The Game -- 40 Glocc Beating Was Self-Defense ... Plus He's Sooo NOT Famous

It's bad enough The Game famously beat down 40 Glocc on video -- but now he's verbally slapping the guy around ... claiming 40 is only suing him to extend his 15 minutes of fame, and soak up Game's shine.

40 Glocc filed the lawsuit after Game humiliated him 2 years ago by beating the crap out of him, recording it, and posting it on YouTube. Now, Game says -- in new docs obtained by TMZ -- he was acting in self-defense during the fight and only started punching after 40 pulled a gun.

40 has claimed Game pulled a gun, though neither is seen with a firearm in the video.

In the docs, Game throws a few jabs -- for instance ... he has Grammy nominations and a TV show, and 40 does not. He also points out his 1.1 million Twitter followers compared to 40 Glocc's measly 53,000.

Best of all ... Game claims the whole lawsuit is part of Mr. Glocc's "gangster agenda to profit from threats, intimidation and taunts" -- said the guy who made 40 Glocc cower in fear during that infamous ass whoopin'.

Whatever happens in court -- the awesome video will live forever.