July 26, 2007
The ESA, which represents the interests of U.S. video game publishers, has issued a press release touting renewed efforts by its Video Game Voters Network.In addition to the new trailer which GamePolitics covered yesterday, the VGVN has launched an updated website in order to "increase the recruitment, education, and mobilization of video game players across the country." The ESA press release also quotes president Mike Gallagher:
The response to the VGVN is overwhelming and dramatic—over 100,000 members, generating thousands upon thousands of letters defending video games. It’s impressive. Ordinary Americans’ passion for computer and video games is driving a desire to be counted and speak out. They are a political force that not only votes, but actively makes their voices heard in Washington, DC and in state legislatures across the country.
Politicians who think easy political points can be scored at the First Amendment’s expense have to know that such efforts will be aggressively opposed. VGVN and the ESA would rather work in a collaborative and productive partnership to educate caregivers about how to ensure the games their children enjoy are parent-approved.
GP: So far, I'm impressed with Mike Gallagher (more about that in tomorrow's Joystiq column). But while I like the idea of the Video Game Voters Network, I have serious concerns about its overall impact. As I told Postal Nation recently:
The ESA made a nice try with the Video Game Voters Network, but let's take a reality check. As currently set up the VGVN is basically a platform for sending e-mail form letters to politicians. The whole thing seems automated. Who is the VGVN, anyway? Can the average gamer name a single person directly associated with it? A movement needs a leader, needs a rallying point.
I also believe there is a fundamental disconnect between the interests of game publishers and those of game consumers. Of course, working with the Entertainment Consumers Association and being a lifelong gamer, I'm certainly biased in that direction.
Comments
True, but it must be admitted, the PTC does have an impact, regardless of our own opinions on that impact. Simply having the weight of several thousand names of voters to throw around is quite a hefty tool.
Thing is, I'd personally not be certain how else to run the VGVN, in a way it would be nice if it was more 'centralised', however, I wouldn't recommend Dennis to run it, and I mean that as no insult to Dennis. Gamepolitics has always tried to provide as even a view of the playing field as possible, there's always been a pro-game lean, but that's hardly surprising, however, Dennis has always been excellent at remaining impartial, even when being so has obviously required an effort of will. If Dennis were named as head of the VGVN, I'm sure that impartiality would remain, however, it would be a lot harder to defend that impartiality if Dennis were to take a more prominent role in defending games.
I understand that nothing would change, but outsiders wouldn't see it like that.
Anyway, just my 2 cents :)
Today the VGVN is concerned primarily with the political discussions around free speech & restricting availability of M and AO content. In this area they are aligned - at least with the digitally-vocal hardcore consumer base. They may be out of sync with parents, but that's another issue.
If and when the discussion turns to copyright term extensions, digital rights management technologies, etc, the interests of the media companies/publishers may be diametrically opposed to the interests of consumers.
We see much of this going on right now with music & movie industries and their lobbying efforts, where the trade groups pretend to speak on behalf of the consumer and, other than the EFF occasionally calling them on it, no one knows the better.
So when and if the debate goes beyond the restriction of sales of M rated titles, it will be interesting to see whether the VGVN is EFF-like, or more MPAA-like.
Meantime, tell your gaming buds! Word of mouth is good...
I agree that such an effort would be better served by a consumer group rather than an industry group. As it stands now, it is a mere farse to get greater consumer support for the ESA.
AS for the Dennis nominations, I don't think that is the best idea. I agree that Dennis would be a great choice, but as a reporter who is supposed to be a nonparticipant, it would never work out. Also as I satated, the VGVN is owned by the ESA and Dennis is already (although unfoundedly) being accused as being an industry "stooge".
We do need someone who is not a member of the ESA, but is familiar with the political process to run it properly.
The trailer was ridiculously terrible. I see now that they put it was intentionally over-the-top on their website but I definitely did not see that disclaimer the first day.
I guess if they helped get thousands of people to send prefabricated letters to their US Congresspeople that is a start, but I can just see the intern who opens the mail finding the VGVN website and showing the trailer for a good office laugh for the day.
I just cannot see this organization getting any traction when they put out propaganda just as bad, if not worse, than the other side.
It's already blatantly obvious that the hystrionics generated about Games was more motivated by political manouvering than any genuine concern or belief, but I think it does a pretty good job of spelling it out.
That is why-
A) Think Dennis would be great at that job, he knows what can be done and when to do it. He has been in the game for a long time now in as far as this current assault on video games are concirnced and...
B) That is why he would and should never take a position like that. He is not a part of the industry, as we are not a part of it in so much as being it's minions politicaly.
Also, I think that the VGVN should be transfered to the ECA, it is our side of the fight that the VGVN is on, so we are the ones that need it. It is technecally our responsibility to work on the politicians and the industry to work on the laws. I think that it would be best in our hands.
The VGVN is kinda a empty shell made from the Pub run ESA,the ESA is villainous but not evil,its just looking out for its members and consumers can not "join".
Perhaps with the correct leader it can join with the ECA and attack the political field together?
So it'll be difficult to not fall into that trap of being just a large collection of form-letter senders. Politicians may pretend to notice, but it's also easy for staffers to notice when letters start getting repetitive, and clearly all just minimal-effort outrage...
GP is pretty busy as is plus its part of the "industry" and GP is tryign to separate himself from it to stay impartial and look the part as well.
The ESA is part of a publisher group the ECA is the consumer group,the VGVN needs a strong leader able to to annoy both politicizations and pubs and try and keep to a middle road so the people get the most benefit out of it.
I second that. Dennis is the most apt choice for a position like that because he knows the climate and knows what to do. I doubt he would accept a position like that though.
And no, I'm not just trying to kiss ass.