Tag Archives: esa

When hacker George (Geohot) Hotz was served with a temporary restraining order early in the evening of January 11, he had to have a good idea what was coming. So too must the other defendants on the stark legal papers prepared by Sony Computer Entertainment’s legal team – Hector Cantero, Sven Peter and 100 yet-to-be-named persons. One does not thumb their nose at mega-corporations lightly.

After a torrid fortnight, where PlayStation 3’s system security – namely its ability to determine whether code running is legitimate or not – has been laid bare by hacker group fail0verflow, Sony’s finally made its move.

Here, VG247 presents a report breaking down the the implications of the PS3 hack, what’s come already, what’s happening now, and who the real losers are in this complete fiasco.

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Everybody wants to go to E3, but this year it’s going to be harder to slip in unnoticed: the ESA has introduced a new ticketing system in order to combat counterfeit, scalped, and misplaced badge passes, and will no long pre-mail badges to journalists.

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We just shit ourselves. And it’s only the second week of the year. ESA’s opened up registration now for E3 2011, just over five months before it begins.

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A study conducted on behalf of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), has found the US economy was the lucky recipient of $5 billion in 2009 thanks to the gaming industry.

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Michael Gallagher, president of the Entertainment Software Association, has said that the games industry needs its own form of top ten sales chart just like film and music.

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The ESA’s now officially opened up registration for this year’s E3.

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has revealed to the US Congress that the games industry does a better job with responsible marketing than any other form of entertainment advertisement.

Different aspects cited were the large noticeable ratings on packaging, M-rated game ads not being shown before 10pm, and most notable is the fact that 80 percent of retailers are diligent about not selling mature games to minors and “little evidence” exists for inappropriate target marketing.

“The computer and videogame industry leads all others in ensuring its products are marketed appropriately and is the gold standard for others to follow,” said ESA president and CEO Michael D Gallagher.

“Today’s FTC report is a strong acknowledgement and validation that industry-led self-regulation efforts are the best way to provide parents and retailers with the resources and support they need to keep our kids’ entertainment experiences suitable.”

Take that “He Who Shall Not Be Named”.

Via GI.biz.

ESA founder Douglas Lowenstein has been named as the third recipient of the The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences’ (AIAS) Lifetime Achievement Award.

ESA was formed in 1994.

“It was under Doug’s leadership that the industry fought off dangerous efforts to impose restrictions on video game content, in the process establishing unequivocally that video games are entitled to the same First Amendment rights as any other entertainment content,” said Jay Cohen, AIAS Board chair and Jerry Bruckheimer Games boss.

“For those of us in the AIAS, it is no exaggeration to say that the artistic freedom we now enjoy stems directly from Doug’s efforts.”

Press release here.

The Federal Communications Commission has started researching a possible universal rating system to include games, mobile content and television in response to the US Congress investigating current laws are doing enough to protect children from harmful content.

Enter the ESA which says that the FCC has no jurisdiction in games.

According to Rich Taylor, senior VP for communications and industry affairs at ESA, current ESRB ratings are “considered by parents, family advocates, the Federal Trade Commission, and elected officials as the gold standard in providing caregivers with the information they need to make the right choices for their families.”

Taylor feels a universal rating would “confuse consumers, violate the Constitution’s first amendment, and are a solution in search of a problem.”

The FCC maintains control over television an radio in the US – basically airwaves. How games would fall under this category is unknown, unless the FCC lobbies to get more power in its court.

More through Joystiq, via Bloomberg.

The Entertainment Software Association has filed a lawsuit with the Chicago Transit Authority for its ban on advertisements featuring Mature or AO-rated titles.

CEO Mike Gallagher has stated that under the First Amendment, video games are protected the same as other entertainment mediums.

What this mean though is that with CTA Ordinance 008-147, R-rated and TV-MA may be banned as well to advertisements to make things more fair for all entertainment parties.

Enacted in January 2009, the CTA Ordinance prohibits advertisement and marketing of “Mature 17+” (M) or “Adults Only 18+” (AO) titles.

This is the second time the CTA has been sued over pulling ads. Back in May 2008, Take-Two filed suit over GTA IV ads being yanked.

Joystiq has posted the full complaint in a lovely PDF file full of legal stuff.

The ESA handed out its annual handbook of Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry at E3 this year.

It’s a nice little book that details the demographics, facts, figures, and what customers purchased in 2008.

Here are just some of the numbers. Parenting and content data is posted after the break courtesy of GamePolitics.

Who Plays:

• 68  percent of Americans play computer or video games
• The average game player age is 35 (again, how is this defined?)
• 25 percent of game players are under 18
• 25 percent of game players are over 50
• 60 percent are male, 40% female
• on average, adult gamers have been playing for 12 years
• 42  percent of U.S. homes have a game console

Who Buys:

• Average age of most frequent purchaser is 39
• 52  percent of purchasers are male, 48 percent  female
• 92 percent of time a parent is present during purchase
• 83 percent of time kids receive parental permission before purchasing
• 43 percent of Americans have purchased or plan to buy one or more games in 2009

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App Store games are not currently rated, but the ESRB is hoping that will change.

“We’ve been down this road before,” said CEO Michael Gallagher. “We know how this goes and it’s wise for [Apple] to make steps in that direction so that this is addressed up front and there is an environment that is hospitable to children and families.

“It would be wise to do that, we would welcome the opportunity to work with them. We are reaching out to encourage that.”

