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Jack Thompson Gearing Up For GTA IV Fight
Next Generation reports on Jack Thompson's next big fight: Grand Theft Auto IV. A mass email was sent to news organizations entitled 'Bill Gates in the Crosshairs'. He vows to 'rally the troops' against the release of the next chapter in Rockstar's sandbox-style crime series. The game is due out sometime this year, on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. From the article: "Thompson said that he would 'undertake various means to prohibit' the sale of GTA IV to minors, and added, 'Please have your lawyers [Microsoft chairman Bill Gates', that is] contact me in order that such sales will be prevented.' He also said that the ICCR report 'makes it abundantly clear that unless such prohibitions are in place, then millions of units of the new Grand Theft Auto game will be sold directly to minors.' He continued, 'I am quite intent upon making sure that that does not happen. I and others will endeavor to stop Microsoft from participating in any fashion, directly or indirectly, in such sales to minors.'"
Why is this flaimbait? I have no problem with the current rating system or making sure that the industry polices itself by ensuring retail outlets don't sell M games to minors. What you don't want is _government_ _oversight_, which I'm guessing would be the "bad side" the parent post refers to. Having church and community groups (and even the occasional nut) involved in the process would help them feel more comfortable with the rating system and that they can regulate "filth" at the local community level where it belongs.
Forget GTA, someone needs to set this man on Furcadia. At first glance, the game appears geared toward children with its bright colourful graphics and friendly mascot... until you get into the adult area. "Age play" seems to be a common fetish around there, and many members advertise both an IC and OOC age of under 18. Sure, there's a content filter, but it can be circumvented by merely editing the plaintext settings file, and any child can install the game and play for free without his or her parent even knowing.
I have nothing against it (or the furry community) myself, mind you, but I would LOVE to see Jack Thompson vs. the furries. No matter what, the internet would win.