GTA IV pulls Jack Thompson out of woodwork again

[juddling]

To decry the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto IV, Jack Thompson sent a message to the mother of Take-Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick, according to a report by Shacknews.

 

The email is provocative, to say the least. Not only does it say Mr. Zelnick is "like the Hitler Youth," it also attributes the deaths of three Alabama policemen and "a recent plethora of cop killings" to prior entries in the GTA series.

 

Game|Life contacted Mr. Thompson earlier today and were informed that the email was actually issued to Zelnick's lawyer. This would be in following with a prior settlement that prevents Mr. Thompson from contacting Take-Two, unless he does so through legal counsel.

 

"I sent it to Strauss Zelnick's attorney. I would never send it to his mother," Mr. Thompson told me.

 

I've specifically been avoiding passing any judgement on the email; Instead, I offer you all the chance to form your own opinions. The email sent by Mr. Thompson can be found verbatim directly below:

 

 

"Mrs. Zelnick

 

Strauss Zelnick, Take-Two Chairman’s Mother

 

New York, New York Via e-mails to intermediaries

 

Re: Your Son, Strauss Zelnick

 

Dear Mrs. Zelnick:

 

Your son, as you may know (or maybe you don’t know), is Chairman of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., whose most popular video games are the Grand Theft Auto murder simulator games banned in some countries but sold to children here.

 

Your son last week was reported to have said the following about Grand Theft Auto IV, due to be released Tuesday, April 29:

 

"We’ve already received numerous [GTA IV] reviews, and to a one, they are perfect scores. My mom couldn’t write better reviews…"

 

Taking your son’s thought, I would encourage you either to play this game or have an adroit video gamer play it for you. Some of the latter gamers are on death row, so try to find one out in the civilian population who hasn’t killed someone yet.

 

What you will see in your son’s game, if this iteration of GTA is anything like its predecessors, is incredible interactive violence aimed at police officers (whom you can shoot in the head and see the blood spray), innocent bystanders (whom you can run over with your car just for the heck of it), and of course the plentiful female prostitutes you can have sex with and then filet with a knife or stomp with your feet in order to get your money back. Experts note that the recent plethora of cop killings is caused in part by your darling son’s entrepreneurial energy. There are three policemen dead in Alabama because of Grand Theft Auto. I was on 60 Minutes about it. I hope Strauss has provided you with a flat screen tv to see the grief of the bereaved families that fills the screen.

 

The pornography and violence that your son trafficks in is the kind of stuff that most mothers would be ashamed to see their son putting into the hands of other mothers’ children, but, hey, your son Strauss has recently assured the world that he is "a Boy Scout, everybody knows that." I’d love to see the merit badges that Scout Troop handed out. Is there a Ted Bundy merit badge? If so, your loving son deserves one now. It should be red and green, for obvious reasons.

 

With Passover having just come and gone, it is appropriate to note the following from the Old Testament, Proverbs 22:6:

 

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

 

Mrs. Zelnick, did you train up your son, Strauss, to make millions of dollars by pushing Mature-rated video games to children? Any kid can go right to little Strauss’ corporate web site and buy GTA IV with no age verification. Strauss is even marketing the new Grand Theft Auto IV on World Wrestling Entertainment tv shows seen by millions of kids. If you trained up Strauss to do this, then shame on you.

 

But maybe the explanation for your son’s corporate sociopathy is to be found in Old Testament Proverb 29:15:

 

"The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."

 

Maybe you, Mrs. Zelnick, were so taken by your handsome son that you spared the rod and spoiled the child. That would explain why he has brought you, by the way he presently acts, "to shame."

 

There’s another mother you would do well to talk to. Mrs. Crump in Alabama had a son who was a police officer. He’s now dead because a teenaged boy unwittingly trained himself to kill him on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. She has a grief she carries every day that only a mother can know.There are other such mothers in the heartland of America whose inhabitants your son simply sees as commercial targets.

 

Your son, this very moment, is doing everything he possibly can to sell as many copies of GTA IV to teen boys in the United States, a country in which your son claims you raised him to be "a Boy Scout." More like the Hitler Youth, I would say.

 

Happy Mother’s day, Mrs. Zelnick, which this year is May 11, two weeks after your son unleashes porn and violence upon other mothers’ boys. I’m sure you’re very proud.

 

Sincerely, Jack Thompson"

 

[Buehrle>Wood]

I will support Jack Thompson on his crusade for once. This game does not deserve to sell, not that his efforts will stop that.

[NorthSideSox72]

For adults who spend their time playing this sort of video game, I think its maybe a little nerdy and sad, but no big deal. We all have our weird hobbies.

