 the movie.

Who the hell is Jack Thompson?

that is my question as well.

I think government attorneys were eyeing GTASA for a while, and I believe the Hot Coffee crack was the last straw, you know, a real excuse to attack Rockstar.

Well, good for them. Our beloved industry should seriously take a bath. At least getting rid of dirt like GTA:SA (and then Killer 7, hopefully) is a good start.

Yay, GTA ban!!!

" Nintendo' s an innovator,
Sony' s an imitator."

Yet, for some reason, it' s Sony that gets all the credit.

Well, good for them. Our beloved industry should seriously take a bath. At least getting rid of dirt like GTA:SA (and then Killer 7, hopefully) is a good start.

I hope you are being sarcastic.

In response to the following complaint I have decided to change my signature:

" by the way, yoshimitsu you might want to click the little checkbox that makes your signature disappear." -Jonah Shoemaker, Residential Dumbass

Why the f*ck it has such impotent *ssholes in our world... f*ck them for being so stupid. If the game industry would look on such a thing, they wouldn' t sell anything. That man is the incarnation of stupidity. And for the record: Games like " Silent Hill" would scare much more like a comic designed game, no matter how sick it is.

Our beloved industry should seriously take a bath. At least getting rid of dirt like GTA:SA

you' re only pissed off because you aren' t old enough to play this game...

I dont get what the problem is. ESRB rate it M in the first place, how is it their fault if certain ppl are too lazy to take the few extra seconds to look at an ID or if yer a parent take that time to read why it has an M rating.

Look at the rating on the back already:
Mature 17+
-Blood and Gore
-Intense Violence
-Strong Language
-Strong Sexual Content
-Use of Drugs

Now where on there are they hiding anything. If the ESRB were shown the hot coffee scene prior to release, would they have bothered to boost the ratign back then? I doubt it cause for some reason I think that falls under the ' Strong Sexual Content' part.

What reason do they have to 1. Dismantle the ESRB and 2. Ban such games as GTA:SA? The only argument they use is that ppl will immitate such games, yet statistacally violence in youth has gone down to being the lowest ever. Prior to videogames (a very very long prior) ppl were much more violent. Whats their excuse then?

Well I can tell Ima start going off subject so Ill cut it off now.

So true, I' m but 16 and can' t buy the game. But I played GTASA many times at my friend' s house, and I stand by my statement. I' m sorry, but I have to side with Thompson on this one. Except for going after Sims or something. Killer7 and GTA is enough. Clean this industry up, senators.

It has nothing to do with my age, I was just always against violence in videogames.

Mass X- seeing the ESRB rating on the back is the practical action to do, but even that doesn' t work now. So, you' re right, in some respects, the people are the ones to blame, not particularly the game. But it' s not working, people aren' t looking at the back. So senators are doing their best to make sure that parents will look at the ratings. Seeing a rare AO rating will definately turn some heads, or some game boxes.

" Nintendo' s an innovator,
Sony' s an imitator."

Yet, for some reason, it' s Sony that gets all the credit.

This is not the fault of the ESRB like MASS x says it' s already on the box. Plus You don' t have to turn it over it says MA on the front Cover and says Mature 17+. If parents only said hey this is only a game this is fake and if you are mature enough to not repeat the stuff you see in this game it' s ok. But parents today don' t care because their kids are whinning and complaining and spoiled and get what ever they want and they weren' t taught what you should and shouldn' t do it corupts them. These games are meant for adults because people like me have been playing games since the old pong and atari 2600 days. I think it' s smart to fine companies who sell them to kids but you should not hold the ESRB and video games as a whole just becuase of a few idiots. This is the same crap that happened with MK they wanted it banned which in turn created the ESRB to rate games and tell parents what the game has and i think they have done a good job. Esrb does not control what the game has they are a non-partisan company that reviews the games and it' s up to the developer to let the ESRB know what the game has ( i saw a episode of Icons about the ESRB and it was a very interestign and informative show) there is no possible way the ESRB can look through every game looking for secret info because it' s upto the company to divulge it. The ESRB is not manditory companies do it because they want to and so that parents can see what the game has. It' s the same thing as the MPAA that rates movies.

Also games like this are made because they are different then most and contraversial and they know will sell because alot of people like watching violence and stuff. GTA:SA is basically a X rated sims game. The more publicity it gets the more hype it creates and the more people especially kids want because if you tell a kid this is not for you it makes them want it even more (not all kids just most).

I want to fight this lawyer. I want to beat the sh*t out of him and say, " GTA made me do it!"

XBL Gamertag: Rampage99

" Basically, pollute the air all you want, your just speeding up the inevitable. Our future generations are f*cked as it is and there' s really nothing we can do about it. Have a nice day "

Here in the USA we have a little thing called the first amendment.

Basically whatever you try to do to get games banned doesn' t matter, because of the first amendment. The government can not ban or put restrictions on video games. They tried to do the same thing with books, movies, and Rock n' Roll. All shot down by the courts as unconstitutional.
http://www.locopuyo.com/videogamepolitics.aspx

All it is is liberal politicians trying to show that they care about your children. It is the parents responsibility to take care of their children. Don' t give me that bs about being to busy, you are a parent, if you are too busy for your children you shouldn' t have them.

