<![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV - Kotaku Comments]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV - Kotaku Comments]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> meh

freespeech

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> First of all, I think the interviewer did a great job of not being biased and giving everyone a chance to say what they wanted to say, but I think Sessler missed a lot of opportunities to really defend games in this broadcast.

Jackie Boy and the host mentioned multiple times about this game getting into the hands of youngsters, and I keep hearing the anti-gaming side of things using this same argument. It is beyond flawed.

First of all, Rockstar created this game for adults. The content is very adult, and the age of the average gamer isn't 16 anymore, it's up near the 30's (or above). Also, the game is given a Mature rating by the ESRB which means it's suitable for those 17 and over.

Now, here comes the problem. I'd like one of these lobbyists to explain to me how it is the responsibility of Rockstar to manage the RETAIL SALE of their game. When they talk about the game getting into the hands of children, that has absolutely nothing to do with the gaming industry or Rockstar, that has to do with RETAIL.

It's an entirely separate issue involving the retail sales of the games. That's like blaming Budweiser for underage drinking. Does that make any sense at all? **** no. Having worked at EB Games, most employees that I've encountered agree with selling M games only to those 17 or over, unless with parental permission. This is the front line, retail. It isn't even close to Rockstars fault that people under 17 get a hold of the game, and I think if you survey the picture for more than two seconds it's easy to realize.

I won't even get into the fact that 90% of the people crying out about GTA: IV or most other games haven't played it, have no idea what they're talking about, and are just throwing around buzz-words like 'glorified violence' and 'graphic sex' to get attention and indoctrinate morons who can't think for themselves.

Another thing I wanted to point out is that I put about 35 hours into GTA IV in the first 3 days. And out of the 5 or 7 times that I drove drunk, I noticed a few things.

Firstly, 3 of those 7 times I had either Niko or my friend character verbally suggest taking a cab or not driving because he was drunk. And secondly, the police will be after you if they so much as see you while driving drunk, even if you're managing to stay on the road.

GTA: IV is a game of possibilities. You have the option to get drunk. You also have the option to drive. If you combine the two, you end up with drunk driving. The alterations on your characters actions (blurry / shaking camera) don't change when you drive, they remain the same. There is no benefit to driving drunk, it's simply an option available if you combine drinking, and driving. In fact, I don't drive drunk in GTA: IV anymore because of the police hassle and the fact that it's not worth the effort, much easier to simply take a cab.

This is a light year away from what MADD would assume is contained in the game. There is no mini-game. There are no points. In fact, there are more reasons not to drive drunk than to do so. There are also many times where your character says 'Maybe I shouldn't be driving'. At no time in the game does ANYONE make ANY comments about drunk driving, other than to say 'You shouldn't'.

This game isn't marketed to kids.
This game isn't intended for kids.
This game is intended for mature adults who are over 17.
The sale of this game to minors is a retail issue, not a game industry issue. Why does no one ever point this fact out?

Of course they'll say, 'Well minors get their hands on it anyways!'. OK, so who's responsible? Who needs to be punished because little Johnny is playing GTA: IV? Rockstar? The gaming industry? The retail industry? What if he got it from his friend Billy?

You know who's to blame for Johnny playing GTA: IV at Billy's house?

PARENTS.

sircuddles

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @ManekiNeko: Yep, because it's a very unreasonable demand. A lot of these people (well we can focus on Thompson here since this is what the article is about), believe that these games have no place in society period, but try to place it in a context that might POSSIBLY make sense to more than a handful of people (aka, it's harming our children).

Also I think anyone who listened to the NPR stream should check out Adam Sessler's video reply to the Thompson's comments said since they had little time to talk or engandge in a real discussion. If I see anything of the sort from Thompson I'll post it too just to be fair.

[www.g4tv.com]

DeeBG

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Mmm... smooth and smarmy as always!

You could see what side the announcer was on the issue. That's been my issue with NPR in general... the network wears its political views on its sleeve and makes no attempt to be objective.

Sessler's right, though. People expect video game companies to keep their mature-rated products out of children's hands... but nobody makes the same demands from film companies or adult magazine publishers.

ManekiNeko

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> If nothing else, he's as arrogant as ever. "Am I done?", indeed. What is amazing is that nearly every bit of negative press that this game is getting is either out and out a lie or mislead to the extreme. Yet, we're supposed consider movies by famous directors such as Oliver Stone of "Natural Born Killers" not only as appropriate fare but great cinematic works? I'm completely stumped as to how doublethink went from a literary term to reality in such a short span of time. What's next? Monitored private communication and recognition tracking for travelers? Oh, yeah...

scarabatwork

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @phor11: The ESRB rating is just like a movie's rating. The majority of the US has no law that prevent stores to sell a M rated game only to people 17 or older, but to protect themselves many companies have adopted this policy regardless (just as many movie chains have).

DeeBG

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @ca$h: I'm sorry if what I said came off like that, but I am not saying that you had bad parents in the least. My point was that it's up to the parents to raise their children to know right from wrong and then start introducing them (or letting them find what suits their taste) to what might be considered mature content at the "right" age (which is different for everyone).

Just like you were saying you were playing MGS at 12, I was watching many R rated movies that were much more gory than any of that. Also my last comment got a little mucked up (my fault), but it was suppose to imply that if your 12 year old child is playing a copy of GTA4 in your home that they somehow bought and you have no knowledge of this whatsoever, you may need to be a bit more attentive in your parenting skills.

Obviously we both turned out just fine... well, by my standards =p.

DeeBG

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> 1) The game is clearly not for kids.

2) Kids can't buy the game (gasp, the esrb has a purpose?)

3) If your only arguement stems from kids that are playing the game, then you need to go after the parents not the game.

phor11

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Being that I travel quite frequently for work, I find myself on NPR often. I appreciate Talk of the Nation as a program and Neal Conan as a personality. Typically I find Conan to be prepared, insightfull, and intelligent. The fourth quality, however, was very absent during this segment. That is compassionate.

