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Lightning Motorcycles risks neck for an extra 10 MPH on the Flying Banana
Weeks after breaking the electric motorcycle land speed record, Lightning Motorcycles decided it wasn't satisfied with 206.079 MPH. Shunning a well-deserved vacation, its Flying Banana MK. II bike hit a verified speed of 215.960 MPH. The company is taking orders for the $38,888 eco-widowmaker and assures you it'll be cheap to run -- the record breaking trip in the video below used a mere 18 cents of electricity.
Lightning Motorcycles electric bike blazes past 2010 record, joins 200 MPH Club
Bonneville, home to the world's fastest lawnmower record, has just added another notch to its land speed belt -- this time for electric motorcycles. When last we left Utah's salt flats, Mission One had claimed top honors for its all-electric bike, but that title has once again been usurped by rival Lightning. Averaging a speed of 206.079 mph, the team's Flying Banana Mk. II blazed past its 2010 record of 176.044 mph to claim the speed hog glory. The chopper's rider, Paul Thede, now gets to join the likes of 65 other inductees in Bonneville's exclusive 200 MPH Club. His award for such a hallowed distinction? Why, he got to wear the club's red hat for a whole 24 hours.
Utah rep won't continue pursuing game legislation after SCOTUS decision
Following the Supreme Court's decision to dismiss a California law rendering the sale of violent video games to minors illegal, a Utah politician has pledged not to continue pushing for a similar law in his own state. Since 2007, Representative Michael Morley has been in support of a law drafted by Jack Thompson, passed in Utah's legislature in 2008, that would allow parents to sue retailers for false advertising if they sold mature-rated games to children. Morley is still in support of that bill, but recognized that continued efforts to make it law would likely be fruitless. "It's not on my radar to fight that fight," he told the Deseret News. In the bill's defense, though, he told the paper that his bill was designed to facilitate parental lawsuits, and not impose a fine as the proposed California law would have. [Image: NMA]
Second Utah Apple Store seen in job listings
Utah is home to many stunning natural wonders, and soon it will be home to not one, but two Apple stores. Job listings spotted by ifoAppleStore reveals the Cupertino company may open a second retail store in the Fashion Place Mall located in Murray, Utah by the end of the year. This second store will be a mere eight miles away from Utah's flagship Gateway store, which is located in downtown Salt Lake City. Though eight miles is a relatively small distance for a state as big as Utah, the choice of Murray as a home for a second store is driven by demographics. Though Murray itself is relatively small with 34,000 residents, the Fashion Place Mall is located in a prime retail district that boasts of over 875,000 area residents whose average salary is $76,098. It is also physically situated on an intersection with vehicle traffic of over 174,000 cars per day. Sounds like a good place to sell a lot of MacBook Airs and iPad 2s, no?
Isis NFC payment system gets its first market in Salt Lake City, Utah, launches in 2012
Like 3D on high-end HDTVs, NFC-based payment systems seem set to invade our mobile lives whether we like them or not. Isis, a collaborative venture between AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and a bunch of banking big timers, has today announced the first market for its rollout of a contactless payment scheme, and it's none other than Salt Lake City, Utah. That'll surely raise eyebrows in locales that may consider themselves more tech-savvy, but we reckon starting off with a city of a smaller scale might be good for getting this "mobile wallet" system off the ground. And then there's the added benefit of Isis snagging a deal to enable compatibility with the entire Utah Transit Authority footprint. If all plans are executed properly, that should mean that by summer 2012 the good people of SLC will be able to NFC their way around town with just their smartphone in hand, while also swiping it through checkouts like some form of highly advanced techno-humans.
PAX East 2011: Stalking through DDO's Update 9
One of the scariest games I ever played has to be the original Silent Hill. A nearly empty town shrouded with fog and featuring one of the most terrifying elementary schools ever devised? Yes, this is why I didn't sleep much in 1999. So when I started to get flashbacks as Fernando Paiz took me through the creepy alleyways of Dungeon and Dragons Online's upcoming update, I had to excuse myself and run around the PAX East show floor for a few minutes while shrieking like a tormented cat. OK, it wasn't that frightening, but I definitely was getting a Silent Hill vibe from the latest adventure pack that Turbine has crafted for the game. Coming "soon" (TM, all rights reserved, void in Utah and the Yukon Territories), DDO's Update 9 promises to bring a wide assortment of lavish treats to a hungry populace. At the center of it is a level 15 quest chain that centers around mysterious abductions, a skittish population, and nightmares made flesh. Hit the jump as I recall my brush with certain death in these adventures and relate the other jewels of Update 9!
