Jack Thompson hates BioShock adverts

Author: Joe Martin
Published: 20th August 2007
Comments (36) Stumble
Jack Thompson reckons that BioShock is being advertised inappropriately.

Jack Thompson reckons that BioShock is being advertised inappropriately.

Bioshock is big on the internet right now and it's almost impossible to avoid any news about it. Which is a good thing; games of this quality and calibre are so few and far between that every gamer on the planet should be made aware of it.

Of course, that approach isn't something everyone agrees with and everyone’s favourite anti-game attorney, Jack Thompson, has now filed a complaint with the Florida Trade Commission. The full complaint is being hosted at GamePolitics for those who are fluent in legalese.

In brief though, ol' JT is concerned with how the game is being aggressively marketed to children under 17 years of age.

"On this Friday's night's 8 pm Eastern time airing of WWE's wrestling program "Smackdown," there were repeated ads for Take-Two/Rockstar Game's Mature-rated, incredibly violent BioShock ... This rampant fraudulent trade practice is precisely what 'Big Tobacco' did with its 'Joe Camel' and other teen-targeting ads, while at the same time lying to Congress that it was not marketing its adult product to kids." Jack said in the complaint.

My take on all this? While it is obviously a reasonable request in that no mature material should be marketed to children in such a way, I'd personally be more worried about the glorified violence presented in professional wrestling and what effect that may have on the children watching. It seems a little odd to condone this material for children, but protest a computer game being advertised.

The FTC has already stated in the past that it thinks the games industry is doing a good job of monitoring itself, but that both the games and movie industries are guilty of marketing R and M rated content during shows with inappropriate demographics.

How should adult material be advertised and what is your opinion on one of the industry’s most controversial figures? Opinions in the forums, if you please.
Quote RTT 20th August 2007, 11:16
Shocker :D
Quote Ramble 20th August 2007, 11:31
I've seen a BioShock ad at the cinema yesterday. It was so fast you could barely see anything, maybe about 1 second of killing in the whole thing (this was a 12A trailer though).
Quote LeMaltor 20th August 2007, 11:33
Who?
Quote mikeuk2004 20th August 2007, 11:34
I dont care as long as I can buy it before he can atempt to have it banned :). Up yours Jack and get a life.

You could be british with the amount of moaning you do. :)
Quote Delphium 20th August 2007, 11:38
So physical violence is ok, but virtual violence is not, hmmmmm, JT when will you get a life? (if ever), pfft.
Quote ElZog 20th August 2007, 11:41
Yeah all these kids won't be trying wrestling moves, but will be attempting to shoot bees from their arms and use telekinesis.
Quote mikeuk2004 20th August 2007, 11:42
Quote:
Originally Posted by Delphium
So physical violence is ok, but virtual violence is not, hmmmmm, JT when will you get a life? (if ever), pfft.

Exactly, complaining about virtual violence during watching real violence just does not make sence. I think Jack just hates computer games full stop. I bet he wants us all to read Stephen King Novels instead :)
Quote Rebourne 20th August 2007, 11:46
I think we should just ignore him and maybe he will go away.

Bioshock is amazing by the way, also definitely very mature. So play accordingly and do keep it away from impressionable youths.
Quote Jamie 20th August 2007, 12:00
I think JT is right to fight to stop under age people from playing these sorts of games. I certainly wouldn't let my kids play it until they are adult enough to understand the game.

He did pick the wrong game and bad advertising point at which to moan though.
Quote Delphium 20th August 2007, 12:39
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamie
I think JT is right to fight to stop under age people from playing these sorts of games. I certainly wouldn't let my kids play it until they are adult enough to understand the game.

He did pick the wrong game and bad advertising point at which to moan though.

QFT!
Allthough still a little hypercritical considering the enviroment he is basing his claim, if however it was outside of a physicaly violent enviroment, then I feel his case would be more justified.
Quote naokaji 20th August 2007, 13:27
i think its time that we forbid shops to sell games to anyone under 18 and that the shops will be closed down forver if they breach that law once... i honestly think its the only way to stop the antis from taking games away from us all together (or censoring them like in germany)...
Quote Bindibadgi 20th August 2007, 13:31
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamie
I think JT is right to fight to stop under age people from playing these sorts of games. I certainly wouldn't let my kids play it until they are adult enough to understand the game.