It's not uncommon for two views to be posed against one another on NPR, what is unusual is to have a very experienced host completely shut down the discussion and inhibit progressive thought.

Sessler obviously had something to say to JT regarding the sexual footage, thanks to Neal...we won't hear it. JT, although I will never understand his motivation, should have had the same opportunity to speak despite a rude comment (Read: Terry Gross put up with Gene Simmons for something like 8 minutes). Even the hyper-active student that called in was snubbed of validation on a very basic principle that the game should not be sold to minors. Neal:"Well how long do you think it would take to get into the hands of a 12 year old?"

Well Neal, how long would it take a 12 year old to pick up their parents car keys and take the vehicle for a joy ride if they wanted? The comparisons could go on forever.

I guess that this is an example of how even the standards of excellence in their respective fields can sometimes miss the target.

BoffrO

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Wow a combination of Thompson and Sessler much be the biggest meeting of D-Bags on Earth. Both are so self rightious and half-assed in their arguments. Both walk the "party" line on their statements and have an ego bigger then that of a Hollywood Star.

Thompson should try to deal more with finding fault in the parents of gamers who let their children play games for hours on end, and to a smaller extent those who don't follow the sales guidelines, he himself has said he has no problems with adults owning the games, but its what he perceives as companies marketing towards kids he has problems with, again which should be directed at parents who don't watch their kids.

Sessler on the other hand just pulls the same crap out of his ass as always, with his sad attempts at being funny, his voice modulation and his smarmy ass comments.

There are alot more intelligent people out there who could work to protect children from games, by yelling at parents. And there are people 1,000,000 times better to sit and defend gamers and game companies then this tool.

Rbastid

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> this is gonna be good.

everysystemgamer

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @karasu is my homeboy: And when I pick up a copy and am obviously 4 times the age of the clerk selling it, I'll be carded and reminded of the rating. But of course there are always folks who buy for kids without paying any attention whatsoever to what they are getting.

Chilly Hollow

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I love how Jack (or John as he was identified) was acting as if the people listening already knew who he was. If you had never heard of the guy before then I imagine he came off sounding like a complete nut-job (which of course he is).

kingartie

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Yeah sadly, the kid is going to have an f'ing blast... unless these parents take the game away from him. Games, they're mostly harmless. I feel like I should have kids just so I can let them play whatever the heck they want. Awesome.

Hemlock

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Sadly, we have some friends who purchased this game for their 13 year old son. The became a bit defensive when we explained to them in graphic detail just what happens and can happen in this game. The response was that the boy would become upset if he did not get it.

Amazing. This game is incredible, but it is in no way meant for children.

KosherInfidel

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I believe I got the most out of this by accidentally listening to the All Things Considered segment on GTA. Hearing a pretty esteemed station describe a video game is such a way as if they were describing art is something that is not seen often and it is very appreciated.

And as for the whole Thompson ordeal, I think the gaming community should just get over him and move on. Ignoring him won't make him go away but focusing so much attention on him is just getting old. Let him have his rants and his tantrums. Any lawsuit he brings up will be turned down, there is never anything substantial enough to support his claims so let him have his fun. The worst he can do is give people negative ideas of what the gaming industry is made up of, but should we really worry about the kind of people who would believe him without looking into it on their own? Those sorts of people will die out eventually and its about time that we just ignore them and focus on what's more important:

Developing a way to punch someone through a telephone because that kid at the end was freakin' annoying as hell.

BigMoose

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I was thinking about going out today and carjacking someone and then maybe kill me some hookers, but I have been playing GTA IV so much lately that I must have lost track of the time.

HanSolomente

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @karasu is my homeboy:

I was carded when I bought it too, but I had a half-beard. I wouldn't have cared so much, had the guy not sold the game to some 15 year old who was going through puberty. Well, it wasn't TO him, but his grandfather, but it was obviously for him.

jello44

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Gotta say, Adam Sessler Respect +10 on this one. He held his own quite well in a fairly hostile environment.

Chaos_Bringer

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> i have a life and i play games. i like to enjoy my life too, better hobby than being an addict and being in a gang.

darktorns

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Oh dear...too funny. JT came off as such a weird, creepy old fart. Have you played it? "Well, I, uh, I have a life and...stuff...I guess, no, I haven't, 'cause I'm an ass." Good God, he's so silly. So, what's John up to next, I wonder.

ubiquitous

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> While I disagree that that this interview was all that fair or unbiased, I did also REALLY enjoy the fact that it seemed that even the host realized the level of Jack Thompson's crazy.

"What? I'm done already?"

"Yes, you're done"

Done.

Scherzo

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Something on NPR that I actually listened to! It was very interesting having Adam Sessler, Jack Thompson, the guy from BushLeagued.com, and other listeners pitch in with their thoughts on the game. I gotta say, when Jack wants to make a point about something, he will drill it into your brain until you want to do GTA-style stuff to him. He probably mentioned the sex with hookers thing at least 3 times.

Also, Adam's got such a sexy voice...

As for my thoughts, I learned even more stuff about this game! I didn't know you could bowl, play pool, or check the news & check the blog of a serial killer like the Virginia Tech killer. I also didn't know about the static on the radio when you answer your phone! I love realism!!

Then, as far as the game's availability, I went to a Best Buy and a Target store today. At BB, they didn't have any copies for the 360, but they had a TON for the PS3, even a few of the PS3 special edition w/ the lovely lollipop-sucking lady on it! At Target, they didn't have any special editions, but they had about the same amount of regular editions for both systems. I want to buy a PS3 for this, but I don't want to buy the crappy 40 Gig. version! I think the MGS4 bundle will have backwards compatibility, and be 60 Gigs, and have a DualShock 3 controller!! So, I'll probably wait for that.

