Texas Guv Will Give E3 Keynote Address... But Why?
Texas Guv Will Give E3 Keynote Address... But Why?
May 19, 2008
The ESA issued a press release today announcing that Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) will give the E3 keynote address.
We can't help but ask... why?
It's unheard of for a politician to give the opening remarks for the video game industry's big dance. Reading between the lines of the ESA press release, Perry's qualifications seem to be that: a.) Texas is home to a lot of game developers and b.) in 2007 he signed into law a bill providing financial incentives to film and video game productions.
However, as GamePolitics reported when Perry signed the legislation, the video game incentive package is fraught with potential content restrictions. The Austin American-Statesman wrote at the time:
To appease some concerned legislators, the incentive program was structured to guard against paying companies that make violent games. The state will be allowed to pick and choose projects, eliminating those that have "inappropriate content" or are "obscene." Game companies are left wondering which projects could be deemed "inappropriate."
The Daily Texan noted:
The bill requires the office to consider "general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the citizens of Texas" when considering grant applications. The bill also requires submission of a final script to determine if changes occurred during production would conflict with these standards.
Moreover, in order to qualify for incentives, a project "cannot portray Texas or Texans in a negative fashion."
A number of states have enacted incentive packages in recent times, most recently Michigan and Georgia. GamePolitics is aware of no state other than Texas that makes funding in any way dependent upon content.
Beyond the content issues, it just seems, well, odd. For many years as ESA president Doug Lowenstein gave the E3 keynote. After all, E3 was the ESA's big show. Lowenstein's annual speech was something not to be missed, a kind of State of the Union address for the video game biz.
However, in 2007, his first year at the helm, freshman boss Michael Gallagher begged off, citing newness to the position. This announcement means that the E3 crowd, which has yet to hear from Gallagher, will have to wait another year to learn whether the man has a vision for the industry.
It may be worthwhile noting that Gallagher has deep Republican roots, as does Perry, the current Chairman of the Repulican Governors Association. Perhaps the ESA (or Gallagher) views Perry as having loftier aspirations (say, the White House) when his second term expires in 2010.
UPDATE: The ESA has dropped GamePolitics a line to say that Gallagher will be giving some sort of state-of-the-industry speech at E3.
A PUBLICATION OF THE ECA
SUBSCRIBE
LOGINGamePolitics ShoutBox
Posted 09/05/08 at 01:50am
Flamespeak: To be fair, if you dismiss video games as contributors to violence in youth, it is hypocritical to say they cause heroism.
Flamespeak: To be fair, if you dismiss video games as contributors to violence in youth, it is hypocritical to say they cause heroism.
Posted 09/04/08 at 09:21pm
Tarosan: @gamepolitics has he actually lost his job or is on the verge of being disgraced forever?
Tarosan: @gamepolitics has he actually lost his job or is on the verge of being disgraced forever?
Posted 09/04/08 at 09:21pm
HalfShadow: If either of you waste good music on him, I swear I will kill you.
HalfShadow: If either of you waste good music on him, I swear I will kill you.
Posted 09/04/08 at 09:19pm
Tarosan: I shall blare out "We are Champions" as soon as he gets sacked and post a celebration video on Youtube :P
Tarosan: I shall blare out "We are Champions" as soon as he gets sacked and post a celebration video on Youtube :P
Posted 09/04/08 at 07:45pm
King of Fiji: @Austin: Go try "I'm Going Slightly Mad" it describes Jack 's mind greatly. xD
King of Fiji: @Austin: Go try "I'm Going Slightly Mad" it describes Jack 's mind greatly. xD
Posted 09/04/08 at 07:25pm
Austin_Lewis: @King and Grizzam: I'm going to stand on my mansion's front porch with my Les Paul and Marshall half stack and play both.
Austin_Lewis: @King and Grizzam: I'm going to stand on my mansion's front porch with my Les Paul and Marshall half stack and play both.
Posted 09/04/08 at 07:17pm
ZippyDSMlee: gamepolitics: loseign the bar dose. mostly, hecan still sit in with other lawyers tho..
ZippyDSMlee: gamepolitics: loseign the bar dose. mostly, hecan still sit in with other lawyers tho..
