Gamers, lawyer duke it out in the name of charity

Iria · Oct 18, 2005, 07:16 AM

A battle between gamers and Jack Thompson, a lawyer who has spent years combatting the sale of adult entertainment to minors, boiled over in the last few days as a result of a mod that was developed for the game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."

The group of GTA modders, called the Fighting Hellfish, apparently met Thompson's challenge to create a video game based on a story line he devised in which a young man is killed by a 14-year-old gamer. Thompson reportedly offered to donate $10,000 to charity if the game were designed. But now Thompson appears to be backing down from his challenge, saying the original proposal was a satire and that gamers simply didn't get the joke.

Now those behind gaming site Penny Arcade have stepped up and donated the promised sum to the Entertainment Software Foundation, a group that supports numerous children's funds and programs. After Thompson's contact information was subsequently posted online in a few online forums, many in the gaming community have taken it upon themselves to contact him personally, demonstrating just how dangerous it can be taking on such a hot-button issue in the age of easily dispersed information.

Slashdot has a collection of key links that round out the story.
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Read More / Source: Blogma (News.com)

daedal · Oct 18, 2005, 12:47 PM

It should be obvious by now that Thompson is a clown. I mean, the guy challenges the community and then steps down, claiming satire when we meet retaliate? His whole "campaign" is over-hyped and Jack can do nothing but smeer and resort to childish name calling and un-inspired one liners riddled with legal action threats. I commend Penny Arcade and the Fighting Helfish for stepping up to the plate and hope to see the last of Jack Thompson for a long time to come.

Oct 18, 2005, 07:16 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	Gamers, lawyer duke it out in the name of charity A battle between gamers and Jack Thompson, a lawyer who has spent years combatting the sale of adult entertainment to minors, boiled over in the last few days as a result of a mod that was developed for the game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas." The group of GTA modders, called the Fighting Hellfish, apparently met Thompson's challenge to create a video game based on a story line he devised in which a young man is killed by a 14-year-old gamer. Thompson reportedly offered to donate $10,000 to charity if the game were designed. But now Thompson appears to be backing down from his challenge, saying the original proposal was a satire and that gamers simply didn't get the joke. Now those behind gaming site Penny Arcade have stepped up and donated the promised sum to the Entertainment Software Foundation, a group that supports numerous children's funds and programs. After Thompson's contact information was subsequently posted online in a few online forums, many in the gaming community have taken it upon themselves to contact him personally, demonstrating just how dangerous it can be taking on such a hot-button issue in the age of easily dispersed information. Slashdot has a collection of key links that round out the story. ____________ Read More / Source: Blogma (News.com)

Oct 18, 2005, 12:47 PM	#2
daedal Uber Coffee Drinker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gatineau, Quebec Posts: 2,250 Rep Power: 0	It should be obvious by now that Thompson is a clown. I mean, the guy challenges the community and then steps down, claiming satire when we meet retaliate? His whole "campaign" is over-hyped and Jack can do nothing but smeer and resort to childish name calling and un-inspired one liners riddled with legal action threats. I commend Penny Arcade and the Fighting Helfish for stepping up to the plate and hope to see the last of Jack Thompson for a long time to come. __________________