BREAKING: Another ESA Departure as Crave Leaves Game Publishers Trade Group
BREAKING: Another ESA Departure as Crave Leaves Game Publishers Trade Group
June 23, 2008
Another US video game publisher has left the membership ranks of the Entertainment Software Association.
This time it's California-based Crave Entertainment (World Championship Poker featuring Howard Lederer, Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection).
While the company is still listed on the member page of the ESA website, GamePolitics has learned from a knowledgeable source that Crave is no longer a member of the organization, which represents the interests of US video game publishers. Despite leaving ESA, Crave will be exhibiting at next month's E3.
It's unclear why Crave's departure was not made public. GamePolitics has requested comment from both Crave and the ESA on the decision.
Crave thus becomes the fifth publisher to leave the ESA this year, following earlier departures by Activision, Vivendi, LucasArts and id.
UPDATE: The ESA has confirmed Crave's departure, forwarding this statement from Rich Taylor, Senior Vice President of Communications and Research:
We can confirm that Crave has decided not to renew its membership in the ESA. We value each member of our association, but respect their decision. In conversations with Crave, representatives stated that they value their longstanding membership with the ESA and remain committed to the values and goals of the association.
UPDATE 2: Crave has confirmed with this statement from president Michael Maas:
Crave’s departure from ESA at this juncture is not a statement against the value provided by our longstanding membership, but rather was motivated by our need to focus on the impending sale of our company. We will be re-evaluating our decision, hopefully in the near future. Crave still supports the goals and aims of ESA.
UPDATE 3: Crave has been removed from the ESA member page.
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LOGINGamePolitics ShoutBox
Posted 01/06/09 at 04:12pm
DeepThorn: Dero, I swear she told me she was 18.
DeepThorn: Dero, I swear she told me she was 18.
Posted 01/06/09 at 03:07pm
HarmlessBunny: @PHX Corp: No surprise. Jack's favorite desperation move: Image-laden filings that make zero sense! Guarunteed to piss someone off, and provide hilarity to us
HarmlessBunny: @PHX Corp: No surprise. Jack's favorite desperation move: Image-laden filings that make zero sense! Guarunteed to piss someone off, and provide hilarity to us
Posted 01/06/09 at 01:54pm
Derovius: What did you call my little sister?
Derovius: What did you call my little sister?
Posted 01/06/09 at 01:38pm
DeepThorn: 'Security' additions, which means it protects the music, which you bought, and have the right to use. It doesnt stop illegal activity, and even copying the music onto 2 back up CDs isnt illegal. Giving one to your little sister is border line.
DeepThorn: 'Security' additions, which means it protects the music, which you bought, and have the right to use. It doesnt stop illegal activity, and even copying the music onto 2 back up CDs isnt illegal. Giving one to your little sister is border line.
Posted 01/06/09 at 01:36pm
CK20XX: What's it gonna take for JT to get arrested? It'd be funny if it wasn't so sad.
CK20XX: What's it gonna take for JT to get arrested? It'd be funny if it wasn't so sad.
Posted 01/06/09 at 12:12pm
PHX Corp: Look on JAABLOG at his recent court filings he's starting to post pictures again http://www.megaupload.com/?d=DB5ODRNE
PHX Corp: Look on JAABLOG at his recent court filings he's starting to post pictures again http://www.megaupload.com/?d=DB5ODRNE
Posted 01/06/09 at 11:51am
CMiner: It's the same as the controversy over Sony's rootkits in their music CDs, as far as a separation of the issues of cd content and the security additions.
CMiner: It's the same as the controversy over Sony's rootkits in their music CDs, as far as a separation of the issues of cd content and the security additions.
Posted 01/06/09 at 11:27am
Vake Xeacons: But there does need to be a limit on DRM. I mean, CD check's okay, but spyware? That's an invasion of privacy!
Vake Xeacons: But there does need to be a limit on DRM. I mean, CD check's okay, but spyware? That's an invasion of privacy!
Posted 01/06/09 at 11:00am
Krono: @insanejedi: DRM isn't an aspect of the game. Unless you can make an argument that Securom is an intregal part of Spore that the game would be an incomplete experience without.
Krono: @insanejedi: DRM isn't an aspect of the game. Unless you can make an argument that Securom is an intregal part of Spore that the game would be an incomplete experience without.
Posted 01/06/09 at 10:57am
insanejedi: It's asking the government to regulate aspects of a game. Their just going to use this as a backdoor to regulate other aspects.
insanejedi: It's asking the government to regulate aspects of a game. Their just going to use this as a backdoor to regulate other aspects.
Posted 01/06/09 at 10:53am
Krono: @insanejedi: DRM = trade practice, Violence in games = speech. I'm not seeing the similarity here.
Krono: @insanejedi: DRM = trade practice, Violence in games = speech. I'm not seeing the similarity here.
Posted 01/06/09 at 10:40am
insanejedi: Guys, Regulation of DRM is fudementally the same as regulating violence in games...
insanejedi: Guys, Regulation of DRM is fudementally the same as regulating violence in games...
Posted 01/06/09 at 10:13am
sortableturnip: He's in full swing now, asking for all expenses paid by the Florida Bar.
sortableturnip: He's in full swing now, asking for all expenses paid by the Florida Bar.
Posted 01/06/09 at 09:51am
sortableturnip: @ Simonbob: isn't it better to read the comments, LOL wise?
sortableturnip: @ Simonbob: isn't it better to read the comments, LOL wise?
Posted 01/06/09 at 09:41am
SimonBob: You could've mentioned it's close to the bottom, although it's good to know he's actually got an okay golf swing.
SimonBob: You could've mentioned it's close to the bottom, although it's good to know he's actually got an okay golf swing.
