| This is from a hosted blog through . | | | | very funny that he knew about it. I didn't exactly |
| If I told you this, would you believe me? Try doing | | | | care, and it was sort of humorous. He couldn't have |
| so, because it's the truth. And also, in this strange | | | | known about it unless he'd seen it happen, in all |
| and perverse world, young men and women are | | | | probability. And he wasn't anywhere on the property |
| busy killing each other at an alarming rate. Do we | | | | or onscreen at the time. He had a private view of it |
| really need something like a pseudo Mafia causing the | | | | going on. |
| same sorts of problems? Gangsterism, in other | | | | The same Mafia dude, who kept denying he was |
| words, on our children's beloved video games? | | | | Mafia -- while dressed in an obvious game-style Mafia |
| According to Wikipedia, the Web's foremost online | | | | suit and with the name "Riccardo" -- also told me you |
| encyclopedia, ever since 9/11 the FBI hasn't had | | | | can't trash houses unless you're a roommate or the |
| much in time or resources to handle organized crime, | | | | home owner. This should indeed be the case; it |
| and there has been a sudden resurgence in its | | | | involves "building permissions." But one of the house |
| activities. | | | | trashing victims had no roommates whatsoever. And |
| Right now, the online game "The Sims Online"-- which | | | | she wasn't motivated to trash her house...no |
| is labeled a "T for Teens" game -- has been overrun | | | | insurance money is involved. |
| by several obviously Mafia named "families." These | | | | Game players on this game can be quite friendly. I |
| people don't seem to have enough imagination to be | | | | made a lot of good friends doing things like making |
| Mexican Mafia, Chinese Mafia or Japanese Mafia (yet), | | | | pizzas, opening up my own skills house business, |
| which also exist in real life. They are very aggressive | | | | doing minor gambling (legal for adults and I'm over |
| and very obvious. | | | | 40) and in general -- partying. You can play high tech, |
| Whether or not they are the real Mafia is a question | | | | beautiful looking musical instruments and feel like |
| which I cannot answer. They may be a bunch of | | | | you're there. It's a great game. You should see some |
| "errant" teenage boys and girls - but ones with some | | | | of the wild and crazy characters on this game! Or |
| very eclectic adult tastes and also many violent and | | | | should you? |
| weird high tech tendencies. You should see the | | | | Except that I can't play it anymore. I quit the game |
| Playboy style icons they paste on top of their | | | | solely because of theextremely heavy Mafia |
| houses from certain views of the TSO video game. | | | | presence that was starting to visit my house and |
| I can't tell who's to blame for that, adults or kids. And | | | | breathe hotly down my neck. That, and the game |
| that sort of thing is not something you can ordinarily | | | | was cutting into my work routine as a full-time writer |
| get as a regular player of that particular video game. | | | | quite a little bit, too. |
| Something is up with that, something way too | | | | First, "Riccardo" showed up. Out of nowhere, after I |
| mysterious. | | | | had used the Maxis device to screen all apparent |
| And one thing these kids, if they are kids, really do, | | | | "Mafia" members out of my "house." He showed up |
| even though it is to virtual and not real houses: they | | | | at my house. The same day my friend's house was |
| trash people's paid-for beautiful properties. The kind | | | | trashed. It was the second such trashing since I had |
| of properties that people would like to build, taking a | | | | started playing there. Obvious Mafia guy, obviously |
| lifetime to achieve. Beautiful, sprawling mansions you | | | | scouting me. Denied everything completely. This was |
| can't own in real life, the kind that are totally out of | | | | after two of my friends' houses had been trashed. |
| reach for the vast majority of people. | | | | Want to know anything about terrorism? Now I |
| Some people have been playing The Sims Online for | | | | know what it is. A little too thoroughly for my tastes. |
| years. Maybe you think they're weird, maybe you | | | | The Mob was making it obvious that I could be next. |
| think they're no one to feel sorry for. Maybe you're | | | | Why is that exactly? And what sort of "next" would |
| even rooting for the "pseudo Mafia." But not me. I | | | | it be-real, or simulated game activity? These people |
| had real friends going on that game, and slowly but | | | | looked capable of tracking down my actual |
| surely "they" began destroying our Sims houses, and | | | | computer's IP address, my ISP and finally my real life |
| all of our prized possessions on that game. To the | | | | house. |
| point where no one could tell if it was part of the | | | | "Yeah, they're just a bunch of teenagers who like to |
| game, or something far worse. | | | | trash houses..." "They're not the real Mafia, they're |
| I happen to have another friend (an entirely different | | | | just kids." I heard a lot of that from people both on |
| situation) who was screwed over for $15,000 real life | | | | and off the game, even my fellow writers. Harmless |
| dollars when he tried to sell some photographs and | | | | kids. |
| they were more or less taken from him. Is that a | | | | Like the ones at Columbine? |
