ECA's Hal Halpin Dishes on Politicians & More in The Escapist
ECA's Hal Halpin Dishes on Politicians & More in The Escapist
July 8, 2008
Hal Halpin, president of the Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), pens a guest column for The Escapist today.
While Hal touches on a broad range of subjects from digital distribution to online trolls to the slow death of gaming magazines, we took special notice of his comments on the politics of gaming:
"Games will be respected soon because gamers will grow up and become politicians."
I get this one all the time. And sure, it makes perfect sense in theory, but the reality is that politicians - young and old - make political hay out of what they can. Just because the average age of gamers is in the early 30s and there are plenty of brilliant 40-somethings that are eager to get into public life doesn't mean that they won't exploit games when the opportunity arises. To believe that they would not is nothing short of wishful thinking.
Again, I'm willing to concede that 20 years from now we likely won't be dealing with First Amendment arguments about interactive entertainment, but that fact has little to do with the age of politicians... In the meantime, we're stuck in the trenches fighting misperceptions, negative stereotypes and ill-conceived legislation. To my mind, you can do one of two things: Get involved (IGDA and ECA come to mind) or shut up. Both organizations are quite easy to join. To put it another way, "You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result."
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Posted 09/05/08 at 08:40pm
BlackIce: @Zippy: Yeah, it does. Fucking thing..
BlackIce: @Zippy: Yeah, it does. Fucking thing..
Posted 09/05/08 at 07:31pm
MaskedPixelante: This new Jack picture should be the official picture whenever there's an article about Jack.
MaskedPixelante: This new Jack picture should be the official picture whenever there's an article about Jack.
Posted 09/05/08 at 07:19pm
ZippyDSMlee: Tyler Baumbarger: Iuse <br/> withno troubl, it dose like catching links as spam tho.
ZippyDSMlee: Tyler Baumbarger: Iuse <br/> withno troubl, it dose like catching links as spam tho.
Posted 09/05/08 at 07:11pm
BunchaKneejerks: Couldn't sleep 'till I got this one last idea for a 'shop out my head.
BunchaKneejerks: Couldn't sleep 'till I got this one last idea for a 'shop out my head.
Posted 09/05/08 at 06:35pm
Tyler Baumbarger: Hmm, maybe I should take the <hr/> off of my sig. Keeps being flagged as spam.
Tyler Baumbarger: Hmm, maybe I should take the <hr/> off of my sig. Keeps being flagged as spam.
Posted 09/05/08 at 06:12pm
Freyar: I do love Italian foods..
Freyar: I do love Italian foods..
Posted 09/05/08 at 06:10pm
ZippyDSMlee: Freyar: Then you must agree I iz not quit "humanz" either :P I dunno what worse thinking your "Garfield " or thinking your odie trying to be as smart as Garfield. =0-o= UHg I fail ! but then the joy of life is trying not to. ^_~
ZippyDSMlee: Freyar: Then you must agree I iz not quit "humanz" either :P I dunno what worse thinking your "Garfield " or thinking your odie trying to be as smart as Garfield. =0-o= UHg I fail ! but then the joy of life is trying not to. ^_~
Posted 09/05/08 at 06:05pm
Freyar: I recognized the Garfield joke. *grin*
Freyar: I recognized the Garfield joke. *grin*
Posted 09/05/08 at 06:04pm
ZippyDSMlee: Freyar: No but I could probably mail self to you in lil pieces :P last time I went brown box I wound up in Abudobie... (Garfield joke BTW). Sadly I am in the US =0_o=
ZippyDSMlee: Freyar: No but I could probably mail self to you in lil pieces :P last time I went brown box I wound up in Abudobie... (Garfield joke BTW). Sadly I am in the US =0_o=
Posted 09/05/08 at 05:56pm
Freyar: Are you British? Otherwise you won't have a hope in hell of queing me.
Freyar: Are you British? Otherwise you won't have a hope in hell of queing me.
Posted 09/05/08 at 05:51pm
ZippyDSMlee: Freyar:*chases you with my battered tung* I'll que uuuu!!!!! :P
ZippyDSMlee: Freyar:*chases you with my battered tung* I'll que uuuu!!!!! :P
Posted 09/05/08 at 05:32pm
Freyar: We won't blame you for an outage. :P Maybe you should get someone to help you that's more land-locked? Just kidding.
Freyar: We won't blame you for an outage. :P Maybe you should get someone to help you that's more land-locked? Just kidding.
Posted 09/05/08 at 05:27pm
HarmlessBunny: Eeep sorry to hear that.
