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Jack Thompson Notices Manhunt 2 on Wii. Here we go...
victor_c26
Chicago, ILRegistered User regular
Chicago, ILRegistered User regular
Article wrote:M-rated games coming to the Wii are expected to be criticized and contested. Manhunt 2, in particular, is receiving much word from anti-game lawyers. In an interview by Fox News, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum talked about the game's Wii version requiring players to slash and stab using the Wiimote.
When talking about violent video games and lawyers, it's almost inevitable to include Jack Thompson's name. This time, he's the one who sparked the issue by sending a letter to McCollum and Florida Governor Charlie Crist. The letter said:
"Florida retailers are scheduled to sell a very violent video game called Manhunt 2 which will be available, remarkably, for “play” on the kids-friendly Nintendo Wii gaming platform. The Wii device does not utilize traditional push button game controllers but instead utilizes hand-held motion capture devices… It is a training device."
Let's not go into the idea that JT is looking for backup on his endeavors. Crist still haven't taken a position, but McCollum took the story. The interview with him expressing concerns is expected to be aired sometime before Manhunt 2's July 9 release.
Like what he did with Bully, Thompson is already suggesting beforehand that the game be considered public nuisance. How he contests a game he probably knows nothing about aside from a few screenshots and videos, we may never know. Heck, it's not even out yet - same reason why his attempts against Bully failed. Who knows if a harmless game like Trauma Center would have doctors poking each other's eyes out if nobody played it yet?
Meanwhile, McCollum's office took notice of the fuzz. His Press Secretary sent Game Politics a letter that read:
"Attorney General Bill McCollum is concerned about any games which may instill violence in children, particularly games that encourage children to engage in violent behavior, even in simulation. He believes it is important to help protect children from influences which may introduce violence into their lives and stresses the importance of parental involvement in the efforts to keep these influences out of our homes and away from our families."
Looks like Super Smash Brothers Brawl will take some heat too, since it encourages kids to beat the crap out of their friends and throw them out the stage. Nintendo is not fazed, stating that games simply have different audiences just like movies, televisions, and books. Don't let the kids touch Manhunt 2, problem solved.
Link
So the parental misplaced-anger heat is now rearing it's headlights on the Wii. I don't know whether to bury my face between my hands, or acknowledge the fact that the Wii will now get much more "Mature" publicity.
EDIT: Gamepolitics article: Link
Is Manhunt 2 worse on the Wii?
GamePolitics has confirmed via multiple sources that Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum (R) has expressed concern over the impending release of Rockstar’s controversial game on Nintendo’s next-gen console.
For McCollum, the issue seems to be the use of the Wii’s motion-sensitive controller. It is widely anticipated that players will be required to simulate slashing, stabbing or clubbing motions in order to play Manhunt 2 on Nintendo’s popular system.
McCollum apparently said as much in an on-camera interview Monday with Fox News reporter Orlando Salinas. The interview hasn’t aired so far. It was originally slated to run this evening, but late yesterday Salinas told GamePolitics he thought it might run closer to Manhunt 2’s July 9th release date.
Among those interviewed by Salinas for the report was anti-game attorney Jack Thompson, who has been beating the drum about Manhunt 2 - and especially the Wii version - for several weeks. A Thompson letter sent to both McCollum and Florida Governor Charlie Crist (R) on May 12th read in part:
"Florida retailers are scheduled to sell a very violent video game called Manhunt 2 which will be available, remarkably, for “play” on the kids-friendly Nintendo Wii gaming platform.
The Wii device does not utilize traditional push button game controllers but instead utilizes hand-held motion capture devices… It is a training device."
Despite several calls to his office, it remains unclear whether or not Gov. Crist will take a position on Manhunt 2. However, it would appear that Jack Thompson has gotten the Florida Attorney General’s attention.
According to our sources, A.G. McCollum is not focusing at all on the PS2 or PSP versions of the game. Instead, McCollum is looking into the Wii version due to its motion-controlled simulation of violence. “That’s where they’re kicking up their heels,” one source said.
In February of this year GamePolitics asked Nintendo officials if they were concerned about potential backlash over Manhunt 2’s appearance on the Wii. Beth Llewelyn, Sr. Director of Corporate Communications told GP at the time:
"Manhunt 2 is not developed or published by Nintendo. It is one of many titles released by third party publishers for our system that appeal to people of all ages and interests. Just as with movies, television, and books, different video games appeal to - and are appropriate for - different audiences."
A knowledgable video game industry source has told GamePolitics that Nintendo actively pursued a Wii version of Manhunt 2.
