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

Fils-Aime

[MeanderingMind]

Honestly, I can't agree with the article that he's the man for the job. Reggie's very good at talking trash, pumping up crowds, and being awesome. Basically, he's a good entertainer and businessman. However, these aren't the skills the ESA needs.

The ESA needs someone who is cool, but that's only one of many factors. It needs to be someone new, unaffiliated with any of the big 3, yet someone who can go toe to toe with politicians, the media and write off whackos like Jack Thompson skillfully.

Reggie's an interesting idea, but he's not the man for the job.

postscript

[dreddnott]

Wikipedia claims that Mr. Lowenstein is now "heading up" the newly-formed Private Equity Council.

He seems like a nice guy, but I think he was just along for the ride, especially if what the article says about his non-interventionism is true.

What we need

[MikeRT]

Is someone who is willing to say it like it is. Can you imagine someone standing up soberly, calmly in a Senate hearing and saying, "with all due respect, Senator Clinton (or Senator Lieberman), the majority of customers of the XBox 360 and Playstation 3 are 17 or older. This is not about 'the children,' but about legislative overreach into an area that is demonstrably dominated by adults. Even where there are issues with children, this is not a fault of our members. We provide parents with a painstakingly thorough breakdown of every possibly offensive aspect of each game we vouch for. If they fail to take advantage of the information that we not only provide to them, but provide in a convenient, easily seen location on the packaging material of every game we vouch for, that is a failure of the parents."

I guarandamntee you, that it would send shockwaves through the media. Someone who is willing to stand up for their principles and call it as it is would get a lot of publicity that might force some honest discussion.

Re:What we need

[ElleyKitten]

Great idea, a speech that achieves nothing positive and only serves to alienate people you are trying to win over. OP provides a clear example of why geeks are seldom successful in the political realm.

Everything he said was factual and needs to be said. In fact, the only reason why it isn't is that games are a lot easier of a subject for politicians (and, well, everyone) than Iraq, than the economy, or any other important issue going on. Other than games, the Democrats basically have a platform of "Bush sucks". They agree that the Iraq war, the economy, insert issue here, is going terribly, they agree that it's Bush's fault, but what do they do about it? They talk about games instead.

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.

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:Reggie and alternative

[7Prime]

I think that regardless of his title, Reggie is destined to be the Steve Jobs of the game industry. That may not mean that he's an advocate for the industry as a whole, but having a charasmatic maskot like Fils-Aime does help to legitimize the industry in the minds of the public, which goes a long way towards stemming off assholes like Jack Thompson. Jobs and Fils-Aime are rockstars, and lawyers look really unattractive in the eyes of the public, standing beside rockstars.

This is a Dup!

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

This is a Dup!
http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/19/ 164211

Sorry, Slashdot. I didn't care about this last month and I still don't care this month.

Re:This is a Dup!

[Crysalim]

Parent post is a dupe. Of a dupe of a dupe of a dupe of a dupe of a dupe of a...