He did pick the wrong game and bad advertising point at which to moan though.

I completely agree. JT is actually right, to a degree, but the method of his madness leaves much to be desired.
Quote CardJoe 20th August 2007, 13:35
Agreed. BioShock is, the further in you get, an incredibly adult game. However, it handles itself maturely and in a responsible manner and is clearly targeted at adults and not children. He obviously picked the wrong game - why isn't this guy having a go at Postal 3?
Quote Delphium 20th August 2007, 13:46
Quote:
Originally Posted by CardJoe
Agreed. BioShock is, the further in you get, an incredibly adult game. However, it handles itself maturely and in a responsible manner and is clearly targeted at adults and not children. He obviously picked the wrong game - why isn't this guy having a go at Postal 3?

Theres a postal 3 ?! Danm must have missed that, or it could have just been a ploy to keep it quiet so as not to atract the attention of JT's waving finger of ban.
Quote yakyb 20th August 2007, 14:02
my fear is that one day this guy will come accross a sympathetic judge who will grant him a victory and that will start a landslide of victories for him tghe only comfort is that freedom of expression is way bigger than he is in the US and that should always win through
Quote naokaji 20th August 2007, 14:08
Quote:
Originally Posted by Delphium
Theres a postal 3 ?! Danm must have missed that, or it could have just been a ploy to keep it quiet so as not to atract the attention of JT's waving finger of ban.

postal 3 is not due before mid 2008...
Quote [stuart] 20th August 2007, 14:08
Quote:
Originally Posted by Article
On this Friday's night's 8 pm Eastern time airing of WWE's wrestling program "Smackdown," there were repeated ads for Take-Two/Rockstar Game's Mature-rated, incredibly violent BioShock

I lol'd. Seems Jack just has a great hate for anything remotely related to Rockstar and is willing to blame them for just about anything.
Quote Veles 20th August 2007, 14:08
Quote:
Originally Posted by JT
there were repeated ads for Take-Two/Rockstar Game's Mature-rated, incredibly violent BioShock

I thought Rockstar had nothing to do with this game? It seems to me that JT just has a vendetta against T2 and R*
Quote Hugo 20th August 2007, 14:20
I find the implication that Jack Thompson watches wrestling hilarious!
Quote Redbeaver 20th August 2007, 14:33
i just think Wresting (the fake stupid ones like WWF or WWE) shouldnt be "targeted to children under 17 years of age" to begin with. Whats Jack's smoking?

just like the other post said, real violence is OK but virtual violence should be removed....

err....

god now i just wish Jackie would show up in Canada somewhere so i can share a little piece of my fist mind....
Quote Veles 20th August 2007, 14:40
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redbeaver
i just think Wresting (the fake stupid ones like WWF or WWE) shouldnt be "targeted to children under 17 years of age" to begin with. Whats Jack's smoking?

It's only really kids who watch it though
Quote Bungle 20th August 2007, 16:57
Funny how some people get sensitive about adverts like this, when children have been allowed to play with toy guns, from very early in life. How may of us lads have played cowboys and indians, with toy hand guns that fired caps? I would say the vast majority.

Playing with "fire arms" is deemed suitable to us from an early age. Bit late in the day to start getting in a hissy fit over something virtual. I don't know, maybe old jacky boy was given dolls as a child and this is his way of working through his personal issues.
Quote DXR_13KE 20th August 2007, 16:59
crying about a violent game that is advertised on a violent wrestling match...... righttttt........ jack my friend, please tell me what you smoke so i can avoid it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bungle
Funny how some people get sensitive about adverts like this, when children have been allowed to play with toy guns, from very early in life. How may of us lads have played cowboys and indians, with toy hand guns that fired caps? I would say the vast majority.

Playing with "fire arms" is deemed suitable to us from an early age. Bit late in the day to start getting in a hissy fit over something virtual. I don't know, maybe old jacky boy was given dolls as a child and this is his way of working through his personal issues.

so true :D
Quote mikeuk2004 20th August 2007, 18:00
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bungle
Funny how some people get sensitive about adverts like this, when children have been allowed to play with toy guns, from very early in life. How may of us lads have played cowboys and indians, with toy hand guns that fired caps? I would say the vast majority.

