Precursor Games Founder Arrested For Child Porn

[IanDavis]

Precursor Games Founder Arrested For Child Porn

Precursor Games founder and Silicon Knights vet Ken McCulloch has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography.

Things haven't been good for Precursor Games recently. First, its Kickstarter campaign for Shadows of he Eternals was [a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/125038-Dyack-Acknowledges-Personal-Noise-Put-Kibosh-On-Eternals]cut short[/a], and now one of its founding members has been arrested and charged for child pornography. Ken McCulloch (Silicon Knights veteran and now ex-Precursor Games employee) was [a href=http://www.nrps.com/news/details.asp?id=mr3427]arrested[/a] on June 27th by the Niagara Regional Police when detectives conducted a warrented search of his St. Catharines, Ontario residence. He has been charged with one count each of Possession of Child Pornography, Making Child Pornography Available, and Accessing Child Pornography.

According to McCulloch's [a href=http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/ken-mcculloch/10/232/599]LinkedIn profile[/a], he was Precursor's "Lore Keeper, World Builder, and Dream Merchant". Previously, he worked at Silicon Knights for 20 years, where he served as director of content.

On its official forum, Precursor CEO Paul Caporicci [a href=http://www.precursorgames.com/forums/index.php?threads/oh-hi-guys.2115/#post-24825]commented[/a]: "Having just learned of these disturbing charges today and based on the serious nature of them, Ken McCulloch is no longer affiliated in any way with Precursor Games." His employee profile has since been pulled from the website.

Precursor Games was largely composed of ex-Silicon Knights employees, the developers of the horror classic Eternal Darkness. This month, it cancelled its Shadows of the Eternals Kickstarter with the [a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/124619-Shadow-of-the-Eternals-Studio-Cancels-Kickstarter]intent to relaunch[/a] it at a later date.

Source: [a href=http://www.nrps.com/news/details.asp?id=mr3427] Niagara Regional Police Service[/a] via [a href=http://www.polygon.com/2013/6/28/4476104/precursor-games-founding-member-arrested-by-niagara-police-on-child]Polygon[/a]

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[knight steel]

Are we talking about actual child porn or Lolicon because there is a difference [one uses real children the other drawing/cartoons] depending on the answer my opinion will change.

 

[IanDavis]

Are we talking about actual child porn or Lolicon because there is a difference [one uses real children the other drawing/cartoons] depending on the answer my opinion will change.

No word yet on any details. Right now, the only information we have comes from the police report, and Caporicci's comment.

 

[Abomination]

Awesome, trial by media again.

"Charged" doesn't mean "convicted" guys. But hey, who cares if someone is innocent or not? Just get accused of rape or child pornography possession and you might as well kiss your life goodbye.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Let me guess he drew some Simpsons slash fiction and they traced his devianart account, and yes people in US you do go to jail for that on charges of child porn, because courts apparently can't distinguish cartoons from actual people.

 

[lacktheknack]

Well, that's even more messed up than Eternal Darkness, and that's saying something.

I'm starting to think that an Eternal Darkness sequel is turning out to be a cursed project.

 

[SadisticFire]

Yeah I'm going to assume that this is lolicon and not actual, legitimate female children being sexually used. He probably just got bored one day and decided to try his drawing skills or something stupid like that and published it somewhere. And bam, suddenly your life is ruined, for something that isn't even proven yet.

 

[Antari]

Are we talking about actual child porn or Lolicon because there is a difference [one uses real children the other drawing/cartoons] depending on the answer my opinion will change.

This was just one arrest of many involving a country wide investigation which saw about 22 people being arrested. Two children were saved during the search and seizures. Something tells me this wasn't just anime.

 

[knight steel]

Are we talking about actual child porn or Lolicon because there is a difference [one uses real children the other drawing/cartoons] depending on the answer my opinion will change.

This was just one arrest of many involving a country wide investigation which saw about 22 people being arrested. Two children were saved during the search and seizures. Something tells me this wasn't just anime.

Well in that case:
Did the children consent?[yes I know that they don't have the knowledge needed ect ect but I'm still curious on if they were willing]
And how old are we speaking, toddlers or young teens?
These things will affect my judgment but so far it's not looking good for him.

 

[AxelxGabriel]

You know what? This game is just never going to be made, plain and simple.

 

[dragongit]

Are we talking about actual child porn or Lolicon because there is a difference [one uses real children the other drawing/cartoons] depending on the answer my opinion will change.

This was just one arrest of many involving a country wide investigation which saw about 22 people being arrested. Two children were saved during the search and seizures. Something tells me this wasn't just anime.

Well in that case:
Did the children consent?[yes I know that they don't have the knowledge needed ect ect but I'm still curious on if they were willing]
And how old are we speaking, toddlers or young teens?
These things will affect my judgment but so far it's not looking good for him.

I don't think it matters. in the United States any person under the age of 17 is not legally declared an adult, and thus are dubbed to not be legally able to "consent" to sexual acts with anyone. We hear of teens having sex all the time, but it's harder to pin the blame on two teens then say, one teen, and an adult. If this is legitimately the case then this company had one hell of a dark cloud cast upon it.