HarmlessBunny: Eeep sorry to hear that.
Posted 09/05/08 at 05:25pm
gamepolitics: oops, up here it's actually hurricane hanna, which we are supposed to get a taste of tomorrow
gamepolitics: oops, up here it's actually hurricane hanna, which we are supposed to get a taste of tomorrow
Posted 09/05/08 at 05:25pm
HarmlessBunny: LOL
HarmlessBunny: LOL
Posted 09/05/08 at 05:25pm
gamepolitics: i gotta get it all done before hurricane ike hits, LOL
gamepolitics: i gotta get it all done before hurricane ike hits, LOL
Posted 09/05/08 at 05:15pm
HarmlessBunny: Yeeesh Dennis, just overworking it on a friday :P
HarmlessBunny: Yeeesh Dennis, just overworking it on a friday :P
Posted 09/05/08 at 04:45pm
ZippyDSMlee: gamepolitics:GO GP!!! =^^=
ZippyDSMlee: gamepolitics:GO GP!!! =^^=
Posted 09/05/08 at 04:31pm
gamepolitics: not a bad day's work, LOL
gamepolitics: not a bad day's work, LOL
Posted 09/05/08 at 04:29pm
gamepolitics: so, that would make 13 stories, one threatened lawsuit and one pissed-off PS3 designer
gamepolitics: so, that would make 13 stories, one threatened lawsuit and one pissed-off PS3 designer
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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
How will the ECA represent me as a Canadian?
As the ECA grows, they will most likely branch out to other nations or partner with like organizations in other nations. If the time frame for ECA involvment in Canada is a little too long for you, perhaps you should do some of the leg work yourself and organize people in Canada. Just a suggestion.
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
you will no longer be subjected to being the worst AI in WW2 based Call of duty games for a start :-)
Your soul is a tasty refreshing treat to ones such as I
Waitwaitwait, there are things on The Escapist BESIDES Yahtee?
I´m amazed, too...
The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/
"Games will be respected soon because gamers will grow up and become politicians."
THAT is naive. Even assuming that gamers do become politicians, they're unlikely to advertise their habits. In order for that to happen, games have to become acceptable to the public to the point where public disclosure doesn't hurt them more then it helps them. Not to say that's impossible, it's certainly not, it's just not likely in the near future. Chicken or the egg problem Hal, politicians can't force people to accept something if the conservative majority that holds their leash doesn't approve.
You basically said what Hal said. He was quoting that line and then said why it wasn't based in reality. You may be simply agreeing with him, but it is not obvious.
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
Maybe. Cultural change is sticky stuff. I'm not arguing that games will never become socially acceptable, just not anytime soon. I'm an old coot, I've seen 3 or 4 console generations and people arguing that games will be acceptable for almost all of that time. Hasn't happened yet.
Bottom line, politics is sticky business. If people want games to become socially acceptable, they have to change the mass cultural taboo that they are not, FIRST. Politicians won't do it. Even if it's what they believe, they can't afford to admit to what most of the public thinks is immature behavior. Not if they want to get elected. If Hal was basically saying the same thing, then I retract my accusation that he's being naive. I was wrong.
You may be right to some extent but for instance, Jazz and rock and other such forms of music were, not all that long ago, considered very disruptive. Now most music from that time period is easily used and endorsed by most fronts. Heck Bill Clinton was even a fairly decent Jazz musician I heard.
So while 'soon' might be a little optimistic, I certianly wouldn't call it naive.
There will always be game-bashers, and people that attack gamers for being potentially dangerous or nerdy.
These people- in most of their lives, were deprived of things that would encourage one to be more open-minded. Even when gaming is more mainstream than ever, you would run into people that have grown in closed environments. But they will be farther and fewer in between.
I want to stroke Hal Harpin's sexy goatee.
-- teh moominz --
I disagree with the disagreements. People say that the politicians will continue to make issues out of nothing to garner votes, however, the people who are becoming/currently voters includes gamers, which has a huge teen base which will then move on to vote. and once a good chunk of the voting audience are gamers then politicans will realize it does them more harm then good to offend us. It may not happen by 2010 but I'd say a good deal of the controversy will be killed off in the 2010-20 decade.
"Games will be respected soon because gamers will grow up and become politicians."
I think that contrary to what Hal says, this is somewhat true. Politicians that grew up as gamers will be familiar with them, and know that their contemporaries are familiar with them. Thus they will be less easily mislead by fringe groups, and they'll know that a significant chunk of voters grew up playing games. In short they won't see games as something to make hay out of, because they'll be familar with games, and they'll know their constituents are for the most part as well.