More over on Kotaku.

According to the ESA’s Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry 2009 report, 68 per cent of American households play videogames.

In addition, the study reveals that 42 percent of said houses have a game console whilst the average age of game players is 35 years old. The study also showed that 43 percent of online game players are female.

ESA president Mike Gallagher: “This is the new golden age of entertainment software. Our products are now being enjoyed by over two-thirds of Americans.

“More and more Americans across all demographics are now embracing the interactive entertainment experience that computer and videogames provide.”

Thanks, Edge.

Entertainment Software Association (ESA) president Michael Gallagher has said during his E3 keynote speech that the gaming industry’s “best, brightest, and boldest days lie ahead.”

Gallagher recognised the recent decline in sales in the US, but insisted that compared with other media industries, gaming is performing admirably.

He went on to say that families offered the greatest potential for industry growth, with games offering better value for money than other forms of media.

Gallagher pointed out that social gaming as equally important and companies are in an “arms race” to improve in this area.

In short: “Our best, brightest, and boldest days lie ahead,” he said.

Thanks, GI.

The ESA’s Michael Gallagher has said that E3 has “never been a consumer show” and that to offer public days during the event would be a “pretty significant change”.

“E3 has never been a consumer show, so that would be a pretty significant change,” Gallagher told IGN. “Obviously, from this year’s format we look at a lot of different things, right now we’re focused on executing this year’s show very well and making sure it’s a success.

“We’ll start planning next year’s show on June 5th.”

As far as bringing back the “old E3,” Gallagher is content that this year, the hardcore crowd be pleased just as well as the ever-expanding demographic.

“Clearly this industry’s demographics have dramatically changed over the last 2 to 3 years. Now you have one quarter of all gamers are over 50, and 38 percent of gamers are women. You just have a terrific growth dynamic because of the breadth of entertainment and the excitement level of the entertainment we’re offering.

“The more we can bring in mainstream media to carry that, it becomes a self-fulfilling, self reinforcing marketplace for us. And we’re already seeing some very positive signs on the media interest.”

Still, it’s going to be business as usual so that the show remains “efficient and manageable” for the press and industry attendees.

More through the link.

ESA boss Mike Gallagher has told GameDaily that 2009′s E3 won’t see a return to the grandiose shows of yesterday. Remember? The events that didn’t work for anyone involved?

“Last year we made some improvements based upon the input we received, but this show is not a return to the old E3,” he said.

“It is definitely much more reflective of the energy, excitement and creativity of our industry, but I wouldn’t say it’s our first ‘big E3′ or a return to the old one.

This year’s E3 is “the right show,” apparently.

“It’s a show based upon what the industry needs to project as an image of the excitement we have in the pipeline for the rest of the year. It’s the right show; it’s not a particular reference to any prior year,” Gallagher added.

Fingers crossed, eh? E3 kicks off with the Microsoft press conference on June 1. Thanks, Joystiq.

E3 organizers say the show must go on, despite the State of Emergency issued by ‘governator’ Arnold Schwarzenegger over swine flu concerns.

“The 2009 E3 Expo is progressing as planned,” an ESA spokesperson told MCV. “Public health officials are taking all appropriate steps and we continue to follow their direction on all measures.

“We look forward to a great event, and to seeing you in Los Angeles in June.”

E3 takes place June 2 to 4 in Los Angeles.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk has placed Canada on the Priority Watch List for piracy alongside Algeria, Argentina, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, and Venezuela.

This is the first time Canada has been put on such a list by the US government, and after complaining to the country for some time now over it’s need for copyright reform, it has now been “listed”.

The ESA seems pleased, as the game lobbyist  has been pushing Canada’s parliament to outlaw mod chips and adopt some sort of Digital Millenium Copyright Act for quite some time.

“Putting Canada on the ‘Priority Watch List’ is a signal of the Obama Administration’s commitment to strengthening global intellectual property protection, and its intent to address this issue firmly with the Canadian government,” said ESA’s Michael Gallagher.

“Canada’s weak laws and enforcement practices foster game piracy in the Canadian market and pave the way for unlawful imports into the U.S.”

To counteract piracy in Canada, the USTR suggests it:

• Enact legislation outlawing game circumvention devices, such as “mod chips” and “game copiers,” in line with Canada’s international treaty obligations
• Create adequate legal incentives for internet service providers (ISPs) to work with copyright owners in combating online piracy
• Provide Customs officials with adequate authority to make ex officio seizures of counterfeit and pirate product at the border
• Provide adequate resources to anti-piracy enforcement efforts and make prosecution of intellectual property crimes a high priority.

More over on GamePolitics.

Koei, Crave and Playlogic have all signed up as ESA members, GI reports.

“Our growing membership is a reflection of the ESA’s valued and successful work on the key public policy issues facing the entertainment software industry,” said ESA boss Michael Gallagher.

“Crave Entertainment, Koei and Playlogic are key partners in leading that effort, and I am pleased to welcome them to the ESA.”

Good for you, ESA. More through the link.

According to a report on Gamasutra, the Entertainment Software Association’s head of government relations, Jennifer Manner, has left her position with the group after just one month.

A former FCC senior counsel member, Manner was hired because of her experience with public policy, broadband, and federal tech issues while working for the FCC.

No specifics were given regarding her departure, but it is believed it was due to her lack of lobbying experience on Capitol Hill.

The ESA spent $4,244,364.50 on federal lobbying in 2008.