Jack Thompson targets Halo 3 @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on September 22, 2007

News: And people thought Thompson was nuts before...

You've really got to give it to Jack Thompson, no man better embodies the spirit and philosophy of 90s pop sensation Chumbawumba and their anthem of beer and brawling, Tubthumping:

"I get knocked down / I get up again / You're never gonna keep me down"

To prove this, Thompson has decided to go after the Xbox 360's Halo 3 as a "public nuisance" in the state of Florida. If you'll recall, this is the same charge he levied against Take-Two's Bully. That suit was quickly thrown out and Thompson was nearly disbarred after a verbal scuffle with Judge Ronald Friedman.

According to GamePolitics, Thompson's suit targets both Microsoft and Best Buy, under the grounds that they knowingly plan to sell the Mature-rated Halo 3 to underage gamers. In citing Halo 3 as a public nuisance, Thompson goes so far as to compare the game to brothels and illegal gambling. Way to aim high Jack.

Aside from this ridiculous comparison, Thompson's complaint is riddled with errors (ironically placed under a header entitled THE FACTS). These include:

Listing Halo 3's release date as October 25. It releases on September 25.

Citing a "direct causal link between violent teenaged video game play and teenagers' aggression" in an August 2005 report from the American Psychological Association. No such link was presented in that report.

Stating the ESRB rates games as Mature because they are aware of the "public safety and health hazard" the sales of such games to minors would pose. The ESRB is actually a parental guide to game content, nothing more, nothing less.

Claiming BestBuy.com is pre-selling Halo 3 to anyone, regardless of age. BestBuy.com requires a credit card to purchase any item and credit cards are only issued to those over the age of 18.

I can understand Thompson's reasoning for attacking Halo 3, it will be the most popular game of the year after all. But for a man who claims to be so smart, you've got to wonder about the logic of it all.

Thompson's suit against Bully was thrown out because the judge saw no reason to censor a game that didn't go beyond the antics of a PG-13 movie. And this was with a game about bullying, a subject that many people are very sensitive to. Thompson even managed to gain the support of activist groups like Bullying Online and Peaceaholics.

Halo 3 carries none of this baggage. Instead, it's a science fiction blockbuster akin to films such as Aliens, Independence Day, this summer's Transformers or hundreds of other movies. The two are not similar in any way.

Knowing the true facts, this case can really only go one way for Thompson. And it can be summed up best by a quote from the Seinfeld character of Jackie Chiles (by chance, also a lawyer): "This is the most public yet of my many humiliations."

The full text of Thompson's complaint can be found at the GamePolitics link below. We'll have more as it develops.

source: GamePolitics