Electronic Arts opens new studio in Salt Lake City, Utah
EA has opened a new "state-of-the-art" facility in Salt Lake City, Utah to house its appropriately named EA Salt Lake team. The team has been working on casual titles under the EA Play label for franchises like Monopoly, Littlest Pet Show and NERF. Though EA had maintained a facility in Bountiful, Utah since 2006, "the entire staff" has been moved to the Salt Lake location. The new 20,000 square foot building currently houses 100 employees -- and appear to be hiring. In attendance for the opening was Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert, who was lieutenant governor during the time Governor Jon Huntsman vetoed a Jack Thompson-authored game bill in the state. It would appear that Utah's hospitable stance toward the industry is paying off for its economy. %Gallery-98003%
Gaming and Electronics Expo in Salt Lake City this weekend
We're right in the middle of convention season, but even if you're not planning to hit up San Diego, Seattle or Tokyo this year, there's always Salt Lake City. That's where the Gaming and Electronics Expo (GEEX) is being held this coming weekend. With a 27-hour LAN party, tournaments and exhibits all weekend long, and over 15,000 attendees expected, it sounds like Sandy, Utah (just south of SLC) will be rocking it. If you're going to be around, tickets are still available, and for $18 with a $5 discount online, they're one of the cheapest show passes you can still find for sale this summer. The exhibitor list isn't quite as big as PAX, and the speakers aren't quite as star-studded as Comic-Con, but if you live in Utah, you should probably take what you can get and enjoy yourself anyway, right?
Eye-tracking lie detectors inch a little closer to reality
If lie detection is your thing, choices aren't exactly scarce: you can go with Lego for the kids, Skype-centric for remote fibber identification, or even use a headband if you can corral your suspect long enough. Hoping to add to that list is the University of Utah, whose eye-tracking lie detector has been licensed to a local company in order to explore its viability as a commercial product. As with Blade Runnner's Voight-Kampff empathy test, Utah's methodology revolves around monitoring things like eye movement, pupil dilation and response time -- with the major difference being that you're trying to identify truth evaders rather than skinjobs. John Kircher, one of the lead researchers, claims results so far have been as good as or better than those obtained with polygraph testing, though he admits the project is still in its early stages. No worries, though, we're sure they'll perfect the technique in time for our post-apocalyptic, Vangelis-scored future.
Epilogue: After Utah game bill dies, state rep apologizes for Jack Thompson
Things haven't been going well for the Utah gaming bill that ex-attorney Jack Thompson penned and, for that matter, the gentleman himself. After sending out an email to a variety of Utah legislators a few weeks back, the man came under threat of legal action from Utah senate president Michael Waddoups. And today, GamePolitics is reporting that the bill's original sponsor, state representative Mike Morley, has written an email to his colleagues apologizing for Thompson's actions (printed in full after the break). Morley writes to his fellow reps that, "[Thompson] doesn't speak for me nor do I condone or appreciate his actions nor some his tactics," seemingly ending his relationship with Thompson. Unsurprisingly, Thompson has responded to Morley's email (also found after the break), claiming, "Mike Morley's apology is ridiculous. I didn't scandalous [sic] anyone with an image of two clad women." He further posits, "Your family values stance is a sham," refererring to the legislators he wrote. We're not sure of many things in politics, but we are sure of this: You probably shouldn't directly insult the people you'd like to support you. While this is likely the last time you'll hear about this Utah bill, we're 100 percent sure this isn't the last time you'll hear from Jack Thompson.[image source]
Jack Thompson takes his fight to Utah radio
Fueled by the recent veto of his Utah game bill and the constant thirst for more, Jack Thompson made an appearance on Utah radio show "Utah Eagle Forum" recently to discuss the merits of the bill and, well, to be Jack Thompson. Claiming the Columbine school shooting occurred due to "training on Doom" and saying the recent school shooting in Germany occurred due to the shooter's predilection for Counterstrike and Far Cry 2, Thompson immediately built a case for the audience to be concerned "why this is so terribly serious, to their own safety."As GamePolitics points out, at no point in the show does anyone make note of Thompson's lack of an actual license to practice law or of his disbarring. He is, in fact, introduced as "an attorney from Florida." An odd omission considering the theme of the show is "Truth in Advertising."