And if you think a law would actually stop children from obtaining games you are pretty stupid. It would just be like underage drinking.

"If you knew how good I am you would think I'm modest."

And if you think a law would actually stop children from obtaining games you are pretty stupid

If that question was directed at me, then here' s my answer. I do think the law will sometime prohibit minors from playing them. Harsher law won' t let kids buy the games, but I think taking it to the next level, like banning a game, or making video game standards for developers (for instance, there must be a limit for the amount of gush in a game) will do it. This ban of GTA, and the investigation of Killer 7 is but the beginning of many actions that will take place. I just want this industry cleaned up. I want it to be restored to the days that made it so amazing.

" Nintendo' s an innovator,
Sony' s an imitator."

Yet, for some reason, it' s Sony that gets all the credit.

It isn' t banned, walmart and other stores won' t sell it because it is rated Adults Only by the ESRB. This is a choice the stores make themselves, not the government. Anyone can still buy it legally at other retailers.

And I don' t really see why everyone is making this such a huge deal. I don' t think most of these people understand that you can download modifications for pretty much any PC game and get nudity and sexual content. If you just buy san andreas straight up you will not see any of the " hot coffee" content. The only way you can access that is by downloading a user made patch. So downloading the user made patch is pretty much the same thing as going to an Adult Only web site and downloading porn.

"If you knew how good I am you would think I'm modest."

**This post Rated M for Mature (17+) Graphic language and massive exagerations abound!**

I remember seeing an old old game where it had some cowboy dude screwing some Native American chick...are those the amazing times you speak of?

Some ppl like hardcore raging sex and decapitating little baby seals (A) and some people like Unicorns and rainbows (B) and then you got those who fall in the middle (C).

Now of those 3 groups it seems group B complains the most and demands the most while the other to only complain in defence. Now what if group A decided that Unicorns and rainbows shold be banned how fair would that be to group B? What argument is their against cutsey lovey stuff? It makes me sick so if it makes me sick its causing harm right? So anyways now both group A & B are complaing and bitching about who gets what and how much and when and so on eventually C will fall in and do the same.

So all this complaining about the other group will help nothing. Solution? Just chill the fuck out and mind yer own damn business forcing one to conform to anothers ways will only cause more problems. We' re all different we all like what we like as long as its not killing another person litterally I dont see any problem what so ever, so what if its not to you specifications, just move along and ignore.

Do so or I' ll have all the Unicorns raped by elephants and leave their heads in your bed, capice?

HAHA awesome speech. I totally aggree.

Yes, that speech was teh pwn, I should really put something like that up on my web site.

"If you knew how good I am you would think I'm modest."

If a kid has the money he can buy anything either online or with their parents or big borhter, uncle... whoever, if my 10 year old newphew asked me to go buy GTA for him I would get it for him no problem... I got Resident Evil 4 for him on gamecube after a guy at EB told him he couldn' t sell it to him unless he came with a parent.

Unless there are laws that enforce it as making it ILLEGAL for a kid to have media with adult-content in it, and making it illegal for adults to buy it for them, then its never gonna stop, kids will always get their hands on it, who' s gonna say no to a cute little 10 year old.

The so called " Dirtiest" game of all time was back on the good ole' Atari (Forgot which series)

In the game, you are a girl, your objective is to catch falling *** ...umm..." shots" from this huge...you-know-what.

Catch as many as you can for more points.

When the game is over you get to see the girl lick her lips...terrifying game.

Also, yes I have heard of that cowboy game, there is also a game for the NES that lets you pop bubbles off of naked cheerleader via Tetris style. (Not sure if I worded that sentence correctly...)

who' s gonna say no to a cute little 10 year old.

The large man at eb games, reminds me of when I tried to buy Perfect Dark...

They do it cause they are threatened, I have friend who got fired from EB for selling Mortal Kombat to a kid, it' s not like they give a sh*t they' re just trying to keep their job.

Oh fine. I' ll shut the hell up. But does anybody feel the same way? (About my opinions on violence, not my shutting up)

" Nintendo' s an innovator,
Sony' s an imitator."

Yet, for some reason, it' s Sony that gets all the credit.

I am not against you. I just think it' s stupid that they care more about nudity then violence and nudity is natural and a normal part of life. If we just weren' t so prudish and taught our kids right like in other countries they don' t care about nudity and it' s perfectly normal to them and kids know what it is and and are well informed about it unlike kids here who are shied away from it which makes them want it more. I personally don' t care for those games so i don' t buy them but i know other people like them so i don' t care if they buy it, it' s none of my business what they do just as long as they aren' t hurting anyone else and there is a saying " you can' t judge a group because of one bad apple" there will ALWAYS be one bad apple that is the law of probability.

you don' t have to shut up you have every right to speak your mind just like everyone else and i don' t think ht was attacking you with his post i just he was just making a point ok?

