Thompson Stifled by Take Two Suit

Take Two has done something that many gamers have probably dreamed of: they've managed to make Jack Thompson shut up. In return for dismissing their suit against Thompson (and the dismissal of Thompson's counter-suit), Thompson has agreed to limit communication with Take-Two Entertainment. He's also barred for the time being from filing suit against games made by the company, ensuring we'll see a minimum of court drama around the release of GTA IV later this year. Ars Technica's Opposable Thumbs blog reports: "It appears that his once mighty roar is now to be temporarily quieted, as the well-documented case--which included numerous bold claims, outrageous scandals, and even a counter-suit--between Thompson and publisher Take-Two has reached a settlement ... Any statements or concerns that Thompson wishes to voice will now have to first go through Take-Two's lawyers."

Awww...

[andrewd18]

I was really hoping for anything but definition #2.

stifle1 /stafl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[stahy-fuhl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, -fled, -fling.
-verb (used with object)
1. to quell, crush, or end by force: to stifle a revolt; to stifle free expression.
2. to suppress, curb, or withhold: to stifle a yawn.
3. to kill by impeding respiration; smother.
-verb (used without object)
4. to suffer from difficulty in breathing, as in a close atmosphere.
5. to become stifled or suffocated.

Re:Can I get a hell yeah!

[JustNilt]

I suspect he's currently preparing his lawsuit against his god for breach of contract.

Let me be the first to say...

[AltGrendel]

...it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

Please note: I tried to use the sarcasm tags, but the filter rejected them.

Thompson is really a game industry plant!

[PFI_Optix]

Think about it...what is the best way to marginalize a set of opinions? By being very radical in a very public way. Thompson's crusade has made him the poster boy for all those who would try to ban violent video games, and his status as a laughing stock means other like-minded individuals don't want to be identified with him and back down from their positions.

So could it be that Jack Thompson is really working for the game industry, out there embarassing into silence anyone who would voice a similar opinion if it weren't for his incessant babbling?

What's more, good ol' JT has done more to get consumers educated about game ratings with his public displays of affliction than the government and ESRB ever could have. Thanks to him and others like him, parents are aware of the ratings system that is the standard rebuttal by the game industry when they get airtime thanks to Jack.

I think we need to stop hating Jack Thompson and thank him. Thank him for crippling the efforts to ban or restrict violent games. Thank him for giving the game industry a voice in the national media in the form of rebuttals to his statements. Thank him for giving the media a reason to discuss how the game industry and retail stores already provide concerned parents with the ability to know what their child will be playing.

Thank you, Jack Thompson. Thank you. Your secret is safe with us.