There’s a fantastic drama taking place in the world of gaming: outspoken lawyer Jack Thompson, arch-enemy of Grand Theft Auto creators Rockstar games, challenged the gaming community to build a rather sick game where the targets would be games developers. He promised to give $10,000 to charity if the game ever appeared. Naturally enough, the gaming community created the game (or rather, lots of games – there’s already several versions out there).
The mod by Old Grandma Hardcore is inspired.
It’s a mod for the PC version of San Andreas which lets you take on the role of Thompson himself “As he lives through an insane weekend which changes his life,” according to the authors.
After receiving a series of mysterious phone calls, Jack falls under a hypnotic spell and transforms into his criminal vigilante alter-ego, Banman, who goes on to “Commit violent acts in the name of Thompson’s morality” – such as destroying trucks trying to deliver copies of Rockstar’s Bully to stores.
He also embarks on a mission to catch Entertainment Software Association president Doug Lowenstein in the act of exchanging filthy Sims pics with a hacker – and subsequently hosts a press conference, where you get to choose Jack’s comments. Around 85 per cent of them are things he’s actually said in real life.
Thompson’s reaction? He’s miffed, and now claims his promise to give cash to charity was part of a complex Swiftian satire, or something. So Penny Arcade has donated the same sum to charity instead.
Comments
0 responses to “Jack Thompson bad, Penny Arcade good”
You see that he’s trying to get them done for harassment now.
Pillock.
Aye, he isn’t doing himself any favours. Once again Penny Arcade are coming across as the good guys (which they do seem to be – they’ve done lots of good work for charidee etc etc).
Part of me wonders if Thompson’s having a very public breakdown…
I can’t comment coz I’m busy “training” using that violent videogame “Hitman”. I will be your second gunman on the grassy knoll Mr Thompson.
Don’t worry guys I’m not really, I’m playing Far Cry just in case I find myself in a “Lost” type situation. Oh yes video games are great “training” for a life of violence.
Muhahahaha just wait until Age of Empires 3 comes out then I will rule the whole world. Muhahahaha. Ehm yes, time for a lie down.
Classic! I’ve been enjoying PA’s run-in with the idiot for a few days now. This really puts the candle on the cake. I actually bought a couple of games for the kids in a hospital in Texas as part of their drive last year, got a sweet card from the hospital and all. It’s great work that they do.
I also enjoyed their run-in with another all-star wackjob, Harlan Ellison, a few weeks ago…
I shouldn’t laugh at the Ellison thing, but I did.
Anti-game activist Jack Thompson under investigation: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051019-5458.html
Wow.
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=27089
^Just read this. He seams to slither around in a quite unsettling way. On a positive side the guy is clearly a philosophical genius, take this gem of his: “I know what I know”. I believe this is what logicians call a Tautology.
Hey Tim, thanks for the clarification. I bet you’re not really a grandma ;-)
Hi Gary!
I just wanted to clarify something; we did not make the San Andreas mod, we made a text adventure that fit his proposal. When we called him, he declared the attempt failed because we were not “moguls.”
The cats who made the SA Mod are known as the “Fighting Hellfish,” and it was beautifully done indeed!
I just wanted to make sure folks didn’t think we were taking credit for the Hellfish Mod.
Thanks man!