October 6, 2006
The ESRB isn't commenting, but GamePolitics has learned that Patricia Vance, president of the video game industry's beleagured rating organization, is listed as a panelist for the upcoming National Summit on Video Games, Youth & Public Policy.The two-day conference is being held later this month in Minnesota and is sponsored by the National Institute on Media & the Family as well as Iowa State University.
The ESRB has had a contentious relationship with NIMF and its president, Dr. David Walsh in the past. Vance was not on the first agenda published by GamePolitics on September 28th.
However the latest draft seen by GP shows Vance participating in a one-hour "Ratings, Research & Policy" panel. Other panelists are Dr. Joanne Cantor of the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Kim Thompson of Harvard, Dr. Douglas Gentile of Iowa State and NIMF. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Dale Kunkel of the University of Arizona.
GP: While there is some risk for the ESRB in participating, on balance it's likely a good thing. Given all of the criticism and congressional legislation currently directed at the rating process, it can't hurt for the video game industry to be more forthcoming.
Comments
Looking through the other people on the list of speakers, none of them seem to be pro-game; I can't see Ms. Vance making much of an impact.
Honestly, I'm wondering if they'll even let her get a word in edgeways.
But let's just wait and see.
It's sad fact that Dr. walsh has been redueced to this, I once respected the man, but now, he's just a self serving fear monger like the rest. Well, I can't be all hard on him he was at least smart enough to keep JT away.
On a more serious note, I do hope this goes well for Ms. Vance and she is allowed to speak and actually be heard. The optimist in me prays FERVENTLY for this outcome. The realist in me sees this being just another ESRB beat-down with Ms. Vance's time wasted.
But with NIMF it is their mission to destroy the ESRB. It's like Clever Wordplay showing up to a Carrot Top rally.
I agree with admiral ackbar: It's a trap!
will she be the only Pro-game person there?
Hurry,Doug lowestein and Henry jenkins!
About Anderson, OK, he's been spanked by court in the past, but although we can argue about his research on "violent games", and although he doesn't seem to like the game industry a lot, he always made it clear that he wasn't "anti-game". It's important to make the difference between (violent) game critics (such as Walsh) and game haters (such as Jack Thompson).
So, I don't know what will happen for Patricia Vance, but I'm glad she's one of the panelists. Anyway, a videogame summit would make no sense without the presence of someone from the videogame industry.
And anyone who thinks Vance ISN'T walking into a trap or at least a rigged "dialogue" isn't facing reality. These proceedings aren't neutral when organized by congress, let alone by Dr. Anderson's Dept. at Iowa State and by a private, agenda-driven organization like NIMF. You might as well invite a Freeper to a debate at UC-Berkeley entitled "Neo-conservative Elitist Fascist Pigs: Must they all be executed for crimes against the proletariat, or may some be properly imprisoned and re-educated?".