Latest financial rape by Republicans: The videogame industry

[MetaTrope]

This drama is following such a predictable path (much like the Bush administration from 2000 on), it's amusing to see the victims wearing their blinders yet again.

First stage was in May 2007, when the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the videogame industry's lobbying and representative legal body, hired a new president who, as it happened, had nothing at all to do with the videogame industry:

Michael D. Gallagher will serve as the next president of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the trade group representing U.S. computer and video game publishers, the ESA announced today. Mr. Gallagher was a former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications & Information, serving as the chief telecommunications and policy advisor to the Bush Administration.

Of course, when you hire a Bush administration official, you know that you're in for some exciting times ahead. Fast forward to a year later, and Five Publishers Drop Out of E3 This Year, Some Blame ESA President:

While the ESA and Gallagher declined to comment for this story, several sources tell us that Gallagher has come under fire for what is perceived as his poor handling of the association.

In March, GamePolitics reported that the ESA shuttered its New York office, and in so doing fired that office's head, senior VP and general counsel Gail Markels. Markels, who reportedly earned $317,000 in 2005, successfully led all the ESA's litigation efforts against unconstitutional video game laws.

The ESA apparently trimmed its lobbying initiatives throughout 2007 while budgets rose, according to a report made by GameSpot on public filings. Last year, the Association spent a record $2.86 million on lobbying — even though it chose to confront fewer issues, removing lobbying on online gambling, taxation of virtual property, and Internet privacy in favor of focusing solely on constitutional, copyright and relevant trade issues.

Of course, it's not enough for a former Bush official to prove handy at looting an organization, as this week Gallagher set out to share the wealth with his fellow parasites:

The Entertainment Software Association, already suffering from an exodus of member companies, took on Game Politics today over a post the Entertainment Consumer Association-backed site wrote calling into question the choice for the upcoming E3's keynote speaker.

You better sit down, this gets really confusing really quickly.

Yesterday The Escapist broke the news that E3 keynoter Texas Governor Rick Perry stirred up some controversy by attending a Texas' Cornerstone Church sermon given by the Rev. John Hagee. During the service Hagee told the gathering that non-christians are going straight to hell. Perry later said he agreed with the sentiment. The story failed to mention that the sermon took place in 2006, something the Wired follow-up did explain.

Then Game Politics, a ECA site which follows the convergence of politics and gaming, picked up the story and added some commentary, calling Perry a bizarre keynote choice and asking the ESA to rescind their offer. It also said that E3 2008 was being politicized by ESA president Michael Gallagher.

And meanwhile, the gamer community is wetting itself in protest over suggestions that just maybe the Republican helmsmen there are crooks too. It's really time to classify cognitive dissonance as a conservative illness.

[rocktivity]

1. Obama can't shut down K Street soon enough for me.

:headbang:
rocknation

[JDPriestly]

3. That is why Hillary should not be VP. She is too close to K Street.

She is not independent. She would be a Trojan horse in Obama's government. And mind you, I like Hillary. But Obama and his supporters have sacrificed to be able to run their campaign relatively free of lobbyist support. No candidate can be completely free from lobbyist interests, but he has tried. Hillary, on the other hand, relied on corporate funding. Obama will lose a big advantage on the integrity issue if Hillary is the VP candidate. It is sad, but that is the way it is. Had Hillary won, the lobbyists would come with her. They are part of her organization. But Obama doesn't need them and should not accept them as a part of his administration.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

2. He's pushing a new game

called World of Bushcraft.

You get to make up your own character, surround yourself with idiots, and declare "Mission Accomplished" before you get to the end of the game!

[NashVegas]

4. There Hasn't Been Enough Consolidation of the Industry Yet

Or enough corporate leadership gone over to the old boys' club for this type of shit to hold up very long.

[MetaTrope]

5. With the game companies leaving the trade group in droves, that certainly appears so

However, it does beg the question as to whether they will be able to reform the ESA at all, or whether Gallagher is just going to bleed it dry.