-Gray17
Once again, 'doing something' shouldn't be limited to games alone, the whole reason that politicians make hay out of 'new fads' etc is because people are too gullible to find things out themselves. The problem that needs fixing isn't games, it's politics.
Is it truly politics that has a lock on itself via the status quo or the sheeple mentailtiy that reduce decent smart people into walking woolly feasts on 4 four legs?
People need to to grow up and look beyond the mundanities before them.
I is fuzzy brained mew =^^=
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
(in need of a bad overhaul)
People need to get more involved, I agree,politics has been the same throughout history, and people have fallen for it every single time.
We reserve the title 'the only intelligent race' for humanity, but when it comes to thinking individually and not simply going with the what the rest of the herd believes without checking the facts, it's actually a very rare occurence. Not because we are not intelligent, but because society lashes out at those that dare question the norm, it is afraid of change of having to adapt to new things, we constantly claim that the each generation's purpose is to out-do the last one, a system of constant improvement for humanity, but, really, how often do we actually live up to that big promise to ourselves? We don't listen, we tell young people that they 'are just kids' and that they'll understand when they are older.
We live in a society of Politicians and Lawyers attempting to vicariously live their lives through other peoples' children.
"We live in a society of Politicians and Lawyers attempting to vicariously live their lives through other peoples' children."
ZOMG!!! think fo the childern!!!! they must be protected from laywers and polis..and preists!
it had to be siad 0-o
I is fuzzy brained mew =^^=
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
(in need of a bad overhaul)
I finally finished the whole article. Blast you work filters!
I think I joined the right organization. I think I agreed with just about ebverything in his article. Especially digital distribution. It will never replace brick and mortor. But it will be a very profitable side business for many companies.
His comments on content and brand loyalty are also pretty spot on. With today's multi console homes, there is no reason to have these console wars. How many people here have a Wii and a 360, or a Wii and a PS3 or a PS3 and a 360 or all three?
A very good read.
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
Can somebody tell me, with no BS, what the ECA can actually do for me?
Like any consumer group its working to try and balance the "interests"of big biz and consumers the trouble is in order to gain respect and notice you have to spend a few years kissing up and making the scene, this translates into nothing than softening up industry with some consumer focus, which amounts to words IE nothing as of yet.
I is fuzzy brained mew =^^=
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
(in need of a bad overhaul)
Right now, the ECA as a whole is working to give a collective voice in Washington in opposition to video game legislation. They also work on a state level.
The main benefit to you as an individual will come from joining one of the growing number of local ECA Chapters. These local chapters will be able to work to help bring a more positive light on gaming to your neighbors, media and local politicians.
But in a nutshell, the ECA will only do for you what you are willing to do for yourself. If you are not willing to voice your opinion to your representatives and media and other such work, you will get nothing out of an ECA membership.
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
Its alot of subtle work that can go unnoticed to a degree, but tis soemthing.
I is fuzzy brained mew =^^=
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
(in need of a bad overhaul)
As far as I can tell, we're beginning to see the start of what he's talking about. One reason I like Obama is that he doesn't do the doomsayer thing when it comes to popular culture, but instead says that the parents should turn off the TV/video games/etc. from time to time. Nothing wrong with that.
McCain's remained mute for the most part on this matter, so I'm not worried about him at all.
Now, will one of these guys please pick Hillary or Romney so my choice gets a whole lot easier? I can't make up my mind here.
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/news/specials/question2
"video game producers should take it upon themselves to improve this system to include easier to find and easier to understand descriptions of exactly what kind of content is included. But if the industry fails to act, then my administration would."(empahsis added)
"That’s why I supported federal funding to study the impact of video games on children’s cognitive development."
Obama, it would appear, would have no trouble stepping in.
Only if it looks like the video game industry is doing nothing. He cannot deny the FTC's numbers. They do not lie. The video game industry is doing more than any other entertainment media. He cannot with a clear conscience introduce legislation with the numbers backing the industry.
I actually support his position. If any industry is failing to protect their consumers or any other group, the government should step in to kick them in the pants and make them work.
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
As if facts have ever stopped a politician before. Why is it everyone is so quick to give him a pass?
His position for more government intervention based on arbitrary definitions is indeed most disagreeable. How do you propose this kick in the pants? Where does it start and where does it end, how much power are you willing to give the government over industry? For as much as we make fun of politicians for "protect the children" it would appear that "protect the consumer" may stand to be just as dangerous.
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