Posted Sep 27, 2007 at 10:17AM by Mabie A. Listed in: Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Games for Windows Tags: Bungie Studios, Jack Thompson, Target Corporation
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what's Jack playing on his PC? - Image 1How many titles more before Jack Thompson succeeds in driving home the point that minors are being sold Mature-rated games even without the proper identification from retail stores?

After sending his 15-year-old son to purchase BioShock (PC, Xbox 360) a while back, the kid adds yet another to his growing collection, in the form of Bungie Studios' epic Halo 3.

In a press release circulated yesterday, the anti-game advocate claims that his son was able to purchase the game from a Target store without having to verify his age. Ironically, in doing so, he helped the very title he sought a TRO for just last week.

Miami attorney and anti-violent video game activist today did a successful sting on Target Corporation. His fifteen-year-old son, on the first try, was able to buy the "Mature-rated" Halo 3 without producing any age ID at the Dadeland Station Target.


Thompson is aiming to prove that the current game age rating system is majorly flawed and that serious revisions have to be made on it to make it more effective.


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44 Comments


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   by jrm125 - 2007-09-27
 » That poor kid

I wonder if he honestly believes he isn't causing damage to his own child with all this BS.


   Re: Stealth! - 2007-09-28
 » LOL

He'd probably denied that in a heartbeat.

"Thompson is aiming to prove that the current game age rating system is majorly flawed and that serious revisions have to be made on it to make it more effective."

Actually your majorly flawed and you should have been an aborted baby. There is no revisions to fix your problems.
   by gtauk - 2007-09-27
 » i wonder

if he lets his son play the games?

   by yxxxx - 2007-09-27
 » uk

In the uk for selling a game or video to someone under-age the seller can be fined up to £5000 and/or 6 months in prison.


   by vitz3 - 2007-09-27
 » O RLY?

Then what's his son's Gamertag? I want proof.

   by Manny151 - 2007-09-27
 » He's going to keep doing this

He will do this with every rated M high profile title that comes out from now on and try to establish a pattern to then use against the gaming industry. The sad part is that dumb employees will continue to screw up and sell them his punk ass son. And as far as him letting his son play the games I doubt it. He probably storms into the store and makes a big scene about the whole thing and returns the game. This guy's a real ass and I can't wait till he screws up again and gets disbarred. He already been suspended and reprimanded twice by the state of Florida. Hopefully it's three strikes your out for lawyers too.

   by IodineX - 2007-09-27
 » ...

*burries head in shame for living in the same state as this man*

   by Thinker - 2007-09-27
 » Not sure

I would think, rather than reflecting on the ESRB ratings system, this reflects on the workplace environments of most such retain chains. These employees are probably overworked, underpaid and are probably still expected to do a swell job of selling things to people while on the floor. Such chains (and indeed, most workplaces) need to let go of the throttle, let the employees relax a bit, so that they have a chance to learn and remember, and then exercise what they have learnt.

Then again, many folks working at such places are probably teens trying to pull a salary which will work as their allowance, and are probably not much interested in doing their job.

Either way, I don't think this is a problem with the ratings system.

What do you folks think?


   Re: Advertising -


   Re: Mister Common Sense - 2007-09-27
 » .

Bill Gates wouldn't have sold him the game!

Besides, this game is a "public nusiance" in Flordia and needs to be banned. Yeah, good luck with that Jack. I know he doesn't care about kids playing violent games, he's after money. I'm not sure how he makes money by doing this s*it though. Even he should know how stupid it would be to try to stop sale of the largest selling game/movie/book of all time.

I'm loving this game! I've never played a Halo game before because I've never owned a XBOX.

   Re: .A.J. - 2007-09-27
 » I Agree.

There is absolutely no problem with the rating system.
The problem is that the stores who are supposed to adhere to the system don't. Be it because they don't care, their employees don't care or their employees are too dumb to know what's going on, it is still the retailers job to follow the rules and they are not.
If the corner store sells cigarette's, porn or liquor to a minor, is it the producer or distributor of said products fault? No, and nobody claims it is because they will, deservedly so, be publicly ridiculed. It is the fault of the retailer and it's employee(s).
Until there is a reasonable punishment for stores who commit this offense, it will continue. This idiot attorney is barking up the wrong tree.
   by Mal F4cti0n - 2007-09-27
 » ID

Well, I was ID'd when I bought it at Walmart. They wouldn't sell it to anyone without ID.

