Topic: Florida Concerned About Manhunt 2 on Wii

[WindyMan]

The state's attorney general has learned of the game's violent nature...from a certain notorious lawyer.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=13578

 Industry gaming blog GamePolitics.com has learned that Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has taken notice of Rockstar's Manhunt 2, specifically the Wii version, because it will likely incorporate motion controls that mimic acts of violence, like stabbing or clubbing.  In a statement released by the Attorney General's office, McCollum said that he is "concerned about any games which may instill violence in children, particularly games that encourage children to engage in violent behavior" and that "it is important to help protect children from influences which may introduce violence into their lives."    

Big deal, right?  After all, The Godfather on Wii is pretty violent in its own right, letting you do things like throw people off rooftops and choke people to death.  No one has said much of anything about that.    

That's because Jack Thompson didn't say anything about it.  Yes, the same Jack Thompson that cries out against videogame violence at any opportunity he can.  Thompson notified McCollum about Manhunt 2 Wii, only after which time did the Attorney General decide to take action.    

We usually don't report on Jack Thompson sightings at NWR.  We feel that covering anything he says or does only adds fuel to his fire.  You know, sort of how like everyone is making "news" out of Paris Hilton going to jail.  However, there's an interesting twist to this story that we feel makes it a newsworthy one.    

GamePolitics sources are claiming that Nintendo of America President Reginald Fils-Aime (call him Reggie) pushed Manhunt publisher Take-Two to produce a Wii version so there would be more M-rated content on the system.  The reason the source gives for this, and this would make sense from Nintendo's point of view, would be that it was "afraid too many people would pigeon-hole [the Wii] as a kid machine."    

If this revelation is true, Thompson could easily—and unfairly—claim that Nintendo deliberately courted the game to the Wii in order to "train" people to kill, as is the Jack Thompson mantra.  That hasn't yet happened, of course, but history has shown that he'll do anything to get what he wants: Attention.    

GamePolitics has the full story, so click here to check it out.  Hopefully nothing will come out of this Thompson tirade, and hopefully, this will be the last you'll see of him at Nintendo World Report for quite some time.

[S-U-P-E-R]

Hopefully this drives sales because Manhunt 2 looks pretty good, I think

Quote
In February 2007, the Florida Bar filed disbarment proceedings against Thompson over allegations of professional misconduct. The action was the result of separate grievances filed by people claiming that Thompson made defamatory, false statements and attempted to humiliate, embarrass, harass or intimidate them.[114] According to the complaint, Thompson accused attorney Cardenas of "distribution of pornography to children," claimed that the Alabama judge presiding over the Devin Moore case "breaks the rules, even the Alabama State Bar Rules, because he thinks that the rules don't apply to him," and sent a letter to Blank Rome's managing partner, saying, "Your law firm has actively and knowingly facilitated by various means the criminal distribution of sexual material to minors." Thompson claims that the complaints violate state religious protections because his advocacy is motivated by his Christian faith.[115]

(wikipedia)
I wonder how that's been coming along.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Wii's popularity will SKYROCKET.

What Jacko Tombo might not realize is all the attention he'll eventually bring to WiiHunt2 will increase the society's awareness of the MURDUR SIMEWLATOR, making the product combo even more popular than imaginable, making Wii the must-have item of the holiday season 2 years in a row.

[Smash_Brother]

More evidence that JT is actually Take Two's publicity generating device.

Seriously, if I had a game development studio and my games weren't getting noticed, I'd hire some chimp to go b*tch about them to the media.

[Karl Castaneda #2]

Ugh. I'm sorry, everyone. I'm so, so sorry.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Considering the fact that Jacko is shot down by the REAL justice system everytime, I believe you're onto something.

Jack is good for Wii initiative and mature-gaming developers.

[that Baby guy]

So Karl, should we start some kind of email campaign or something, to let this guy know that an "M" rating is exactly the same as an "R" rating, and that it means the only way children will get these games is if someone over 18 buys it for them?

Does anyone know what the consequence to a movie theater is if they sell a minor a ticket to a rated R movie?

[NWR_insanolord]

There isn't a consequence, at least not a legal one.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not illegal to sell someone under the age of 17 a ticket to an R rated movie, an R rated DVD, or an M rated game. Such a law would be unconstitutional, which is why all of Thompson's anti-game legislation has been struck down. Most theaters and stores have policies not to sell such things to said people, but such policies are strictly voluntary and they couldn't be fined or imprisoned if they did sell the minors the offending item.

