Postal developer Running With Scissors has launched a blistering attack on violent-game censorship advocate and attorney Jack Thompson.

Scissors has accused Thompson of issuing a "deluge of disinformation" following a knife attack on visitors to a Moscow Synagogue. Assailant Alexander Koptesev had been playing Postal extensively before injuring eight people in the attack.

Thompson subsequently issued an email highlighting the link between the attacker and his gaming tastes, using Next Generation's story as an illustration of the link between the attacker and the game. However, the story also pointed out Koptesev's interest in anti-Semite literature.

Tucson-based Running With Scissors statement read, "Hypocrisy and irresponsible anti-game zealotry has never been more obvious. Mr. Thompson ignores the fact that the assailant was enthralled by a racist book that espouses anti-Semitic hatred."

It added, "Throughout our company's history, we've diligently avoided behavior that might be seen as exploiting a real life tragedy. We extend our sincere sympathies to the victims and their families. Despite our renegade image, we have always maintained that violence belongs in videogames, noton the streets."

Reprehensible and unacceptable

Scissors went on, "Real life violence is reprehensible and unacceptable. We wish no ill upon anyone, not even Mr. Thompson, despite his despicable, self-serving campaign to spread misinformation and hateful invective about Running With Scissors and Postal, in particular and the entire videogame industry in general.

"Running With Scissors believes that videogames serve as an outlet for aggressive tendencies, not as their instigator. Postal is a social parody in the form of a videogame. If games turned players into murderers we'd be up to our necks in corpses. The independent Postal franchise has been a convenient scapegoat for misinformation and outright fabrications by "journalists" and politicians throughout its history."

A response from Thompson is thought to be highly likely, any time now.