The Fryer, Vol. 3

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10/2/2008 7:14 PM | 0 Comments | Page 2 of 4

Game journalists hold petition drive for Jack Thompson

A group of prominent game journalists is gathering together to fight the recent disbarment of anti-game crusader Jack Thompson. The group, headed by GamePolitics editor Dennis McCauley, issued an open letter to the Florida Supreme Court this morning, urging them to reinstate the controversial former lawyer "whose antics have helped entertain and amuse gamers for many years now and, hopefully, for many more years to come." The statement also included a link to an online petition where gamers could sign up to "get Jack Thompson off the bread lines and back in the headlines, where he belongs." Signatories on the letter include prominent writers for Kotaku, Joystiq, Destructoid and dozens of other gaming blogs.

Reached by the Fryer for additional comment, McCauley admitted that there were personal reasons behind the petition drive. "We had gotten into a pretty good rhythm, Jack and I," he said. "He'd say or do something ridiculous, I'd post about it, he'd send me an e-mail, I'd post about that ... all the while, my ad rates were going through the roof. Good times..."

McCauley is worried that those reveling in Thompson's fall from grace haven't fully absorbed what the game journalism landscape will look like without him. "Think about it: Do you really want to read carefully considered debates with California Assemblyman Leland Yee? Long, well-thought out essays from the authors of "Grand Theft Childhood"? You may say you do, but my hit counter doesn't lie." McCauley went on to argue that Thompson delivered "the spittle-flecked, borderline-incoherent rants that gamers wanted -- that they needed -- and in that he'll be nearly impossible to replace. We've lost a giant, and we need to do everything we can to get him back."