That being said, what kids have $50 in cash plus transportation to and from the store without parental involvement? Parents need to pay attention to what their kids are playing and stop trying to get the government to do their job for them.

[that Baby guy]

Well, you're right that there isn't a legal one, but typically the industries themselves have pretty harsh consequences about these things.  If a GameStop branch were caught selling these titles to minors, the person or branch could be fined from a variety of sources, I think, and if they don't pay the fine, they could lose out on having games shipped to them, or something like that.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

If you want Wii to continue succeeding, leave Jack be.  No emailing, petitioning, flame wars, nothing.

He's got a big mouth, but he won't get very far.  Free, professional publicity such as he is tough to find.

[BranDonk Kong]

I live in Florida...this makes me sad.

[Sessha]

What a wonderful time to return from Seoul.  After hearing about Starcraft for a while it's nice to see everyone's friend has come back to give the Wii some free publicity.  

[ThePerm]

Brandogg, just drive up to Valdosta, and pick up a copy

[that Baby guy]

Lol, fleeing to Georgia to pick up dirty games.  While you're there, you can stop at Wild Adventures or something.

[ShyGuy]

It's official. Oregon > Florida.

Sorry Karl, you had your chance.

[that Baby guy]

You know, it's funny.  There's already been The Godfather.  Scarface and Resident Evil 4 are going to be released before Manhunt 2.  Yet, the game they focus on is the Rockstar one.  Doesn't this scream that there is a strong personal agenda here?  I know Jack Thompson is stroking the string behind this, but this idea makes it even more obvious that this is just a man with a personal vendetta, rather than one with public concern.  Before now, I was never too sure, but now he's really gone too far to hide his true reason.

Masquerading behind a false mask of my God for this personal goal sickens me.  I understand ignorance happens, and I'm displeased with it, but I can tolerate it to an extent.  This, however is not ignorance, but a tirade of a burned out, self gratifying man.  Rockstar has not done anything unprovoked to offend this man, his family, or his community, but he fights just to stop them, still, ignoring his 'reason' for starting his crusade in the first place.  Absolutely disgusting to me.

[BlkPaladin]

You know what I find funny didn't Rockstar just settle with him in effect having him leave their games alone. I don't know the practiculars about the settlement but this could be in violation of this.  

[18 Days]

Manhunt is pretty tasteless, and the first one sucked as a game too. I think Jack Thompson is only targeting rubbish games here and I wish him luck.

[couchmonkey]

I think Thompson tackles Rockstar games because frankly, they're the most tasteless.  As I've said before, I don't think Manhunt 2 is going to turn anyone into a murderer, but on the scale of tastelessness, it easily beats Resident Evil or any other game on Wii (maybe excepting No Heroes, but I doubt it).

Same goes for Bully.  Only an idiot would make games about grisly murders, being a gangsta, or beating up school kids, and not expect a knee-jerk response from the public.  They want the response and stupid Thompson and politicians give it to them.

[S-U-P-E-R]

Hey remember this??

Quote
On 2007-03-14 Take-Two filed a lawsuit to prevent Thompson from preventing the sale of Grand Theft Auto IV and Manhunt 2 to minors, claiming that Thompson's effort to block sales of its games through lawsuits violates the company's first amendment rights.[62] Responding, Thompson said, "I have been praying, literally, that Take-Two and its lawyers would do something so stupid, so arrogant, so dumb, even dumber than what they have to date done, that such a misstep would enable me to destroy Take-Two."[63] On 2007-04-19, Thompson and Take-Two settled their suit, with Thompson agreeing not to restrict sales through any court worldwide of Take-Two's games, threaten to sue the company, or accuse Take-Two of any wrongdoing based on the sale of any of its games. According to one analyst, the settlement is likely to mute his public pronouncements and lawsuits against the company

lol

[18 Days]

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(maybe excepting No Heroes, but I doubt it).

Nah No More Heroes just looks flat out COOL.

Quote
Same goes for Bully.

WHAT! NO! Bully is lolworthy. Jimmy Hopkins stands up the the nerds and downtrodden kids. It's just lol becuase he's clearly being manipulated by every party in the game and he's toot hick to realise.