Mortal Kombat // Wilson Vs. Midway Games

Mortal Kombat Sub-Zero spine ripping fatality


Mortal Kombat was an arcade fighting game developed and published by Midway in 1992 as the first title of the famous Mortal Kombat series. It was ported by Acclaim entertainment to every platform at that time. The game is considered to be one of the most popular game in the fighting genre.

However, the game sparked huge controversy regarding the depiction of extreme violence and gore using digitized graphics, resulting in the introduction of age-specific content descriptor ratings for video games known as ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board).

One of the major controversy resulted in a law suite. In 1997, a 13-year-old boy named Noah Wilson passed away after his best friend stabbed him in the chest with a kitchen knife, severing his aorta. Noah’s mother sued Midway Games, makers of Mortal Kombat, claiming her son’s best friend was addicted and obsessed with the fighting game and that he believed he was the character Cyrax, a robotic ninja.

Facts:

On November 22, 1997, thirteen-year-old Noah Wilson died when his friend, identified as Yancy S., stabbed him in the chest with a kitchen knife. Noah's mother, Andrea Wilson, filed this suit against Midway Games, Inc., alleging that at the time Yancy stabbed Noah, Yancy was addicted to a video game manufactured by Midway called Mortal Kombat, and that Yancy was so obsessed with the game that he actually believed he was the character Cyrax.

Wilson claims that Midway's design and marketing of Mortal Kombat caused her son's death. She alleges that she is entitled to damages under theories of product liability, unfair trade practices, loss of consortium, and negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The court held that Midway Games was not liable for the death under the First Amendment, as the State of Connecticut could not violate their free speech rights to make video games. There was no relief granted to the mother as Midways was not liable for any kind of damage.









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