Scandalous Games

Jack Thompson v. Rockstar (with Jay Brandstetter from I'm From the Internet), Part 1: Bully bullies Bully

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.  This time around, as we await the long-anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto VI, we go back to the well of stories about infamous anti-video game lawyer Jack Thompson and take a closer look at his legal feuds with Rockstar and Take-Two. Topics discussed include: we nerd out over the Saints Row series, Bully, and early 2000s wrestling; the corrupting influences of Dennis the Menace and Home Alone; Jack fights a judge and nearly winds up in jail, and Jack Thompson: classic rock fan. If you liked this episode, you owe it to yourself to read through Jack's 2008 disbarment ruling. See: 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. Be sure to check out the Peaceaholics' August 25, 2006, protest of Bully: TSP Episode 1: Peaceholics' protest of Rockstar,” softwarepirate, August 25, 2006, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm6An_SPGQw [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm6An_SPGQw].  You can also read Thompson's full, unabridged rant against Judge Friedman over his Bully ruling here: “Thompson Verbally Attacks Judge,” Kotaku, October 13, 2006, https://web.archive.org/web/20061030105555/http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/jack-thompson/thompson-verbally-attacks-judge-207578.php [https://web.archive.org/web/20061030105555/http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/jack-thompson/thompson-verbally-attacks-judge-207578.php].  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.

2025: A Year in Controversies, Part 2: We need to talk about Elon

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch and Phil Thomas. We wrap up our look back at the year in controversies that was 2025 with a deep dive into the gaming exploits of everyone's favorite (?) 4chan-pilled, billionaire oligarch/1337 gamer: Elon Musk. We dissect Musk's claims that he is a high-level player in several competitive games, how he handles when people call those mad fly skillz into question, and where his alleged gaming prowess fits into the larger world we find ourselves in. One production note: this will be our only episode this month. Check back for a fun new pair of episodes (complete with a special guest) next month! Topics discussed include:  the rich filmography of Elon Musk, his maidenless Elden Ring build, his feud with Asmongold, Kevin costs us the Raid: Shadow Legends sponsorship, the legend of Let Me Solo Her, Fred the Batboy: World Series MVPharassing robber barons, and what do throwing pies and shoes have to do with Elon's terrible video gameplay? For more on Musk's alleged role in the Quake competitive scene in the 1990s, see: Karl Jobst, “The Elon Musk Cheating Scandal,” February 28, 2025, https://youtu.be/z1ykCc588Zw?si=RznsRpzpbfC7mxpO [https://youtu.be/z1ykCc588Zw?si=RznsRpzpbfC7mxpO].  For a deep dive into Musk and his flawed bio by Walter Isaacson, see the If Books Could Kill's series: Part 1: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/867-if-books-could-kill-104279346/episode/elon-musk-311623273?app=listen Part 2: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/867-if-books-could-kill-104279346/episode/elon-musk-part-2-313518298?app=listen For more on that time Elon trained Grok to play video games for him, see: Grace Kay, “War rooms, group chats, and video games: Inside Elon Musk's AI startup,” Business Insider, February 20, 2026, https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-xai-leadership-style-big-year-grok-ipo-spacex-2026-2.  For information on Elon's Diablo build see: "Master the Elon Musk Build in Diablo IV: Unleashing the Power of the Artificer's Pit," MMOORPG, December 18, 2024, https://www.mmoorpg.com/2024/12/18/3700/ For more on Elden Ring softcaps, see: Maroles Valentina Stella, "What are Elden Ring's soft caps for all stats in 2025?" Polygon, January 1, 2025, https://www.polygon.com/elden-ring-guide-walkthrough/24185164/soft-caps-stats-strength-vigor-endurance-arcane/. For a full guide to sorceries in Elden Ring, see their respective page on FextraLife: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Sorceries.  Also, be sure to check out the podcast I'm From the Internet for their series on Jack Thompson's "A Modest Video Game Proposal," complete with a shoutout to us. Part One: https://shows.acast.com/im-from-the-internet-a-podcast-about-somethingawfulcom/episodes/a-modest-video-game-proposal-2005-part-one Part Two: https://shows.acast.com/im-from-the-internet-a-podcast-about-somethingawfulcom/episodes/a-modest-video-game-proposal-2005-part-two More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