BTW, Best Buy still has a bunch of Sixaxis controllers right next to the DS3 ones. For $5 cheaper!! Still doesn't make sense to me...

dawimp523

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @The-Blur: That gamer represents a significant portion of the gaming community, sadly. Probably the same portion that includes trolls, fanboys and foul-mouthed voice-chat idiots.

Captain Impulse

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> awww someone vandalized jack thompsons house? damn, someone beat me to it.

Just Kidding =D vandalism is wrong. >.>

I did find it amusing though when the gamer kid towards the end wouldn't shut up. I also found it amusing that JT was surprised when his time was up.

demonknightinuyasha

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Did anyone else feel like the fan calling in at about 13 min in kinda shed some bad light on the gaming community? I mean if I was gonna call NPR as a gamer talking about game subjects, I'd want to at least remember not to say "uhhh....ummm" about 17 times in the few on-air minutes I get. I get that a lot of people don't like Whacko Jacko (myself included) but if anyone is gonna try to speak against him in any sort of public forum, I'd hope that they handle it with dignity and diction- making sure to go on the air, make specific points about where he's wrong, back it up with evidence, and generally trying not to sound like a douche.
My point is that the caller around the 13 min mark kind of represented a stereotypical "ummm...lazy" gamer who just nods his head and agrees with everything he reads online. In a situation like that, I'd prefer for a speaker who would win over the audience by being politer, wittier, and overall smarter than J.T (which is funny because Sessler did a great job of doing just that).

The-Blur

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @hypermog:

Funny considering that pic's fake.

butterladle

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @jmonthedude: Because he hasn't figured out how he's going to come up with enough money to pay for all the people Dog the Bounty Hunter will have to arrest to shut Rockstar/Take-Two down...yet. ;)

Captain Impulse

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> That was pretty funny actually. I am now convinced he secretly loves these games.

Samos42

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @DeeBG:
I'm the same age as you, and when I was 12 I was playing M rated games such as Metal Gear Solid and Parasite Eve. Granted they aren't on the same level as GTA, but violent none the less. By your logic my parents weren't good parents, but that's not true. You see, they acutally spent time with me, explained life to me, and understood me well enough to know I could see pixelated boobs and blood and not flip out at that age. While kids playing M rated games could be a symptom of bad parenting, it is not an indicator as your argue.

ca$h

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Sorry you had to deal with that Sessler....heh.

Godzilla-Sushi

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> That was awesome. Jack came off sounding like a complete nut job. His craziness stood out sharply in what was otherwise as very mellow and professional interview about the game.

The end of his call was priceless-
Jack: [bunch of over-exaggerated lies about the game] "... if that's acceptable entertainment for teens then things have changed in this country, and not for the better."

Host: "And which law enforcement agencies are you working with? [to file criminal charges against Take-Two]"

Jack: [very smartassy] "I'm not gonna tell you."

Host: "Alright, well, thanks very much for speaking with us."

Jack: "heh hehe I'm done?!"

Host: "You're done."

[click]

ca$h

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @DeeBG: This man speaketh the truth!

A lot can be said for parental responsibility; something that is tragically lost on a good percentage of parents these days. Everything that could possibly be offensive in the hands of children is a scapegoat these days. There have been forms of media considered harmful to children for hundreds, nay, probably thousands of years (curse those erotic French lithographs for the downfall of Western society!), but it was generally assumed that people were smart enough to keep said media out of children's hands.

Nay, instead, society seems to want to punish developers of adult-themed media for not doing enough to supervise parents who are too lazy to supervise their own children.

Makes total sense. ;(

Captain Impulse

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @VixDiesel: There may have been some ruling where he could not be a part of any lawsuits regarding the game or parent company, but I don't think he ever received a gag order regarding GTA4 (although it would be nice for him to receive a gag order concerning all topics because he is just wasting people's time). Freedom of speech can be a pain sometimes.

DeeBG

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> You know, many things have changed since I was a young kid (I am currently 22), but when I was growing up, my console of choice was the Sega Genesis. My parents never allowed me to buy violent video games (some of the earlier games didn't even have ESRB ratings but the box art/text can be very telling) and even asked parents of my friends who might own a copy of "Mortal Kombat" or Wolf3D for the PC that I not be permitted to play.

By the sound of this you may think my parents were horribly strict but that is far from the truth. Even though I may not have liked it at the time, when I came of age in my tween years, I had the understanding of what was considered right and wrong and was able to then proceed to buy explicit lyric CDs (my first one being KoRn's Follow the Leader) and such.

I believe if I was born 10 years later, my parents would have an even easier time knowing what would be suitable for me considering all the resources. I still don't understand how a 12 year old today could buy GTA4 and play it at length while having good parents at the same time.

DeeBG

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @Tyber_Zann: Try it and find out. Please.

Captain Impulse

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> There's only one essential question to ask in a time like this.

If I kill Jack Thompson with my car, will he react with Euphoria physics?

Tyber_Zann

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> ::sigh:: Adam, Adam, Adam... you should know better than to try and jump down Jackie's throat. It never works. You just make yourself look foolish.

Though I did love the end of the call.

Neal: "Thanks very much for speaking with us."
Jack: "I'm done?"
Neal: "You're done."

Brilliant.



DreamToDream

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Stop giving this guy attention and outlet. It's pathetic. Wasn't he legally obilgated to leave TT and GTA alone this time around?

VixDiesel

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Well i think our friend JT has a middle ground, the game is for adults and no one underage should play it, and yea some things in the game are a little over the edge, just like in other games...

TOCATL

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Have Rockstar made a Jack Thompson character in a GTA yet? If not they really should. I'm not quite sure what kind of role he'd play...

phnord

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> NPR's reports on games and the game industry are almost always very reasonable and fair. They deserve credit for being so much more reliable than any other segment of mainstream media, in that regard.

jbliton

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Well, I listened to the audio tape, and I must say, as usual, Jack Thompson is a total idiot.

Not only has he not played the game, because he "has a life," but his whole basis for his argument is based on that IGN video released the other day. He also said the game is "mentally molesting children." Whatever the hell that means.

