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Video Game Industry Trade Group President Lowenstein to Step Down

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 19, 2006 - 8:29am.

Washington - The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), a trade group that represents U.S. video game publishers and developers, announced on Tuesday that founding president Douglas Lowenstein will leave the organization early next year.

tags: Games | Career | Moves | Associations | ESA | Doug Lowenstein |

Consumer Video Game Group Acquires GamePolitics.com

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 25, 2006 - 1:11pm.
Wilton, Conn. - The Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), a new Web-based consumer advocacy group for gamers, announced on Wednesday that it has acquired politically-oriented video game news site GamePolitics.com, and partnered with game publisher NCsoft on an Internet safety education program. Financial terms of the ECA's acquisition of GamePolitics.com were not disclosed.
tags: Games | Deals | NCsoft | Associations | Acquisitions | Games Deals | ECA | GamePolitics.com | PlaySmart |

CEA, Consumer Advocacy Groups to Launch "Digital Freedom Campaign"

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 19, 2006 - 3:22pm.
Washington - The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), a trade group of consumer electronics makers and other technology firms, along with consumer advocacy groups Public Knowledge and the Media Access Project, have announced plans to launch a campaign that aims to unite innovators, artists and consumers to "reassert technology rights."
tags: Campaigns | Law | Tech | CE | CEA | Associations | Fair Use | Public Knowledge | Media Access Project |

Video Game Industry Veteran Launches Consumer Advocacy Group

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 12, 2006 - 1:13pm.
Wilton, Conn. - The Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), a new Web-based consumer advocacy group that will lobby local and federal lawmakers on behalf of video gamers, announced its launch on Thursday. The non-profit group was created by Hal Halpin, founder of the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA) -- a trade group representing the video and computer game industries that recently merged with the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA). "These individuals are the life-blood to this multibillion dollar industry yet they have been unrepresented, until now, which is exciting for myself and the rest of the ECA team as we are the organization that now allows their voices to be heard," said Halpin. The ECA will represent gamers in areas like consumer rights, anti-games legislation and a host of other public policy concerns. For a $19.99 annual membership, the ECA will also offer discounts on games and access to industry events, and in the future potentially career assistance, scholarships and low-cost health insurance.
tags: Games | Launches | Marketing | Law | Games Launches | Consumers | Associations | Censorship | ECA |

Trade Groups for Video Game, Home Video Sales and Rentals to Merge

Authored by dmw on April 11, 2006 - 1:23pm.
Encino, Calif. - Two industry trade groups representing retailers and distributors of DVD's and video games -- the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA) and Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) -- announced on Tuesday their intention to merge. While IEMA members, which include companies that rent and sell video games, account for 75% of the $10 billion annual U.S. interactive entertainment business, the VSDA represents over 1,000 companies and 12,500 retail outlets within the $24 billion home video industry. "The merger will create a more efficient and influential organization to serve the needs of video and video game retailers and distributors," said IEMA chairman Rick Vergara. "The interests of the membership of the two associations are so closely aligned that we expect a seamless integration."
tags: Games | Videos | IEMA | VSDA | Mergers | Associations |