GamePolitics has learned that the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which represents the interests of U.S. video game publishers, is consolidating operations by shutting down its New York office.
Although the ESA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., it has long maintained a New York office which it shares with the ESRB, the video game industry's content rating organization. The ESRB will remain up and running at the New York location.
ESA New York was headed by Senior VP and General Counsel Gail Markels (left), a respected former Brooklyn prosecutor. Markels' status in the consolidation remains unclear, although there are strong indications that she is (or shortly will be) out of a job.
Nor was hers an insignificant position. Markels earned $317,000 in 2005, the last year for which GamePolitics has data.
The New York office's responsibilities included dealing with state-level video game legislation. Under Markels' watch the video game industry compiled a flawless litigation record in that regard, persuading federal courts that all nine video game laws passed at the state level were unconstitutional.
A February ESA press release announced that DC-based VP Ed Desmond was assuming the organization's state-level legislative duties as part of new responsibilities.
GamePolitics was unable to get a comment from the ESA for this story.
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ESA Shutting Down NYC Office, Consolidating Operations to D.C.
March 12, 2008 -
Shout box
Technogeek: If the developer were male there wouldn't have been a "conversation" in the first place.10/19/2014 - 2:27am
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Monte: trolls are just at their absolute worst when it comes to women and feminist. You could bet good money that if the developer were male the trolls would be silent and the conversation would actually focus on the journalism.10/18/2014 - 9:18pm
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Monte: Papa: Not the first time we've had a journalism scandals before, but the harassment never got close to this level; the difference with this scandal is that feminists are involved. Without the feminist angle, their would be A LOT less harrassment10/18/2014 - 9:15pm
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Papa Midnight: Monte: That's honestly rather short-sighted. As has been proven with other persons who have been targeted, if it wasn't Quinn, it would be someone else.10/18/2014 - 6:26pm
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Avalongod: I think that's part of what gives an esoteric news story like this real life...it taps into a larger narrative about misogyny in society outside of games.10/18/2014 - 3:29pm
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Avalongod: @Monte, well the trolls made death threats that came to police (and media attention). I think this is tapping into a larger issue outside of games about how women are treated in society (like all the "real rape" stuff during the last election)10/18/2014 - 3:28pm
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Wonderkarp: Zippy : Havent tried the PS4 controller. might later.10/18/2014 - 2:37pm
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Monte: Seirously, If Quinn was not involved and GG was instead about something like the Mordor Marketing contracts, the trolling would have never grown so vile and disgusting. There have been plenty of movements in the past that never sufferred from behavior..10/18/2014 - 1:57pm
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Monte: We have seen scandel's before but the trolling has never been as vile as what we see with GG. Trolls usually have such a tiny voice you can barely notice them, but its like moths to a flame whenever femistist are involved.10/18/2014 - 1:53pm
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ZippyDSMlee: Wonderkarp: You might be able to if you had a PS4 controller.10/18/2014 - 1:00pm
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MaskedPixelante: http://store.steampowered.com/app/327940/ Night Dive starts charging for freeware.10/18/2014 - 12:21pm
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Matthew Wilson: the sad thing is there are trolls on both sides of this. people need to stop acting like their side is so pure.10/18/2014 - 12:19pm
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MechaTama31: So, only speak out on a scandal that hasn't attracted trolls? I wouldn't hold my breath...10/18/2014 - 10:49am
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Monte: I feel like GG just needs to die. The movement is FAR to tainted by hatred and BS for it to be useful for any conversation. Let GG die, and then rally behind the NEXT gaming journalism scandal, and start the conversation fresh.10/18/2014 - 10:33am
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quiknkold: and we dont have a Dovakin to call a cease fire10/17/2014 - 7:37pm
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quiknkold: The whole thing is Futile. Both sides are so buried deep in their trenchs that there isnt a conversation. Its just Finger Pointing, Name Calling, Doxxing, Threats. there needs to be a serious conversation, and GG isnt it.10/17/2014 - 7:37pm
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quiknkold: I thought it was a good article. Jeff is right. I feel like GamerGate did destroy its message. I am for Ethics in game journalism, but man. so much hate. and its on both sides. I've seen some awful stuff spewed on twitter. Its a big reason why I exited..10/17/2014 - 7:34pm
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Matthew Wilson: while he focused on gg, he did call out both sides crap.10/17/2014 - 7:18pm
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Papa Midnight: That was a damn good read offered by Jeff Gertsmann.10/17/2014 - 7:17pm
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Matthew Wilson: http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/letter-from-the-editor-10-17-2014/1100-5049/ deferentially a nice write up.10/17/2014 - 6:44pm
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Comments
Even the ESA serves a function. Although it may be tough to find a ESA Fan Club
Maybe.
:-)
:\
Good to know it. She is a heroine. I hope she stays in the ESA.
You forget though he doesn't exactly live in the 'real world' he resides in Thompsonland, where he's Emperor of the Universe, and Strauss Zelnick is his personal slave... (Also the sky is green and it rains donuts every now and then. :P)
But here's hoping it turns out to be a good thing.
Watch, the DC HQ building will get called on a "violation." Probably the door being a micron too short.
Nah it'll be the curtains, they won't QUITE go with the rest of the decor...
Why would the ESA need multiple offices in the first place? Are state level laws in america so difficult that they need local offices rather than just representatives from those areas?