I mean, c'mon. Yes, the game has violent and sexual content, but it's not a kid's game, as Adam Sessler pointed out.

You don't HAVE to kill prostitutes. The game presents an open world where you can choose to do what you want, but it doesn't reward having sex with prostitutes and killing them -- other than getting your money back *cough, ahem*.

Anyway, this is just frustrating.

DugDawg

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> The game is without a doubt incredible, but unfortunately there will be irresponsible adults that either buy this for or play this around children. If I was 12 right now I'm sure I could get the game, hell I was buying cigarettes at that age but I sure as hell wouldn't have been able to play it at home. This problem of kids getting their hands on this isn't Take-Two's and they are by no means pushing this on kids. If anything the media has been "promoting" this series to the general public more than any ad campaign. This falls on retailers and parents it's their/our responsibility to keep this stuff out of their hands. There's plenty of great games they can play until they're old enough to play this and on the flip side there's games like Halo 3 that get the same M rating and it should really be a T rating.

hollowfreak

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> When I heard Ole' Thompson begin his spiel, I did what I normally do when he opens his yap. Sigh, roll my eyes, and forge on through the piece. (I must say, the NPR's response to him was amusing though. I'm sure Jackie wasn't expecting that.) What really got to me, however, was the last caller. She really made me angry. Not because her comment added nothing to the description, and not because it sounded like she was trying to shame her husband via radio, but because she personified in merely three or four seconds, everything I loathe about the stereotypical "30-something soccermom". (Or soccerdad) People who know absolutely f-all about what they're demonizing, but fervently proclaim the subject (It was rock in the 50's, Hippies and drugs in the 60's, violent movies and metal in the 80's, etc. etc.) to be the worst thing since satan chucked a golden delicious at eve. It really irked me in a way that Thompson couldn't, because politicians don't listen to him anymore. They still listen to our techno-immigrant, vidya-fearing parents. That's where the real power lies in manipulating legislature to restrain electronic entertainment. Soccermoms. And that's terrifying.

Also the nerd kid sounded like if he didn't take a breath soon, he'd pass out.

CelticRonin

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Yes! Lets say shit and have no idea what we are talking about! Score 1 for Thomson lol!

TheJ3ff

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> It's okay that you didn't play the game JT. I mean, you've been so busy being a critic of the game, how can anyone expect you to do first hand research? And that alliteration! You must have spent so much time coming up with that nugget of gold, I'm amazed you had time to look at IGN!

Anyway, props to NPR for a balanced article.

Tiber

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I'm going to do myself a favor and not listen to what he has to say.

M

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I don't think he even believes what he says now but it's a part of his shtick. He's just doing it for the lulz.

UmeShoryu

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> You know, I have to say, Jack Thompson, (As always) just kinda made me sigh and roll my eyes. What really, really got me was the last caller, the housewife-sounding chick with the "I don't think anything in Grand Theft Auto is funny" spiel. It seemed more like the woman was trying to shame her husband into not playing the game anymore via radio... And if not that, then it was really just a useless comment that contributed nothing to the discussion.

Also the nerd somewhat annoyed me.

CelticRonin

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @Koztah:

yeah, he obviously doesn't have the connections he likes to think he does or else he could've gotten an advanced copy, lol

Sparx

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> "Have you played the game?"
"Uh, ah, uh..well, the game just came out."

Classic.

Koztah

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> You know, afetr listening to that, forget the DBZ "over 9000!" joke

I think "26 hours!?!?!" works much better, lol

Sparx

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> why did the host cut off Thomson when Adam had a statement for him? DAMN! I wanted to hear what he was going to say!

Lanhoj

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I was never a big fan of Adam Sessler, but this show made me respect him a lot more. He had very well thought out responses while simultaneously defending and promoting the game. Sadly, I fear his intelligent words will be drowned out to most by Thompson's "sex and violence" word tossing.

I waited to hear the host's response to the comparison to R-rated movies, but there was nothing. It was disheartening and evident that despite a seemingly equal rating system, the games still had a handicap. The host's silence just said to me, "R-rated movies and teens, fine! M-rated games and teens, verboten!" I often wonder if our generation will change that. I'd like to think of the somewhat changed view of movies, music, and comic books as a precedent for how games will be received. Question is, what will be the new scapegoat for poor parenting?

Shalashaska

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @PlayerX:

I am kind of on/off with what Jack has to say.

Just some ideas of it. I do agree with him that by placing marketing for an M rated game on a station during it's prime hours where that show is particularly for an age group under that rating - that it can be seen as marketing to minors. I agree with that to some extent. I don't agree with it to the extreme that he says that the game is ONLY being marketed to minors. But I agree with it selectively.

I also agree that there are just some games that minors should not be able to purchase. But then on a flipside, I also believe that parents should take time out of their lives to educate themselves on what their kids are into. By not understanding what they purchase, a law restricting minors to buy M rated games will do nothing if their parents are still oblivious.

Aside from those two - I pretty much disagree with everything Jack has to say. And as can be seen, I agree to a certain extent. He tends to take his words to an overzealous level. Something like comparing a single count of manslaughter into the realm of genocide.

But yes, he does feed off of attention. He does things specifically for that purpose and I think it's outrageous. But the gaming community ignoring him is not going to make him stop is what I am saying. The news will continue to host him. The oblivious parents who don't seem to care about their childrens interest out of their own will, will continue to listen to him.

Jack cannot be stopped by trying to wish him away like the boogie man. This boogie man has to be combated legally until the news and the parents understand the gaming POV that what Jack is saying is almost entirely baseless. It's like a mountain hovering over a single column. While the base IS there, it's an amazement that he is able to get away with it. He should not, and the only way to stop it is to go battle his words publically.

Dennen

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @JaggedToaster: It's part of what makes NPR the best in the world.

