It's Official: LucasArts Bails on ESA
It's Official: LucasArts Bails on ESA
May 16, 2008
Following Activision and Vivendi out the door, LucasArts has made its exit from the Entertainment Software Association official.
GamePolitics broke the news last week that signs pointed to LucasArts leaving the organization which represents the interests of US video game publishers.
Since that time, both LucasArts and the ESA went into silent mode - until late today (Friday afternoons being the corporate mind's preferred time for dropping bad news).
Despite giving the kiss-off to ESA, LucasArts says that it will still exhibit at E3 in July.
We should note that while working on this story no fewer than five LucasArts PR reps failed to return GP's phone calls, e-mails and IM's. The ESA also chose not to respond. Notice that nobody was denying the rumor. Obviously, there was a good reason for that.
Joystiq has the ESA's press release, which the publisher's group did not deign to send to GamePolitics. I assume that's by way of payback for reporting the rumor.
Classy.
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Posted 07/20/08 at 07:08pm
GRIZZAM PRIME: -he's disbarred. I was thinking Leland Yee, since he has actual medical credentials and all, not to mention political power.
GRIZZAM PRIME: -he's disbarred. I was thinking Leland Yee, since he has actual medical credentials and all, not to mention political power.
Posted 07/20/08 at 07:03pm
GRIZZAM PRIME: Well shadow, every time I look at the shoutboard I see JT over and over, and I'm wondering who'll be spoken of the most when
GRIZZAM PRIME: Well shadow, every time I look at the shoutboard I see JT over and over, and I'm wondering who'll be spoken of the most when
Posted 07/20/08 at 06:59pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : Point of relevancy there Grizzam? j/w
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : Point of relevancy there Grizzam? j/w
Posted 07/20/08 at 06:48pm
GRIZZAM PRIME: So, in the future, who's initials will we use the most? LY(Leeland Yee)?
GRIZZAM PRIME: So, in the future, who's initials will we use the most? LY(Leeland Yee)?
Posted 07/20/08 at 03:52pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : @PHOENIXZERO: IDK, why don't you ask him over e-mail?
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : @PHOENIXZERO: IDK, why don't you ask him over e-mail?
Posted 07/20/08 at 01:47pm
Silencets: I might miss JT when he's disbarred.....nah I won't
Silencets: I might miss JT when he's disbarred.....nah I won't
Posted 07/20/08 at 11:45am
PHOENIXZERO: I wonder how many times Jack has seen The Dark Knight so far....
PHOENIXZERO: I wonder how many times Jack has seen The Dark Knight so far....
Posted 07/19/08 at 11:32am
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: Don´t you think that maybe Fat Princess will generate a lot of controversy?
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: Don´t you think that maybe Fat Princess will generate a lot of controversy?
Posted 07/19/08 at 08:46am
Paul T. Farinelli: To say that he did say it seriously, considering all of the rhetoric that he's spewed before.
Paul T. Farinelli: To say that he did say it seriously, considering all of the rhetoric that he's spewed before.
Posted 07/19/08 at 08:45am
Paul T. Farinelli: Apparently it was a joke on JT's part. He acts as though we all should've realized that, but it's not to big of a stretch
Paul T. Farinelli: Apparently it was a joke on JT's part. He acts as though we all should've realized that, but it's not to big of a stretch
Posted 07/19/08 at 07:14am
LuNaTiC: JT was not loved as a child. What jack ass forgot to pull out when creating this abomination??
LuNaTiC: JT was not loved as a child. What jack ass forgot to pull out when creating this abomination??
Posted 07/18/08 at 10:32pm
Paul T. Farinelli: Seriously, i haven't been so awe-struck by someone's sheer audacity in...ever!
Paul T. Farinelli: Seriously, i haven't been so awe-struck by someone's sheer audacity in...ever!
Posted 07/18/08 at 09:45pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : And I can take "No" for an answer.
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : And I can take "No" for an answer.
Posted 07/18/08 at 09:45pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : JT is such a tool. He thinks he can have his way just because he's a Christian. Listen up, Jackie-boy, I'm a Christian, too.
