Jack Thompson

Jack Thompson is a Miami-based attorney at law who is an outspoken opponent against violence and sex in video games. He has become a weekly headline on many video gaming sites with crusades against such games as Bully, Grand Theft Auto, The Sims 2, and Killer 7. Thompson has also attempted to link violent crimes with video games, claiming they are "murder simulations" on which people train to kill.

Thompson's Reputation

Thompson has had several rather caustic e-mail exchanges with well-known video game writers. The most recent of these exchanges involves the creators of the popular webcomic Penny Arcade. In these, Thompson often makes vague legal threats and slanders his recipients. Such interchanges have spurred many parodies of Mr. Thompson and his methods of persuasion.

His reputation with gamers notwithstanding, Thompson has contacted numerous political and legal figures in an attempt to keep young children (and in some cases, everyone) from playing violent or otherwise graphic video games. He has appeared on CNN and has been interviewed by many news magazines concerning his beliefs.

In 1999, Thompson filed a $33 million lawsuit against a number of companies, including Time Warner Inc., Atari Corp., Nintendo of America, Sega of America Inc. and Sony Computer Entertainment on behalf of the victims of a 1997 school shooting. The suit would later be dismissed by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Headlines from 2005

July - The Hot Coffee mod for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas caused Thompson to attack Rockstar North, the developers of the game, and pressure the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) to change the game's rating from an "M - mature (17+)" to "AO - Adults Only (18+)". The ESRB later consents.

October - An open letter was sent by Thompson proposing that if someone could "create, manufacture, distribute, and sell a video game in 2006" to his specifications, Thompson would donate $10,000 to the charity of Take Two chairman Paul Eibeler's choice.

The game's scenario is, ironically, extremely violent. The player would assume the role of a father angry at the video games industry for "training" the man who killed his son. A murder spree follows, including an attack on the office of "Take This", killing the chairman "Paula Eibeler" and her family. The father then hits the road and assaults various other targets before ending at E³ with, as Thompson said, a "monstrously delicious rampage".

Several homebrew efforts were made in response to Mr. Thompson's proposal. However, upon their release, Thompson retracted his offer, claiming it was an obvious satire.

Penny Arcade and Thompson

Shortly after Thompson refused to donate the money, Penny Arcade's Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins made an out-of-pocket donation to the ESA Foundation in the amount of $10,000. The donation was made under Jack Thompson's name.

One day later, Thompson claims he faxed a letter to the Seattle Police Department, the city of Holkins and Krahulik, with claims he was being harassed by the two gentlemen. No police actions were taken, however, and the fax was never confirmed as being received.

Latest Headlines

• A post on Penny Arcade's website announces Jack Thompson's attempt to contact federal agents to arrest the authors. He has also attempted to contact other attorneys in a plea for help. The actions come as a response to Penny Arcade forum users' intelligent e-mails to the Florida Bar Association. From Penny Arcade's website:

"He can send these silly letters from hell to breakfast but all they amount to his a bunch of legal dry humping. He’s not actually going to accomplish anything with these faxes and they really don’t have the intended effect on us. That is to say we are not scared. This will become another funny story for us to tell at conventions just like American Greetings, eFront or Kiwi Publishing. Again I’ll tell you guys not to worry about us. We have absolutely top notch legal representation. Should Jack actually decide to come after us we’re quite prepared. Until then he’s more than welcome to send ridiculous faxes to any uninterested third party he wants."

• Kotaku says the Florida Bar Association may or may not be conducting an ethics review of Thompson. Sources inside the FBA seem confused on the matter themselves. Kotaku is investigating and expect final confirmation soon.

• According to games.slashdot.org, Jack Thompson may be under investigation by the Florida Bar Assocation after his attempt to have the Penny Arcade writers arrested. Apparently forum members at Penny Arcade contacted the FBA about the matter which led to the investigation.

• A post on Penny Arcade's website states "...we have an unbelievably dramatic denouement in the works."