I think Jack needs to go back to law school.

You cannot sue the manufacturers of something if someone uses their product to make something that is tasteless, hurts someone, etc. Here's a few examples:

- You can't sue Ford because a guy used a Ford F-350 to mow down a bunch of people
- You can't sue a gun manufacturer if someone uses it in a crime (With some exceptions)
- You can't sue Sharpie because some kid had to go to an emergency room to get it dislodged from his anus during an exploratory time in his youth (Not me BTW)
- You can't sue Microsoft for someone using their OS for piracy or other illegal acts.

Sure, Valve gives people the ability to mod their games. But they have no say in the final product, nor do they endorse the works, with very few exceptions. And if you argue that there is a legal precedent for a lawsuit, remember that the Super Columbine Massacre RPG mod was never the focus of a lawsuit, for the creator or the program used (RPG Maker IIRC)

Also, Jack, heres a quote I think you should memorize, because it would have stopped 99% of your lawsuits if you actually fucking believed in it.

"If you believe in freedom of speech, you believe in freedom of speech for views you don't like. Stalin and Hitler, for example, were dictators in favor of freedom of speech for views they liked only. If you're in favor of freedom of speech, that means you're in favor of freedom of speech precisely for views you despise." - Noam Chomsky

^The above quote also got me in trouble with my supervisors in the military. I guess they didn't like being compared to Stalin and Hitler.

I laughed at that.

+1 for good essay though. Now we just need to get this on 4chan...

If my netbook could play this murder simulator, I would play it. After playing this murder simulator, I would then go out and murder someone because I saw it in a game. Since my netbook cannot into Half-Life, I cannot go on a murdering rampage because I can't receive my instructions on how to do so from Half-Life. GOGer's! Help a brotha out here!

I'm not gonna link it since the website has porno content, but go to Encyclopedia Dramatica and search for HTS-Noob. Didn't result in a lawsuit but was hilarious.

Also, this mod makes me wonder which is the lesser of two evils: Rapelay or School Shooting mod?

In the same vein, Jack probably helped sell more copies of the Grand Thief Auto series than Rockstar's entire marketing department.

He has always been misinformed (to such a point I believe it's deliberate) and loved spreading his misinformation (like telling everyone the Virginia Tech killer has played Counter Strike despite tons of evidence of the contrary).

That's not the first time he went against mods either. He stated that the fact that there was Nude Mods for The Sims 2 is the proof that Electronic Arts is collaborating with the Porn Industry (What!). A few years later, Thompson offered his help to EA for the Take-Two Takeover (he hated Rockstar and Take Two for some reason) and EA turned down his offer in an AWESOME way. That was back in 2008. I really applauded EA for it's slap in Thompson's face back then.

Yea... But what about the time when the kissed the US Army's ass? And changed Talibans to Opposing Armies?

The Taliban to Opposing Army is a controversy that ANYONE can do without, especially during those times. It will be funny 40 years from now (remember the nazis in war games), but this was totally inappropriate.

It's not "kissing asses". It's choosing your fights. And this one was ridiculous.

The issue there was that they were allowing the player to play as the Taliban. Or at least that was my understanding of it. I'm not aware of any games out that allow you to play as a Nazi. Shoot Nazis, sure, but play as one, I haven't seen a game that allows it.

Quick, to the modatorium!

I don't get why people even care whats in a game. If you don't like it then don't play it. Movies are allowed to put almost anything they want in them, as long as they don't play during the day. If a games controversial just put a higher rating on it.

I can remember a few Flight Simulators that allowed you to take the sides of the Axis. No FPS comes to mind though (I don't like War games, so I may not know all of them).

And beside, there's also the fact that "Taliban" isn't an army per se, not even a nation (or an ideology). It's a sect. If they were called Talibans, EA would've suffered quite a backlash that they didn't need (it would NOT have made the game sell better). I think they made the right call by giving a vague name.

And what exactly is the issue here?

Because in today's gaming world you cannot be shooting at americans. Other nations are free "prey" though.

Please feel free to correct me, but it seems to be this way...

i'm agree with ModDB . For me that "mod" looks stupid .