 

But the fact that so many kids are into this game and playing it regularly should be a pretty good indicator to folks about how many lousy f***ing parents there are these days. What kind of useless excuse for a guardian goes out and buys this s*** for their kid(s) to play? Or allows it to be played in their home by their 12-year olds?

 

[kapkomet]

For adults who spend their time playing this sort of video game, I think its maybe a little nerdy and sad, but no big deal. We all have our weird hobbies.

 

But the fact that so many kids are into this game and playing it regularly should be a pretty good indicator to folks about how many lousy f***ing parents there are these days. What kind of useless excuse for a guardian goes out and buys this s*** for their kid(s) to play? Or allows it to be played in their home by their 12-year olds?

 

EXACTLY right.

 

I mean, I'm not the model parent, but man, I don't want my kids ever playing this filth.

 

[lostfan]

 

EXACTLY right.

 

I mean, I'm not the model parent, but man, I don't want my kids ever playing this filth.

Personally I'm a proud GTA player, I own almost the whole series. I'm an adult. I do what I want in my free time. HOWEVER, being a parent, there is no way in hell I let my 11-year old stepdaughter play it or any game like it. It's the same principle as R-rated movies. When she is like a junior in high school and has better judgment? Ok, maybe. But she can stick to her Wii and my other more kid-friendly games. (And I know when she's been playing my 360 when I'm not around, she isn't that good at covering up evidence.)

[NorthSideSox72]

Personally I'm a proud GTA player, I own almost the whole series. I'm an adult. I do what I want in my free time. HOWEVER, being a parent, there is no way in hell I let my 11-year old stepdaughter play it or any game like it. It's the same principle as R-rated movies. When she is like a junior in high school and has better judgment? Ok, maybe. But she can stick to her Wii and my other more kid-friendly games. (And I know when she's been playing my 360 when I'm not around, she isn't that good at covering up evidence.)

That's exactly what I was getting at. As adults, we should have some idea of the boundaries by now, and be able to play these sorts of games without it effecting our mindset out in the real world. But an 11-year-old is still much more vulnerable to those influences, whether they want to hear it or not.

 

[lostfan]

That's exactly what I was getting at. As adults, we should have some idea of the boundaries by now, and be able to play these sorts of games without it effecting our mindset out in the real world. But an 11-year-old is still much more vulnerable to those influences, whether they want to hear it or not.

And she absoltuely does not want to hear it either

 

And I say "too damn bad." Heh. She hears enough profanity out of me alone. She doesn't need to see me banging my date after I finish a mission where I accidentally blasted some old lady's head off with a shotgun.

 

I do let her watch some of the cinematic scenes though or the milder missions since she more or less knows about guns and violence from movies. But I make her leave when the game starts to get graphic.

[Steve9347]

I will support Jack Thompson on his crusade for once. This game does not deserve to sell, not that his efforts will stop that.

I actually sold my copy on eBay on Friday because I realized, "holy crap, I'm 25, and this game is just ridiculous."

 

Sure, it's fun, but I felt like a turd playing that while my wife was in the room, and that's when I realized that I needn't play it anymore.

 

I do let her watch some of the cinematic scenes though or the milder missions since she more or less knows about guns and violence from movies. But I make her leave when the game starts to get graphic.

In my time playing the game, I did not encounter a single cinematic moment that wasn't laced with profanity...

Edited May 5, 2008 by Steve9347

[kapkomet]

Personally I'm a proud GTA player, I own almost the whole series. I'm an adult. I do what I want in my free time. HOWEVER, being a parent, there is no way in hell I let my 11-year old stepdaughter play it or any game like it. It's the same principle as R-rated movies. When she is like a junior in high school and has better judgment? Ok, maybe. But she can stick to her Wii and my other more kid-friendly games. (And I know when she's been playing my 360 when I'm not around, she isn't that good at covering up evidence.)

Adults are one thing, kids are a totally different issue.

 

[Kyyle23]

With how much you guys were pumped about this game, I have to say I am stunned to hear

B-gt-w and Steve saying that they support this, and even moreso to hear Steve say that he sold the game.

 

And that is not an indictment on either of you

[BigSqwert]

For adults who spend their time playing this sort of video game, I think its maybe a little nerdy and sad, but no big deal. We all have our weird hobbies.

 

But the fact that so many kids are into this game and playing it regularly should be a pretty good indicator to folks about how many lousy f***ing parents there are these days. What kind of useless excuse for a guardian goes out and buys this s*** for their kid(s) to play? Or allows it to be played in their home by their 12-year olds?

