Kotaku
It's election season in the US, which means across the country, promises are already being made, power-brokers assured and re-assured, palms applied with healthy doses of grease. And the ESA - your ESA - aren't missing out on the action. They've formed a political action committee, which should be up and running by March, with the aim of donating between $50,000 and $100,000 towards anyone running for a national office. The ESA's Michael D. Gallagher, who also plans to mobilise the Video Game Voters Network, is excited:
If I can walk into the office of a member of Congress and tell them we have 20,000 voters in their state who are already signed up to write letters and act based on game-related issues that concern them, that's powerful.That kind of money won't buy much, especially when other entertainment industries donate millions, but it's the thought that counts!
Video Game Industry Seeks Political Clout [NY Times]
Comments
You know the ESA really ought to focus there money on advertising on the TV on their ratings and how the modern home consoles can block games of certain ratings, much like they do with the V-chip adds.
It seems like that could do more than giving money to politicians who really have more people in their state who do not understand videogames and would believe stuff that "he who must not be named" would say.
A good PR campaign would shut A-holes like him "he who must be not named" up fast.
Won't go anywhere. Nobody is crazy enough to back video games.
Please ignore typos in my above comment. It has been a long day.
Hello all! I'm a long time reader of this blog but never got into the whole commenting thing. So here I am! Let's comment together everyone!
@Viet: ...hi? You sound like a spy. One of those industry plants that says "Hey guys! I love (so and so) game. Check it out!" once we've all gained your trust. I've got my eye on you sir.
Just kidding. Welcome.
As for the topic at hand, I'm Canadian.
I may be mis-remembering, but I recently read some article about how an Inspector General spent over 100 grand on a party dedicated to George Washington's Inspector General.
With that point of reference, I believe that 20k could buy them the Janitor's assistant for the house of reps.
@ProfWho: Jack Thompson.
@ZinkO: can do italics now!: Dark Bush (Not actually evil, but the theoretical perfect president that some alternate dimension has to parallel ours.)
@Viet: I'm not really into this "togetherness" thing.
Gaming related issues reveal what people really think about consumer rights, corporate ethics, and civil liberties such as the 1st amendment and whatnot. Think before voting. Be aware of the issues.
*sigh* I still find it irritating that the "cool thing" to do these days among political hacks is to beat on the weird kid in the corner (the video game industry, for those who don't catch the metaphor.) Maybe things'll get better in a few years when games aren't the Devil any more.
Yeah.
And maybe when Manhunt 3 comes out, the censorship machine won't give it a metric buttload of free advertising.
And maybe somebody's pet pig will sprout wings and dig a hole under the ice caps, dropping them low enough to freeze Hell.
I guess the video game industry is just an easy target for "THINK OF THE CHILDREN" types.
Sadly, I don't see the founding companies stepping up when it counts for the little studios. This is probably a bad thing for the industry.
They should get behind Dr. Paul -- he would be opposed to any federal control over the sale of videogames.
@topaz420: Yeah, or they can throw the money into a fire, that'd be as productive.
@Moonshadow101: I just spit mt coffee out of my nose. Thanks
@Kirbytheslayer: Punch the Penguin and Win a Prize!: i was thinking more about vitual orgasmic rape guy.
100k? lol, how the hell can the game industry bigger then all, not have more influence, cash and power then 20k voters and 100k money...
Now thats a subject for GDC!
@Moonshadow101:
Vote for anyone else, and you might as well throw the Constitution into the fire.
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