| good thing to do to someone? And is it a good thing | | | | Boredom with what the Sims had to offer, or a lack |
| to interrupt some high tech "decent" game involving | | | | of desire to wait for the further events? We had |
| minor adult activity and corrupt it still further? So far | | | | chat rooms going, and Eminem (might be the real one |
| as I can tell, some money is going out that way on | | | | from rap music, somebody on the game claimed it |
| TSO too-in real life. | | | | actually is that very real rapper dude-who knows) |
| I am so tired, I don't know. Values are very hard to | | | | was there, helping to build a SimBall stadium. So |
| gauge in life, anyway. | | | | people could play SimBall on the game. Some guy |
| To "green up" on The Sims Online at all, or to keep | | | | called Eminem, and he wanted to build us a ball |
| your simulated character going, it forces you to do | | | | stadium. What if the pseudo "Mafia" decides to trash |
| interactions that are rather similar to having sex with | | | | that, too? "Em" there might have been trying to do |
| animals (wrestle with your dog, but you should see | | | | something real and good for a change. Dunno. And I |
| what it looks like if you really see it) and that's bad | | | | heard about a man's house also being trashed, so it's |
| enough, but rather bearable. Sigmund Freud would | | | | obvious they don't do it "just to women." |
| have told us that such behavior is relatively normal, | | | | And all I could do was flee. I quit playing the game |
| that having an "orgy session" involving "heavy | | | | for good. I don't feel much "like a man" after that. I |
| petting" with your own puppy where it loves you and | | | | feel rather like an inebriated cipher. |
| licks your face and you are all over each other, is fun. | | | | Parents, watch the video games your teenagers are |
| Also, there is sexy dancing, heavy kissing and | | | | playing. You might turn around and suddenly find you |
| hugging, and so forth, which works for most people | | | | have a genuine Neo Mafia member for a teenage |
| -- including twelve year old kids. This is done with | | | | daughter or son, in your Real Life. I know that now. |
| your fellow "characters," real life people in the game | | | | You might think I'm crazy, but I'm not. A man told |
| whom you can become acquainted with, work with, | | | | me recently he's been finding kids that stay all day |
| and even "marry." The marriages are not legal of | | | | on those games. I'm not the only "nutty" parent here |
| course, and tend to dissolve fairly quickly. | | | | who's getting worried. I think something like |
| It is not fun, however, to come home one day to | | | | Columbine could swallow our kids alive, alarmist as |
| having your hard won, worked for skills, games, | | | | that may sound, through video games. |
| store or money house trashed by unknown people -- | | | | The Sims Online is conceivably the haven for a |
| while your town is crawling with "De Corleoni | | | | slinking beast with no better name than the Neo |
| Territori," the "Italian Mafia Empire," "The Vito Family | | | | Mafia: "My New Family." And for the last time, if |
| Territory" and so forth. I am not talking Anti-Italian | | | | you're Italian, I am not picking on you. I'm worried |
| Defamation. I had several Italian friends on the game, | | | | about you instead. And do you need to be affiliated |
| whom I now am stuck missing in my daily life. I am | | | | with these mysterious strangers, who maybe think all |
| talking about a bunch of people either acting like the | | | | organized crime is still from Italy? Are you, like me, a |
| Mafia, or worse yet, actually being connected with | | | | parent? Ma fia? Neo ma fia? Oy gevaldt, as the Jews |
| them somehow and taking over a children's video | | | | say, on such a New Family. |
| game. Possibly, several children's video games. Or | | | | Yes, parents, that is what it means in |
| were they involved in the first place, and is Maxis a | | | | Italian-American. My new family. |
| Mafia held game company? Look at the names. | | | | Still feel comfortable with the concept? |
| Maxis, Mafia. Why doesn't Entertainment Arts do | | | | Those guys were lying to me. If so, then they are |
| something about the house trashing problem, for | | | | Neo Mafia. What would that mean exactly? What |
| example, even though people have repeatedly | | | | exactly would it mean, if they have the technology |
| complained about it? What is it exactly that they are | | | | to get past the defenses in the game and tear |
| trying to hide? Apparently not much; you can easily | | | | people's houses down? I was told by several people, |
| find "the Mob" everywhere on that game. And their | | | | even "Riccardo," that it's not easy to do that. |
| version of "the cops" does absolutely nothing at all. | | | | "Trust me. I'm only Italian. I'm not a Mafia member. |
| It is true the game is labeled "T for Teens" and is | | | | You must be a bigot. It's because my skin is brown. |
| connected with what looks like some harmless fake | | | | Yadayadayaday." You can be whatever skin color |
| gambling. The money being exchanged seems to be | | | | you want to be on TSO, and either sex for that |
| Simoleans at first. Fake money, which you get by | | | | matter. Everybody kept going, "It's only kids, calm |
| working at odd jobs on the game, and you may also | | | | down, it's only kids." Yeah, pretty old kids. |
