Has NC Interactive Left the ESA?
Has NC Interactive Left the ESA?
December 6, 2008
It would appear that financially-troubled NC Interactive (the US arm of Korea's NCsoft) has left the membership ranks of game publishers trade association the Entertainment Software Association.
Last month, NCsoft announced that it plans to shut down underperforming MMO Tabula Rasa early in 2009. Facing a difficult financial picture, NC Soft has laid off a number of employees at locations in both the US and UK. The publisher also recently parted ways with famed Ultima series designer Richard Garriott.
Departing the ESA is likely a cost-cutting measure for NC, which also chose not to exhibit at E3 this year. Game publishers pay significant fees to belong to the organization. While no announcement was made by either NC Interactive or the ESA, the trade association's membership page no longer lists NC among its ranks.
It has been a difficult 2008 for the ESA, which began the year with 28 member companies. As NC exits there are now just 21, meaning that CEO Mike Gallagher's outfit has lost a quarter of its membership in 2008.
As GamePolitics reported in October, Codemasters was the most recent company to depart. Game publishers confirmed as leaving the ESA this year include:
- Activision
- Vivendi
- LucasArts
- id
- Crave
- Codemasters
We have a request in to the ESA for confirmation on NC's apparent departure.
UPDATE: Confirmed by ESA Senior VP Rich Taylor:
We can confirm that NCsoft decided not to renew its ESA membership. We respect their decision and remain committed to serving the public affairs needs of the computer and video game industry.
UPDATE 2: NCsoft's David Wofford has told GP that the decision was not a financial one. See our follow-up story.
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Posted 02/09/10 at 02:50pm
DarkSaber: Whoever told him/her/it that is dumb. They should have done like most companies and made-up some bullshit, yet legal, reason for it not getting the job.
DarkSaber: Whoever told him/her/it that is dumb. They should have done like most companies and made-up some bullshit, yet legal, reason for it not getting the job.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:16pm
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:10pm
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:00pm
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:53pm
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:48pm
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:42pm
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:40pm
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:39pm
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:34pm
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:32pm
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:26pm
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
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Comments
With everybody leaving, I think the current ESA will not exist in a few years but a new age ESA will be made that everybody will go to.
--- Official Protector of Videoland!
Looking at the current ESA,MPAA and RIAA I can only hope it will be a bettter asociation...
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Pirates,Shearers,Lenders and downloaders are not a market that can be taped by the mainstream.
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I is fuzzy brained mew =^^=
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
I wonder if there will even be an ESA and an ECA in a few years? For all we know there might be a fusion coming up.
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"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon
Well the ECA was created because the consumer had nobody lobbying for our rights, and the ESA only really cares about its member's rights. It would be hard to combine to completly opposite organisations.
It would be nice to see that group disappear....
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It'd be nice to see more members leave. Not like their fees benefit them in any real way currently.
imho, i dont see some kind of merger between esa/eca happening in any form. the possibility of a new esa forming seems quite plausible on the other hand as the dissafected publishers will probably group up... that's my guess anyways.
This is potentially excellent news.
However, korea's investment is not, at least not for U.S. publishers.
This copyright and DRM crap needs to be resolved in 'favor of the consumer', fast, or the industry will crash in the U.S.
"But that means businesses lose!"
No, it means they have to continue to compete and innovate, instead of be able to extract money out of consumers. Their attention to the pirates is the reason the gaming industry is in such trouble in the first place, and was BEFORE our economic trouble.
I think if the ESA and ECA merge then It will mean the end of DRM (or it will be changed to a more consumer friendly approach when it comes down to DRM)
More like DRM ends when the ESA goes away and the ECA will actually do something.
--- Official Protector of Videoland!
So, who's left on the ESA list. Anybody worth mentioning?
http://www.theesa.com/about/members.asp
Worth mentioning include but aren't limited to EA, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, Sega, Square, Ubisoft... They're losing members, but still have a lot of major players in their line.
Gee.. hardline DRMers one and all - things that you hmmmm......
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"The most difficult pain a man can suffer is to have knowledge of much and power over little" - Herodotus
only 21 members left. Wow. I remember when the ESA really took off. I thought they were gonna be the new crutch of the industry. Too bad it didn't work out that way.
Pardon my being out of the loop, but why did those other companies quit?
Was it just from the Membership fees, or some kind of ideological differences?
I've always had plenty of respect for id and Lucasarts.
Ago. Perceptum. Teneo.
Probably a bit of both - NCsoft almost certainly did it for financial reasons first. Activision and Vivendi may have had something to do with the merger, but as far as I know, nobody gave a concrete reason, which makes sense as they may rejoin in the future regardless of why they left now, or may do business with member companies - all three console makers are on the list, after all, if you manage to alienate them all, you're pretty much shut out of the business.
Maybe the companies leave the ESA because they seem to benifit no one?
Publishers need to wake up to the fact that DRM benifits no one but the DRM company. "Oblivion" only had a simple CD check, and I loved being able to copy my Oblivion DVD and keep the originsl nice and shiny. The lack of DRM didn't seem to hurt any. I was dissapointed that Fallout 3 had SecUROM. Why Bethesda?
Give us DLC that only registered users can buy or download. Give us little knick knacks like a map or a coin. Make the customr feel like a legitimate customer instead of a dirty theif.
Umm, does anyone pay attention to other industries' trade orgs? Their memberships are down over 2008, too.
So, all the "ESA is going away" people, grow up and do a little research. 2008 was a terrible year for business.
~~All Knowledge is Worth Having~~
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 rent a car of this horrid contract with this Bush cronie before there's no one 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.
YES.
Now I don't have to get off my ass for the important shit anymore!
Whats next, ordering pizza from Xbox live?
Wait... I think that sounds like a good idea.
But I think voting should MAKE you get off your ass, and see outside or a second while you go vote. I mean, your picking the president of the United States of America for God's Sake... least you can do is drive down there and punch out a card.
Thanks good job;
Btw, I think Atari and Midway will drop out too, but mostly travesti because these guys have done nothing travesti or little and need to start saving costs. and dizi izle
YES.
Now I don't have to get off my ass for the important shit anymore!
Whats next, ordering pizza from Xbox live?
Wait... I think that sounds like a good idea.
But I think voting should MAKE you get off your ass, and see outside or a second while you go vote. I mean, your picking the president of the United States of America for God's Sake... least you can do is drive down there and punch out a card.
I suppose so. Departing the ESA is likely a cost-cutting measure for NC, which also chose not to exhibit at E3 this year.
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Come on! Will everything be liable for a lawsuit? It is surprising how a Nintendo DS AC adapter can be blamed for starting a fire when there a millions in homes around the world and that has not happened before.
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