"[Nintendo exec] Reggie [Fils-Aime] spent a fair amount of time soliciting [former Take Two CEO] Paul Eibeler to get the game on the Wii… Reggie did it to introduce more M-rated content, as he was afraid too many people would pigeon-hole [the Wii] as a kid machine."
It is unknown what - if any - official action A.G. McCollum might take. Florida has no video game law on the books and Manhunt 2, violent though it may be, would appear to enjoy the same constitutional protections afforded to other games.
For his part, Thompson has urged Gov. Crist and Attorney General McCollum to have Manhunt 2 declared a public nuisance under Florida law. But the anti-game attorney tried - and failed - with that legal gambit in his 2006 bid to block distribution of another Rockstar game, Bully.
UPDATE: GP has received the following comment from A.G. McCollum’s Press Secretary:
"Attorney General Bill McCollum is concerned about any games which may instill violence in children, particularly games that encourage children to engage in violent behavior, even in simulation. He believes it is important to help protect children from influences which may introduce violence into their lives and stresses the importance of parental involvement in the efforts to keep these influences out of our homes and away from our families."
It's been so long since I've posted here, I've removed my signature since most of what I had here were broken links. Shows over, you can carry on to the next post.
victor_c26 on
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Is there really anything more to say at this point?
Also, doesn't the Wii have parental controls that run by the ESRB rating?
Bah, who gives a damn anymore. Nobody's taking him seriously as a lawyer since the near-miss with jail time, even in the mainstream media.
so he seems to be making Nintendo and the Wii his new target.
He can't take them to court anymore.
Seriously, nobody talks about him except us. If he is ignored he will go away.
This game sounds fun, can't wait to waggle with it TBH.
It'll even help train me to commit real murders! By simulating them!
Perform the perfect neck slice by adjusting your pressure and speed when moving the blade across! :^:
My plan is working.
I do not subscribe to this school of thought.
So what's the deal about that sticker on the Manhunt boxes?
yeah, but to do that he is attacking Manhunt 2 and Rockstar.
This, like most of Jacks complaints can all be solved be the simple act of parents actually spending 5 minutes looking into the games their children want to play.
Seriously. Even the most inept parent could type "manhunt 2" into google and know in 15 seconds what this game is about.
I remember it being a store worker being funny. It originated in the UK I think.
well yeah, i mean, he's going after them in a round-about way. He can't directly take them to court, so instead his angle seems to be shifting to "so, how 'bout them Rockstar games.. ON THE WII"
but yea, the less said about 'craaaazy ole jack', the better.
As far as I can see, the best thing that could happen with JT and fame would be if non-gamers (parents of gaming children, mainstream news outlets etc) got to know his name, and his fanaticism. Then, when JT is doing his thing, it might not be 'an expert on game-related violence is saying this game is bad' but instead 'that Jack Thompson nut is saying Pacman kills babies, again.'
This would be a good thing, right?
Every time there's a discussion about something media-related that people don't like - JT, Sony Marketing etc - someone always chips in with 'if we don't discuss it, it will just disappear'. Could you walk me through the chain of reasoning there? Coz I don't get it.
If no one talks about him but us, then we've won, and there's no harm in discussing his hilarious antics.
And as for the whole monitoring your kids thing, the Wii has parental controls, so there really is no issue.
It's hard to call someone else's position "insane" if you can't stop twitching and sputtering.
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
That is not how attention whores work.
And Jack, see, Jack is an attention whore.
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I've added a poll on if we should ban Jack Thompson news threads. This would be
a) only from Games and Technology,
b) actually just require that Jack Thompson threads get preapproval from a mod, and that the new better be fucking interesting or the answer is no.
Just in case someone on the mod team hates this idea I reserve the right to disregard the poll results, of course.
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I mean, even if adults are playing the game, it seems to me to be significantly more violent to have them do the stabbing motions themselves. The psychological effect it might have is different.
And even though we don't want it to happen, a game like this WILL end up in the hands of some children. Normally I side with the camp of "It's not actually close enough to real life, you don't use thumbsticks to kill people.", but this seems like it could be an altogether different argument.
I'd rather be able to discuss the issues or hear about what's going on than have no discussion at all.
The man won't go away just because some videogame forum decides to stop talking about him, you know. :P
Who gives a fuck if it does?
They have an uninfringable legal right to produce it, and I have one to buy it.
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The fact that we laugh at his expense or not doesn't change anything, about anything, anywhere, at any time.
I say, let's keep these threads in. They're an easy laugh.
Delinquents will run up to their victims and wave a Wiimote in their face, and do thrusting movements in their general direction. Then they will wonder why their victim takes no damage.