 

[knight steel]

Are we talking about actual child porn or Lolicon because there is a difference [one uses real children the other drawing/cartoons] depending on the answer my opinion will change.

This was just one arrest of many involving a country wide investigation which saw about 22 people being arrested. Two children were saved during the search and seizures. Something tells me this wasn't just anime.

Well in that case:
Did the children consent?[yes I know that they don't have the knowledge needed ect ect but I'm still curious on if they were willing]
And how old are we speaking, toddlers or young teens?
These things will affect my judgment but so far it's not looking good for him.

I don't think it matters. in the United States any person under the age of 17 is not legally declared an adult, and thus are dubbed to not be legally able to "consent" to sexual acts with anyone. We hear of teens having sex all the time, but it's harder to pin the blame on two teens then say, one teen, and an adult. If this is legitimately the case then this company had one hell of a dark cloud cast upon it.

I know in they eyes of the law it doesn't matter [which personally I think is stupid saying that having sex with a 14 year old who wanted it is just as bad as fucking a 5 year old is ridiculous] I'm just talking about my personal thought on the matter which are much more flexible than that of the government's.

 

[KoudelkaMorgan]

Generally if they are underage by a year or 2 they refer to it as "involving minors" or "underage individuals."

If its hentai they refer to them as "images depicting" etc.

When they say flat out "child porn" then you usually know they mean the kind that gets you shanked in jail.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

Well, that sucks I guess. Too bad his career's already ruined because of trial by media. Hopefully the company can get their shit together without him.

Also watch this thread turn into a "Whether Lolicon is Child Porn" debate somehow.

 

[dragongit]

Are we talking about actual child porn or Lolicon because there is a difference [one uses real children the other drawing/cartoons] depending on the answer my opinion will change.

This was just one arrest of many involving a country wide investigation which saw about 22 people being arrested. Two children were saved during the search and seizures. Something tells me this wasn't just anime.

Well in that case:
Did the children consent?[yes I know that they don't have the knowledge needed ect ect but I'm still curious on if they were willing]
And how old are we speaking, toddlers or young teens?
These things will affect my judgment but so far it's not looking good for him.

I don't think it matters. in the United States any person under the age of 17 is not legally declared an adult, and thus are dubbed to not be legally able to "consent" to sexual acts with anyone. We hear of teens having sex all the time, but it's harder to pin the blame on two teens then say, one teen, and an adult. If this is legitimately the case then this company had one hell of a dark cloud cast upon it.

I know in they eyes of the law it doesn't matter [which personally I think is stupid saying that having sex a 14 year old who wanted it is just as bad as fucking a 5 year old is ridiculous] I'm just talking about my personal thought on the matter which are much more flexible than that of the government's.

Take it as you will. It is just simply American Law. In some countries you are declared an adult at earlier ages. In Iraq and Iran adulthood is 15 years old. Even in Scotland you can be declared mature at 16. The majority set the age at 18 however. If this includes the act of having sex I can't say for sure, but it's the age set in the US and its how the law is set. No exceptions.

 

[knight steel]

Take it as you will. It is just simply American Law. In some countries you are declared an adult at earlier ages. In Iraq and Iran adulthood is 15 years old. Even in Scotland you can be declared mature at 16. The majority set the age at 18 however. If this includes the act of having sex I can't say for sure, but it's the age set in the US and its how the law is set. No exceptions.

I know that I'm not saying we should over ride the law, all the things you have stated I was already aware of I'm just sharing my two cents nothing less and nothing more.

 

[Amir Kondori]

I don't know why anyone is rushing to defend this guy. Yes, he has just been charged and not convicted of anything. To get a warrant to come seize the computers in the home means the cops went to a Judge and had evidence to present. It might be "lolicon" but I doubt it.

As is always the case, time will tell.

 

[tratorix]

Did the children consent?[yes I know that they don't have the knowledge needed ect ect but I'm still curious on if they were willing]
And how old are we speaking, toddlers or young teens?
These things will affect my judgment but so far it's not looking good for him.

Absolutely none of this matters or should affect your opinion, just FYI.

 

[CriticalMiss]

So basically, everything that touched Silicon Knights is cursed? Did they build their studio in an old mirror warehouse that collapsed and was built on top of an indian burial site, or are they just receiving all of the misfortune that other companies seem to avoid?

 

[knight steel]

Did the children consent?[yes I know that they don't have the knowledge needed ect ect but I'm still curious on if they were willing]
And how old are we speaking, toddlers or young teens?
These things will affect my judgment but so far it's not looking good for him.

Absolutely none of this matters or should affect your opinion, just FYI.

Actual it does matter and definitely affects my opinion of the guy.
This isn't just black and white these factors do play a role and example being that having sex with a 14 who initiated it is completely different than say having sex with a newborn.One is biologically/physically ready, is cable of grasping the situation and could want it/not be harmed by it while the other is not ready,can't grasp it and would be harmed by it.