Comments on: Remembering Michael Jackson's video game legacy

While he was best-known for his personal eccentricities, pet monkeys, and legal problems (and some music, too, we suppose), Michael Jackson has a small but important footnote in video game history as well.

[mquag]

I see NOTHING in bad taste in this article.

When you die you will be remembered for the way you treated people. Jackson was a great entertainer back in the 80s but he also was a weird dude who did in appropriate things with kids. Perhaps he was never found guilty in a court of law, but he will always be remembered that way.

We all watched him dangle one of his kids by the foot from a hotel balcony... or have all of his fans forgotten that incident?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2493513.stm

There's a lesson in all of this... if you want to be remembered as a good person when you die, then be a good person when you are alive. Making a bunch of hit albums is not enough to cement one's legacy.

[jeric2k5]

Really, you see NOTHING in bad taste? Seriously? The man just died. And you must forget the MILLIONS of kids he has helped over the years with the money he has given to charities and all the kids he had over for free at his Neverland ranch.

The fact of the matter is that he is a world-wide icon and will be missed by millions of people and he should be remembered for the happiness he instilled in millions of lives. With that said, of course he's had issues in his life, and has done wrong, after all he is human. But his good will always outweigh the mistakes in his life.

And as for the article, I'm really disappointed in CNET and the author. Way to soon, and this is really makes me not want to visit the site anymore. Besides BOL, I no longer have interest in the site.

[NYTechie]

I agree with you--I don't think this article is written in bad taste at all. I played that game when I was a kid and it was pretty cool! The fact that Michael had to rescue kids in the game is what it is--pointing that out doesn't mean Mr. Ackerman said anything out of turn. And being eccentric isn't necessarily a bad thing, is it?

I also feel like everyone has come to his rescue only AFTER he died, became his 'biggest' fan AFTER he died.

I think we need to look at what the big question really is:
Did Michael Jackson use an iPhone or a Palm Pre?

[natedogg0511]

perfect, just perfect. I like you, you use your brain.

[duperstar]

This is the first arcade game I can remember not caring how many quarters it took to beat it. Cost me a fortune, but I didn't care.

[scottyrob]

He is not the King of Pop, He is the King of Music period! He sold 750 million albums came up with the best dance moves like the robot and moonwalk and touch many lives, some a little much (allegedly but not proven). All day I will play his music from the Jackson 5 to The Jacksons and down to his solo career.

[DannyPaulNY]

I loved this game. I wish the Wii or XBox Live would re-release this. Now, I have to find my VHS copy of the movie.

[biffhenerson]

Reporting on Games is a good idea. However your off color editorial comments are in very bad taste. That is why you only write/hack for such rags.

[wole1]

epex2, you said it all. I hope CNET does the right thing and retracts this article, or at least the uncalled for part of it. It's just not needed. We all know the allegations. No one needs to be reminded of that. At least not today. Let's all do the right thing because it's right. After all, who among you is without sin and fit to cast the first stone? CNET, fix up!

[peterwhite]

I do not see a reason to retract this article. I'm a child from the 80's meaning I watched transformers cartoons, saw the terminator for the first time, and listed to a lot of music from the Jackson family. Honestly, people are often to quick to find fault with articles or references involving the recently deceased. This wasn't a blatant slap in the face such as that horrible flash game 'tsunami' that followed the real life tragedy - it's simply a flashback to an arcade game (once there were BUILDINGS devoted to video games, they were called ARCADES, not just 3 or 4 games at the movie theater or Red Robin, dozens of machines) - kids like me popped in tokens or quarters and played this game. Actually though, if memory serves me correctly, this was the 2nd celebrity tie-in behind JOURNEY's adventures through space.

I agree that Dan should have polished up the article a bit, after all - long after people forget about the allegations, of which he was acquitted in a court of law, there will always be his music. I know my generation can't help but smile when some of the classics pop on the radio, tv, or movie. Let's enjoy the music he created and not vilify him for an unorthodox lifestyle, strange but never proven to be illegal.

PS interesting tid bit that was revealed last night by Larry King regarding the first ever trial - he was having dinner in a random place and overheard the original accusers planning to extort money from MJ. He notified authorities and presented his statement to the court behind closed doors but it was never allowed into trial due to the fact it was heresay. Prior to that moment he had never had any dealings with MJ, he was simply a concerned citizen who claimed to have overheard a crime being planned. Due to a gag order he was previously unable to discuss that fact prior to Michael's passing.

[dataJONBOY]

i had totally forgotton about this game. i use to play the heck out of this. you could get a power-up that made you huge sized and solid gold. how awesome is that....

[akiraazn15]

That was a cheeky, abrasive, and terribly poor comment that you tried to sneak in Dan Ackerman... While your article does point out a good point about celebrities in video games, in-game music and the crossing of genres, your comment about "who is saving who" is out of context.
I hope other commenting readers feel the same.
Apparently your conscious did not say this to you while you proof read the post but, FOR SHAME Dan Ackerman. FOR SHAME!

[NYTechie]

I say shame on you for reading into it that way.

[JUARIT0S]

There is no other way of reading it. it doesn't take an enormous brain to understand what he meant. If Dan wants to post garbage then he should go work for TMZ.

[Jumanji373]

Taking one look at Dan Ackerman's pic, I'm guessing Michael wasn't the only one with "irregularities."

[natedogg0511]

I hate the people that think that because he wasnt convicted that he didnt do it. Hell he nearly admitted to have little boys sleep over in his bed with him. Sorry unless you are a kids relative that is NOT ok! [CNET editors' note: Prohibited content deleted.]

[fat_seth]

Here here. !00% in agreement with above said comment. Plus the game sucked and little to nothing to do the anything relevant with current gaming. I would buy the game just to burn it like MJ's hair.

[cp256]

Don't forget the Jesus Juice!

[sergioju]

What the HELL is the jesus juice?

[Fil0403]

I'm sure there are also people that hate people like you that think that he did it even though he was sued and found not guilty in all cases of child-abuse.

[Fil0403]

Another possible title for this article would be "Remembering Michael Jackson's pedophilia legacy", seeing as the author spends almost more time making pedophilia jokes than writing about the (supposed) main subject.

[Fil0403]

RIP Michael Jackson, hopefully (for you?) most people will remember you for things other than Dan Ackerman apparently remembers you.

[alexacker]

At first, I wasn't moved by his death until my neighbors had the MJ marathon blasting loud all day today and pretty much every song marked a major point in my life (40 yrs old now). So, I'm a little bummed now. Too bad all his antics and crazy media attention took the spotlight after from his true artistry.