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Suit Blames Videogames for Homicides

An anonymous reader writes "Family members of three victims of a shooting by a 14-year-old have filed a $600 million lawsuit against the makers of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. From the article: 'The $600 million lawsuit names several companies and Cody Posey, who it alleges played the game ''obsessively'' for several months before he shot his father, stepmother and stepsister in July 2004 ... The plaintiffs accuse the corporate defendants -- Sony Corporation of America, Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. and its subsidiary, Rockstar Games -- of a civil conspiracy, saying they should have foreseen their entertainment would spawn such copycat violence.'" It may or may not be a coincidence that Jack Thompson is the plaintiff's attorney.

35 of 623 comments (clear)

  1. Any chance to advertise. by debus · · Score: 5, Funny

    Too funny, when I clicked on this story, the add that came up on the right was for GTA: Vice City Stories. Just goes to show that no publicity is bad publicity...

  2. Re:coincidence? by mctk · · Score: 4, Funny

    Unless that person normally does coincidences. Then, coincidentally enough, someone doing what s/he normally does would constitute a coincidence.

    --
    Paul Grosfield - the quicker picker upper.
  3. pointless editorializing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    It may or may not be a coincidence that Jack Thompson is the plaintiff's attorney.

    Zonk, would you cut it out with your pointless editorializing? We all know that Jack Thompson's involvement in suits like this has nothing to do with his irrational hatred of anything game-related.

    1. Re:pointless editorializing by nomadic · · Score: 2, Funny

      Pointless editorializing? On Slashdot? I find that highly dubious.

    2. Re:pointless editorializing by cowscows · · Score: 2, Funny

      Actually, my new theory is that Jack Thompson is just a huge Nintendo fanboy, but disguises this fact by pretending it's all about violence. And since Nintendo only makes kiddie games, he'll never have to criticise them, and he only has to sue Sony and maybe Microsoft.

      All you Sony and MS fanboys whining about him crapping on your hobby need to realize that he's actually crapping on your particular consoles, and that he's twice the genius fanboy that you'll ever be.

      --

      One time I threw a brick at a duck.

  4. Meerly Training for Clash of Civilizations by SRA8 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The current batch of video games are nothing but an unspoken "plan" to desensitize youth to violence and killing with the hopes of creating better soldiers for the coming clash of the civilizations. The government will never let such suits go through.

  5. Coincidence? I think not... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Saying it may be a coincidence that Jack Thompson is involved in the case is like saying it may be a coincidence that the pope is Catholic.

  6. I ran into a brick wall by jlebrech · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm suing the makers of T.R.O.N

    1. Re:I ran into a brick wall by Thansal · · Score: 2, Funny

      fow what?

      getting you to dress up in a skin tight, neon light covered, crotch emphasizing suit when you are 240 lbs?

      --
      Do Or Do Not, There Is No Spoon, There Is Only Zuul. Everything in the above post is probably opinion.
    2. Re:I ran into a brick wall by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 2, Funny
      I ran into a brick wall...I'm suing the makers of T.R.O.N.

      And I am suing as well...thanks to those jackasses I came to believe that you could turn a bike at a right angle going 80 mph and it would be fine. Its their fault they did not inform me about the consequences and realities of inertia and kinetic energy!

      --
      Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
  7. Oblig "It's the parents, stupid" by drew_kime · · Score: 2, Funny

    Or rather, it's the stupid parents. Unless letting a kid play a violent video game "obsessively" for several months is good parenting this year. But I don't think so.

    --
    Nope, no sig
  8. Re:Absolutely no chance of success by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 3, Funny

    If this DOES work, then maybe we can sue slashdot for teaching us how to be nice to our girlfriends.
    I still have OMG ponies! nightmares and occasionally give in to the subliminal niceness urges and buy her some flowers.

    --
    liqbase :: faster than paper
  9. My toddler has the very same problem. by Peter+Trepan · · Score: 5, Funny

    She stomps mushrooms, shoots fireballs, and has demolished at least a dozen of my nice barrels with a massively oversized hammer.

    --

    Step into a huge movement. Don't Tread In Me.