Posted 09/04/08 at 06:51pm
gamepolitics: He has no job to lose...
gamepolitics: He has no job to lose...
Posted 09/04/08 at 06:16pm
King of Fiji: @GRIZZAM PRIME: Instead of the standard "We Are the Champions" might I suggest trying "Hammer to Fall" instead? :D
King of Fiji: @GRIZZAM PRIME: Instead of the standard "We Are the Champions" might I suggest trying "Hammer to Fall" instead? :D
Posted 09/04/08 at 05:49pm
GRIZZAM PRIME: Jack's disbarment...I already have the giant speakers and the Queen CD rigged up...
GRIZZAM PRIME: Jack's disbarment...I already have the giant speakers and the Queen CD rigged up...
Posted 09/04/08 at 04:40pm
Tarosan: I'm hoping Jack loses his job in two weeks... the stupidity in his posts is just well DUMB
Tarosan: I'm hoping Jack loses his job in two weeks... the stupidity in his posts is just well DUMB
Posted 09/04/08 at 03:18pm
ZippyDSMlee: Bannign is stupid,but regulating things for the use by the..er.. "mature" is not so bad.
ZippyDSMlee: Bannign is stupid,but regulating things for the use by the..er.. "mature" is not so bad.
Posted 09/04/08 at 03:01pm
ZippyDSMlee: SimonBob:and if he was drunk he would be a bad shot, at least at range(8+feet). 20+ proof needs to be reserved for 25ish+ year old while 5-12% beer and wine be approved for 18+.
ZippyDSMlee: SimonBob:and if he was drunk he would be a bad shot, at least at range(8+feet). 20+ proof needs to be reserved for 25ish+ year old while 5-12% beer and wine be approved for 18+.
Posted 09/04/08 at 02:59pm
ZippyDSMlee: SimonBob: why? a 6 pack or 2 would be enough to get anyone drunk, theres no point is banning the harder stuff. sipping the harder stuff in small shot glasses having about. 15oz of it is alot better than drinking 10 12oz cans in a row..... and if he wa
ZippyDSMlee: SimonBob: why? a 6 pack or 2 would be enough to get anyone drunk, theres no point is banning the harder stuff. sipping the harder stuff in small shot glasses having about. 15oz of it is alot better than drinking 10 12oz cans in a row..... and if he wa
Posted 09/04/08 at 02:53pm
SimonBob: You guys suck at this. The article says Gill drank "2 to 7 drinks a day, including the day of the shooting" and not one of you
SimonBob: You guys suck at this. The article says Gill drank "2 to 7 drinks a day, including the day of the shooting" and not one of you
Posted 09/04/08 at 02:53pm
SimonBob: countered me with "obviously they should ban alcohol." (And hey, I'm all for criminalizing anything over 100 proof.)
SimonBob: countered me with "obviously they should ban alcohol." (And hey, I'm all for criminalizing anything over 100 proof.)
Posted 09/04/08 at 02:49pm
sortableturnip: I remember some woman died from sniffing a man's armpit...ban deoderant! ban armpits!!
sortableturnip: I remember some woman died from sniffing a man's armpit...ban deoderant! ban armpits!!
Posted 09/04/08 at 02:48pm
sortableturnip: No more gas? Does that mean I have to hold in my farts?
sortableturnip: No more gas? Does that mean I have to hold in my farts?
Posted 09/04/08 at 02:27pm
PHOENIXZERO: Pencils too! The kiddies could go out imitating the Joker and want to show people a magic trick! Heck, ban the Dark Knight!
PHOENIXZERO: Pencils too! The kiddies could go out imitating the Joker and want to show people a magic trick! Heck, ban the Dark Knight!
Posted 09/04/08 at 02:18pm
JustChris: @barra: damn, that just reminded me of the lady that died from too much water in a radio-hosted contest.
JustChris: @barra: damn, that just reminded me of the lady that died from too much water in a radio-hosted contest.
Copyright © 2007 ECA. All rights reserved.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
They act like it's going to be much of a problem trying to find developers that will fit to their standards of "decency". Relax guys, it's just entertainment.
