Boston mayor and former game critic has change of heart

Last year, Boston mayor Tom Menino was heavily involved in trying get anti-videogame legislation passed. Now he's attempting to woo companies by declaring Boston a "game industry friendly city".

Menino recently announced the launch of a website called PoweringUpBoston, a tool promoting the area's game industry with news, job postings and other resources.

His change of heart comes on the heels of a 2007 and 2008 push for or a sales restrictions on videogames, similar to restrictions recently found unconstitutional by federal courts.

Also, in 2006, he campaigned to have Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories ads removed from city buses.

Menino's new focus, however, is on "strengthening the Boston-area game development presence, raising Boston's profile as a global leader in digital media and specifically the game industry."

2K Boston, Harmonix, Turbine and 73 other companies employ over 1,500 people in the area.

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