The game industry and the courts...news at 11

[Ghost Rider]

Silly and honestly stupid

In the wake of a recent deadly Tennessee shooting in which two teens shot and killed a man, the family of the deceased has filed a lawsuit against Take-Two Interactive, publisher of Grand Theft Auto, according toABC News. Both teens have plead guilty to reckless homicide, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment.

The game was implicated as an inspiration for the teens, ages 14 and 16. According to the news dispatch, the plaintiff's attorney, Jack Thompson, stated, "The industry needs to cough up money so victims and their families can be compensated for their pain... The shareholders need to know what their games are doing to kids and their families. They need to stop pushing adult-rated products to kids. These products are deadly."

The Entertainment Software Association reportedly responded in a statement that said, "Parents are present at--and involved in--the purchase or rental of games 83 percent of the time, according to a September 2000 Federal Trade Commission report." The statement did not mention that Grand Theft Auto games are rated "M" for Mature and are intended only for audiences aged 17 and older.

Ah well...yet another fine example of how dumb we can truly be.

[Spyder]

How the fuck can people honestly think that kids can see people getting shot and run over and think "hey, good idea..." without having something seriously wrong with them.

[Shinova]

Remember, everyone, we always have to think of the children. They're so young and innocent, we can't ever blame them for things that go wrong with them. It's always the companies' fault, never the faults of the parents. After all, why would any loving parent ever do harm to their own children?


Grow up.

[HemlockGrey]

Fuck! I stubbed my fucking toe! That fucking furniture manufactorer better cough up!

[Spanky The Dolphin]

The Entertainment Software Association reportedly responded in a statement that said, "Parents are present at--and involved in--the purchase or rental of games 83 percent of the time, according to a September 2000 Federal Trade Commission report." The statement did not mention that Grand Theft Auto games are rated "M" for Mature and are intended only for audiences aged 17 and older.

(bolding mine)

I find it odd that the ESA didn't mention that. It's a very important piece of information...

[Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi]

Okay, so out of millions of people who play the game, a few do something stupid, while the other several million don't harm anyone. It's not the game's fault, it's parental irresponsibility, and the child's extreme lack of common sense.

[Companion Cube]

Fuck! I stubbed my fucking toe! That fucking furniture manufactorer better cough up!

Fucking right! And the emotional stress of learning of your injury has damaged me emotionally! They're going to hear from my lawyers, dammit!

[Typhonis 1]

Its like suing the gun maker for a killing done in an armed robbery ....also they could state that what were a 14 and 16 year old doing polaying the game

[EmperorMing]

More proof that people need a license to have a kid...


Well, maybe not, but if you are gonna have kids, they need a whole hell of a lot more supervision than most parents *seem* to be providing these days.

This from my own view as a non-parent.

[TheFeniX]

One day, I hope someone gets off their ass and cleans up the civil court system. The fact that lawsuit's like this aren't laughed out of court (much less, actually won) is pathetic.

One day, I hope to actually be able to defend myself from harm or protect my property without having to worry about getting sued by some fuck head.

One day, I hope parents take responsibility for their shitty parenting and realise that they can only blame themselves and their kids for failing.

One day, I ho.... aw fuck it, it's not gonna happen.

[2000AD]

I wanted to applaud today because i actually saw a checkout person telling a kid he couldn't buy GTA because he was under 18 !