Scandalous Games

Scandalous Games is a video game history podcast that takes a closer look at video game related controversies. Every episode, historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story about a scandalous event from gaming's past to his friends who offer commentary on moral panics, ill-advised advertising campaigns, unusual figures, and any and all topics related to video game scandals and how they shaped the medium. New episodes drop on the first and third Tuesdays of every month! Check out more info, including show notes and sources, at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

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Scandalous Games

Jack Thompson v. Rockstar (with Jay Brandstetter from I'm From the Internet), Part 2: Bully bully bullied

May 19, 2026 • Scandalous Games • Episode 84

0:00 | 1:25:32

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Ryan Weaver, and special guest Jay Brandstetter from the internet history podcast I'm From the Internet. We bring you the thrilling conclusion of our look at Jack Thompson's personal war against Rockstar and Take-Two and, subsequently, his legal career. This time, the publishers of Grand Theft Auto, Manhunt, and Bully take the fight to Jack, preemptively suing him to keep him from blocking the release of Manhunt 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV. We also cover Jack's disbarment and reflect on his legacy as a crusader against violent video games.

Topics discussed include: a Steven Seagal interlude, Thompson goes down fighting, some people don't care for naughty words, and the panic over video games passes Jack by, and how a bad lawyer helped secure video games as a creative medium.

For more on SpyHunter: Nowhere to Run, a video game tie-in to a Spy Hunter movie that never got made starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpyHunter:_Nowhere_to_Run.

Read Jack's countersuit to Rockstar/Take-Two here: Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. v. John B. Thompson, Case No. 07-20693-CIV-ALTONAGA, March 21, 2007, https://web.archive.org/web/20070927225834/http://www.gamepolitics.com/images/legal/FL-T2-JT-counter.pdf.

And his closing statement he wanted to read at his disbarment hearing here, see: Stephanie Sterling, “Jack Thompson walks out of hearing, court recommends disbarment,” Destructoid, June 4, 2008, https://web.archive.org/web/20200810161210/https://www.destructoid.com/stories/jack-thompson-walks-out-of-hearing-court-recommends-disbarment-89091.phtml.

We, again, refer readers back to Jack's disbarment ruling: The Florida Bar v. John Bruce Thompson, Case No. SC 07-80: 71, https://supremecourt.flcourts.gov/content/download/375112/file/07-80_ROR.pdf (and be sure to check in next month for a fun surprise related to it).

Also, here's a link to the full recording of the fight between Adam Sessler and Jack in our latest installment of Scandalous Games Theater: Barrie Hardymon, “GTA IV on Botn,” NPR Blog of the Nation, May 1, 2008, https://www.npr.org/sections/talk/2008/05/gtaiv_on_botn.html.

Be sure to check out Jay's show, I'm From the Internet, wherever you get your podcasts: https://shows.acast.com/im-from-the-internet-a-podcast-about-somethingawfulcom.

More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.