| acquire skills so you can make more of the fake | | | | First town on The Sims map: Dan's Grove. First thing |
| money. But there are "payoffs," and you can also | | | | you see when you enter there: Italian Mafia Empire. |
| buy blocks of the money on EBay, roughly $15-25 for | | | | It was a little hidden, but not very. Sort of to the |
| 1 million Simoleans. And you can buy "rares," which | | | | South. It's obviously their beachhead, the place they |
| people barter and pay for, such as Mystic Trees, | | | | originally hit. |
| tigers and cheetahs. Makes it looks like you're not | | | | Then they simply moved out from there. And they |
| spending money, like the gambling is harmless. | | | | can hide. When you go there, to Dan's Grove, you |
| But is this what you want your teenager to be | | | | don't find very many Mafia. They seemingly moved |
| doing? For 6-10 hours a day, five-seven days a | | | | out from there. Trouble is, they can move right back |
| week? Eventually, obviously, after I spent about a | | | | there at lightning speed. That's not doable by any |
| month on the game, it was so that the money was | | | | regular game player without having more than one |
| swiftly turning real. | | | | paid account on the game. How many paid accounts |
| Okay, video addiction is bad enough, but we're talking | | | | do these guys have? Dan's Grove seems to be the |
| about Organized Crime here as well. Remember a | | | | seat of the Hidden Mafia Empire, altogether. Sounds |
| little place called Columbine High School? What if | | | | exciting in a way, I guess, but no fun. |
| there's some sort of eerie connection to that sort of | | | | That's where they trashed the two or three |
| business? I had to join this game to find out, kind of | | | | "houses." Or...whatever. Yes dear, it's all twelve year |
| as a lark, but I did some real exploring too. | | | | old kids. And my name is Uncle Auntie Em. Maybe I |
| And the Mafia is in and roughly controlling every town | | | | was a fool for ever playing it. I assumed it was just |
| that I've visited on The Sims Online, and I've | | | | a game, and someone was being silly. |
| reasonably checked them all over. Dan's Grove, Jolly | | | | I was wrong. That game smells to the skies of actual |
| Pines, Blazing Falls, Alphaville. The Mafia | | | | real life payoffs, and everyone I talked to really |
| is...everywhere. | | | | seemed to know that, one way or another. |
| I have talked to these "Mafia" gentlemen and ladies, | | | | I hope the FBI does something, but God help |
| and visited their houses. They don't have very much | | | | anybody, I don't know what. They'd have to join the |
| to do at them but the usual Sims stuff. I'm afraid | | | | game to infiltrate it and actually, er, gather evidence. |
| they have discovered game "cheats" and, being | | | | Gosh, that would be so going overboard for them. |
| bored, are using them to destroy other game | | | | Maybe they could just eat donuts, drink coffee, and |
| players' properties. And yes, I have evidence, not | | | | pretend to look for terrorists instead? Or maybe go |
| hard unfortunately, that they have watched people | | | | bug half crazed Black people and Native Americans |
| play the game from a distance. One of them knew | | | | from the sixties? Sorry, I've got to admit I'm feeling |
| about something he shouldn't have known. And | | | | a little nuts here. |
| another friend of mine who regularly plays video | | | | I know bloody well that if this story is ever run or |
| games has noticed these tendencies toward having | | | | promoted, people will join The Sims Online (TSO) |
| strange "game powers" that other players don't have | | | | after having read it. It's an extremely easy game to |
| in yet other video games. He says it's pretty | | | | join, a free two week trial, $10 per month and bam, |
| common. Hackers, he calls it, but in the TSO case, it's | | | | you're in it. This story itself works out to promoting |
| hitting a little too close to home. | | | | them (removable note to TNYT: up to you on that |
| For example, a gay bashing was set up right in front | | | | one.) Well, if you want to join the Mafia very easily, |
| of me. I rode it out, but I had to comfort the "gay" | | | | there you go. |
| being bashed. Of course, it was his simulated | | | | News items like France and the recent riots belittle |
| character, not "he" who was hurt. TSO is real people | | | | this pretty much. But that's somebody else's problem. |
| playing games. I'm not gay, but it was getting a little | | | | The Federal Bureau of Investigation should be looking |
| peculiar that such stuff is allowable on a "T for | | | | into at least our nation's video games. You can buy |
| Teens" video game. I was more than a little | | | | money on EBay to sell on that TSO game, kids are |
| confused. | | | | on that game, and they are being threatened into |
| A "lady" in fun fired a game Civil War cannon at me, | | | | being recruited into the, I would assume, mostly |
| in private, and this Mafia guy named "Riccardo" knew | | | | "swarthy white people Mafia"...right now...since they |
| that it had happened. I don't think she told him about | | | | keep mentioning the Italian one so much... |
| it. How did he know? She did it just for laughs, and it | | | | ...the real one or the virtual one? |
| was a harmless game event (I peed my pants as the | | | | Who knows? |
| game character, and it seemed okay), but it's not | | | | |