Sigma-D

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> jack thompson, always the consummate schmuck. but really, we can't be mad at him anymore. he is what he is. it's like being mad at water for being wet. jack thompson is a fool, ok great, lets move on with our lives

diodegrey

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @Absent Blue:
Hilarious.


Strangelove

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Why did Jack Thompson not want to reveal the law enforcement agencies he is supposedly working with?

jmonthedude

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Well there is a good side to dealing with Jack. Now I know everyone is saying just stop paying attention to him, but you have to realize to that it was because of all the attention he got that he was disbarred in the first place. Now I knoe there will come a point when we have to stop listening to him but not yet. I figure if we keep giving him attention he'll eventually dig his own grave deeper and deeper until he just goes away himself.

Sparx

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Thanks so much for this. I was just listening to the Podcastle interview with Thompson and the host is painfully bad at managing the debate.

HavveK

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @Arklop: The loudest guy is also the guy that is heard the most. Doesn't matter if he harmless.

He may not pass any laws, but his voice is heard. His ideas are spread. In that way, he is still dangerous.

FrigidAir44

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Hey Adam,

Next time a media slimer asks you how long an M rating keeps it out of the hands of a 12 year old, say "I am not qualified to speak about other people's ability to parent their children."

spacepirateiago

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @PissedPS3Fan:
His heart isn't in the right place. He doesn't care about the children. He's just a bible thumping little bitch who hates anything new and controversial.

@Twisk:
Is that true? Awesome feature if it is.



jambe

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> This is a REALLY GOOD report. It seems to cover both sides in a very unbiased manner. Props to NPR.

psyburn

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I believe Jack has mentioned he's working with the LCPD to bring the criminals to justice.

All you have to do is click up on the D pad and dial 911 with the in-game phone - and the cops will come. Friggin' handy in a firefight. Jack knows wus up.

Twisk

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Odd. I looked this Conan bloke up, and he seems to be a very respectable journalist. Despite that, I've heard better hosts on college radio stations.

Señor Vorpal Kickass'o

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I'm so sick of hearing this argument. The rating system is there for this reason. Why is it any different than movies, music or TV? It's not.

More importantly tons of us, especially those who were born before this country turned into the most uptight crotch stain in the world, watched R rated movies, played with lead toys and guns.

Shit I was watching Married With Children when I was 8 and Showgirls when I was 10 or 11. Not to mention every Schwarzenegger movie in the 80s.

Sure 12 year olds are going to get the game. Either their parents are buying it for them and that would be the choice for them to make. If it's not the parents doing it, then the problem is the clerk at the store. Enforce the rating system and that is what you should be doing. Trying to prevent a studio from making a game is beyond stupid.

rochec

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Mr. Thompson should be honored that NPR actually bothered to put him on the air as his career spirals down the tubes.

I can easily speculate that he blames gamers for pretty much every act of vandalism to his house, whether or not if it's true.

As for killing hookers... That's COMPLETELY OPTIONAL!!! In the GTA3 series, they become just another pedestrian once you're done with them. Most players just kill them just to get a partial refund (since it costs $1 per minute to just keep them in your vehicle... plus the cost of "whoopee" afterwards).

As for the drunk driving, where was MADD with GTA: VC as there's one mission that you had to drive drunk (albeit as carefully as you can). GTA4 goes a bit further from that, but it's another option that players can choose to do.

The game isn't totally consequence free with these reckless acts! You'll eventually get the cop's attention when you kill people as well as destroy property. Additionally, drunk driving isn't as glamorous as it sounds since it makes driving extremely difficult... which is something you don't want to deal with when you're trying to evade others.

Some people (like Mr. Thompson) are just too uptight with these things.

TStodden

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> "What? That's it? I'm done?"
"Yes Mr. Thompson, you're done."

That was awesome.

Props to the host of NPR for (hopefully) seeing through the bullshit Thompson was spewing.

Of course it was probably the fact that Jack dodged the simple question as to whether he had actually played the game, seeing as the host was more interested in talking to people who actually had played the game.

And has Jackie-boy been so repressed all these years that he is now confused between graphic sex and graphic violence? Most of the examples he pointed out in his little rant were, besides coming straight from the IGN video, either not graphic (lap dances, simulated acts) or not sex. Jack should probably surf on over to Fleshbot and do a bit of "research".

Also, how is Take-Two to be responsible for teens playing this game? If a 15 year old kid buys a porno mag, is the magazine publisher liable? No, the 7-11 store clerk is. If the same kid gets in to see the latest Saw movie, is the director, producer or even the studio liable? No, the box office clerk who sold the ticket is.

Jack's heart is in the right place, but he's just confused. His fight isn't with the software company. Noone should be able to tell a develop what they can and can't make. The fight is with the retail outlets that sell to minors, and, more importantly, to the parents that let their kids play these kinds of games. With the right parenting, I think GTA could be an acceptable game for SOME minors. But that's not a decision for Jack to make. He needs to understand this point and direct his effort towards educating parents.

But maybe I'm just way off base, and Jack really is just a mindless parasite-lawyer only looking clog the judicial system with frivolous claims for his on financial benefit.

PissedPS3Fan

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> It always seems that our poor game journalists get backed into a corner and have to come out swinging.

I'd really love to see the big namers (Geoff, Crecente, Sessler, N'Gai) get a chance to talk on a large scale, moderated forum.

Tubatic

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> ya know what gets me angry? You can't buy a mature rated video game without having the clerk ask for ID, but you can buy a rated R movie under the age of 13 without them even bating an eyelash.

MoMoMan

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I love Jack. Despite the hate he garners (and relishes, no doubt), he is undoubtedly a staple of the gaming community: you kind of don't fit in if you don't know who this guy is. I don't know if he got disbarred or not (I was intending on reading trial notes and then decided that games were much more fun), but I would be absolutely surprised if he suddenly stopped yammering off and I think I'd miss him somewhat.

