Jack Thompson, Former lawyer, "anti-video-game activist."

Jack Thompson, Former lawyer, "anti-video-game activist."

My guest today is former lawyer who gained recognition in the late nineties and early 2000s as an "anti-video game activist", criticizing the content of violent video games and their alleged effects on children. Via a series of high-profile lawsuits, including several against Rockstar, the creator of the Grand Theft Auto series, he claimed that Mature-rated games are marketed and sold to children, and that their content has played a contributing role in deadly school shootings and other tragic events in the U.S.


In a 2015 a BBC dramatization of the conflict between my guest and Rockstar, he was played by Bill Paxton. By then, however, he was no longer a practicing attorney. In 2008 the Supreme Court of Florida permanently disbarred him from practicing law.


Now seventy-two years old and keen golfer, my guest retains the beliefs that animated his zealous pursuit of video game companies. Last year he told me, via email: “I was right and I would do it all over again.”

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Jaksot(186)

Mike Rose, indie game publisher (No More Robots).

Mike Rose, indie game publisher (No More Robots).

My guest today is founder and director of the independent game publisher No More Robots. After graduating from the University of Manchester with a degree in Computer Science and Mathematics, he became...

27 Marras 20231h 20min

Jason Schreier, investigative journalist, Bloomberg.

Jason Schreier, investigative journalist, Bloomberg.

My guest today is a New York Times-bestselling author and journalist. After graduating from NYU with a degree in writing, he worked as a freelance journalist covering video games for Wired magazine, J...

20 Marras 20231h 20min

Bryan Lee O'Malley, graphic novelist (Scott Pilgrim).

Bryan Lee O'Malley, graphic novelist (Scott Pilgrim).

My guest today is a Canadian cartoonist and creator of one of the best-loved graphic novels of the 2000s. Born in London, Canada, he joined the Film Studies programme at the University of Western Onta...

13 Marras 20231h 10min

Naomi Alderman, novelist (The Power, The Future).

Naomi Alderman, novelist (The Power, The Future).

My guest today is an award-winning novelist, journalist, writer of games, and presenter of radio programmes. She grew up in London, studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University, the...

6 Marras 20231h 16min

Meghna Jayanth, narrative designer (80 Days, Sunless Seas, Thirsty Suitors).

Meghna Jayanth, narrative designer (80 Days, Sunless Seas, Thirsty Suitors).

My guest today is an award-winning writer and narrative designer for video games.As a child she split her time between Bangalore, London, and Saudi Arabia before settling in the UK to study English Li...

30 Loka 20231h 23min

Lucas Pope, gamemaker (Papers, Please; Return of the Obra Dinn).

Lucas Pope, gamemaker (Papers, Please; Return of the Obra Dinn).

My guest today is the American designer of two of the most highly regarded experimental games yet made. He grew up in Virginia, where his interest in hobbyist robotics led him to study mechanical engi...

23 Loka 20231h 15min

David Wilson, former Director of Communications, PlayStation. (LIVE @ WASD)

David Wilson, former Director of Communications, PlayStation. (LIVE @ WASD)

My guest today is the former Director of Communications for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. After graduating from the University of Exeter, he joined Dennis Publishing where he worked as deputy ed...

16 Loka 20231h 8min

Pierre Novellie, comedian.

Pierre Novellie, comedian.

My guest today is a stand-up comedian, writer, radio host and podcaster. Born in South Africa, his family then moved to the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. He studied Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic langu...

9 Loka 20231h 8min

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