This is a RETAIL problem, not a gamemaker's problem.


   Re: Nevers - 2007-09-27
 » as was I

And I'm almost 30...
   by Nevers - 2007-09-27
 » so what

Does anybody actually take this leech on society seriously? There's way more pressing issues he should focus his enery toward. Did the kids all make fun of him because he suked at Pong or he never got over his Magnavox Oddysey dieing off ... There's better fights out there in this world.


   Re: Keith K - 2007-09-27
 » One Person

Jack Thomspon takes himself seriously.
One day a psychologist will too.

   Re: FreePlay - 2007-09-27
 » Yes.

Congresspeople take him seriously.
   by platon - 2007-09-27
 » He'll screw up his relationship with his son...

His son will hate him for manipulating him and using him like that when he'll understand better the situation...

I really hope his son is gonna be an attorney and that he's gonna sue his own father for using his parental power to influence him do "evil things" like buying a game that he should not even be able to play!!! lol

   by messiah - 2007-09-27
 » GETTING HELP

I bet his son is Using a Fake ID...

   by Advertising -
   by Keith K - 2007-09-27
 » First try at Target

It says he got it on his first try at Target.. or at least THAT Target..

I'm 100% positive he raided the entire state, being denied time and again before he found a single store that fell prey to his little operation. Then as soon as he got one little fish, he had to start rockin' the boat.

   by Surftycoon - 2007-09-27
 » dead beat

Can you imagine having your father give you money to go buy one of the most popular games on the market that all the kids at school are talking about, and then once you've bought it the d1*khead takes it from you and doesn't let you play it and says "son I was just using you to get the bad guys in trouble". What a douche.

   by HakatoX - 2007-09-27
 » this is too funny

there is no legal premise here
HE GAVE HIS SON PERMISSION TO BUY THE GAME.
that means He is making a mockery of the rating system
at this point the rating system is there for parents to know what content is in a game BEFORE THEY SAY OKAY.

I didnt take the Bar exam ... but with jackasses like this ... I really should. I know I could present more of a viable argument instead of completely adhering to the exact intent of the ESRB rating system.

I would love for whacky jackie to contact me. I want to understand how you can completely contradict the system and not work for a way to better it.

I honestly want to know if this crusade of his is for the better of man (yeah right) or to line his own pockets

doesnt any of theses actions with his son constitute neglect charges from the state?

   by phalanges - 2007-09-27
 » Honestly...

I don't even know why Halo 3 has a Mature rating. Heavenly Sword has about the same amount of blood and violence as Halo 3 but it only has a Teen rating.

Anywho, I feel sorry for the kid, being used by your own father for his own ambitions.


   Re: FreePlay - 2007-09-27
 » Probably...

... because of the sh*t talk on Xbox Live.
   by Hekynn - 2007-09-27
 » omg

jack you gotta stop this man I mean if ya dont Microsoft is gonna own ya big time no one can beat Bill Gates and his company haha!

   by [Juice] - 2007-09-27
 » ..

blame the seller not the rating system if anything sheesh.

   by Burn_Griffith - 2007-09-27
 » -_-'

I'd rather just perform Final Fantasy IX - Necron's Grand Cross attack on Thompson. But this time it will be full of media professionsals attacking Jack Thompson.

Then Jack will realize his foolish deeds are nothing but total garbage.

   by wpuig02 - 2007-09-27
 » ***** M$

***** BILL GATES

SONY PWNS M$


   Re: Laexerias - 2007-09-27
 » ...

U are such a disgrace against every PS3 owner.
   by Advertising -
   by FreePlay - 2007-09-27
 » Troll.

Yes. he's a troll.

   by spicyhamster - 2007-09-27
 » omfg

LEAVE US ALONE AND GET A LIFE OF YOUR OWN. MAYBE INSTEAD OF USING YOUR SON TO GET PUBLICITY, TAKE HIM TO A BASEBALL GAME OR SOMETHING!!! WTF?!