These are the same parents that take their 5 year old to see Kill Bill at the theater.

[lostfan]

In my time playing the game, I did not encounter a single cinematic moment that wasn't laced with profanity...

That actually should read "when she stubbornly comes in my room and I do not have the energy to unfocus my attention and kick her out because I'm trying to listen to the game" before doing it 5 minutes later. And if I'm driving around not really doing anything I don't really care. I'm not concerned if she hears the occasional f-bomb. She hears language just as bad at school. Which is funny to me, there are times when I'm around those kids and they'll curse and not even try to hide it. When I was 11 I cursed too but I at least didn't do it around adults.

[Steve9347]

With how much you guys were pumped about this game, I have to say I am stunned to hear

B-gt-w and Steve saying that they support this, and even moreso to hear Steve say that he sold the game.

 

And that is not an indictment on either of you

I don't really support this goofball and his antics, because entertainment is entertainment and to each his own. I think the onus is on parents.

 

I was just saying, for myself, I think I've outgrown the genre. I shouldn't be embarrassed to play a game in front of my wife.

 

However, that didn't stop me from creating Michael Jordan in NBA 2k8 yesterday!

 

[lostfan]

Adults are one thing, kids are a totally different issue.

Yeah. I was agreeing.

[GoSox05]

People like Jack Thompson are a much bigger problem than a violent video game.

[southsideirish71]

People like Jack Thompson are a much bigger problem than a violent video game.

 

I like playing the video game. I am a 36 year old adult however. I play this game when everyone is sleeping, and I am in my soundproof basement. I would not however want my son to play it until he was 18. You know what the biggest problem is is not Jack Thompson, its when its 3am and you hear a squeaky voice of a child up playing this game. The parents of that child are the problem.

 

 

 

[Steve9347]

The parents of that child are the problem.

ding ding ding

[GoSox05]

I like playing the video game. I am a 36 year old adult however. I play this game when everyone is sleeping, and I am in my soundproof basement. I would not however want my son to play it until he was 18. You know what the biggest problem is is not Jack Thompson, its when its 3am and you hear a squeaky voice of a child up playing this game. The parents of that child are the problem.

 

 

It's the parents job to make sure kids aren't playing the game. Jack Thompson isn't saying that though. He's saying that these games should be banned from the country. Saying that the makers of the game are responsible for murder. He wants everyone to follow his conservative Christian moral code. He's scum.

Edited May 5, 2008 by GoSox05

[kapkomet]

It's the parents job to make sure kids are playing the game. Jack Thompson isn't saying that though. He's saying that these games should be banned from the country. Saying that the makers of the game are responsible for murder. He wants everyone to follow his conservative Christian moral code. He's scum.

What?

 

 

[lostfan]

I'm pretty sure he meant "aren't" but I chose not to say anything because that's not what the rest of the post said

 

"Get in there! Play that damn game! No, you can finish your homework later!"

Edited May 5, 2008 by lostfan

[GoSox05]

What?

 

 

Yes that was supposed to be a "aren't". Let's not force kids to play video games.

[kapkomet]

Yes that was supposed to be a "aren't". Let's not force kids to play video games.

Just checking.

 

[Texsox]

Like many things in our society, this does not benefit society, or the people who play the game. Nobody will say, I owe this promotion, or I'm a better person, because I play GTA. But, we tolerate it because we are a reasonably free society. At best, we try our best to limit the exposure to certain segments of society.

 

And a very slight defense for parents,

 

As a society we bombard our kids with positive messages about negative things, then blame the parents when kids are drawn to them. You cannot leave your kids locked up and blind from TV, radio, etc. You also cannot watch them 24/7. When will parents get a little help from society? I dislike using this as an example, because we will end up debating the merits of the game, but if this game was never produced, then parents would not need to try and make certain their kids never play it. Imagine the parent that asks does Johnny have GTA? Does his parents lock it up when they are not home? Sorry, you can no longer go to his house. Does that really seem plausable?

[southsider2k5]

It's the parents job to make sure kids aren't playing the game. Jack Thompson isn't saying that though. He's saying that these games should be banned from the country. Saying that the makers of the game are responsible for murder. He wants everyone to follow his conservative Christian moral code. He's scum.

 

I am pretty sure calling people who follow a Christian moral code, "scum" is against the new rules in the Buster. At very least it is pretty offensive to me anyway.

[GoSox05]

I am pretty sure calling people who follow a Christian moral code, "scum" is against the new rules in the Buster. At very least it is pretty offensive to me anyway.

 

 

I'm not calling him scum because he is Christian. I'm calling him scum because of his tactics. Because he is trying to censor.