ECA's Hal Halpin: ESA "Viable and Really Needed"
ECA's Hal Halpin: ESA "Viable and Really Needed"
August 8, 2008
Hal Halpin (left), president of the Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), gives a wide-ranging interview to gamesindustry.biz today.
The leadoff question from interviewer Phil Elliott concerns the May incident in which Dan Hewitt, public relations head for game publishers' lobbying group ESA, said some nasty things about GamePolitics (e.g., "Calling GamePolitics a news site is as laughable as saying there's a Cuban free press.").
gi.biz has previously spanked Hewitt and the ESA over the incident. In today's interview Hal Halpin pointed out that some level of conflict between the consumer focus of the ECA and GamePolitics and the publisher-centric ESA, is inevitable:
The vast majority of time our expectations and our goals and our challenges are going to be the exact same as those of the IGDA [International Game Developers Association], the EMA [Entertainment Merchants Assocation] and the ESA - because they represent the industry and we represent the consumers.
And 80 per cent of the time we'll get along great, but that other 20 per cent of the time we're going to be divergent in terms of our interests on behalf of our members - and with respect to the comment that the ESA issued, I chalk it up to a month or two of frustration on behalf of the individual who made the statement. It was a difficult couple of months and they were under a lot of pressure, getting a lot of bad press, and it was easy to take a swipe. It was unfortunate and I think he regrets it.
Asked whether the ESA's future was cloudy, Halpin said:
The ESA is still very viable and the association is really needed. Because of that couple of weeks of discontent between the associations I think people are under the false impression that we want to see anything bad happen to the ESA - and that is not at all the case.
You know, I think a strong and vibrant ESA is really important to the sector as a whole as far as their membership going forward...
Hal also dishes on used game sales and other issues.
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Posted 11/24/09 at 01:44pm
JDKJ: And since you shared with me, I'll share with you, if you'd like. I have the best recipe for chocolate nut cookies. Just lemme know if you're interested.
JDKJ: And since you shared with me, I'll share with you, if you'd like. I have the best recipe for chocolate nut cookies. Just lemme know if you're interested.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:40pm
JDKJ: Thanks. That wasn't so hard, was it? You make me twist your arm. And I'm glad your ass ain't going nowhere near the turkey but to get a serving or two. I just can't see you cooking no turkey as a good move.
JDKJ: Thanks. That wasn't so hard, was it? You make me twist your arm. And I'm glad your ass ain't going nowhere near the turkey but to get a serving or two. I just can't see you cooking no turkey as a good move.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:36pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:its going to be a 20-30 person party soem are bigging in stuff all I am cooking is soem chocolate/nut cookies and some cake with choclate iceing.
ZippyDSMlee: JD:its going to be a 20-30 person party soem are bigging in stuff all I am cooking is soem chocolate/nut cookies and some cake with choclate iceing.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:33pm
JDKJ: For real, Zip, what's the plan for Thanksgiving? I know you ain't doing all the banister painting and leaf blowing for nothin'. I assume there're big things popping off at the Chateau Zippy. But that you won't share the plan hurts me.
JDKJ: For real, Zip, what's the plan for Thanksgiving? I know you ain't doing all the banister painting and leaf blowing for nothin'. I assume there're big things popping off at the Chateau Zippy. But that you won't share the plan hurts me.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:32pm
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:sorry but are a diseased lefty...but we love you anyway ^^ *lick*
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:sorry but are a diseased lefty...but we love you anyway ^^ *lick*
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:28pm
ZippyDSMlee: DS:But...I am a spaz 0-o
ZippyDSMlee: DS:But...I am a spaz 0-o
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:04pm
JDKJ: I thought it was because he types with his left hand only, his right hand being perpetually occupied otherwise.
JDKJ: I thought it was because he types with his left hand only, his right hand being perpetually occupied otherwise.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:03pm
DarkSaber: Too late for that.
DarkSaber: Too late for that.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:02pm
Valdearg: I just don't need a bunch of people thinking I'm diseased for whatever reason.
Valdearg: I just don't need a bunch of people thinking I'm diseased for whatever reason.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:02pm
Valdearg: No worries.. Just making it clear that I'm fine. Just gotta ride it out.
Valdearg: No worries.. Just making it clear that I'm fine. Just gotta ride it out.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:01pm
DarkSaber: Zippys hands hate each other, that's why he types like a spaz.
DarkSaber: Zippys hands hate each other, that's why he types like a spaz.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:00pm
JDKJ: I'm just saying that taking medical advice from Zippy may not be the best move you ever make.
JDKJ: I'm just saying that taking medical advice from Zippy may not be the best move you ever make.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:00pm
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:DOn;t mind DS his dicky prickleness is what makes him so hot :X *luff luff* JD is just a dick.....a small annoying one....