   Re: LiK SHoT - 2007-09-29
 » LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!

you are so right, if people actually spent time raising their kids, they wouldn't have to worry about them going on killing sprees in their high school no matter how much porn, action movies and video games they encounter.
   by Memo1205 - 2007-09-27
 » Come on'

Some one throw a coin to this man..!!!

   by Laexerias - 2007-09-27
 » Uhm

This Jerk was a bad in Super Mario when he was young, he died everytime in the first level, thats just my opinion. :]

   by Nerva - 2007-09-27
 » An Amazing Idea For Gamers

Here is an idea to slow this ignorant embarrassing imbecile down long enough for the ESRB, and retailers to have a chance at fixing the system before we, The Gamers, take a major loss.

If you haven't guessed not many people are willing to fight for us and our rights with the energy Mr. Jack(ass) Thompson is fighting against us with. Sooo We the gamers must make a stand, (non violent, he needs no more ammo) instead of talking a bunch of bull and doing nothing.

We need to get a picture of his son, as current as possible or many if possible, compile a website and flyers with his many pictures and a line or two saying, DO NOT SELL M OR ADULT RATED GAMES TO THOSE UNDER THE INTENDED AGE!
ESPECIALLY THIS ONE!

follow that with pictures of Jack's son and a link to our(all gamers who actually give a damn) website promoting our cause(fighting for our rights and ability to play games as they were intended).

If someone has said this before I am sorry and thank you for thinking like me, if not im not surprised.

SO LETS SHUT UP AND ACT! I AM! Website coming soon. I need pictures of him!!!


   Re: Laexerias - 2007-09-27
 » Lmao

i swear he dont have a son, he just disguise as a kid and buys that games, lmao.. imagine that, its great lmao.
   by LordQuas431 - 2007-09-27
 » .

I'm pretty sure his sons will hate him when he's older...once his son moves out he'll realize what an idiot his dad is

   by Kissell13 - 2007-09-27
 » Who needs a law degree

Who needs a law degree to see this guy is an idiot. Anyone capable of performing a web search can find the following info:

Retailer Support
Although it does not have the legal authority to implement or enforce retailer sales policies with respect to computer and video games, the ESRB works closely with retailers and game centers to: a) provide in-store signage which explains the rating system; b) support their store policies pertaining to the sale or rental of Mature-rated games to minors; and c) help educate and train store associates and employees with regard to the rating system. For more information on the ESRB retail partnership program and the ESRB Retail Council


IE: The is no law regarding the sale of any rating game to persons of any age. They are merely recommendations.

The game publishers and retailers need to counter-sue him for harassment.

   by Kissell13 - 2007-09-27
 » edit for above

I assume that some states do have similar sorts of laws.
I do not know the which ones though. I do know that where I live it is perfectly legal for a 5 year old to purchase Bioshock (not recommended though)


   Re: ka0sx - 2007-09-28
 » unconstitutional

In the US every time a law gets passed that forces retailers to do something similar it gets then rebuked on the fact that it is unconstitutional.
   by CHUCKINGROCKSATSPACESHIPS - 2007-09-27
 » The Rating System

The rating system is for the parents to control and decide what is appropriate. There is no law saying that stores have to abide by it. Target's moto is "GETTING THE CUSTOMER WHAT THE WANT WHEN THEY WANT IT" not to get a hypocrite's big head even bigger.

   by Kingofdaberbz - 2007-09-27
 » wow

Jack thompson is a idiot he need to just leave gamers alone he haven't did not one postive thing 4 ppl or gamers he just want money I mean at first he sounded reasonable with the GTA SA hot coffe mod understandable tone down violence in bully but this is krzy he's doing this 4 no purpose minors get sold cigs,alcohol, Rated R movies and porn that's illegal n u can get fined 4 that but retailers still sell it no ESRB gives it it's rating it say 17teen & over what can they do if the retailer don't follow the rules this been happing since the beginning of retail and will always happen so wacky jackie need 2 jus shut up man he will have a fit if Ao games make it on the market it will happen one day.


   Re: dmandn - 2007-09-28
 » he needs to get a life

M rating? His son is 15? 15 year olds can legally buy m rated stuff anyway, also MA15+ stuff, just not r rated stuff, unless the us has tighter rulings then we do here in the aus (australia). ive been playing m and ma rated stuff since i was 12, look at me, i aint no psycho killer. Rather a programmer maybe even bordering nerd.
   by Panda200x - 2007-09-28
 » LOL

He has a son? I bet his son is a product of rape :/



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