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Jack Thompson
Oh lord. Where to begin. I have started this post several times, and each time my opinion is slightly altered. Before I get into this, let me start with the facts as I know them.
First, Jack has made a challenge to the video game industry. His challenge is for game companies to create a game in which they are the target of their own violence. If you want, you can read the full details of his proposal, but I'll just sum it up for you. His game centers around a man, Osaka Kim (O.K.), whose son is killed by a child who was "under the influence" of video games. O.K. goes on a killing spree, ravaging members of the video game community in horrible ways, from the retailer right on up to the heads of the publishers.
Secondly, Jack has offered $10,000 to charity if any game company is willing to make this game.
And that's about all the facts I have, really. Thankfully in North America we don't really need a lot of facts in order to form an opinion, otherwise how the hell could Bush get re-elected? So here is my opinion on the subject, malformed as it may be.
I agree with Jack on certain portions of his crusade. I agree that children shouldn't have access to games like Grand Theft Auto, and I agree that some of the ratings on the games are lower than what they should be. I fully believe that Grand Theft Auto should be rated adults only, as should Postal, and any game that very graphically depicts death and mayhem.
I also believe that Jack is part of the very problem that he is seeking to eradicate. He seems to be completely ignorant of the nature of the human animal. You see, right around the age of thirteen or so, the human animal begins learning to forage for itself. It seeks out the resources that it needs to sustain itself in this crazy world, and those resources are primarily knowledge. We don't need to know how to kill any more, but we instictively still want to know about it. We also begin the process of learning how to select a mate and procreate at about that age. And last, but not least, we learn how to behave as a part of the herd, and how to establish our position in it.
How does that make Jack a part of the problem? By calling so much attention to it, he is making it a cool way to demonstrate defiance. In fact, his constant attacks on the video game industry are probably helping it more than hindering it. In an industry that still has a huge customer base in the 13-25 male demographic bad press is some of the best press a game can get. These are young men who are looking for ways to demonstrate to each other that they aren't afraid of anything, even the law. If a teenage boy shows up at school with a game that has been banned in three states, he's suddenly the alpha male. But if he shows up at school with a game that nobody has heard of nobody is even going to care.
 So, I figure, why not help Jack out and give a little to charity at the same time? So, ladies and gentlemen, I present the alpha version of Jack Thompsons: I'm O.K. - You're Fucked. Although the game has a long way to go, if anyone wants to contribute to the game by providing art or feedback, feel free to comment at the bottom of this post. Hopefully I can crank out a quick version that meets all the requirements listed in Jack's description and then sell a copy or two (all of which will also be donated to charity) and see if he will actually fork over the ten grand. I'm guessing there's no way that will happen. But it will still be fun to try.
The boys over at Penny Arcade have had a recent run-in with Jack, if you would like to read about their experience, head over to their site!
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