EL33TONLINE: News tag archive: entertainmentsoftwareassociation

Atari have confirmed that they won’t be exhibiting games at this year’s E3 due to their busy marketing schedule over the month of June, but representatives from Atari will still be in attendance at the show. A company spokesperson said:

“Atari has made the proactive decision to attend but not exhibit at this year’s E3 event. Although we feel E3 benefits the entire games business, we are very focused around other selling and marketing initiatives for our upcoming Ghostbusters, Champions Online and other to be announced titles.”

Atari remain members of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the annual organisers of E3, so there’s seemingly no bad blood between Atari and the ESA which would lead to the publisher pulling out of the show.

Source: Kotaku

In the case of Video Software Dealers Association v. Schwarzenegger, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth District has ruled that the state of California could not enforce a 2005 law that aimed to regulate the sale or rental of computer and video games, as video games are protected as free speech, and the proposed law would be unconstitutional in this regard. The Honorable Judge Callahan said in the ruling:

“We hold that the Act violates rights protected by the First Amendment.”

This is the 13th court decision which has ruled that video games are a form of free speech, able to enjoy the protections afforded to music, books and movies.

Additionally, the court found there to be no link between the playing of video games and violent behaviour. CEO of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), Michael Gallagher said:

“This is a win for California’s citizens. This is a clear signal that in California and across the country, the reckless pursuit of anti-video game legislation like this is an exercise in wasting taxpayer money, government time, and state resources.

“In the end, common sense prevailed with the court determining that, after exhaustive review, video games do not cause psychological or neurological harm to minors. And, that the ESRB rating system, educational campaigns and parental controls are the best tools for parents to help control what their children play.”