Jim Sterling in court.
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That video was well after this entire Jimquisition [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbqxPgK87dM] was made 5 months ago about DH and them threatening to sue Jim.Politrukk said:
So that's been brewing for quite a while, and I dunno whether paperwork was filed before or after Wyatt Derp video, but Jim's still been making videos about them even after their dumb legal threats.
If you'd seen the initial video out of nowhere where they specifically, fiercely and pettily defended their own shit game, you'd know they're in it for their petty pride. If they hadn't done anything, their shit game would have gone by unnoticed and Steam would certainly still be shit with greenlight whether they said anything or not. They do things constantly that would undermine their own efforts to keep getting paid for creating trash, most notably by inducing this Streisand effect on their reputation and credibility. They're the chief example for why Greenlight is shit, not an example working it its favor.TerranV said:
And this is the part that's so deranged about them. Out of all the effort and drive they put towards things, they spend very little of it to improve their games, and instead channel it into tantrums and other shady shit.
Politrukk said:
The Wyatt Derp video actually came up the same day that news of the lawsuit started to circulate. The lawsuit was filed mid-February (and was processed March 4th, when they issued Jim a summons), and Jim uploaded the Wyatt Derp video on March 16th.MHR said:
The Jimquisition I posted a link to is from October 2015, which is apparently when the Romines started working on their lawsuit.
Yeah, DigiHom strikes me as having some serious delusions of grandeur, and their temper tantrums all follow the pattern of narcissistic rage. This is particularly evident in alot of the sentiments they express in that interview they did: "We deserve respect and money for making games", "People only hate our games because Jim Sterling told them to", and their idea that Fair Use has to be "fair" criticism. I feel like Robert's argumentative style also illustrates this, because he keeps arguing over petty technicalities (like the gun sound effects in Slaughtering Grounds) like he's found some kind of smoking gun. "You said something that was technically incorrect, therefore your entire argument/opinion must be wrong!".MHR said:
They really want to be seen as good developers (and at the very least they think that what they make is good enough to sell to the public), and because Jim was so vocal about not liking their games, this clashes with their delusional worldview and provides DH with their own personal Satan.
The judge assigned to this case is a federal judge, and if this is in the federal system (which I think is the case?) they're probably boned. The federal courts are designed to get things moved along promptly and to weed out people who aren't serious. There's alot of paperwork and deadlines, and missing that could land DH in hot water (unsure exactly what happens, the case might get thrown out).Politrukk said:
I wish I knew how courts worked. Or that someone who does would come and clarify it.
Update:
According to this [https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/10890330/Romine_v_Stanton] there's been a "Service Executed" filed by DH. I think this just means that Jim has officially received the summons, and DH is formally acknowledging this for the court. I wonder when we'll hear anything else. Anybody know how long it would take for the judge to just throw this out?
According to this [https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/10890330/Romine_v_Stanton] there's been a "Service Executed" filed by DH. I think this just means that Jim has officially received the summons, and DH is formally acknowledging this for the court. I wonder when we'll hear anything else. Anybody know how long it would take for the judge to just throw this out?
Further update: According to the website linked to above, Jim (or his lawyer) has filed an Extension of Time to File Answer. Bit of a pity, I was hoping to get my hands on a copy of Jim's answer. Not entirely sure why he'd need extra time for that, though. Maybe it's just a precautionary thing.
You are not here to reply, but I say to you that you did not understand that it was implied. Sorry about whatever happened to you.42616e20446f64676572 said:
That would be amazing, but I highly doubt it since neither Jim nor DigiHom are as famous as Hulk or Gawker. Unless someone wants to file a petition or something to record the court proceedings.Corey Schaff said:
In update news, Digital Homicide have made a second update to their GFM page, saying that they'll post another update by the end of the week and that they need even moar money than the 225 they raised so far. At least they don't seem to still think that they'll get he 75k they want? There's also this nugget of atrocious writing: "Current funds are being used when received for subpoenas (if fees end up being involved) and certified mailing."
