Comment Re:Simple Solution... (Score 3, Informative) 116
Oh but the video game industry DOES have a lobbyist and advocacy group! A few in fact! Here are some of the people who fight against Jack Thompson and WIN!
First we have the ESA, the Entertainment Software Association!
http://www.theesa.com/
Headed by Doug Lowenstein, a person Jack Thompson REALLY hates, the ESA is video game's no. 1 lobby group and is also the organization that developed the ESRB. While the ESA and ESRB are connected, the ESRB, headed by Patricia Vance, is a separate entity from the rest of the ESA because its sole purpose is to rate games. However, whenever a law, like the one in Illinois, passes, the ESA is the first one there to counter it. AND... they bring back up!
Back up like the VSDA, Video Software Dealers Association!
http://www.idealink.org/Resource.phx/vsda/events/h omeent2005/homeentnews.htx
This group handles video games, DVDs, and much more in terms of video and digital entertainment. From movies, to music, to video games, although with an emphasis on video, the members of this group include retailers and other companies in the entertainment industry who seek to promote and discover new technologies in providing digital entertainment, and also back the stance of movies as well as video games should government legislation possibly impose on them!
While not as big a lobbyist as they are a partner, the IEMA, Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association, works with the ESRB and ESA in terms of what goes on their member's shelves!
http://www.iema.org/
The IEMA has members such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Target, and most members in the IEMA maintain a "Will not stock AO ratings" policy. This is fine since they work with the ESRB and listen to what the ESRB has to say about the games being given to them. This organization works well with the ESRB and ESA, and can come to support the organizations if necessary!
Second to last, one group that is close to the heart of the games industry, the IGDA, the International Game Developers Association!
http://www.igda.org/
This group of game developers is very well spoken in terms of how the creators of games feel about laws that go against their ability to make games. Whereas the ESA could best represent game publishers, the IGDA would represent the game makers themselves. The forum here is a great place for game designers to share ideas and voice opinions on current hot topics. A great community of minds, and should some Miami lawyer try and pass laws against them... well then they start showing teeth!
And last, one that I don't see much press about, but one that is behind most of my favorite hangouts, the CMP Game Group!
http://www.cmpgame.com/home.html
While not a lobbyist or advocacy group by any means, the CMP Game Group finances and provides several methods of information sharing and acheivement recognition in the game industry. They provide the website Gamasutra.com, publish Game Developers magazine, founded the Game Developers Conference, the GDC, the Game Developers Choice Awards, and the Independent Games Festival. If anyone can provide an accurate resource on what makes games the games they are, the CMP game group can provide it or find the person or persons who can!
So the game industry is not left un-defended. There are plenty of organizations out there to help out people at the ESA and ESRB should they ever come under fire. If you really want to stick it to Jack Thompson, then I suggest becoming a member of some of these organizations and fight with them!
After all, if not for gamers like us, they wouldn't have the power they do now!
~Otaku-Man
First we have the ESA, the Entertainment Software Association!
http://www.theesa.com/
Headed by Doug Lowenstein, a person Jack Thompson REALLY hates, the ESA is video game's no. 1 lobby group and is also the organization that developed the ESRB. While the ESA and ESRB are connected, the ESRB, headed by Patricia Vance, is a separate entity from the rest of the ESA because its sole purpose is to rate games. However, whenever a law, like the one in Illinois, passes, the ESA is the first one there to counter it. AND... they bring back up!
Back up like the VSDA, Video Software Dealers Association!
http://www.idealink.org/Resource.phx/vsda/events/
This group handles video games, DVDs, and much more in terms of video and digital entertainment. From movies, to music, to video games, although with an emphasis on video, the members of this group include retailers and other companies in the entertainment industry who seek to promote and discover new technologies in providing digital entertainment, and also back the stance of movies as well as video games should government legislation possibly impose on them!
While not as big a lobbyist as they are a partner, the IEMA, Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association, works with the ESRB and ESA in terms of what goes on their member's shelves!
http://www.iema.org/
The IEMA has members such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Target, and most members in the IEMA maintain a "Will not stock AO ratings" policy. This is fine since they work with the ESRB and listen to what the ESRB has to say about the games being given to them. This organization works well with the ESRB and ESA, and can come to support the organizations if necessary!
Second to last, one group that is close to the heart of the games industry, the IGDA, the International Game Developers Association!
http://www.igda.org/
This group of game developers is very well spoken in terms of how the creators of games feel about laws that go against their ability to make games. Whereas the ESA could best represent game publishers, the IGDA would represent the game makers themselves. The forum here is a great place for game designers to share ideas and voice opinions on current hot topics. A great community of minds, and should some Miami lawyer try and pass laws against them... well then they start showing teeth!
And last, one that I don't see much press about, but one that is behind most of my favorite hangouts, the CMP Game Group!
http://www.cmpgame.com/home.html
While not a lobbyist or advocacy group by any means, the CMP Game Group finances and provides several methods of information sharing and acheivement recognition in the game industry. They provide the website Gamasutra.com, publish Game Developers magazine, founded the Game Developers Conference, the GDC, the Game Developers Choice Awards, and the Independent Games Festival. If anyone can provide an accurate resource on what makes games the games they are, the CMP game group can provide it or find the person or persons who can!
So the game industry is not left un-defended. There are plenty of organizations out there to help out people at the ESA and ESRB should they ever come under fire. If you really want to stick it to Jack Thompson, then I suggest becoming a member of some of these organizations and fight with them!
After all, if not for gamers like us, they wouldn't have the power they do now!
~Otaku-Man