Politicians have only themselves to blame for forming the delicate connections between their reputation and what some game developer does.
Ok, so the answer to my question in the previous thread is a resounding "No. The ESA is not about to learn from its mistakes."
"I'm not responcabel fer my comuter's spleling errnors." -- Xlorep DarkHelm
Sorry to make a WAY off topic comment:
There used to be an address that you could send stories/leads to GP. I can no longer find that address on this site. All contact information goes directly to the ECA. Can someone help a gamer out?
info@gamepolitics.com should work!
*sigh* This isn't going to help the new guy's stature with the companies. Now that we have big-name companies leaving, I'm sure others are looking at the possibility of leaving too. He needs to be up there and even though he's new he needs to be talking about his organization.
---- There is a limit for both politicians against video games, and video games against politicians.
So, who put Gallagher in charge again? If this is the direction he is taking with the ESA, it is no wonder why everyone is bailing.
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
They may as well have let Jack Thompson give the speech. He's in badly enough
-kurisu7885
I agree. It's gonna be a riot when it happens...
I have to agree with you EZK. I was trying to keep an open mind about Gallagher a week or two ago, when we all were talking about Activision dropping out of theESA , but I've read this keynote story three times at three different places now, and I still don't get it. All I get is some vague, unsettling sense of greasy, backroom politics. I guess that's what the ESA gets for hiring a lobbyist instead of businessman...?
you may have read this story in three other places, but I think GP is the only site to place it in any context. The rest just seemed to rephrase the ESA press release, which is disappointing... The announcement is pretty off-the-wall and demands some analysis.
True that, GP. When it comes to gamer culture in the world at large (or the world at large in gamer culture) your coverage is always the freshest and best. Thank you!
Why you ask? For money.
With the ESA rapidly losing supporters -and relavency- they are desperate to do anything to make a buck, even selling short the gaming industry.
"UPDATE: The ESA has dropped GamePolitics a line to say that Gallagher will be giving a state-of-the-industry speech at E3."
for a moment, i thought "awesome. state-of-the-industry AND the Sledge-o-Matic!"
Here are we -- and yonder yawns the universe.
Between the loss of major players and this article it seems to underscore the need for ESA to clean house and start anew.
-Loudspeaker
"Volume helps to get a point across but sharp teeth are better."
"All y'all kids need to settle down. I'm on yer side. We can all get along as long as y'all do what yer told".- sorry, but I felt the need to some up this guy's speech ahead of time. He wants to pander to the young people who seem to be a bit more informed and organized than he previously thought. Of course, he will not concede his prior position because old folks are easier to scare into voting for him.
In political terms, this is called the "surprise reach-around".
Perhaps the ESA would be kind enough to tell us why they felt his presence was important (besides the obvious interpretation that he paid to get in)?
Seriously. He's said to be Tom Delay's "bitch". In the 2006 election, he scared everyone into reelecting him. And he and/or the fellow republicans HATES education. He's the reason Texas is the Lone Retard State.
Ron Paul would have been the obvious choice
a project "cannot portray Texas or Texans in a negative fashion."
I can't think of anything lately that has done this... except for that one episode of SpongeBob.
岩「…Ace beats Jack」
I smell trouble brewing. This seems very weird. I couldn't find any dirt on wikipedia.
A lot of people consider E3 to be "dead." The ESA is working on those who don't.
Lemme guess...
The texans will only pay a game designer doing an unholy ritual to ressurect Left Behind? Or derivitive religious crapfest of a game mark 2?
Noooooooooooooo!
*gouges out eyes*
Question
Have any of the mentioned provisions in the law been used or detered any game designers from setting up shop?
GP should talk to some Texan game designers
Geez, when will people learn what censorship is. Censorship is when the government says you can't publish/say/broadcast/do something. It is not censorship for the government to say, "we won't pay you to do it."
Whether it's qualifying for financial incentives to make video games or getting a public grant to make art, strings can be attached. If you don't want to follow the rules, then don't ask for the money.
Gallagher, et. al. have forced their way in.... big companies not attending will force them back out again. Including the keynote speaker.
Post new comment