    1. Re:My toddler has the very same problem. by Apocalypse111 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Problem? Sounds to me like your little girl is getting plenty of exercise in addition to her video gaming. A good balance, IMHO.

      --
      There is no mod option "-1: Disagree" for a reason. "Overrated" is not an acceptable substitute. Post something instead.
  10. Something has to be done about these games by Sloppy · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's only a matter of time before Queen Elizabeth is assassinated by some bishop.

    --
    As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
  11. I've *got* to get me one of those... by iapetus · · Score: 4, Funny
    The game trained him "how to point and shoot a gun in a fashion making him an extraordinarily effective killer."

    Where can I buy one of those real-world guns with a slightly clunky auto-aim feature?

    --
    ++ Say to Elrond "Hello.".
    Elrond says "No.". Elrond gives you some lunch.
  12. Re:coincidence? by JBHarris · · Score: 5, Funny

    INCONCEIVABLE!!!

  13. Re:Absolutely no chance of success by Thansal · · Score: 5, Funny

    My personal favorite for arguments like this (that the game trained him how to shoot a gun) is that they use it for EVERY case, including the ones where the game could NOT have trained him to use a gun (Like GTA).

    Trying this on on an FPS, I can sorta get (except for the lank of relation between an FPS gun and a real gun). However, tryign this out on a game where you AUTO AIM just does not work!

    cmon, I for am having a hard time finding the R1 button on my rifle so that it will aim at some one.....

    --
    Do Or Do Not, There Is No Spoon, There Is Only Zuul. Everything in the above post is probably opinion.
  14. Re:Negligence lies with the child's guardian by iapetus · · Score: 5, Funny
    Ok, so if the 14-year-old playing the rated "M" game (for those 17+) was playing obsessively for months, then I would argue that the fault lies with whomever was responsible for him.

    Typical kneejerk liberal response. "Ooh, let's blame the parents for letting him play an M-rated game!" "Ooh, let's blame the abusive father!" "Ooh, let's blame the parents who left guns lying around!" "Ooh, let's blame the people who failed to provide any sort of care for a mentally unwell child!" This just shows your complete lack of understanding of the fundamental point of this case and others like it.

    There's no way the parents could afford to pay out on a $600m lawsuit, even if they weren't already dead.

    --
    ++ Say to Elrond "Hello.".
    Elrond says "No.". Elrond gives you some lunch.
  15. I learned to shoot people in GTA... by Corngood · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's easy, you just hold down the lock button, and then press the other buttons to cycle between targets. I'm not sure exactly where those buttons are on a real gun, but it shouldn't take long to find them.

  16. Re:Absolutely no chance of success by garignak · · Score: 5, Funny

    I for am having a hard time finding the R1 button on my rifle so that it will aim at some one..... Personally, I'd like to find the unlimited ammo cheat for mine. Ammo isn't getting any cheaper.

    --
    "Sometimes a man's gotta do what a woman wouldn't consider." - Red Green
  17. Re:Negligence lies with the child's guardian by varmittang · · Score: 4, Funny

    Remember, here in the U.S.A, we have reached a new age where NOBODY is responsible for their own actions. Remember that.

    Somebody: Holy shit! I killed somebody! Bob made me do it!
    Bob: Joe made me do it!
    Joe: I blame the media!
    Media: Videogames.
    Videogames: Personal responsibility?
    Personal Responsibility: AFK

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  18. In a related story... by notnAP · · Score: 4, Funny
    The three corporations named in this suit - Sony Corporation of America, Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. and its subsidiary, Rockstar Games - have filed suit against ABC Television Network. The suit also includes the families who are suing these corporations.

    According to the corporations' lawyers, these families watched the show The Practice "obsessively" for several months, and were given the false impression that you can sue anyone for anything and make it an enjoyable and profitable time for all.

    They have hinted they may sue ABC again on behalf of same corporations afterwards. They claim that ABC gave them the idea to sue ABC by airing The Practice, which the lawyers also watch "obsessively," casuing them to sue ABC, resulting in financial damage to the corporations in the form of lawyers' fees.

    No word yet about whether or not they would sue a third time to recoup the fees incurred during the second suit.

    Lather, rinse, repeat.

