This was a transcript written by one of the bloggers present during the ruling the quote marks are the judges acutal words(Verified aginst a transcript) while everything else is his personal comments.Judgeman from Judgeland wrote:Judge: “I have spent a couple of hours viewing the game. It was produced to me by an operator using a cheat, which allowed him to skip through the game and show me ‘key points’ that would require an average gamer hundreds of hours to reach. There is a LOT of violence, but not more than the general public has access to on television. I’m not going to let the cat out of the bag about the game content. Mr. Thompson was present, and they gave a copy to the BBC … ” and began to speak about this game’s media coverage a little bit. I lost interest and looked at Jack. He was bubbling with a word at the tip of his tounge, waiting to interject. Bridget’s tape was rolling. I looked at my pitiful notes. I have to get one of those things.
Judge: “As I said, there is a lot less violence in this game than what we see on television, and although it is pervasive, but not to the extent that it would cause a public threat that would require me to prevent these folks from selling it.”
I look at Jack. He’s not sitting down anymore, but isn’t standing up either.
Judge: “Would I want MY kids to play this game?” His palm is open like a starfish on his chest. “Absolutely not. But this game is not a nuisance.”
Jack lunges forward and machineguns a request for a TRO (temporary restraining order). They speak quickly and throw legal procedures back and forth like a game of Simon Says. Jack grills the judge for taking a stand and making an opinion on the game, very calmly stating “But judge, this is not a trial” over and over, as apparently what the judge is requesting does not follow some kind of basic procedure.
Infuriated, the judge screams and demands Jack sits down and then shouts “we’ll have your trial on wednesday”. I’m not sure if the judge said “damn trial” but that’s what I want to write, because that is how it felt. Just when I thought Friedman was going to find Jack in contempt, he backs off and they begin speaking calmly about an appeal as soon as possible, which the judge refused to grant.
Jack: “Judge, you haven’t even played the game!”
Bridget and I look at each other. What the hell does he mean by that, didn’t they do that yesterday and just confirmed it a few minutes ago? It gets more confusing.
Judge: “What I have seen in the tape is enough.”
tape.jpg
Tape? Like a VHS tape or does he mean like “Dude, let me borrow a Nintendo tape” ?
Judge: “Take it up with the third district court, I have plans this weekend and have court on Monday.”
Jack: “Am I allowed to stand up?”
Holy shit. I mean, he said it politely but that must have stung Friedman back. He then resumed his previous arguement, which the judge denied again and pointed at reconveining in this courtroom on Wednesday.
Jack: “The game would have shipped by then. It would be too late.”
Judge: “I’m very sorry, but that is my decision, and you take take it up with the third.”
What's most intresting is that Jack Thompson gets angry at the judge because he never played game but just watched it... yet niether has Jack and he wants it banned from selling stateside.
Oh the twisted logic of anti-video game people.
