ESA, Games Industry in for Big Changes

An anonymous reader writes to mention an EToyChest article with a bit of perspective on the departure of Doug Lowenstein from the Entertainment Software Association. Lowenstein, who helped to kickstart the group, was instrumental in the ESA's grown and continued well-being. Now that he's moved on a new gig, the article points out that the industry is in for some changes in the years ahead. From the article: "Doug Lowenstein, a man that Jack Thompson has likened on separate occasions to such delightful despots as Saddam Hussein and Hitler, has been the advocate de jour for the industry since he signed on in 1994. Refusing to directly engage firebrands like Thompson in televised debates, Mr. Lowenstein has a history of picking and choosing his battles. Where Thompson prefers to argue his position in front of cameras, Mr. Lowenstein fought his battles quietly, but persistently. Under his guidance, the game industry has undergone its biggest transformation; it's now expected to gross in the area of $12 billion worldwide, more than four times the business it was doing when he signed on. While one would hesitate to give Mr. Lowenstein credit for the industry's success, his steady hand has been instrumental in sidestepping many of the media landmines that we've come across on the way. "

Comments

Re:ESA Copyright infringement notification

[Emetophobe]

I got a threatening email from my ISP & The ESA a few months ago. Basically I got caught red handed downloading a game via BitTorrent (was a torrent from TorrentSpy). But nothing ever happened to me, all they did was send my ISP a threatening email, which they forwarded to me.

I don't think I've tried to download a game since then, I rather play it safe for a while (I guess the ESA's tactics worked). I just stick to music now, since us Canadians already pay for our music through blank CD fees (RIAA can't sue us because of double dipping laws here in Canada).

Re:What we need

[SatanicPuppy]

It's not about being a geek, it's about taking a firm stand on the truth.

Ask Larry Flint if it's better to bow and scrape to people who will never stop being offended by what you sell, or instead take 'em to court and make them try to prove it against the Constitution?

It's either to draw a line and say, "This is the limit to the concessions we are going to make to placate your starchy prudishness. You can take responsibility for your own decisions, and watch out for the welfare of your own damn kids, instead of trying to make the whole world into a safe, sugarcoated fairy-land for them," or to just completely cave and go back to making Pac-Man.