With all the flak that video games have gotten from politicians, we're tempted to think that two will probably never mix.

The latest one involves U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Barack Obama and his comment about video games. You can read an excerpt of his statement n the full article after the jump.

Several influential individuals and groups have already called for the reinstating of the Adults Only rating of Rockstar Games' Manhunt 2 (PS2, Wii and PSP). Now even the senators are on the case. Four US senators sent a letter addressed to ESRB requesting a "thorough review" of the game. Check out the full article for more details.

It appears Take-Two Interactive's woes have only just begun. Apparently Jack Thompson is now attempting to influence Edward Johnson, chairman of Fidelity Investment (which, FYI, owns more than 20% of Take-Two) - that is, if this letter he supposedly sent Johnson is for real.

In his purported letter, Thompson reveals his knowledge of information concerning Take-Two - stuff that he claims even Fidelity doesn't know - and says that someone at Fidelity urgently needs to talk to him as soon as possible.

Take a gander at the letter and tell us what you think.

July 13, 2006

Edward C. Johnson, III
Chairman
Fidelity Investments (FMR)

Re: Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (TTWO on NASDAQ)

Dear Mr. Johnson:

As you know, Fidelity reportedly owns more than 20% of the above company's stock. In one year that stock has fallen in value from $28 to $9, primarily because of the "Hot Coffee" scandal which broke because of Senator Hillary Clinton's July 2005 press conference. I prepared Senator Clinton for that news conference, and here is a graphic depiction of the subsequent stock price tumble:

I was on CBS's 60 Minutes twice last year regarding Take-Two, and the August 2005 issue of Reader's Digest reported my efforts against this company. They didn't report a tenth of what I know.

Mr. Johnson, I know some facts about Take-Two that your company apparently does not know. The latest SEC investigation of Take-Two, announced Monday, comes as no surprise to me. It may come as a surprise to you and your analysts, however, that there may be some very significant problems with certain information in Take-Two's 10-K filed with the SEC months ago. I identified those potential problems immediately and shared them with the SEC. I also shared them with the lawyers who are seeking class action status for shareholders suing Take-Two.

One of the potential problems we have here (more accurately, that Fidelity has here, in my opinion) is the fact that the outside general counsel to Take-Two is the Philadelphia law firm of Blank Rome, which is also Take-Two's registered lobbyist on Capitol Hill. What I can tell you about Blank Rome and other aspects of Take-Two's problems might help explain why Take-Two's audit chair, Barbara Kaczynski, quit the Take-Two board, hired a top-notch criminal attorney, and wrote the SEC about Take-Two's alleged cover-up by senior management.

In short, without herein divulging all I know, I'll say this: Somebody at Fidelity needs to talk to me immediately if not sooner. You all owe that to your investors.

Regards, Jack Thompson

Jack Thompson, Attorney