Veto override for Utah game bill still possible, improbable
Utah-based newspaper Deseret News recently ran a piece about the extraordinary measures Utah state legislators would need to take to resuscitate HB 353, which enforces strict penalties on retailers who sell M-rated games to minors, following Gov. Jon Huntsman's somewhat unexpected veto. The paper claims "legislative sources" are reporting neither the Utah House nor Senate have the votes to reach the two-thirds majority to override the veto -- though this may end up being the smaller of two hurdles supporters of the bill will need to clear.The larger obstacle standing in the way of HB 353's sponsors is cold, hard cash. Earlier this year, the legislature canceled an "interim study day," effectively saving the state $25,000. In order to call a legislative override session, the state would essentially spend the funds they saved due to the cancellation. Hopefully, they have the good sense to just let the thing die -- on the off chance that they should manage to pass the bill once more, they'll almost certainly be paying more than $25,000 to the ESA for legal fee reimbursement.[Via GamePolitics]
Utah Governor vetoes video game and movie legislation [update]
It's game over in Utah, for now. Utah Governor Jon Huntsman (R) has vetoed the video game and movie retail restriction bill, which would have enforced strict penalties on retailers who sell M-rated games (and R-rated movies) to "buyers subject to an age restriction or recommendation." The legislation (HB 353), authored by Jack Thompson and legislator Mike Morle, recently swept the Utah House of Representatives by a 25 to four margin. According to GamePolitics, Jack Thompson claims the backers of the bill will seek an override of the veto. In a letter explaining his reasons for the veto, Huntsman says HB 353 would likely "be struck down by the courts as an unconstitutional violation of the Dormant Commerce Clause and/or the First Amendment." Huntsman estimates that a possible "unintended consequence" of passing the legislation would be that the industries most affected could choose to forgo the use of "age appropriate labels on goods and services," because of their voluntary nature -- hurting families in the long run. Huntsman full letter can be read after the break. Update: Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the ESA has responded to the news in a comment, found after the break.
Utah senate passes gaming retail restriction bill
After breezing through the Utah House of Representatives with an overwhelming vote of 70 for and two against, HB 353, a piece of legislation authored by Jack Thompson and legislator Mike Morley which enforces strict penalties on retailers who sell M-rated games (and R-rated movies) to "buyers subject to an age restriction or recommendation," found a similar reception in the state senate -- it was approved with a vote of 25 for and four against earlier today.We now have three consecutive events to eagerly anticipate -- first, the bill must be approved by Utah governor Jon Huntsman before it's officially adopted. Second, the new policy will go into effect on January 1, 2010. Finally, we wait to hear how the ESA will spend the humongous legal fee reimbursement check that the taxpayers of Utah will indirectly cut when the bill is likely found unconstitutional. Perhaps some sort of tropical outing for their employees? We hear the beaches of Costa Rica are simply breathtaking.
Thompson responds to ESRB letter on Utah legislation
Last week, ESRB chief Patricia Vance urged lawmakers in Utah to reconsider a bill that would punish retailers that advertise an adherence to the game rating system when they fail to comply. Proving that we're still in Reality Prime and not some alternate, Cubs-just-won-the-World-Series history, disbarred lawyer Jack Thompson has responded with some of the old classics: Misleading information and scare tactics.First, let us say we agree with JT's point that he should be allowed to peruse the audit which claims a 94 percent compliance rate for Utah retailers (it does seem high). But scarcely can we nod our heads in agreement before Jack drops a line like, "Testimony in the U.S. Congress has established that the ESRB doesn't even play the games it rates! " No, Jack, it watches video of the games, because members of the ESRB are not Nintendo Game Play Counselors manning the 1-900 line in the late '80s. They're not trying to boost their Gamerscores, they're doing a boobies check.He then goes on to complain about the lack of ratings enforcement on the internet, which has nothing to do with the Utah legislation. Finally, Jack doesn't address Vance's most compelling point: Retailers who don't attempt to comply with the ESRB would be utterly unaffected. Lest you think we're nit-picking, we've put the full thing for you after the break. This may sound nutty, but it's almost nice to see that, after all these years, we're not just vilifying Jack Thompson out of habit.
ESRB president writes open letter to Utah parents and leaders
Now that the Utah video game bill, authored by disbarred attorney Jack Thompson, has passed the state's House of Representatives, the ESRB is taking the opportunity to write an open letter to the parents and leaders of Utah. Written by ESRB President Patricia Vance, the letter concludes that the proposed legislation seeks to fix a system that isn't broken. The letter proposes that instead of attacking retailers with the possibility of a lawsuit or fines if they sell M-rated titles to young gamers, that Utah should encourage and educate parents to utilize the tools and rating system that the ESRB already provides.Vance's letter states that a recent audit of video game retailers in Utah found they already voluntarily enforce store policies regarding M-rated games 94 percent of the time. Nationally, the Federal Trade Commission found that video game retailers went from turning away 15 percent of underage customers in 2000 to 80 percent in 2008. The letter notes this is higher compliance than those found in the sale of movies, DVDs or music. Read Vance's full letter to the parents and leaders of Utah after the break.