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : JT is such a tool. He thinks he can have his way just because he's a Christian. Listen up, Jackie-boy, I'm a Christian, too.
Posted 07/18/08 at 09:09pm
Paul T. Farinelli: Also, I must say that Jack honestly looks like a serial killer in that pic. (not saying he is one, just that he looks creepy)
Paul T. Farinelli: Also, I must say that Jack honestly looks like a serial killer in that pic. (not saying he is one, just that he looks creepy)
Posted 07/18/08 at 09:08pm
Paul T. Farinelli: Jace was apparently polite.
Paul T. Farinelli: Jace was apparently polite.
Posted 07/18/08 at 09:07pm
Paul T. Farinelli: I agree, it just seems like pure insanity that Jack would seriously say that to the man's face during an interview, one in which
Paul T. Farinelli: I agree, it just seems like pure insanity that Jack would seriously say that to the man's face during an interview, one in which
Posted 07/18/08 at 07:48pm
Jack Wessels: If not then... Damn...
Jack Wessels: If not then... Damn...
Posted 07/18/08 at 07:48pm
Jack Wessels: Hey Dennis, I know you can't share the videos JT sent you, but was there perhaps even a slight amount of sarcasm in his replies?
Jack Wessels: Hey Dennis, I know you can't share the videos JT sent you, but was there perhaps even a slight amount of sarcasm in his replies?
Posted 07/18/08 at 06:21pm
tallimar: ... news story so much as a punch line.
tallimar: ... news story so much as a punch line.
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Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
None of these press releases reveal the reason why these companies are jumping ship.
Surely some insider could anonymously tip someone about what the hell is going on here.
As far as I can see ESA has been quite adept in addressing the industry issues. I can't imagine the companies are having this much of an issue with E3. Or are they?
Do the rats tell the crew why they are jumping ship? Will the captain openly admit fault when his crew is about to die?
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
Wow... ESA. Time to come up with a game plan while you still have members.
-Loudspeaker
"Volume helps to get a point across but sharp teeth are better."
Yeah... This isn't looking too good...
Jack Thompson, do you care to comment? We all know you're here trolling.
One, if I'm not mistaken, J.B. is still banned. Two, he's probably too busy coming up with conspiracy theories.
----
Papa Midnight
http://www.otakutimes.com
http://www.thesupersoldiers.com
it's not really a JT kind of story, not the kind of thing he would wade into. Also, there's no reason to pull him into this. It's like, industry dirty laundry, mainly...
Why wouldn't they bail? the ESA doesn't do a damn thing!
-GRIZZAM PRIME(c)is property of the U.S. Marine Corp. Wetworks Dept., and also The Incredible Hulk-GRIZZAM PRIME is not to be associated with GRIZZAM 512 or any other GRIZZAM entity under penalty of law, so sayith ZARATHOS.
Sorry you weren't invited to the party Dennis.
I too want to know the reasons why these companies are jumping ship.
Will someone think of the gamers?!?
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
Perhaps, given their damn-near zero success rate, the ESA should deep-six it's lobbying functions and functionaries and, given their damn-near perfect record, concentrate on litigation. Because they're generally able to re-coup on litigation fees (i.e., the losing state foots their attroneys' bills) , this would effectively allow them to cut their membership fees by -- I'd imagine -- more than 50% and in so doing, perhaps, stop the growing membership defections.
Dear ESA:
I'm available for consultancy at reasonable rates. Name's JackDon'tKnowJack. Holla achta ya boy.
So why are these guys leaving the ESA anyways?
everyone is very tight-lipped about that.
But let's put it this way: they ain't leaving because they're happy with what they're getting from ESA.
Well, the ESA's had little success lobbying, been unable to do much about piracy, and has screwed up E3 to the point where companies are throwning their own things as an alternative.
At a guess, the big companies that pay the most are probably starting to feel as though they aren't getting their money's worth. It seems odd that they'd just up and leave, rather than try and change things though.