Playing with "fire arms" is deemed suitable to us from an early age. Bit late in the day to start getting in a hissy fit over something virtual. I don't know, maybe old jacky boy was given dolls as a child and this is his way of working through his personal issues.

I agree Bungle. We dont want to give kids the wrong impression at an ealry stage in life :p

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_FQJkunEDI

Is that what we should show kids Jack??
Quote pendragon 20th August 2007, 18:00
Quote:
Originally Posted by Veles
It's only really kids who watch it though

I disagree. Tons of college age (and over) peolpe watch it. I only started watching when I was 18.. but lost interest in it after college.
Quote DougEdey 20th August 2007, 18:05
The reason why Jack has chosen to be an arse about everything is because the constitution bans preventing people from watching/playing something due to age, which is what was discussed in another thread because in the US games and movies have guidance ratings, not legally enforceable ratings so you can't fine it.

Wrestling glorifies violence and shouldn't be shown before the watershed, but again, it's against the beliefs of americans.
Quote completemadness 20th August 2007, 19:49
Quote:
My take on all this? While it is obviously a reasonable request in that no mature material should be marketed to children in such a way, I'd personally be more worried about the glorified violence presented in professional wrestling and what effect that may have on the children watching. It seems a little odd to condone this material for children, but protest a computer game being advertised.
Well atleast im not the only one

I dont really think this is right, if the games rated, 18 - or whatever, then thats who it should be sold to
I mean bloody hell half the adverts out there are so "sexual" (or however u describe it) the women may aswell not be wearing clothes atall

But a bit of fake blood and gore isnt ok ? the worlds going crazy
Quote Breach 20th August 2007, 19:51
Who really cares what JT thinks, he hasn't had one credible claim in his whole nazi anti-gaming crusade.
Quote TNash 20th August 2007, 20:17
Quote:
Originally Posted by pendragon
I disagree. Tons of college age (and over) peolpe watch it. I only started watching when I was 18.. but lost interest in it after college.

Yeah, my roomate at college is an insane wrestling fan and by some act against the laws of nature got me to watch it too.

Also...is there anything Jack Thompson doesn't hate?
Quote severedhead 21st August 2007, 01:18
I like Jack Thompson, every time he moans about something it makes me laugh. It's always a good start to what would otherwise be a dull day at work reading about his whinging.
Quote Veles 21st August 2007, 03:13
Quote:
Originally Posted by pendragon
I disagree. Tons of college age (and over) peolpe watch it. I only started watching when I was 18.. but lost interest in it after college.

Well, here in the UK it's only really boys aged from around 6 to 16 who watch stuff like WWE, I don't know anyone older than that who watch it here apart from the odd die hard fan.
Quote tacticus 23rd August 2007, 16:01
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamie
I think JT is right to fight to stop under age people from playing these sorts of games. I certainly wouldn't let my kids play it until they are adult enough to understand the game.

He did pick the wrong game and bad advertising point at which to moan though.

It's Called being a parent.

Your kid, your problem and only you can solve it.
there is no aspect in this that requires governmental regulation.
Quote DougEdey 23rd August 2007, 16:30
Quote:
Originally Posted by tacticus
It's Called being a parent.

Your kid, your problem and only you can solve it.
there is no aspect in this that requires governmental regulation.

There is when the parents don't parent. It's called not taking responsibility.
Quote naokaji 23rd August 2007, 16:32
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougEdey
There is when the parents don't parent. It's called not taking responsibility.

wtb certificate for being parents...

j/k
Quote skpstr 23rd August 2007, 17:03
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougEdey
There is when the parents don't parent. It's called not taking responsibility.

It pains me to say it, but there's some truth here in this instance. I'm not saying they are all bad parents, that wouldn't be fair, it's just I think a lot turn a blind eye because they don't "get" it (Gaming that is). After all, in the fun and games that is trying to raise kids and get on with family life what computer games they play might seem like small potatoes.
Quote Smilodon 23rd August 2007, 19:19
why can't they just call violent games "modern art"? If something is classified as art it seems to get away with anything.


Oh, and a parent certificate sounds like a GREAT idea!
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