I guess it's 'cause I'm not threatened by him anymore (and haven't been in the longest time). He's been at it for a decade at least and he hasn't got a single thing to show for it. Yet he tirades and tirades like Drunk Uncle Charlie, who was once intimidating, but now hilariously pathetic.

I think someone ought to give him a Lifetime Failure Award.

dunetiger reads kotaku, seems pleased

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Well, at least JT is good making alliterations.

MorknGork

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> It was the top link, you clicked on the second one. -_-

Ulquiorra Schiffer

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> hmm i must be missing something here? All I heard from the link to NPR was a general overview of the game. Sessler? Thompson? nowhere to be heard.

CONSPIRACY!

Fullmetalbill

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @PlayerX: Waffles on the stove? Do they heat evenly, with the recessed syrup-pocket goodness and all?

Oh and, um... Chalk me up for one incoherent defensive overreaction about Jack Thompson violating my civil rights or whatever. I'll have whatever it seems like most of the rest of you are having.

wild homes loves you but chooses darkness!

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> After listening to Jack Thompson's raving and Adam's clear, rational explanation of the situation, I don't know how anyone can be on that maniac's side.

Ulquiorra Schiffer

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> "threatening that he was working with unspecified law enforcement agencies to bring criminal charges against the publisher"

We know this is a lie because there are no longer any law enforcement agencies that will work with Jack Thompson.

jambe

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> After a full listen, I really want Sessler and Thompson to do some celebrity boxing. Holy cow, I really wanted to him go off...lousy radio host keeping up the professionalism. So glad he told him, yep, your done. Points for that.

More Respect for Sessler no matter how fast talking and excited he gets.

@Absent Blue:That comment is full of win.

MasterSauce

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @GusherKid: I got that.

NPlace

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Seriously, Jack picked up a copy of the game and he hasn't played it? What the hell was he DOING all day yesterday? Even Brain took a little time off from his evil plans to rule the world every now and then...

wild homes loves you but chooses darkness!

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I have a teen... My 360 has parental controls enabled for his profile and mine has a password... He also knows with absolute certainty the difference between reality and a video game in case he plays from a friend's house or sees the videos online...

Kids today usually have...
Unfettered access to Premium movie channels...

A HUGE collection of Rated R DVDs that their parents bough somewhere in their house...

Access to the Internet and all the glory that is Google image search...

Potential access to old-school porn (like we all did before the internet)

There is much more to be paranoid about than one game that actually gives you a method to stop it from being played by minors via parental controls...

STFU, RTFM and spend more time with your kid... Bully Scholarship Edition is rated "T"... Try that...

MHatter73

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I deal with enough stupid people. Hearing Jack Thompson would make me want to punch a wall.

KM91

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @Ghede: Agreed.

Every time that argument comes up (video games are causing X to people) I'm quick to point out the fallacies of people whom run their mouths on subjects they don't understand.

FrigidAir44

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> What can Rockstar do if the game is being sold to minors. Seriously, they are not the one's that are out at every store ringing the item up. This is truly getting ridiculous. Now days it doesn't matter what a child is told to do or not.

They will still find a way to get it. Just like drugs, alcohol, porn, homework, movies, music, the list goes on an on. Hell, my grandpa re-married, and his wifes daughter wouldn't allow their 15 year old daughter to listen to rap, but she did with her friends, so I gave her a burned copy of the soundtrack for 8-mile, and she said if her parents find out, shell get in trouble.

This whole thing about M.A.D.D. is totally stupid too, sure its a sad thing, but it will never stop no matter how much you try. Especially when there are parents out there that let their children have party's and they supply the alcohol. And, cops give me a break. This happened to me when I was 17, driving around town, and we got pulled over. We had a shit load of booze, and guess what the cop did. He made us pour it down the sewer. Like WTF...that was it, no tickets or anything, it was a booze run, because the party ran out.

BTW.....where was all this controversy when Saints Row came out. You could buy drugs, and alcohol from the liquor store on the same street as a church, and drive. Huh.....I call BS on everyone that says videogames are bad, first of all why are you buying a xbox, playstation, wii, for you children in the first place. Shut the hell up, or dont buy them for you children, end of story.

d4rlp3nc1l

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Glad good old NPR made up for that Awful Halo story they did last year. This is a much more evenly handled story. Oh look, they even talked to kids about what the game made them do, or not do. What a concept.

Thompson = Irrelevant

MasterSauce

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @Absent Blue: "If video games had a village Jack would be it's idiot."

Irony.

GusherKid

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @Ghede:

You have some valid points, but usually the loudest guy in the room is also the most harmless. If Jack were actually able to do something, I think we would have seen it by now. He keeps saying Take Two will be held accountable and it keeps not happening.

The good news is he has nothing left but hot air. The bad news is there's tons of it.

Arklop

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> R rated movies made Adam crazy!!!!!!

CalcioFool

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @C-Stick: And he even addressed that though. With the rated R movie watching thing. And as a kid wanting to be like an adult hence why this desire is there. Kids will play it, but then you can always put that onto the parents. Which is where the responsibilities should be.

Rabidsquirrel

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> hell hath no idiocy like an uninformed attention-whore.

Sandbox_Emperor

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> "Have you played the game?"

"No I have a life?"

Do you Jack?

Lou3000

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Best parts of the segment:
-The host's ability to keep the conversation civil and balanced.
-"TWENTY-EIGHT PERCENT?!?!"
-Jack's indignation when he was told he was out of time.

Worst parts of the segment:
-The rest of Jack's portion.
-That geekish-sounding kid who wouldn't shut up.

Really enjoyable, overall.

Neo Deus

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Did you hear Jack Thompson put a picture of himself into that Simpsons avater generator, look what it came out as.

[sandiego.redfin.com]

Gambia

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> JT called the FIB.

It must be a blue moon tonight, I find myself aligning with ESRB this time, it may be GTAIV's biggest ammo.