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:DOn;t mind DS his dicky prickleness is what makes him so hot :X *luff luff* JD is just a dick.....a small annoying one....
Posted 11/24/09 at 12:58pm
Valdearg: FYI, I'm getting better. It was a fast moving, severe cold.
Valdearg: FYI, I'm getting better. It was a fast moving, severe cold.
Posted 11/24/09 at 12:58pm
Valdearg: It's frigging cold/flu season. Plenty of people are sickl.
Valdearg: It's frigging cold/flu season. Plenty of people are sickl.
Posted 11/24/09 at 12:57pm
Valdearg: Wow.. Just because I'm bi doesn't mean I'm a slut. Damn guys..
Valdearg: Wow.. Just because I'm bi doesn't mean I'm a slut. Damn guys..
Posted 11/24/09 at 12:56pm
DarkSaber: ok, so you have good aids instead of gay aids (bad aids as it is otherwise known).
DarkSaber: ok, so you have good aids instead of gay aids (bad aids as it is otherwise known).
Posted 11/24/09 at 12:56pm
JDKJ: @Val': I dunno. Compromised immune systems often fall victim to common colds. You may wanna consider looking beyond Dr. Zip's diagnosis and towards a second opinion.
JDKJ: @Val': I dunno. Compromised immune systems often fall victim to common colds. You may wanna consider looking beyond Dr. Zip's diagnosis and towards a second opinion.
Posted 11/24/09 at 12:54pm
Valdearg: @DS: gaids? Really? Wow, you are a dick.. That being said.. It is a cold. Zip's instincts were right on.
Valdearg: @DS: gaids? Really? Wow, you are a dick.. That being said.. It is a cold. Zip's instincts were right on.
Posted 11/24/09 at 12:42pm
JDKJ: Or hemorrhoidal flare-up?
JDKJ: Or hemorrhoidal flare-up?
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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
The ESA is a much needed group, however it is in need of a complete overhaul in structure and organization. The past while the ESA has acted when it shouldn't, not act when it should, and the terrible E3...plainly show ESA needs a just a bit of reworking.
My two cents.
In theory, the ECA would target a larger membership than what it has now. However, will there be any future USA-based ECA members who think that video games do not get first amendment protections, such as the non-ECA politicians, Leland Yee (and Schwarzenegger) who are trying to defend their fantasy no matter how much it costs the state of California taxpayers?
I think that would be an interesting conflict of interest.
On an unrelated note, despite my disdain for the ESA, I do not blame them for the fucked up DMCA-that blame rest on congress whores who think that protecting hollywood is more important than consumer rights and who love lobbying money.
Hal Halpin Says: Brush Your Teeth Kids and, Remember, Winners Don't Use Drugs!
Anyone got anymore classic quotes from the Legend that is Mr Halpin?
Glad to know the ESA and ECA are on generally good terms.
Surprising, since I thought the ECA was a group the ESA woudl like to see vanish.
Well, I would think that the ESA would like to see the ECA gone. The ESA would much rather have a consumer group they can control, ala the VGVN.
In the real world it is best to have independant groups representing each sector of the video game industry. It has worked well so far and will continue to work well once everyone is confortable with each other.
E. Zachary Knight
http://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
I'm gay for Hal Halpin.
-- teh moominz --
I think Hal's comments on rentals and used games are spot on. If you guys haven't read it, it's worth the time. Though I guess we aren't the ones who need to hear it...
He did make some totally awesome points. Used game sales fill a rather large gap in price ranges for many customers.
E. Zachary Knight
http://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
I smell a Faux Jack.
Jack, Halpin's hair looks much better than yours.
MASS EFFECT HAS EVAL SEX! GTA IS TRAINING CHILDREN TO ROB CRABS AND SEAHORSES!
If no one big disputes it, it must me I'm right...
*mean
What the hell is with the Hal Halpin glam shots?
-Entertainment isn't the reason the world sucks. It's the reason we know the world sucks. For information on games and psychology, look up: Jonathan Freedman(2002)Block & Crain(2007)Grand Theft Childhood, by Harvard researchers Larry Kutner&Cheryl Olson
I like to hear what Hal has to say, but again, here is a great story ruined by the Fox News style of Games Politics.
It's only fair that you wanted to cross promote the Hal Harpin interview.
But come on... We all know that only a small proportion of readers actually read the whole story as supplied, let alone waste the energy clicking on a link, so did this story really need to focus on the ESA tiff again?
I think his points on the ESRB and second hand games, which are far more relevant to consumers (the people the ECA and therefore Game Politics are meant to be representing) should be the focus on this link, not the so-called tiff between the ESA and ECA.
Did GP really need to bury the lede and frame it in the confrontational way it has??
Of course not! You're just trying to stir controversy for controvery's sake.
The fact that Jack Thompson (or someone pretending to be) decided to comment reinforces that notion.