ECA Takes Over GamePolitics.com, Talks Mission

simoniker writes "The new Entertainment Consumers Association has announced that it has acquired the GamePolitics.com website, as part of its mission 'to give gaming consumers a voice and ensure that state and local politicians hear their concerns and appreciate their demographic power'. An in-depth interview with ECA founder Hal Halpin explains his reasons for setting up membership-based, consumer-focused ECA: 'I noticed last year that the state-level guys started moving away from targeting retailers, and trying to haul them off for selling M-rated games, to targeting consumers. And, you know, kids being [arrested] at 17 years of age for buying an M-rated game... it's just insane. And so, to me, that was the call.'"

Re:

[kfg]

Is ECA a governmental organization or something? Looks lik a private organization to me. This story isn't really political and shouldn't be in the politics section.

I think you should probably look up the definition of "democracy." Throw in "lobbyist" while you're at it.

KFG

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[xENoLocO]

Every political party is a private organization...

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[kfg]

"I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repres

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[rob1980]

The organization, which is headquartered in Connecticut, focuses its advocacy efforts on consumer rights, anti-games legislation, and a host of other public policy concerns as well as providing substantial community, educational, and affinity benefits to its members--from discounts on subscriptions and game rentals and purchases to education, employment assistance, and insider access to industry news and events. - http://www.theeca.com/about_eca.htm [theeca.com]

Damn straight they a political organization, Chuck.

Not good

[lowe0]

McCauley had his own opinion, to be sure, but he did a decent job of trying to balance coverage of the issues. I hope it doesn't just become a mouthpiece for Halpin (even if I agree with him).

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[gt_mattex]

It seems to me the EMA and ECA are just two mega mergers.

Sure they provide power for the consumers defense however I can't shake the feeling:

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Re:

[TubeSteak]

Balanced: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objectivity_(journali sm) [wikipedia.org]

Agenda + Facts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advocacy_journalism [wikipedia.org]

I would have put gamepolitics in the advocacy class of journalism, since they do have an agenda of sorts.

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[joystickgenie]

Yeah but when it comes to politics and the game industry I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone that falls into the "Balanced" section.

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[Overzeetop]

Huh?

'Cause a 17 year old can't read "Ao" and the caption "Adults Only 18+" and realize that they're not supposed to purchase the game? Sounds like this kid needs to hit the books more and the xbox a little less. WalMart proactive? Stores responsble? Give me a break - you're just as nanny state as the people wanting to arrest kids for buying these games.

And while you're at it, get the hell off my lawn!

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[illspirit]

Umm, Wal-Mart (along with like 99.9% of other stores) doesn't sell AO games. TFA mentions 17 year olds getting arrested for buying M rated games. The M label says they're for ages 17+. What part would said 17 year old not be reading properly?

Otherwise, I totally agree that forcing stores to be "proactive" is just as nanny state-ish.

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[Overzeetop]

Yeah, I changed the rating 'cause the M lists 17yo's as acceptable, and it didn't make sense the way the OP phrased it.

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[westlake]

Force Walmart to be pro-active.

The simplest way for Walmart to become pro-active is to stop stocking games that are likely to bring it nothing but grief. GTA could disappear from its shelves tomorrow without having the slightest impact on the bottom-line.

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[Steeltalon]

Wrong, it would impact the bottom line; Stores make quite a bit off of secondary sales. You come in to buy one thing (GTA) and end up picking up some new controllers, a hint book, maybe you finally break down and buy that new wide screen TV you've had your eye on. There most certainly would be an impact if Walmart stopped carrying popular games, controversial or not.

The demographic that matters...

[westlake]

The new Entertainment Consumers Association has announced that it has acquired the GamePolitics.com website [CC], as part of its mission 'to give gaming consumers a voice and ensure that state and local politicians hear their concerns and appreciate their demographic power'.

The only demographic that matters to the politician is that of the voters in his district.

But even then he must make choices.

The Evangelical Protestant is active and organized and the issues which excite him resonate far beyond his own community.

The gamer in politics runs the risk of looking adolescent and frivolous in comparison and usually stands very much alone.

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[bit01]

The gamer in politics runs the risk of looking adolescent and frivolous in comparison and usually stands very much alone.

There's a lot of disenfranchised kids out there. Maybe they could run a campaign to lower the voting age to 5?

Failing that maybe, they could run a campaign to get the kids to give their parents, the voters, hell?

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Creating simple artificial scarcity with copyright and patents on things that can be copied billions of times at minimal cost is a fundamentally stupid economic idea