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Sensationalized 'Top Gun' report blames pro gaming for death of Brandon Crisp
The Fifth Estate, a Canadian investigative reporting program that's been on the air for over three decades, recently ran a piece looking into the untimely death of gaming enthusiast Brandon Crisp, who ran away from his Ontario home last October after his parents took away his Xbox 360, and was found dead three weeks later due to injuries sustained from falling out of a tree. Within the first few minutes of the short documentary, titled "Top Gun," The Fifth Estate's angle on the piece becomes clear: Some entity or cultural force is to blame for Crisp's death, and it's going to find out what it is.It settles at first on Crisp's infatuation with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, which is strengthened by his active participation on the MLG-owned clan-ranking site GameBattles.com. From there, it delves into the foul underworld of competitive gaming, showing how attaching cash rewards to intense, lengthy sessions with mature video games is creating an irresistibly attractive lifestyle for those who fall beneath such titles' age restrictions. All the while, it depicts the unimaginable violence present in said games, and explain the detrimental effects it has on the lives of otherwise normal youths.We lay this outline of the 40-minute documentary before you so that you don't actually have to watch it, as the sensationalism it contains and factual liberties it takes will likely raise the gaming community's collective hackles to unprecedented levels.
Missing gamer Brandon Crisp believed to be found dead
Sad news to report today, as CTV station CP24 reports that Brandon Crisp, a Barrie, Canada teenage gamer who went missing last month, has presumably been found dead by local police. Police discovered what is believed to be Crisp's body on Fifth Line. Crisp had gone missing on October 13 after a fight with his parents over his excessive gaming habits. Following his disappearance, local businesses and Microsoft had offered rewards to those with any information regarding Crisp's whereabouts. CTV reports further that Sgt. Dave Goodbrand of the Barrie police said the department believed the body to be that of Crisp, but that it is waiting for pathology before making an official confirmation.Details regarding the boy's death are unconfirmed at this time.[Via GamePolitics]
Microsoft matches Crisp reward, investigators turn to Xbox Live
Brandon Crisp, a Barrie, Canada, teen has been missing since October 13 following a fight with his parents for taking away his Xbox 360. As hundreds of volunteers scour the area Crisp was last seen, console giant Microsoft has matched the reward for information regarding his whereabouts. Upping the reward to $50,000, Microsoft has also caught the attention of investigators who have requested the Xbox 360 manufacturer breach its normal privacy protocol and release information regarding the gamers Crisp had played with prior to leaving home. Since his disappearance Crisp's parents have publicly stated they fear the 15-year-old, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare fanatic, has been lured by gamers and may be held against his will. "Law enforcement has contacted Microsoft about this matter and we are co-operating fully with them. We are unable to comment further on the nature of our co-operation because of the ongoing investigation," a Microsoft representative told The Globe and Mail. While it is not uncommon for lawsuits to arise against game makers from parents who fear their children have become obsessed with videogames, Chris Bennett, a Vancouver-based lawyer who runs the Video Games & Interactive Entertainment Law blog, states ultimately the medium is not at fault because ultimately parents are responsible for what their children are watching on television and for the games they play. Crisp's father has made it clear that the family isn't attempting to vilify Microsoft or the console in anyway, telling The Globe and Mail, "I'm not on a witch hunt. I just want my son back." We continue to hope for Brandon's safe return home.
Ontario police turn to Xbox Live to find missing CoD4 player
Brandon Crisp, a 15-year-old Barrie, Ontario native and avid gamer, has been missing since October 11. Crisp stormed out of his home shortly after his parents, afraid for the teen's social well-being due to his proclivity for Call of Duty 4, took away his Xbox 360. Since Crisp's disappearance, several groups have made major efforts to try and locate the teen -- including Microsoft, who donated $25,000 to a reward fund for anyone with information on Crisp's whereabouts.Following the suspicions of Crisp's parents, the cyber crimes unit of the Ontario Police are now turning to an unlikely source for leads -- Brandon's Xbox Live friends list. Fearing that one of his clanmates might have something to do with his disappearance, police asked Microsoft to breach their own privacy protocols to reveal the personal information of Xbox Live subscribers that frequently associated with Crisp. Regardless of what you may think of Microsoft's actions, we're sure we all share the hope that Brandon will return home quickly and safely.
Barrie teen runs away from home, parents blame online games
For nearly two-weeks 15-year-old Brandon Crisp has been missing after running away from his home. The Barrie, Canada, teen stormed out of his house during the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend when his parents took away his Xbox 360, arguing that his excessive play of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was affecting his sleep and social skills. According to earlier reports, Brandon told his parents he would run away if his system was not returned and, in an effort to "call his bluff," his father helped the teen pack his belongings. Brandon's parents now fear that he has been "lured by gamers" through the Xbox Live gaming service, "It could be organized crime or someone involved in Internet gambling. Pedophiles can stalk kids through these games," Brandon's father told The Star. While it's easy to argue how Xbox Live is being misrepresented in this situation the fact remains that Brandon, who purchased Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare -- an M Rated title intended for gamers 17 and above -- with his own Christmas money, is still missing and his family is completely distraught. We hope for his safe return home.