The 2025 Real Game Awards: Sir, this is a Dave & Buster's

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friend/partner, Kate Lynch. We interrupt our regularly-scheduled second episode on 2025 in controversies to take one more look back at the anti-woke paid award show The Real Game Awards, which, against all odds, aired a new edition on February 23, 2026. Join Kate and Kevin as we review the awards and their (lack of) impact so you don't have to. Topics discussed include: Paying $150 to watch a YouTube video at a Dallas Dave & Buster's, the AI slop garbage pile that was their opening sequence, the coveted Best Jiggle Physics award, and a bunch of anti-woke grifters get mad over a Black samurai.  Here's the shot we discussed of the turnout at this year's Real Game Awards, courtesy of its creator: https://x.com/StutteringCraig/status/2026110216366928152. For a look at Yaskue and the anti-woke backlash to his inclusion in Assassin's Creed: Shadows, see:  Robert Tuck, "We Need to Talk About Yasuke: Fact, Fiction, and History with the ‘African Samurai’ Part 1," Medium, January 6, 2025, https://medium.com/the-sundial-acmrs/we-need-to-talk-about-yasuke-fact-fiction-and-history-with-the-african-samurai-part-1-528a75dcc5ae. Robert Tuck, "We Need To Talk About Yasuke: Fact, Fiction, and History with the ‘African Samurai’ Part 2," Medium, January 9, 2025, https://medium.com/the-sundial-acmrs/we-need-to-talk-about-yasuke-fact-fiction-and-history-with-the-african-samurai-part-2-4d470e3d3574.  More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

2025: A Year in Controversies, Part 1: Notes from the Reddit regime

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friend, Andy Hunter. We take a look back at a controversy from the previous year, examining how the announcement of a remastered version of Halo: Combat Evolved inspired an AI-generated meme-off between GameStop and the Trump Administration. We also keep ourselves sane by sharing our favorite games of 2025. Topics discussed include: people trading in taxidermy animals for $5 in store credit, GameStop's meme king CEO, Sony's representative at the Xbox-PlayStation peace meetings, Nintendo looks the other way, and a certain former Florida attorney makes an appearance in the Epstein files.  For more on that, check out: Jeffrey Epstein to Lily Ann Sanchez, January 3, 2015, www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet 9/EFTA00867548.pdf.  For more on the "GameStonks"/WallStreetBets affair, see: Dan Olson, "This Is Financial Advice," Folding Ideas, September 30, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pYeoZaoWrA.  James Jani, "The GameStop Cult: An Untold Story," James Jani, https://youtu.be/7LPuXowifJ4?si=jK_VqyvlmZI3QuOb.  More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

The Real Game Awards, Part 4: No ethical consumption under the Imperium

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch and Andy Hunter. Just in time for the latest installment of the Real Game Awards, we finish our look back at the first installment of the anti-woke game awards show made by gamers courageous enough to give Stuttering Craig Skistimas money. This time, we wade into the role of Warhammer 40,000 and the Real Game Awards and examine the show's impact (or lack thereof). Topics discussed include: literally betting on a game getting a good review score, imperial cheeseburgers, the complicated meanings of Warhammer 40,000's Imperium of Man, Craig's membership dues come up, and we read a TRGA acceptance speech. For more details on the people who get into Warhammer 40,000 specifically for the fascism, check out: Tim Colwill, “Satire Without Purpose Will Wander In Dark Places,” June 2023, https://timcolwill.com/40K.html [https://timcolwill.com/40K.html] Jordan Carroll, “Welcome to Warhammer 40K’s anti-fascist future,” Polygon, October 25, 2022, https://www.polygon.com/23414657/warhammer-40k-anti-fascism-space-marines-capitalism-leagues-of-votann-hate [https://www.polygon.com/23414657/warhammer-40k-anti-fascism-space-marines-capitalism-leagues-of-votann-hate]  Edwin Evans-Thirlwell, “Why play a fascist? Unpacking the hideousness of the Space Marine,” Rock Paper Shotgun, October 24, 2024, https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/why-play-a-fascist-unpacking-the-hideousness-of-the-space-marine [https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/why-play-a-fascist-unpacking-the-hideousness-of-the-space-marine] Henry Neilson, “Satire Dies in Grimdarkness: Warhammer 40,000 and Fascism,” Medium, August 23, 2022, https://medium.com/@huntingsunrise/satire-dies-in-grimdarkness-warhammer-40-000-and-fascism-b0dccc2280af [https://medium.com/@huntingsunrise/satire-dies-in-grimdarkness-warhammer-40-000-and-fascism-b0dccc2280af].  For some genuinely good introductions to 40K's lore, I recommend you check out the work of Arbiter Ian: https://www.youtube.com/@ArbitorIan If you'd like to read along our look at the 40K rulebook, we referred to this edition: https://archive.org/details/warhammer-40-k-rogue-trader-rulebook/mode/2up [https://archive.org/details/warhammer-40-k-rogue-trader-rulebook/mode/2up].  More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.