Oh gods, now I feel bad - I thought they had 225 thousand when I read that sentence. I thought it was a tad high for them but didn't think it was impossible. Then it turns out they had 225 dollars. I laughed. These guys seem to have some really charitable aunts.Fsyco said:
The only things that seems to limit their potential is that they are brothers. If they weren't, they'd have at least twice the income, since they'll have twice the number of relatives to draw on.
Wow. I had no idea their resources were so limited. Do they actually think they are going to get significant financial support? They must be in the possession of the revenue figures of their products. From that they should be able to deduce how little they were going to get. Unless they were banking on anti-Jim sympathy. The problem with that is it has significant overlap with a community that is very anti-censorship and would likely view the whole fiasco as DH trying to shut him up.DoPo said:
Never underestimate the power of delusion.PainInTheAssInternet said:
I think they did genuinely expect to get what they asked for, and my guess is that they were banking more on anti-Jim sentiment from other indie devs who try to sell shit on Steam than from, uh, other flavors of anti-Jim sentiment. Before the lawsuit, they were cozying up to other devs that Jim had featured (typically in a negative light) on his channel.
I'd also wager that they assumed their low sales figures were entirely Jim's fault. I imagine that they had visions of their story being shared on Facebook, with alot of people wanting to stick it to the big mean critic picking on poor indie devs, and that they could break whatever spell they think Jim has cast on people.
Also, if anyone cares, the court appears to have granted Jim the extension for filing his answer.
Yeah. That's basically my position. Even so, at some point basic sense has to kick in. Unless they are that invested in their headcannon of being innocent victims who would otherwise be wildly successful.Fsyco said:
"At some point, basic sense has to kick in."PainInTheAssInternet said:
No it does not. http://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive-dissonance.html More often than not, stress doesn't "snap us out out of it", it drives us deeper into existing belief structures.
Exactly this. I knew a lawyer who lost her partnership in the firm and her job because she kept litigating with her ex husband, and was convinced he was really stupid. When he started seriously kicking her ass in court, she didn't start acting sensibly, she doubled-down.Lacedaemonius said:
Nothing short of complete resource depletion (or a new target) is going to make DigiHom stop. They're never going to wake up one day and think "Wow, we've been complete dickheads! Let's change our act." They'll keep going until they physically can't.
In a court case like this I'm guessing a contingent fee attorney on both sides. DH is filing so they'll likely be bearing the major cost of their lawyer finding expert witnesses .... I'm sure there'd be more than a few reviewers willing to act as Sterling's expert witnesses on case. At least their 'profession' will not merit so large an expert witness(es) fee as, say, a market analyst that the plaintiff's attorney will likely wish to bring forward ....
Honestly, the fact that this court case was brought forward at all seems like a perfect example of a frivolous lawsuit every tort law reformer would hail as a gross example of the poor health of the justice system. I'm hoping Jim is successful in fighting their case on that basis.
(Edit) The problem is that if Jim needs to get witnesses beyond those of a critic circle. Which might be the case if he needs to prove that no calculable injuries were sustained beyond those any critic could be reasonably responsible for. Which will drag on a court case and cost far more for him in the end ... so much so that settling this out of court might be a reasonable action depending on the modified ask ... but no doubt that will mean pride lost and ultimately an indictment on basic principles of fair use.
Honestly, the fact that this court case was brought forward at all seems like a perfect example of a frivolous lawsuit every tort law reformer would hail as a gross example of the poor health of the justice system. I'm hoping Jim is successful in fighting their case on that basis.
(Edit) The problem is that if Jim needs to get witnesses beyond those of a critic circle. Which might be the case if he needs to prove that no calculable injuries were sustained beyond those any critic could be reasonably responsible for. Which will drag on a court case and cost far more for him in the end ... so much so that settling this out of court might be a reasonable action depending on the modified ask ... but no doubt that will mean pride lost and ultimately an indictment on basic principles of fair use.
I don't get how you sue a critic for doing his job and expect any critic to be regarded as though they carry weight when they know if they "damage a game's reputation " they couod be sued. I guess they're not thinking that far or just don't give a damn about the side effects. If by some insane turnabout they win and set precedent though, say goodbye to any critic and their legitimacy.