  19. I've learned lots of skills from games. by Maul · · Score: 4, Funny

    - Video games have taught me -

    How to effectively wield: knifes, swords, shields, heavy armor, maces, axes, staves, pole arms, bows, crossbows, slingshots, boomerangs, bug catching nets, nunchucks, ninja stars, pistols, sniper rifles, automatic weapons, missile launchers, grenade launchers, bombs, railguns, plasma weapons, BFGs, gravity guns, personal teleporters, chainsaws, hookshots, and many other things.

    How to ride/drive/pilot: horses, skateboards, surfboards, snowboards, hoverboards, motorcycles, race cars, helicopters, commercial jets, fighter jets, tanks, jetskis, boats, hovercraft, Arwings, X-Wings, A-Wings, B-Wings, Tie Fighters, and the USS Enterprise 1701. To name a few.

    Use of the following skills: magic, psyonics, alchemy, dancing, singing, proficiency with musical instruments, the Force, hacking, martial arts, military tactics, espionage, mining, medical skills, and legal skills.

    --

    "You spoony bard!" -Tellah

  20. Re:Absolutely no chance of success by voice_of_all_reason · · Score: 2, Funny

    What people? The Minotaur Anti-defamation League?

  21. Re:Absolutely no chance of success by BakaHoushi · · Score: 5, Funny

    But Doom did train those kids to kill! It's an accurate portrayal of an actual shootout:
    No strafing
    No reloading
    No aiming up or down.
    Or left and right, for that matter.
    And all your targets will run right at you.
    And don't forget, ammo and guns can be found just lying around.
    If you need to heal a wound, just touch a medkit in a local nurse's office

    With these advanced skills, previously only taught to spies, marines, and Jack Bauer, are now in the hands of our children. Beware, America! Doom shall be your doom!

  22. Re:coincidence? by Canordis · · Score: 2, Funny

    You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

    --
    I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: "O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And God granted it.
  23. Re:Absolutely no chance of success by stunt_penguin · · Score: 2, Funny

    no, it was the Non-Acceptance of Minotaur Brutality Legal Association ........... or N.A.M.B.L.A

    --
    When the posters fear their moderators, there is tyranny; when the moderators fears the posters, there is liberty.
  24. Re:coincidence? by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 2, Funny

    I see you have mastered the meaning of the word "coincidence".

    Now you can move on to the study of the word "sarcasm".

  25. No, No, he's right. by partisanX · · Score: 4, Funny

    Before I played command and conquer, I would have found the concept of global domination repugnant. Now I can't stop plotting. I've ordered major offenses in two foreign countries, and I've been eyeballing two others. I have found though, that in real life, it's not as easy as it is in C&C, so I'm thinking if I can't turn things around soon, I'll probably sue the makers of C&C.

    -GWB

    --
    "Our morality is good, theirs is repressive."- Partisanship Rule #3
  26. Re:Absolutely no chance of success by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I completely
    agree with you.
    That makes
    perfect sense
    to me!

  27. Re:Absolutely no chance of success by SeattleGameboy · · Score: 5, Funny
    Note to self:

    Don't fuck with SatanicPuppy...

  28. Re:Agreed by drew · · Score: 2, Funny
    A gold star for you, sir.


    Complaints about the current state of affairs in this country aside, we're really in a bad state if the police are gonna come after this guy for one of the more insightful posts I've seen on Slashdot all week.
    --
    If I don't put anything here, will anyone recognize me anymore?
  29. Re:Wagner - Hitler by idontgno · · Score: 2, Funny

    we should rid finally ourselves of Wagner, whose #1 fan was, after all, Adolf Hitler.

    Now I'm gonna have to call shenanigans here. Robert Wagner was, like, 3 years old when Hitler was appointed Reichskanzler. That's WAAAAY too young to have a fan club. Really.

    --
    Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
  30. Re:Absolutely no chance of success by Monchanger · · Score: 2, Funny
    Defence Attorney: Jury member number 3, can you please aim this Plastic 9mm glock at the Judge.
    Judge: I hereby find you in contempt of court. Bailiff, please escourt council for the defense from my court room.

    Moral of the story: pick your targets carefully.