Screaming Penguin - Source Does Matter

It just keeps on rolling. Now Jack Thompson has asked the feds to get involved in his P-A spat:

"I have testified twice before the Washington state legislature on behalf of video game bills authored by Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, who understands the danger posed by these murder simulation games. Governor Locke signed the bill she got passed into law."

"Because of my prominence, for better or worse, on this public safety problem, a 'gamer' a few months ago decided to threaten to kill me via the Internet. I received thousands of e-mails from a kid who was able to blast e-mail me using a service in Ireland that made the death threats appear to come from the following e-mail address: georgewbush@whitehouse.gov."

"Because of the domain name, the Secret Service here in Miami got involved and shut that extortion down."

"Now there is new extortion, and it is coming from a Seattle company called Penny Arcade. I can provide the details to your investigators, but basically this company has been using, I believe I can show, their Internet site and various other means to encourage and solicit criminal harassment of me. This would appear to violate state and federal laws."

"I asked Penny Arcade's attorney to stop this targeting, and he said it was my fault. Maybe he's played too many video games and thinks that flesh and blood people are just pixilated pinatas."

"Please help me if you can... They claim the First Amendment, it seems, applies only to them."

Meanwhile he is calling for a "truce" with some in the games industry says the inquirer:

In his latest proposal he has asked both the VSDA and the IEMA to come to the table with him rather than necessitate government regulation of their industry. Thompson also claims that if the industry allows the current opportunity to slip by, there may be no turning back. "Trust me," he says, "I know what I know."

Thompson suggests that there be a summit attended both by pro-family groups and representatives of game retailers to try to create a hotfix for the current game rating and enforcement system. With noble sentiment positively pouring forth, Thompson claims that neither side need see government involvement to forge an agreement. "We can do it together," he says.

Thompson also takes a jab at Doug Lowenstein, of the ESA, claiming that Lowenstein now questions the integrity of any who disagree with him. Having not softened his ways entirely, Thompson describes Lowenstein as a, "self immolating clown" in an open letter to the ESA. "Doug has done for your industry what leprosy does for dating," he says.

While some have been quick to point out that Thompson may have no idea what he's talking about, the lawyer insisted, in a phone conversation with the INQ, that he is, "very close" to industry insiders and has been kept "very well informed" in these matters. He also affirmed that he believes Doug Lowenstein is one of the biggest problems with the industry at present due to his attitude in conducting business.