Game industry gets a voice? ESA lobbying in Washington

Posted Jul 2, 2007 at 2:24PM by Karl B. Listed in: Tags: ESA, Master Chief, New York Times
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ESA President Michael D. Gallagher - Image 1In a recent interview with the New York Times, Entertainment Software Association (ESA) President Michael D. Gallagher revealed that one of the ESA's priorities is to infiltrate Washington.

The new ESA president noted that while the movie and music industries already have backers in Washington, the video game industry does not quite have the same privilege yet.

According to Gallagher, the main challenge lies in "connecting with decision makers and creating champions for the video game industry in the policy-making arena."

In addition to having a smaller budget, Gallagher also noted that the video game industry doesn't have the star power to seduce politicians.

"Washington is very enamored with glitz and the appeal of stars," said Gallagher. "Whenever Bono shows up he creates this bow wave as he comes through, and it's true that stars do help drive messages. And it is true that Master Chief and Mario are not yet household words on the Hill, but wait for the years ahead."

Gallagher also said that the ESA will be revealing its full agenda after E3.

This is excellent news. Our lawmakers make their decisions based on information. If that information only comes from anti-gaming lawyers and anti-gaming activists, then of course our lawmakers are going to develop an anti-gaming bias. So it's good that our industry strengthens its representation.

Via New York Times

 
 
 

Comments

by - 2007-07-02 15:09:37
.

cool

by - 2007-07-02 17:13:58
this will help big

I don't think people understand the amount of influence that lobbyists and PACs have on politics. this might help gaming a lot.

by - 2007-07-02 17:15:16
hi

omg dax is gone and you wanan *****ing talk about the Game industry getting a voice?

by - 2007-07-02 17:53:20
kick jack in the teeth

sweet its about time some people step up to the plate and defend the american citizens constutional rights .

by - 2007-07-02 19:16:43
Dax

It isn't QJ's fault that Sony makes Dax's boots tremble. "OMG Sony is going to send a death squad to my house..."

by - 2007-07-02 19:52:54
ddt

He looks like the dude from King of Queens. That could work in his favor. :)

by - 2007-07-02 21:12:45
hi

lol

by - 2007-07-02 21:12:50
hell ya

king of queens rocks the f()cking socks off any fox. and get me some f()cking manhunt 2 action now

by - 2007-07-02 21:44:46
hold your horses

there are to many liberals and *****ing soccer moms for him to handle right now.

by - 2007-07-03 02:20:29
Liberals and Soccer Moms...

... who are too stupid to read the back of a game box before they buy it for their precious little children... "OMG You mean BLOODY MURDER III has violence in it?!?!"

by - 2007-07-05 07:40:40
This is only good short term

Long term problem arises when the game lobbyists crack down on game piracy just like the RIAA is doing in the music industry. This will probably result in the further decline of user freedom and less third party game developers that doesn't have the backings of the big game companies.. Just a thought.

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