Few things capture a politician's attention like campaign donations.
That's why, as the New York Times reports, the Entertainment Software Association will soon begin spreading money around to candidates for federal office. The video game publishers' organization has created a political action committee (PAC) to facilitate its campaign donations.
Regarding the move, ESA boss Michael Gallagher told the Times' Seth Schiesel:
We will be writing checks to campaigns by the end of this quarter. This is an important step in the political maturation process of the industry that we are ready to take now. This is about identifying and supporting champions for the game industry on Capitol Hill so that they support us.
Gallagher said the ESA's PAC would most likely donate $50,000 to $100,000 in 2008. Federal election law prevents giving more than $5,000 to any single candidate. In flexing the ESA's political muscle, Gallagher also touted the Video Game Voters' Network:
If I can walk into the office of a member of Congress and tell them we have 20,000 voters in their state who are already signed up to write letters and act based on game-related issues that concern them, that’s powerful.
GP: While the NYT's Schiesel writes of "a much more favorable and tolerant attitude toward video games both among the general public and politicians," we're not so sure we agree. Games seem under attack as much as ever.
Comments
I can offer something no other Presidential Candidate can. I truly understand how much gaming does benefit us. I am 39 years old and I have been playing games since the Atari 2600. I also owned a gaming center for 3 years and I watched families come together and play every day, from all walks of life. Gaming is the ultimate unifier, and as President I would veto anything that would threaten this unifier.
I encourage you to look at me; I offer the kind of outside the box thinking that made gaming great in the first place and I will apply this to the government.
Here is my quote from my website
“Videos games and movies etc. are not the problem”
“There is one concept that can bring family together and promote family time is playing games together. Gaming is for everyone and with the new Game Systems available the grand kids can play with their grandparents, the nieces & nephew can play with their Aunts & Uncles. What better way to get the families back together? Its fun and the wave of the future”
It is not the role of the government to dictate which games can be played. It is the responsibility of the parents!
With video games our broken families can find common ground and can be brought together once again.
I am not a politician. I am just a guy who sees major problems, and has the vision to fix it, no matter how impossible others might think it is.
And ideas like this must be stopped, before they regulate our freedom out of America.
“The high-water mark of political dudgeon about games came in 2005 when scenes of mild sexual provocation were discovered hidden with the code for the game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. In the wake of the controversy Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton proposed legislation to increase federal regulation of the game industry.”
http://www.odom2008.com/id.html this video is what I am trying to do.
Jerry Odom
2008 Presidential Candidate “independent”
To regain our independence from ineffective way doing things
Info@odom2008.com
www.odom2008.com
I just hope that some politicians out there know what to say and how to say it to avoid angering those vocal gamers out there who don't like their media of choice being attacked. It sickens me when so many out there talking about protecting family when in reality, they are just trying to censor out an art form they don't understand (Clinton, Yee, Schwarzenegger, I'm looking at you). If all you gamers out there care enough to vote, you'll make sure, just like me, that these wads know that we have a loud enough voice, and we will be heard.
zOmg Mass Effect Butt Secks!
So arethey planning on a blanket campaign contribution? By that I mean, donate to every candidate on the board, or just certain candidates.
I am wondering how Hillary and Romney will take to receiving campaign money from the filthy games industry.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
I approve of their intent to "find a champion" on the Hill. Not someone who will jump out and oppose the anti-game idiots, but someone who is reasonable about games. Someone who will act in the same way as all of the senators who have gotten behind the ESRB, and who will use common sense to educate the public.
Not bribing, but the effect is the same. Once videogames have a human face on capitol hill, much ground will be gained. There are special interest groups for everything under the sun, and it's about time the videogame industry do the same.
Their doing it is no mistake. It's an agenda.
Amen, my friend. The ESA is starting to become EPIC FAILURE, oy.
http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/release/2008/0116.asp
I don´t like either they have to give money to politicians but I can´t see any other way to this industry to say "here we are".