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 Worlds In Motion (discussing the business of online worlds.)
 Game Set Watch (the Group's alt.game weblog.) |
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Thompson Criticizes Warriors, Causes Charity Donation Ruckus
by Nich Maragos
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October 17, 2005
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A number of different stories relating to Florida-based lawyer Jack Thompson have again made an appearance in the media, with the infamous lawyer protesting the release of Rockstar's The Warriors to retail this week, and the authors of online comic Penny Arcade making a donation in Thompson's name after he allegedly failed to live up to his promise to donate $10,000 to charity.
Firstly, an email and letter sent out by Thompson to the usual assortment of recipients -- including governors and attorney generals of every state in the country, plus the U.S. Attorney General and the Prime Minister of Canada -- called on all of them to prevent the release of The Warriors, scheduled to hit retail this week.
"This hyperviolent video "game," which is actually a murder simulator, is based upon the 1979 Paramount Pictures movie by the same name," said Thompson in the email. "When that movie was released, it spawned so much copycat gang violence that Paramount stopped advertising the film and notified all exhibitors that they were released from their contractual obligation to show it."
After digressing into Rockstar's other upcoming title Bully and his prior association with Dr. David Walsh, who recently distanced himself from Thompson, the attorney implored the addressees to prevent the sale of the game. "I am asking each of you—respectfully imploring you—to do what you can, in your respective capacities, to stop the Canadian/U.S. release and distribution of The Warriors."
Thompson himself came under criticism this week for allegedly reneging on his promise to donate $10,000 to the designated charity of Take-Two CEO Paul Eibeler upon the completion of a game based on an extreme storyline submitted by Thompson. The challenge, made to the game industry at large, was apparently met by a group of Grand Theft Auto modders, according to online reports, but Thompson subsequently expanded on his earlier claims, explaining that his statement and charity promise were merely satire.
The withdrawal of the charity funds led popular webcomic authors Jerry Holkins and Michael Krahulik of Penny Arcade, who have had several recent run-ins with Thompson, to put up $10,000 of their own money in Thompson's place. The two donated the money toward the charity Foundation of trade organization the Entertainment Software Association, which has been raising money recently with its "Nite to Unite For Kids" fundraisers to benefit children's charities.
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