bit-gamer.net

V-Tech Flash creator issues ransom

Published on 16th May 2007 by Joe Martin

The V-tech flash game mirrors the controversial Super Columbine Massacre RPG made in 1999.

Only days after the tragic event, Ryan Lambourn had begun work on a flash game based on the Virginia Tech shootings in a strikingly distasteful move that mirrored the controversial Super Columbine Massacre RPG.

Super Columbine Massacre RPG was previously featured as number two in a list of the worst games of all time. The V-tech flash game has provoked similar reactions of disgust from the public, though some view the game - which is both ridiculously easy and terribly made - as incredibly brave and thought provoking.

However, following an understandably massive outcry against the game, Ryan Lambourn has become even more brazen and callous and has issued a ransom for the games removal.

The following message was posted on his website;

"ATTENTION ANGRY PEOPLE: I will take this game down from newgrounds if the donation amount reaches $1000 US, i'll take it down from here if it reaches $2000 US, and i (sic) will apologize if it reaches $3000 US."

Obviously this has provoked a massive response also, with comments on the website including; "If someone donates a plane ticket, i will go knock some sense into him" and other such threats.

At bit-tech we're all for using computer games as an artistic medium, but it seems obvious that this 'game' and the following ransom were made without artistic intention or merit and exist solely as a way for the creator to extort money from others.

What's your opinion on the game, can games be used as an art form and will you be donating to silence Ryan Lambourn? Let us know in the forums.

43 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

will. 16th May 2007, 12:21

Obviously a bit of a tool.

his website has been taken down btw... probably a bandwidth thing.

DLoney 16th May 2007, 12:23

DoS Attack on his website anyone?

O-ya, and the article doesnt seem to link to this thread. Might want to fix that.

DougEdey 16th May 2007, 12:24

What a prick

whisperwolf 16th May 2007, 12:41

Well I'm sure that for $3000 it will be a truly heartfelt apology. Now wheres that sarcasm tag.

bahgger 16th May 2007, 12:50

Too bad he hasn't been killed already :(

AcidJiles 16th May 2007, 13:06

there are so many idiots in the world people need to learn to ignore more of them

Hugo 16th May 2007, 13:08

Anyone else suspect that he intended to issue the ransom all along just to try and get some cash in a stupidly innapropriate way?

CardJoe 16th May 2007, 13:48

Since his name is all over the internets, i wonder what his mother/gf (ZING!) thinks of him.

DougEdey 16th May 2007, 13:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by CardJoe
Since his name is all over the internets, i wonder what his mother/gf (ZING!) thinks of him.

You're assuming he has one.

supermonkey 16th May 2007, 13:51

All the people flooding his website with complaints could use a lesson in how to walk away.

He's obviously trying to write the rules, but that doesn't mean we have to play the game*.

-monkey

*The metephorical game, not the flash game.

julianmartin 16th May 2007, 14:19

hah yeah i'd say the guy has had exactly the response he wanted, everyone in uproar over a distasteful, yet miniscule arguement in the grand scheme of things.

leave him be and it'll all go away soon :)

CardJoe 16th May 2007, 14:38

Pfft, whatever happened to: "all that is required for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing?"

EH?!

Hugo 16th May 2007, 14:49

Tish Pish, give it 2 weeks and we'll never hear about it again, on the other hand, he will die a virgin.

Justice is done.

CardJoe 16th May 2007, 14:54

No, in reality this will all blow over and be forgotten about by us in two weeks, except when Jack thompson brings it up for his cause and damages the name of the very medium we love. Meanwhile, the survivors and families of the tragedy will have to cope through this on top of everything else, while he is threatened a little bit, gets exactly what he wants (attention, possibly money) and is otherwise left completely alone.

completemadness 16th May 2007, 14:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougEdey
You're assuming he has one.

if that's for the mother bit, possibly a bit out of taste ;)

if its the gf bit, i agree :p

olly_lewis 16th May 2007, 15:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim

In response to complaints about his flash 'game' based on the Virginia Tech shootings, Ryan Lambourn has issued a ransom for his apologies.

Best... idea... evah...

Redbeaver 16th May 2007, 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by CardJoe
Pfft, whatever happened to: "all that is required for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing?"

EH?!

but ignoring him is negating (at least one of) his intentions, thus doing nothing here isn't really nothing... it is something... :o

bloodcar 16th May 2007, 15:29

I'm absolutely surprised that he hasn't been sued yet on grounds of trademark infringement. There's a company that makes a couple of games consoles for children and their consoles are called "VTech" http://www.vtechkids.com/. I'm pretty sure if they heard of it, they really wouldn't want this "game" associated with their family friendly, child developmental, educational games consoles.

Cobalt 16th May 2007, 15:31

This outcry is exactly what he wanted. He doesn't seriously expect to get $3000 but it does increase peoples awareness of what he has done. Anybody who threatens him is playing right into his game and probably just causing him to laugh at peoples collective stupidity.

Bauul 16th May 2007, 16:02

Am I the only one who noticed he's stolen content from Doom (if that is a screenshot of the game)? It'd be pretty funny if he got sued for theft of intellectual property.

[USRF]Obiwan 16th May 2007, 16:16

If 'bit' never news'd it, i had never known it excists anyway...

And dont get me wrong, but everyone that is involved into developing games wants your money nomatter what

Hugo 16th May 2007, 17:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bauul
Am I the only one who noticed he's stolen content from Doom (if that is a screenshot of the game)? It'd be pretty funny if he got sued for theft of intellectual property.

Yes... because of course Bit-tech are clearly going to post images from the V-Tech game.