Posted 01/06/09 at 09:41am
PHX Corp: @Sourtable T JT's brain acts like a cookoo clock, It never stops Cookooing
PHX Corp: @Sourtable T JT's brain acts like a cookoo clock, It never stops Cookooing
Posted 01/06/09 at 09:23am
sortableturnip: In his latest filing, JT claims he is still admitted to practice as an attorney in the Southern District of Florida: http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2007/09/04/pardon-our-appearance.aspx?pg=3&view=threaded
sortableturnip: In his latest filing, JT claims he is still admitted to practice as an attorney in the Southern District of Florida: http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2007/09/04/pardon-our-appearance.aspx?pg=3&view=threaded
Posted 01/06/09 at 09:13am
SimonBob: Or the falsified usernames of gaming company CEOs. :P
SimonBob: Or the falsified usernames of gaming company CEOs. :P
Posted 01/06/09 at 09:07am
Alevan: Yeah, he doesn't use the shoutbox... then again, he doesn't like to confront his problems head on. He hides behind the "law"
Alevan: Yeah, he doesn't use the shoutbox... then again, he doesn't like to confront his problems head on. He hides behind the "law"
Posted 01/06/09 at 09:05am
SimonBob: It's funny, Alevan, I've never seen him respond to anything in the shoutbox. I think he's got tunnel vision.
SimonBob: It's funny, Alevan, I've never seen him respond to anything in the shoutbox. I think he's got tunnel vision.
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
I'm calling "rats leaving sinking ship". It's a pity, but I think that's what it is.
Sounds like a small publisher. A review of some of their other titles doesn't reveal much. Minor loss, I'd wager.
Minor loss? Maybe, but perhaps a troubling one.
So far we have had only the big companies leave, the type that a outsider (or even insider perhaps) look at and go "Oh, well they probably think they can do a better job defending themselves personaly, they have the money." People like Blizzard and id have, no doubt, significant money they can use to defend themselves in court (legal and public opinion).
However, now you have the first indication that the small companies which may not have the cashflow and ability to defend thier own games (even if none have been contriversal) leaving the group. They probably got more benifit per dollar then the big companies, since ESA probably acts in equal interest (well, idealy at any rate.) So it is the small company that one would think would NEED the ESA, and they are abandoning the ESA now?
Of course, only speculation in what this means.
the thing is I kinda want to know the true reasoning not that "PR" bull that is being shoved out the door to leave such a large organization and everybody all happy happy joy joy sounds REALLY fishy????
never played a game from Crave that I enjoyed, so I don't care so much about this one...still sucks to see more leaving though
Can we start a Will Mike Gallagher be fired watch? It may not really be happening, but maybe it'll wake up ESA's board of directors/member companies/whoever hires & fires the President to take a good look at this guy. I'm still under the belief that an ESA is better than no ESA (maybe just for the fact that it strikes down assinine laws).
Maybe Crave could work on a poker game that doesn't crash half the time now?
Just a thought, but are there any other organisations for the Gaming Industry other than the ESA? (ECA being for consumers, obviously)
Not in the USA. We have the EMA whichrepresents game retailers and the ECA which represents consumers. We also have the IGDA which represents the developers, the actual people not companies. For game development or publishing companies, we have only the ESA.
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA Myspace Page
If this is indeed true, then I would imagine that Crave and the ESA agreed to keep their departure quiet until after E3.
Personally, I don't see this so much as a protest of the ESA as it is a protest of Mike Gallagher, and I have to think that if Gallagher were dismissed tomorrow, all five publishers would be back with the ESA by the end of July if the man who'd replace Gallagher showed himself to not be a complete dope.
Difficult to say if any of them would be back soon. Right now we've got a couple possiblities of why companies are jumping ship. First is that they're fed up with Gallagher. Second is that they're unhappy with the increased costs associated with experimenting with E3.
Replacing Gallagher wouldn't fix the second problem.
Reinstituting member fees based on E3 instead of revenue-based fees would solve several problems. But in doing so, the publishers would have to admit that they were wrong in wanting to downsize E3, which is going to take a little more time and embarrassment before they can admit that.
The ESA's stance on video game censorship and copywrite infringement are enough for me to say "Good riddance". Why won't this horrid organization die already?!
Don't forget that the ESA represent the member companies and their policies, so if these are sticking point issues with you, blame and fight the companies themselves. The ESA (like all lobbying groups and associations do in theory) just do what their members tell them what to do.
Forgot replacing Gallagher. I say scrap and replace and possibly rebuild the ESA. Toss in some competition, give the game companies more options. Who knows, this might even have the effect of having happy companies to make better games for we gamer types.
If the ESA was more active in defending their publishers, they wouldn't be jumping ship. There might be information within the ESA that we dont know about.
I just hope the ESRB gets spun off before the ship sinks completely.
-Loudspeaker
"Volume helps to get a point across but sharp teeth are better."
It's disturbing that the departure is 'silent'. I admit, I'm curious as to what is really going on.
No offense, but how long till a hardware maker(Ether Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft) decide to jump ship?
Personally I am slightly hoping this leads to the downfall of the ESA and the rise of a better group, basically the group the ESA use to be before they screwed everything up. I think with everything thats happened it would be kind of hard for the ESA to get its good name back
Tons of games I don't care about.Pass.
Gallagher can araç kiralama say all he wants, but I strongly rent a car believe it's due to his crappy leadership and E3 being a joke. ESA's Board of Directors need to find a way to get out of this horrid contract with this Bush cronie before there's no one rent a car left on the Board.
Btw, I think Atari and Midway will drop out too, but mostly travesti because these guys have done nothing ttnet vitamin or little and need to start saving costs.