Comments on: Three Reasons Why Gamers Should Care About the ESA http://www.lawsofplay.com/articles/three-reasons-why-gamers-should-care-about-the-esa/ Your Source for Video Game Law Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:24:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: LawsOfPlay http://www.lawsofplay.com/articles/three-reasons-why-gamers-should-care-about-the-esa/comment-page-1/#comment-187 LawsOfPlay Mon, 12 May 2008 23:57:57 +0000 http://www.lawsofplay.com/?p=139#comment-187 Dennis, there is most certainly a conflict of interest whenever an organization hopes to represent both publishers and consumers. However, the interests of gamers can often be served by extension of the ESA's work for publishers. The battle for constitutional protection of video games is a perfect example. As far as the VGVN and ESA are concerned, both organizations are leaders in promoting cultural and political legitimacy for video games, a goal which I think should be of primary importance to every gamer. With this in mind, my caveat is not limited to the ESA, but to organizations run by them -- including the VGVN. In my experience, I have not yet noticed any substantial conflict between the VGVN's efforts and the interests of gamers. I also firmly believe that gamers should be concerned, or at least aware, of the ESA and its efforts to politically legitimize video games. However, gamers should always be critical of <em>any</em> organization that claims to be working for their interests. Fortunately, as gamers, we also have the ECA to safeguard the specific interest of consumers. The ECA is another organization that I firmly believe deserves the support and recognition of gamers at large. However, the recent backlash against the ESA spurred me to write this piece. Dennis, there is most certainly a conflict of interest whenever an organization hopes to represent both publishers and consumers. However, the interests of gamers can often be served by extension of the ESA’s work for publishers. The battle for constitutional protection of video games is a perfect example.

As far as the VGVN and ESA are concerned, both organizations are leaders in promoting cultural and political legitimacy for video games, a goal which I think should be of primary importance to every gamer. With this in mind, my caveat is not limited to the ESA, but to organizations run by them — including the VGVN. In my experience, I have not yet noticed any substantial conflict between the VGVN’s efforts and the interests of gamers. I also firmly believe that gamers should be concerned, or at least aware, of the ESA and its efforts to politically legitimize video games. However, gamers should always be critical of any organization that claims to be working for their interests.

Fortunately, as gamers, we also have the ECA to safeguard the specific interest of consumers. The ECA is another organization that I firmly believe deserves the support and recognition of gamers at large. However, the recent backlash against the ESA spurred me to write this piece.

]]> By: GamePolitics http://www.lawsofplay.com/articles/three-reasons-why-gamers-should-care-about-the-esa/comment-page-1/#comment-186 GamePolitics Mon, 12 May 2008 23:23:46 +0000 http://www.lawsofplay.com/?p=139#comment-186 Anthony, regarding the VGVN, can an organization which is paid to represent the interests of the seller (i.e. game publishers) be counted on to also represent the interests of the buyers (i.e. gamers)??? Isn't there an inherent conflict of interest there? Anthony, regarding the VGVN, can an organization which is paid to represent the interests of the seller (i.e. game publishers) be counted on to also represent the interests of the buyers (i.e. gamers)???

Isn’t there an inherent conflict of interest there?

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