True, the ESA has had little success lobbying, but piracy is almost at the point of being an urban myth - it's hard to do much about something that people are deathly afraid of, but which doesn't exist in anywhere near the numbers that people think it does.
Not that it's cool for ESA/LucasArts to cut anybody out of the loop by way of retribution, but sarcastically calling them "classy" and flinging accusations of blackballing doesn't really make this site look any classier. Call me old fashioned for thinking that blogging could sound a little more like journalism, I guess.
I've always believed that, because most of the people who cover video games are really into gaming, the biz has gotten used to a very compliant gaming press. While I am likewise a gamer, my commitment is to the story, not the industry.
I call 'em like I see 'em, based on the facts. And the facts in this case are that I got the brush-off while working on the original rumor story. I also pursued a follow-up with the ESA on the status of LucasArts on Tuesday, with no response. It's not like the ESA didn't know I was tracking this story. To issue the press release and then not send it to an established site with an obvious interest in the situation?
All fair on your part. And hey, it's your blog. But my comment related more to tone than to content. Just giving some feedback on how this came across to someone who's used to seeing political analysis discussed otherwise. Use or ignore as you will.
GamePolitics seems to be on the recieving end of Chest Beating press releases from the ESA at all other times. So what makes this one different. It is not like the ESA forgot this site existed.
I think they were a little upset that a drop out that they were trying to keep quiet was announced internationally. It was very disturbing that GP was not in the loop.
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
I'm curious as to why you say it is disturbing.
I guess disturbing isn't the proper word to use. But it is odd that they would contact other game news sites before sending anything to Game Politics, or not at all as in this case. I guess they were kind of ticked that GP broke the story.
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
I thought based on comments from past articals that the fact they are often quiet about critics and stuff and not defending and leaving us to do the defending, is a reason they are leaving?
Again, I don't know the entire reason. Kotaku ran a story indicating that some in the biz thought they should be speaking out more against critics. There was also a suggestion that some of the companies just didn't want to pay the membership fee.
It sounds like one of those situations that we'll learn more about as time goes on.
Some People claim that the ESA shouldn't bother with every no name who wants to complain about games. They are right. THere is no reason to send a response to every local news story that wants to trash games.
On the other hand, when you have a high profile organization such as the PTC, NIMF, CCFC, or high profile individuals such as politicians, or certain lawyers or national media figures trashing games, The should be speaking out.
The ESA has made a habit of ignoring all negative press, except when it comes to actual legislation.
Perhaps if they were doing more for the public image of games, you would see less bailing right now.
This is actually leaving an opening for another representative group to form.
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
"We should note that while working on this story no fewer than five LucasArts PR reps failed to return GP's phone calls, e-mails and IM's."
Take it from me, that's just LucasArt's PR in general. You have any idea how hard it is for us smaller Game Journalism Publications online just to get a phone call? EA is the same way, if your curious.
I've been writing about games since 1993 so I'm pretty familiar with dealing with PR folks. It was obvious from the cone of silence which rapidly descended upon this story that there was something to it. I really only mention the LucasArts angle as a gentle way of saying that they can play their PR games, but that doesn't mean I'm going to play along with them...
Heck we broke the story of the company leaving the ESA and despite weeks of phone calls to all of their reps, it ended up being the ESA who finally confirmed the parting to us through an official statement.
It was only then that Lucas would return our calls.
Stay tuned Monday for bigger news. ;)
@GP:
Sorry for the off-topic post, but I think your comment counter's shorting the comment count.
Long time troll, first time poster....
It's really interesting to watch these companies break away from the ESA. Each one probably has their own reason, but the two main ones have got to be E3 and Gallagher. If I remember correctly, I think it was the companies themselves who decided to tone down E3. What a dumb decision that was. By bet is that E3 will be back to its normal self sometime after Gallagher's term is done. The other main reason seems to be Gallagher. Why did they hire this guy? Anyone know? It looks like he has a good resume, but this guy should have sucked up to some of these companies badly to keep them.
Btw, I wouldn't be surprised if a couple more companies drop out as well. Hopefully not any big names, but you never know.
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