CNN Talk Show Attacks 25 to Life

"Nancy Grace," a daily talk show airing on CNN, took up the attack on Eidos upcoming game 25 to Life on a recent episode. The show joins New York Senator Charles Schumer in criticizing the title for its realistic depiction of lethal violence against police officers. The June 21st broadcast featured a segment centering on the game near the tail end of the episode. Footage of the game, as well as real-life downed officers, was shown during a discussion between host Nancy Grace, perennial video game litigator Jack Thompson, defense attorney Dino Lombardi, and attorney Debra Opri. Thompson and Grace echoed Sen. Schumer's call for Microsoft and Sony, manufacturers of the consoles that 25 to Life will appear on, to revoke their licensing agreements with Eidos to prevent the game's release. Thompson referred to Eidos' game as well as criticism magnet Grand Theft Auto as "murder simulators," and cited a University of Indiana study he claimed linked video game playing to copycat crimes. Lombardi and Opri used the opportunity to defend the gaming industry, noting that films and other media had been portraying violence against police for decades without a similar outcry -- with the exception of the the Freedom Alliance's investigation into Ice T's song "Cop Killer," in which Jack Thompson was also a leading figure -- and that the game is both rated M under the ESRB as well as protected speech under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. Eidos, publisher of the game, had no comment. 25 to Life, in which players can choose to play either as gangsters or policemen, is due out in October.