Fyren

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Man, I'm in the biggest argument about GTA on boingboing. It's useless, the so-called "critics" really do think that you can judge this game without ever playing it. "Sexist! Marketing to kids!" I'm about to have an artery burst here.

Gordon_Shumway

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I don't recall Sessler saying that it was being SOLD to minors, but instead that minors were able to play it. There's a difference there. The host raises the point that things that are labeled "mature" are automatically more attractive to younger kids, which is a valid idea. However, that wasn't really the main thrust of the interview, just a way to admit that there likely are children playing it somewhere.

C-Stick

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Ok... I picked up the game but barely got passed the intro (lunch break).

For those who been that far (without spoilers) are there any 'graphic scenes' of sex?

To mean graphic, I mean blatant nudity of genitalia and full on sex. Not that side-boob nonsense from mass effect.

FrigidAir44

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Ever since X-Play became more serious and G4 stopped dressing Adam up like a monkey and telling him to dance, I've been really gaining a lot of respect for him as of late and his appearance on NPR really helps. It's nice to have someone who is intelligent and is a REAL gamer who can speak for gamers. I just wish the host would have let Adam get his two cents in while Jack was on the line.

And as for Jack Thompson, he is basically powerless right now but apparently he doesn't realize it. Yeah he's working with various law enforcement agencies. Which ones Jack? Oh you won't tell us. Did you actually play the game? No? Do you have any proof that it was us "gamers" that vandalized your house? No again? Look, there is nothing as graphic in GTA 4 as there was shown in the "hot coffee" mod. And even when the "hot coffee" mod hit what happened? An AO rating and Rockstar lost some money. What do you think you can honestly accomplish here Jack? Give it up. Nothing will happen other than you getting disbarred for clogging up the legal system with your bullshit antics. Just knock it off!

Ganglor

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Poor Jack. He's spiraling into his personal cage of insanity.

ThaiGrocer

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @BassForever:he did, big time

and Adam deserves some cake

(俗・ ) Grey Gecko

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> That NPR guy was kind of a douche. He was pretty heavy handed with attacking the supporters of the game and very much propping up arguments, especially about minors buying the game. It's almost as though he has the video game=toy mentality and believing therefore that the fact that children can get their hands on it means something should be done about it.

perrinbar

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> He isn't the fucking boogieman. Ignoring bullies didn't work in high-school, what you got was a bully who was pissed you weren't paying attention to him so he beats on you extra hard. Jack doesn't care if you care, he doesn't care if you listen.

He isn't trying to reach our ears, but those of our neighbors, those of our senators, those of the general public. He knows he can't sway us, but he can convince a mayor to pass legislation. He can convince a family to press charges. He can convince the chief of police you are dangerous.

You turn your back on him, and you will find he has planted the knife right between the second and third vertebrae.

So listen to him. Remember that people other than you and your friends are listening. Write to your senator when legislation is proposed. Show your outrage when the game-maker is charged. Vote for a different chief of police, because that one is kind of gullible.

And for gods sake don't laugh at him. It's not funny. Not funny at all. Even if he is disbarred, I guarantee you fox news will keep a seat open for him afterwards. I bet my 360 that if he is alive, he will be on there to argue about GTA 5, or the next shooting in which a videogame was somewhere in the neighborhood of the killer's house.

Ghede

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> The guy is clearly a raving lunatic. I really don't understand all the attention he gets in the media, and among gamers.

badasscat

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Is it just me or did he call him John Thompson about 9 min in? I personally think Sessler (sp) conceded far too many points. "Yes, its probably being sold to minors." Not really, The guy in front of me to buy GTA was at least 50, gray hair and everything. Still carded him. Retailers are far, far too paranoid at being sued for this. If a kid does get it, it is because of an irresponsible parent, the type who are so devoted to a cause that they don't have time to think. I can't quite think of a good example of an obsessed parent... oh wait, Jack Thompson himself. Also, I'd love to hear the claim about his house being ransacked substantiated, the last I heard, gamers were sending him flowers. Sessler didn't do bad, but he could have done so much better.

TheKingBoar

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> good listen so far, slight spoiler for the psychomurderer subplot :P

Tubatic

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @Haniko: I would hope, he should beat up some hookers first before criticizing the game.

Roflcopter_Down: Wants you to follow HIM!

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I picked up the game today at my Wal-Mart. I'm a 28 year old male 6'1, 200 lbs. I have side burns and a goatee.

I was carded for the game. Shut the hell up Jack.

FrigidAir44

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @Dennen: Don't you think, though, that he sort of feeds off the attention he gets here? He sent Brian Crecente an image of him holding the game.

On the other hand (flips over waffles on stove...) Kotaku is all about news involving video games.

I guess I just can't believe what a douche JT can be.

PlayerX

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @attila: Yeah, I see. I don't watch mainstream news, I read various social news websites and blogs and gamer blogs, so it's easy to forget about the mainstream stuff.

karasu is my homeboy

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @Mansteak: That, sir, made me laugh very much. Thank you!

PlayerX

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @karasu is my homeboy: I think that maybe cooling off the Jack Coverage would help make him disappear. But, at the same time, we're all so used to hearing what he's got to say - like listening to what Archie Bunker has to say when he talks to George Jefferson - that he's sort of become this love-hate character in the soap opera that is our lives....

But, I do think that ignoring him unless he does something - like actually DOES something - might be useful.

PlayerX

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Why does the guy in the beginning talk like a robot? Huh?

Jagged Toaster

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> are people getting soft? and being PC? Jack is joke. the rating system is there for a reason.

Drunk3nm0nk3y

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> So, JT hasn't played the game and says that there's GRAPHIC sex depicted in the game.

I think they went out of their way to make it anything but graphic in this game... the "strippers" all have clothing (of a type...) and the only time I've seen Niko have sex with anyone was from outside a closed curtain from the exterior of a house (i.e.: you don't see ANYTHING....) Furthermore, the characters dirty-talk about oratory skills and other topics.

