EL33TONLINE: News tag archive: esa

The Entertainment Software Association’s (ESA) annual children’s charity dinner, “Nite to Unite for Kids,” which took place on October 13th in San Francisco, was this year able to raise a whopping $800 000 as a result of the sold-out dinner, auction and casino event.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to a selection of organisations that provide aid to children in need, including Web Wise Kids, Hope Lab, ThanksUSA and the One Economy Corporation.

ESA president and CEO Michael Gallagher praised attendees and members of the videogame industry for their support, noting that this latest fundraiser has brought the total amount donated to the ESA Foundation to an incredible $11 million.

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The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the organisation that owns and operates E3 (the enormous videogame showcase extravaganza) every year, has announced that 41 000 people from 78 countries attended the show that took place from June 1st to June 4th in Los Angeles last week.

Additionally, a whopping 216 exhibitors showcased their products at the event.

In a press release accompanying the announcement, the ESA also included some majr praise from some of the largest exhibitors, including a comment from CEO of EA, John Riccitiello:

“The ESA has put on a great show for the game industry. E3 2009 reflected the vitality, innovation and global presence of a rapidly growing industry. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event.”

Senior vice president of Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business, Don Mattrick, also had some kind words:

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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

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has commended the actions of local Mexican law enforcement in an anti-piracy raid that saw the confiscation of 60 000 pirated games, as well as equipment to aid the selling and packaging of those games.

The raid took place in the shopping district of Tepito, Mexico City, which the ESA claim is a “local center of black market activity.” Just weeks ago, a large scale raid took place in the same area, searching 37 apartments, warehouses and software labs, and turned up 38 000 pirated games and 784 disc burners.

ESA president and CEO Michael Gallagher commented; “Piracy hurts artists and entrepreneurs, paralyzes the development of a local game industry, and stymies our industry’s contributions to economies.

“We commend law enforcement officials for their actions in this raid and are fully committed to supporting authorities in Mexico and around the world in their efforts to combat entertainment software piracy.”

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.”

After E3 2008 was repeatedly slammed by large game publishers such as EA and Ubisoft, E3 organisers, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), set out plans to revamp the show this year to attract not only a wider category of exhibitors, but also to get previous exhibitors to attend again after its lacklustre showing in 2008.

The announced plans seemed to have worked, as not only are EA and Ubisoft set to show their wares at E3 2009, but Activision Blizzard, notably absent from last year’s proceedings as they carried out their own separate event, is now on the list of exhibitors, probably won over by the promise of a bigger and better E3 this year.

The E3 Expo, in previous years known as the most important exhibition for the world of videogames, has been scaled back in recent years, leading to backlash from developers and publishers who found a distinct lack of energy and celebration surrounding the event – qualities that were highly abundant in year gone by.

This year’s show will be a semi return to the days of old and will run from June 2nd to June 4th at the Los Angeles Convention Centre. The full exhibitor list for E3 Expo 2009 follows below:

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The eleventh annual Nite to Unite for Kids was held on Wednesday in San Francisco, a charity event started by the ESA Foundation (an arm of the Entertainment Software Association), which includes a silent and live auction.

The event also played host to a small awards ceremony, where Shigeru Miyamoto was honoured with this year’s 2009 ESA Champion Award. The award has previously been given to industry veterans such as Sony Computer Entertainment’s Ken Kutaragi, Electronic Arts’ Bing Gordon, Sega’s Isao Ogawa as well as Nintendo of America’s Howard Lincoln.

This time, the award was handed out by Nintendo of America’ Reggie Fils-Aime, who introduced Miyamoto with some game playing anecdotes of his own, regaling the crowd with his early experiences with games made by Miyamoto himself. In front of a standing ovation, Miyamoto took the stage and gave a small speech, concluding with a challenge to game developers to create games that captivate the imagination of children around the world and to “see what we can do to put smiles on their faces.”

The Nite to Unite for Kids event has raised $11 million for children’s charities since 1999, through donations from individuals and industry companies.

Thanks Gamasutra!

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced the return of E3 to its previous June timeframe, being held from June 2nd to June 4th at the Los Angeles Convention Centre.

The event will see a new format, which includes a greatly expanded number of invitations to members of the games industry as it welcomes “all qualified computer and video game industry audiences, including international and U.S.-based media, analysts, retailers, developers and business partners to preview the latest in interactive entertainment and technology.” The show will not be open to the public, however, as previous reports may have indicated.

Other changes include ‘increased booth sizes, increased qualified audiences, and an intensified focus on reinforcing the high-octane growth, innovation, and captivating entertainment that are driving the computer and video game industry.’ CEO of the ESA, Michael D. Gallagher commented:

“Video games are the fastest growing and most compelling sector of the entertainment industry. And, this upgraded event will reflect the growth, innovation and excitement of our industry. The breadth, scope and quality of the changes made to the show will make E3 the must-attend event of the year.”

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The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), they who defend and promote the games industry, as well as the chief organisers of E3, have received over $280 000 in compensation for lawyers fees.

An attempted ‘anti-game’ law, put forward in 2005, was overturned in August 2007 and ruled unconstitutional in the State of California, while the courts simultaneously recognised that video games are protected by the First Amendment in the US. The law would have required customers purchasing ‘M’-rated games to show their ID for age-verification. Retailers were to be fined $1000 if they were found not to display ‘M’-rated labels or ask customers for their ID.

As a result of the ruling, the ESA has been remunerated to the sum of $282 794 to cover legal expenses incurred while representing the game industry in the court case.

The ESA’s Mike Gallagher said “California deserves more from its legislators than pursuing flawed legislation. State employees are facing pay cuts. California’s services are being scaled back. And, anxiety is rising in Sacramento to find funds. Rather than tackling real problems affecting Californians, they chose to waste time, money and state resources. It is shameful that legislators pursued personal agendas in spite of the facts.”