Video Game Sparked Police Shootings

ZacharyTait · 02-16-2005, 08:20 AM

Lawsuit filed against Take 2 and Sony Computer Entertainment

Uugh. I feel sorry for the victim's families here, but the only companies that should be in the lawsuit are the two stores that sold the game to the underage gunman. Take 2 and Sony Computer Entertainment should not be sued. All they did was manufacture the game. They're not responsible for the stores breaking the law and for the kid not being able to differentiate between reality and virtual reality. I'm really sick and tired of people blaming other things for their actions instead of taking responsibility. I'm gonna get off my soapbox for now.

Chris Farmer · 02-16-2005, 10:16 AM

I don't think even the retailer should be responsible. Ratings are a suggestion, not a legal mandate, much less a declaration of liability. Just like movies, ESRB ratings are self-enforced, not something the stores are legally required to hold purchasers too. That would be like suing AMC or Blockbuster if you saw an R-rated movie underage then emulated what you saw in that movie.

I'll take personal responsibility for $200, Alex.

Jeff_Standley · 02-16-2005, 10:20 AM

Very well said Zachary, I'll step on it now.
I feel very sorry for the victims families as well. F that stupid kid though. What kid at that age does'nt know the difference a video game and reality. That's a poor excuse.

Quote:

"What has happened in Alabama is that four companies participated in the training of Devin … to kill three men," attorney Jack Thompson told The Tuscaloosa News, which reported the suit's filing.

Please! What a joke.
I hope Sony and Take Two dont suffer anything from this as they are not responsible one bit. Wal_mart and Gamestop should be fined for selling the game to a minor but that is it. There is no way they are responsible for the actions of that kid.

Jeff Adams · 02-16-2005, 12:03 PM

That is just absolutely ridiculous. You can go around putting blame on everything. People are responsible for their own actions. The parents raising these kids should be held accountable too! But not games, movies or music. That is just a real lame excuse. I am playing Mercenaries right now,which I absolutely love, and am having a great time taking out buildings and killing North Korean soldiers, does that mean I am going to go out and blow up a building for real????? Uh, no.

Andrew Grall · 02-16-2005, 12:13 PM

When I was younger, they were blaming bad behavior on rock music. Now they are blaming bad behavior on video games...

**HTF Ads**

Tim Hoover · 02-16-2005, 12:59 PM

Maybe I should've sued Warner Bros. after I dropped that anvil off a cliff onto a roadrunner...

02-16-2005, 05:30 PM

Wow not again. What a joke.

Whatever happened to personal responsibility? Accountability for own actions.

Seriously how did this kid get access to a gun?

Michael Ballack · 02-16-2005, 11:01 PM

This

pretty much sums up my feelings about the lawsuit.

AlbertA · 02-17-2005, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Seriously how did this kid get access to a gun?

I think this pretty much sums it up,

From the article:
"Thompson is accused of killing the three men in June 2003 after being brought to the Fayette police station on suspicion of driving a stolen car. Thompson allegedly grabbed one of the officer's guns, shot him and the other two, then fled in a patrol car."

Seth Paxton · 02-25-2005, 01:33 PM

Just think how smart he would have become if he had bought an educational game. Probably the next Einstein with that ability to quickly become trained via videogame.

Hell, with Tetris he could have become an architect.