Jack Thompson is slandering Take-Two without cause, imo.

... as if this were news.

PlayerX

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I've said it once, I'll say it again, it's better it's Thompson than an actual person of power with competence that people take seriously.

Double J

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I don't understand why so many gamers sound so depressed at media coverage, from everything I've heard from mainstream media they are really being fair and letting both pro and anti gamers speak on this issue, if anything, giving gamers plenty of time to express a positive view on this game and games in general.
This show is a case in point.

Cheer up gamers, we're winning this war. The future belongs to us.

Cruithne

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Kotaku is to provoking a rabid outpour of anti-Jack Thompson comments as Moses is to parting the waters in The Ten Commandments.

Fitz Rhapsody

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I heard this earlier on Talk of the Nation. I can't believe that NPR is being referenced on Kotaku. Two of my favourite things together. I just cremed myself.

shintobreak

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @Dennen: Absolutely! We need to pay attention to what he's saying. Otherwise, how will we know how to counter his claims? The man has resources after all. Shouldn't we defend our hobby while he lambasts us on fox news?

sedarisan

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Jack Thompson sounds a lot like my old boss.

Neal: "Have you played the game?"
JT: "*indistinguishable stuttering* it just came out, and (blather blather blather)."

(My boss's stuttering sounded a lot like his, too).

Sessler was pretty prepared for this; he had intelligent responses for everything directed towards him. Overall, a good job on his part ^^

tsathoggua

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> "mentally molesting minors for money"? Lets take a look into it...

from Dictionary.com:
mo·lest [muh-lest]
-verb (used with object)
1. to bother, interfere with, or annoy.
2. to make indecent sexual advances to.
3. to assault sexually.
-Synonyms 1. harass, harry, trouble, plague, hector, torment. See "Attack"

Jack Thompson is the one fitting the bill, not Take-Two.







Kincyr

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @karasu is my homeboy: The problem is not the attention we, gamers and game journalists, give him, but the airtime he gets on mainstream TV and radio. And that we have very little power over. What we can do is to meet his claims with sound arguments, by retorting on websites like Kotaku and like calling into that radio show like someone did.

attila

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Comment on Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV Best Part: @ 9:00 the host calls him "John Thompson"

AdrienneComfy

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Didn't he buy the game himself?

Haniko

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I actually don't agree with the concept of "if you ignore it, it goes away". That is not true for nearly everything in life - and Jack isn't going to stop because gamers stop reading about what he says.

All it does is mean that the gamers discontinue listening to him while the news continues to run rampant with him on the air making ridiculous claims.

Dennen

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Hmmmm, Jack Thompson has a life, which is the reason why he hasn't played the game.

I don't understand how he can say that it's inappropriate for teens when the ESRB rating indicates that it's for "Mature" audiences.

But I don't understand a lot of the things Jacko says...

sedarisan

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @Mansteak: I actually agree because it can be seen two ways. If we don't give him so much media attention, then we won't hear about when he does these things, and if it's not out there, it's not as powerful.

That's not to say he'll stop. But it'll certainly give him a huge drop in exposure, which strongly weakens his voice.

It's not like I mind people trying to make the world - or media - safer for kids. But know what you're talking about and trying to achieve. And be professional.

karasu is my homeboy

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I didn't hear the segment, can anyone confirm if Jack Thompson looked like a big fool in front of the NPR crowd?

BassForever

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I would like to take a second to add that this is a great listen. It's really factual, completely unbiased and fair. They know what they're talking about and treat GTA with respect, calling it a fantasy, saying it has R rated content, etc. Really fresh to hear when you're so used to, "You kill people in NY! Your children might play this RUN!"

karasu is my homeboy

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @karasu is my homeboy: I'm gonna have to disagree. Ignoring him doesn't make him go away, he's not actually a nightmare. The only way to actually solve the Jack problem is to give him all the exposure he actually wants so everyone in the world can see what kind of madness they would align themselves with were they to blindly oppose something the way he does.

Mansteak

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> It begins. Again.

stranger

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> @LittleBigPlaneteer:
"Jack's proclamation of alliteration is the newest sensation in our nation! You thought he was on vacation, but he's still up to his old verbal masturbation! ... something something something... elation!"

ShaggE

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Adam Seszler rocks

clintonskneecap

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I'm starting to think that Jack isn't really a lawyer so much as he is a very, VERY involved performance artist. Beyond even what Andy Kaufman could have dreamed...

Mansteak

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Damn GTA, you would think violent movies, ongoing wars, clashing religions or bad parents were causing the world problems. Guess not...

JohnnyD57333

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> The answer will surprise me if it's "No" based on this:
[cache.kotaku.com]

hypermog

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Nut.
End of story.

Bicro

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> Man this guy is such a donkey. So sad because there are so many worth while causes that would benefit from his unwavering resolve.

doing

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I can't help but be entertained by JT's misguided antics.

monorailcat

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> mentally molesting minors for money? Even Jesse Jackson would be floored by that one

LittleBigPlaneteer

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> I think J. Thompson has consumed his worth in media; they, too, realize that he's a pathetic man on an even more pathetic mission.

But instead of just dismissing everything people outside the industry says about how violence is depicted and used in our titles, we should take the debate ourselves. If we truly want to be a mature industry and medium, then we need to discuss it and realize that yes, everything we experience effects us and that includes video games violence.

That said, I love the Grand Theft Auto series and the sandbox violence in it, and cant wait to play GTAIV.

attila

]]> <![CDATA[Sessler, Thompson Square Off On NPR Over Grand Theft Auto IV]]> 1. Why do we keep giving Jack attention. If we don't take his phone calls and don't post news about him ::gasp:: he'll go away.

2.I am yet to understand how Take-Two markets and sells this game to minors. Even without a clean shave and clearly looking over 18, I was carded to buy this game at Best Buy. As most retailers do.

I'm so over Jack. Get a new song to sing because it's not even entertaining anymore.

karasu is my homeboy

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