Utah game retail restriction bill passes House
HB 353, a piece of Utah legislation which enforces stricter penalties against game and film retailers who sell M-rated and R-rated content to "buyers subject to an age restriction or recommendation,' and which was authored by Rep. Mike Morley and former Miami attorney Jack Thompson, passed through the Utah House of Representatives yesterday by a vote of 70 for and two against. It will now make its way to Utah's state senate -- should it pass there as well, it will go to the desk of Gov. Jon Huntsman to be signed into law, which will go into effect on January 1, 2010.The bill passed by an overwhelming margin after a number of amendments to the legislation were approved by the House. The amendments were largely tacked on to the bill in an attempt to lower the hackles of disapproving retailers -- for instance, one addition keeps retailers from suffering the harsher penalties if an underage customer lies about his or her age when purchasing a mature product. In response, we anticipate Utah's fake mustache industry to see a threefold rise in revenue during the next fiscal year.
Utah game bill one step closer, Thompson speaks to Joystiq
Whoever said being a Bar-licensed, practicing lawyer had anything to do with amending existing laws has clearly never met Jack Thompson. Thompson's most recent game bill, authored by Representative Mike Morley and Mr. Thompson, was resoundingly passed (at 10-3) by the Business and Labor Committee of the Utah House of Representatives yesterday. What does this mean for Utah residents? Well, nothing yet, as the bill is now headed off to the full Utah House of Representatives for consideration. If the bill goes into law, however, retailers of all varieties in the state (from big-box outlets like Best Buy and Wal-Mart to independent theater owners) will be facing a $2000 fine for every documented sale of mature-rated content to a minor. We wanted some clarification on the law and it's possible ramifications, so we went straight to the source. After the jump you can see for yourself everything Mr. Thompson told us about his recently penned bill.
LGJ: Jack Thompson's Utah 'game bill'
Each week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq ("LGJ"), a column on legal issues as they relate to video games: Right on cue, after this week's previous LGJ, Jack Thompson's Utah bill finally made its public appearance. Surprisingly, the bill amounts to only 4 lines of text that will be edited into Utah's existing Truth in Advertising Act, a form of deceptive trade practice regulation. The entire relevant text of the statute is: 13-11a-3. Deceptive trade practices enumerated -- Records to be kept -- Defenses. (1) Deceptive trade practices occur when, in the course of a person's business, vocation, or occupation that person: (u) (i) advertises that the person will not sell a good or service labeled with an age restriction or recommendation to a person under the age restriction or recommendation; and (ii) sells that good or service to a person under the age restriction or recommendation. So what does this mean for the industry? I believe this bill has far more bark than bite, but it's more complex than a simple analogy. There are some potential consequences for electronic retailers based on this new potential regulation, but it also looks like this provision leaves a number of major loopholes that retailers can take advantage of. As the bill hasn't passed yet, this all may be moot if the Utah legislature opts against the regulation, but it's certainly worth analyzing in the interim.
LGJ: More game laws?
Each week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq ("LGJ"), a column on legal issues as they relate to video games: It's early 2009, we've just elected a new President, and there are quite literally a mountain of problems to be addressed on Capitol Hill. Our economy has been in substantial turmoil for roughly six months, with some problems stretching back for years. Many states are at or near bankruptcy. This economic crisis has, by now, hit every country on the planet to some degree. So, our legislators have spent the last two months rushing to put together proposals to regulate video games. No, no one's undivided attention has been on the economy during this complete mess. Instead, since the start of the year, it seems there has been an explosion of potential new video game regulations, from Jack Thompson's bill in Utah, to New York, to the US Congress, to Australia -- just to name a few. And that's in addition to issues like the FTC's rumblings about DRM, which I've mentioned previously. While this boom in regulations and potential enforcement may be great news for sites like GamePolitics, it's potentially bad news for game developers and consumers, not to mention the taxpayers who are footing the bill for all of this. Of course, these laws are also coming from a number of different directions and under different theories, so I thought it might be a good time to give a short take on each and predict which directions things could be going.