Fod 16th May 2007, 18:03

actually that's a screenshot from super columbine massacre. read the blurb!

also, doom is now utterly open source, so there's pretty much nothing to steal.

capnPedro 16th May 2007, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fod
actually that's a screenshot from super columbine massacre. read the blurb!

Nope. This is Super Columbine Massacre. That's Doom.

Breach 16th May 2007, 18:53

I think people like him should be publicly flogged. Indeed all was wanted was outcry which I am adding to right now, but that doesn't negate being a piss poor human being. Things like this should not be forgotten in 2 weeks, but remembered as unacceptable behavior.

mclean007 16th May 2007, 19:11

First thing many people do when someone's CV (resumé) lands on their desk is Google their name. Good luck getting a job after that particular work of genius, Einstein.

completemadness 16th May 2007, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnPedro
That's Doom.

the soldier looks just like a soldier from doom

but that interface is nothing like the doom interface. ...

pendragon 16th May 2007, 21:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by mclean007
First thing many people do when someone's CV (resumé) lands on their desk is Google their name. Good luck getting a job after that particular work of genius, Einstein.

lol!!

<borat>High Five!</borat>

thecrownles 17th May 2007, 05:16

I'd say he's pretty smart. At least he knows what he's doing.

CardJoe 17th May 2007, 07:38

It's Super Columbine Massacre RPG, built using graphics from Doom, which is now Open Source.

As for googling CVs, it happened to me. I made a stupid Youtube Video once where I faked breaking my finger and at an interview for another journalism job they bought it up and laughed at me after checking my hand over for scars :S

DougEdey 17th May 2007, 07:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by CardJoe

As for googling CVs, it happened to me. I made a stupid Youtube Video once where I faked breaking my finger and at an interview for another journalism job they bought it up and laughed at me after checking my hand over for scars :S

And that is why I always perform in adult movies under a pseudonym

Bauul 17th May 2007, 11:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by CardJoe
It's Super Columbine Massacre RPG, built using graphics from Doom, which is now Open Source.

Ah ok, It just didn't look like any screenshot from Super Columbine Massacre I'd ever seen.

As for Doom being open source: yes, it's open source, but that doesn't mean it's a free game! All that's free is the engine, not the content, if you wanted to see the graphics, play the levels, hear the sounds etc. you still have to pay for them. For that matter, both Quake and Quake 2 are totally open source, but you can't stroll on to the id website and download the games for free!

Nature 17th May 2007, 11:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougEdey
What a prick

Yeah But freedom of speech... Freedom to be an ass... or Just plain freedom... It sucks how some use it..

Brooxy 17th May 2007, 14:45

So can we legalise killing him? Looks like the suicide note is already there....

Woodstock 18th May 2007, 12:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougEdey
You're assuming he has one.

big assumpation imho

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archangel
Tish Pish, give it 2 weeks and we'll never hear about it again, on the other hand, he will die a virgin.

Justice is done.

thats a hefty sentence but a derserved one none-the-less

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nature
Yeah But freedom of speech... Freedom to be an ass... or Just plain freedom... It sucks how some use it..

at the end of the day hes still a prick

Quote:

Originally Posted by mclean007
First thing many people do when someone's CV (resumé) lands on their desk is Google their name. Good luck getting a job after that particular work of genius, Einstein.

high chance hes used afake name

Kipman725 19th May 2007, 16:31

I find the whole thing very amusing the man is clearly a comic genius and your missing the joke. The game can't hurt anyone it's not meant to be good it's just designed to produce an irrational reaction. How most of you arel reacting is very childish and amusing.

I think he deserves $3000 just for exposing how hypocritical humans can be :)

specofdust 19th May 2007, 17:00

Good man, clearly understands the idea of capitalism perfectly. Find a niché, fill it.

I got no problem whatsoever with what he's done, in fact, I think it shows guts on his part.

tecate 20th May 2007, 20:12

specofdust, couldn't agree with you more on that. The guy is smart and has guts to pull through, it is the people who are dumb enough to play into his hands.

And to all those to calling for his killing, flogging, stoning STFU. We have freedom of speech and ability to express oneself as long as it does not endanger others, even if it something you absolutely disagree on.

whisperwolf 20th May 2007, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by tecate
specofdust, couldn't agree with you more on that. The guy is smart and has guts to pull through, it is the people who are dumb enough to play into his hands.

And to all those to calling for his killing, flogging, stoning STFU. We have freedom of speech and ability to express oneself as long as it does not endanger others, even if it something you absolutely disagree on.

Freedom of speech? yes. Ability to express oneself as long as it does not endager? no. Otherwise I could express my desire of pretty things by taking all the stuff from a jeweller, people could express their feelings of naturism in the citys, but somehow pesky things called laws tend to stop us. Although I do like the fact that you've started the cry for freedom of speech by telling people to STFU.

specofdust 20th May 2007, 21:06

By STFU I meant "stop whining". It was a personal desire that they would, not me enforcing an edict.

The man has done nothing wrong here, nothign illegal. He is free to do what he has done, and like I said, good on him for having the balls and the gumption to go through with this act.

Cthippo 22nd May 2007, 05:46

I'm with Spec, the guy's a genious. He's figured out exactly what buttons to push and the netizens are running around screaming their heads off and making loads of free publicity for him.

What I find most interesting is the reactions to this. He's capitolizing on an act of violence, which we all claim to abhor. So what do we do? We advocate committing more violence against this guy. pot kettle black, folks

Regenesis 22nd May 2007, 07:06

If anybody pays a cent for that ransom then they are directly financing terrorism. Seriously though, no joke. Think about it.

specofdust 22nd May 2007, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regenesis
If anybody pays a cent for that ransom then they are directly financing terrorism. Seriously though, no joke. Think about it.

Not really. He's not creating terror by what he's doing, he's just pissing people off.