Jack Thompson Might Be Screwed

It’s one thing to go after relatively small companies like Take-Two, Jack Thompson. I can even see how you might think trying to sue Sony and…Wal-Mart would be a good idea but this time, I think you’re screwed. I’m not sure why you thought Microsoft would be a better target seeing as how no one took you seriously before but I got to tell you, I don’t see this ending well. I mean, c’mon…one of the largest tech companies in the world? Seriously, Jack?

In case you haven’t heard, the most ridiculous lawyer in the history of…law is going after one of the biggest fish in the pond. Yep, Jack Thompson issued an ultimatum to Microsoft earlier this week in regard to Halo 3, which is set to be released in the fall of 2007. Here’s his letter to Bill Gates:

Re: Halo 3

Dear Mr. Gates:

As you know, the Federal Trade Commission has repeatedly found that games rated “Mature” by the video game industry-captured Entertainment Software Rating Board are routinely sold to kids under the age of 17 despite the age rating. The most recent failure rate of the ratings on “Mature” games, according to the FTC, is 42%. The entire rating system is a fraud, and “broken,” the latter description aptly provided by Senator Hillary Clinton.

As you also know, Lee Boyd Malvo trained on Microsoft’s Halo to further enable him to become the remarkably efficient “DC Beltway Sniper.” That was reported by NBC News at the time and was noted in Malvo’s criminal trial.

You appeared on CBS’ 60 Minutes II and rather revealing and usefully noted that “the cool thing about these games is that they transport you to a world you think is real.” Precisely. Capcom has recently disclosed to investors that your video game industry’s violent games, sold to children, pose a real hazard to the health of the industry. Right on.

The hyperviolent Microsoft Xbox 360 game Halo 3 is scheduled by your company for commercial release in September of this year. The Beta version that was released last week shows us all just how violent the game is and how inappropriate it is for play by anyone under 17, as the “Mature” rating it will surely receive indicates.

Here’s the deal, Mr. Gates: Either Microsoft undertakes dramatic, real steps, through its marketing, wholesale, and retail operations to assure that Halo 3 is not sold, via the Internet and in stores, directly to anyone under 17, or I shall proceed to make sure that Microsoft is held to that standard by appropriate legal means. I have done that before successfully as to Best Buy, and I shall do so again as to Microsoft and all retailers of Halo 3.

Regards, Jack Thompson

(Source: GameAlmighty.com)

Probably not Jack’s best idea since Microsoft has considerably more money and probably better lawyers than Take-Two. What really remains to be seen is if Microsoft actually takes his threat seriously or just laughs it off like the rest of us. However, if they do decide to take on Thompson, they could probably swat him like a fly.

The real problem here is Thompson insists that people are training using video games for real life massacres. I’m not sure about you but pressing buttons and moving a joypad doesn’t exactly provide me with the tools to kill people. There’s force feedback and all these days but I’m almost sure that doesn’t compare to the kick from an actual gun.

Either way, one of these days someone is going to put an end to Thompson’s absurd suits. Here’s hoping that he really pisses off Microsoft. That should be fun to watch.

in Current Events