I don' t think it' s the Governments job to be telling us WHAT is suitable for a child or not. I look to the parents to make that decision. I think if things continue on, games will get increasingly less amusing, especially for one like myself. I like blowing heads off, laying the beat down, and/or beating someone to death with their own severed arm.

In response to the following complaint I have decided to change my signature:

" by the way, yoshimitsu you might want to click the little checkbox that makes your signature disappear." -Jonah Shoemaker, Residential Dumbass

Jason I wasnt referring to you. I was referring to anyone included within. That would include you but I wasn' t aiming directly at you. I tend to be very sarcastic & harsh but dont take it word for word.

*wipes off tears*

Okay, that' s good. Anyway, I do think parents have a greater right to make decisions in this kind of... subject. I mean, c' mon, this is democracy, right? But it doesn' t seem to be working. That grandmother who is suing because she bought her kid GTA is a perfect example of this. I think if the government set higher standards for game developers and retail, then the parents could do the rest.

" Nintendo' s an innovator,
Sony' s an imitator."

Yet, for some reason, it' s Sony that gets all the credit.

VGCats Artist' s encounter with Mr. Thompson
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyways, I dont think the industry needs to be cleansed of anything. It' s not like these games are mandatory in anyway. If you dont like sex & violence then go play one of the many many other games out there. A racy game here and there does not mean the end of mario. Everything within the gaming world is based around alternatives, just like life. This system or that, this game or that, kill him or stealthly move along. Choice and vast alternatives is what makes things so fuckn great.

Ending such a way of life and forcing conformity is the true apocolypse. Forced to stick to the one thing and never even think about stepping out of line will make life ever more so pointless.

Now about Jack Thompson, clearly this guy is an ignorant greedy self involved prick. Really nothing more to say about him. Except this guy is Adolf Hitler of this generation " We must purge this embodiment of stupidity brought upon are o so great civilsation." * Ya Im sure civilisation was just peachy prior to videogames. Nothing bad ever happened prior to the 80s.

*A made up quote meant to summurize his whole idea about videogames.

Jason,

lol, I don' t think I can side with you, cause my favorite genre is FPS!

Then the wonderful world of RPG, which can be bloody too.

See, it' s turned to the point where everybody thinks I' m against all sorts of violence, of any kind. That' s not true. All games have violence.. from platforms to FPSs. But it' s those overly-violent games that get to me. GTA and Mortal Kombat are the epitome of my discontent. But all games have violence.. hell, even Mario and Sonic can be considered violent to some extent. Some blood is bearable for me, but if a character is bursting gallons of gush out of him/her, then that' s a wrap for me. I played Killer 7, and I believe it falls with the GTA/MK crowd. It' s just bloody, man!!! But even with my stand on violence, I' m not ignorant; if a game has a great story, graphics engine, replay value and control scheme, then I may dismiss the gore for those.

" Nintendo' s an innovator,
Sony' s an imitator."

Yet, for some reason, it' s Sony that gets all the credit.

Just because someone likes something or doesn' t like something, does not mean it should be forced upon other people to do the same.

"If you knew how good I am you would think I'm modest."

But even with my stand on violence, I' m not ignorant; if a game has a great story, graphics engine, replay value and control scheme, then I may dismiss the gore for those

It' s like Halo 2.

I have yet to see serious " gore" as it says on the back.

It' s is also marked for " Launguage" , but thier is little, very little.

(Oh wait, those Marines sometimes get a little frustrated...)

I wonder how much hate mail IGN received after this, LOL..

Who the hell is Jack Thompson?

He' s the gaming industry' s latest piece of $hitte

I guess Joe Lieberman is now passe.

Terry Bogard - currently the most Unhelpful member of the Kikizo forums.

ORIGINAL: Jason Zeidan

See, it' s turned to the point where everybody thinks I' m against all sorts of violence, of any kind. That' s not true. All games have violence.. from platforms to FPSs. But it' s those overly-violent games that get to me. GTA and Mortal Kombat are the epitome of my discontent. But all games have violence.. hell, even Mario and Sonic can be considered violent to some extent. Some blood is bearable for me, but if a character is bursting gallons of gush out of him/her, then that' s a wrap for me.

The point is; WHO is going to decide where to draw the line? Maybe it will be someone who doesn' t approve of the vioence in Mario Bros.!

The bottom line is PARENTING. Not just keeping you kids from getting some game you don' t approve of, but teaching them basic values and morals.

Has anybody heard about this NARC controversy? Turns out that some parenting group or some-such organization got wind of the fact that you can take drugs in the game as power-ups. Well, now it' s all over the news about how they' re pushing to get it' s rating upped to Adults Only (AO). The funny thing to me is that the game was doing abysmally as far as sales go. I bet now they go through the ROOF!! LOL

This thread was about to die so I figured this little link would revive it a little. God bless the hate...

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=ticket_to_hell

In response to the following complaint I have decided to change my signature:

" by the way, yoshimitsu you might want to click the little checkbox that makes your signature disappear." -Jonah Shoemaker, Residential Dumbass

new story called Jack Thompson does it again.

http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=5446