Why Rockstar Games Should Pay Jack Thompson: He's Their Best Marketing Exec

from the thanks-Jack dept

Simon writes "Jack Thompson - lunatic lawyer or genius marketing executive? I really can't decide. He's at it again, ensuring that Rockstar's new game 'Bully' will become the most sought after title by kids everywhere this year. Once more he is trying to push for a ban on a software title that he admits that he's never even seen." Even better, the game is winning praise from some "anti-bullying" activists, one of whom notes that it looks like typical "play-fighting" that kids engage in, which is an "essential, healthy human behavior that can't be shut off." Meanwhile, others note that the game is whimsical, in a similar fashion to movies like Rushmore or Napoleon Dynamite. In fact, it seems to discourage really bad behavior. Perhaps Thompson doesn't like it because the game actually encourages people to stand up to bullies... like himself.
Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  1. identicon
    hautedawg, 11 Aug 2006 @ 12:49pm

    Good point

    A bully is a bully, whether hiding behind a suit and tie, or kicking sand in the face of the weaker. To bully a company into submission is still bullying. It is absurd to think he can put his morals and ethics on us, because he doesn't like something. I don't like lima beans, but I'm not trying to ban them...they make me puke, but I am not banning them.

    Man, these ijits make me sick....just like lima beans

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    Guy, 11 Aug 2006 @ 12:50pm

    Ha

    USA Today actually gave a great preview on this game. To me it sounded like whomever wrote it actaully looked forward to playing it.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. icon
    chris (profile), 11 Aug 2006 @ 12:57pm

    jack thompson hates rockstar, and video games

    i'm surprised he didn't try to stop rockstar's "pingpong" game. it might encourage kids to play dangerous sports.

    if he wants to stop real video game related crime, how about putting his efforts towards one of these:

    1) 14 year old jerks in MMORPG's that beg for money or spam private channels for duels
    2) gold farming
    3) fanboys that hype video games that aren't even released yet
    4) pre-rendered screenshots that look nothing like the graphics for the actual game release (known as "bullshots" by the folks at penny arcade).

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Aug 2006 @ 1:30pm

    Re: jack thompson hates rockstar, and video games

    its just a game, noone should care that much about any of those.

    none of that is a crime, and you play too much WoW (or similar MMORPG)

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Sanguine Dream, 11 Aug 2006 @ 1:36pm

    I saw him on Attack of the Show

    He was going on about Bully like it was gonna be the direct cause of sudden increase in school violence. Isn't the point of the game to fight against the bully? If it is then that's all the more reason to get it onto the shelves. Powers that be forbid someone shows kids how to stand up to a bully (be it school yard or corporate).

    This game sounds like just like the GTA titles. It'll sell like hotcakes because of controversy then once the hype settles down it will fade into mediocrity.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Nathan Eddy, 11 Aug 2006 @ 1:49pm

    A Fresh Perspective

    I just discussed this topic in my editor's note for FierceGameBiz today-- we need to spend more time discussing how violence in video games can make a positive contribution to society-- and we need to realize people like Mr. Thompson are actually more closely associated with people like Paris Hilton than educated and rational commentators-- say something outrageous, get some press. Let's hope Mr. Thompson isn't planning on releasing a sex tape anytime soon...

    In any event, if anyone is interested in reading my comments, please visit www.fiercegamebiz.com.

    -- Nathan Eddy
    Associate Editor, FierceGameBiz

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    freakengine, 11 Aug 2006 @ 2:52pm

    Me Ugg. Me conservative. Me say, "All violence bad." Me say, all sex bad." Me say, "Me hold public office soon."

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    MrPaladin, 12 Aug 2006 @ 7:41am

    Freakengine

    Ugg me freakengine... Ugg me Just insulted alot of people... Ugg me Showed off the Ignorace of liberalism...


    Uggg

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    Tom O'Leary, 12 Aug 2006 @ 11:21am

    Moral Questions and a Comic Strip

    I THINK that I simplified the debate in my post last week about the Bully release.

    I also created a comic strip a few months ago which shows who the new bullies on the block are!

    Have a great weekend!

    All the best

    Tom

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. identicon
    m0cker, 21 Aug 2006 @ 12:17am

    Re: Freakengine & MrPaladin

    You ridiculous.... You not take joke well.... (not good joke anyway so don't feel so bad) Whole purpose of article (imho) was don't jump to conclusions based on appearance alone. And... if something is meant in jest with no malice intended why be offended by it?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Sep 2006 @ 1:31pm

    i think its cool

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. identicon
    JESUSCHRIST, 18 Sep 2006 @ 1:27pm

    Thompson?

    GARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGA RBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARB AGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAG EGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEG ARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGAR BAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBA GEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGE GARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGA RBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARB AGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAG EGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGEG ARBAGEGARBAGEGARBAGE

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    Daniel, 20 Nov 2006 @ 3:53pm

    video games

    Jack Thompson is an idiot and he thinks he's jesus cause he's DEE DEE DEE!!!!! He's a moron and I hope that everytime he tries to get a game banned, it backfires and makes it more popular. He deserves it. I hope everyone buys Bully now and makes him realize that he's a moron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    capman92, 22 Jan 2008 @ 1:33pm

    i know alto of people have hit this but all jack does when he performs his song and dance of how violent games are bad is make us want them more. we all have the rebel in us that wants something more once we are told we cant have it or its bad for us. i read a post that said rockstar should hire jack, i agree, he would bring in so much money telling people, dont buy the new GTA, its really bad for you.

    link to this | view in thread ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.