The video game industry goes political (and it's about time)

Bring on the dancers!

(Credit: ESA)

A story in The New York Times yesterday reports that the video game industry has finally woken up and realized that in order to stay strong going forward, it can't rely on 13-year-old pimple-faced kids to promote its agenda.

According to the report, Michael D. Gallagher, chief executive of the Entertainment Software Association, the industry's lobbying arm in Washington, told the Times that its political action committee (PAC) will be up and running by the end of March and will represent Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, among others.

We will be writing checks to campaigns by the end of this quarter," Mr. Gallagher said. "This is an important step in the political maturation process of the industry that we are ready to take now. This is about identifying and supporting champions for the game industry on Capitol Hill so that they support us."

Am I the only person who thinks it's about time this industry has woken up and realize that political payoffs are the only way to get somewhere in this country? If you want to finally destroy these idiots who think we should kill creativity in video games, look no further than your friendly congressman from the 10th district with his hat in hand.

Gallagher claims that this newly formed PAC will donate between $50,000 and $100,000 to national candidates this year that the organization believes are more sympathetic to the needs and beliefs of the video game industry.

Sure, that doesn't sound like a ton of money to drop on your favorite politician, but what the video game industry has that Jack Thompson and the rest of his cronies don't is voting clout.

Think about it: when Nintendo released the NES to the United States, people who were trying to enjoy the '80s (and probably failed) turned to Mario and his buddies to carry them through the night. Since then, these people grew into an extremely important demographic for lawmakers--the 25 to 40 group.

Let's face it: the old fools who have no idea what video gaming is all about are dying off by the minute and those people who actually value video games because they recognize the entertainment valued provided by them, should be around for quite a while to carry that torch. And in such an important political year that holds the next four years in balance, now is the perfect time for the video game industry to capitalize on the weakness of politicians who are looking for votes.

The video game industry has been walked all over by a bunch of so-called "political activists" for too long. First, these clowns claim that video games promote violence. Wrong. No study has ever corroborated that claim. Next, the idiots say that video games are stunting the growth of our children. Have they ever played Brain Age? Finally, the fools tell us that obesity can be directly traced to video game playing, and parents have used them as a crutch to get away from little Johnny every now and then. First off, if you want to blame anything for obesity, call up fast food restaurants. Secondly, if parents want to use video games as a crutch, why should all video game players suffer? Hell, my parents tied a bone around my throat and told me to play with the dog. Was that a better crutch?

More than anything else, the video games industry's decision to get into the political game is probably one of the most important steps it has ever taken. When running loose like a band of geeks, it had no clout and politicians found it more politically behooving to support the anti-video game agenda than the ESA's. But now that we're in an important political year and even video games' most staunch critics like Hillary Clinton have gone agnostic, the tide may finally be shifting in the ESA's favor.

Something big may be in the works, and we have insider deals with crooked politicians to thank for it.

[flowerlace]

MY son is now 15 he been playing video games forever,we did grand theft auto series,we talk about it only a game.People play cowboys and indians forever and ganster shoot the up in the backyard with sticks.I do not belive video games cause violence,in anyone,they are not no worst than the movies.

[imdylbert]

I have to disagree with you "about time" sentiment, Don. This is more of a political belief of mine than anything, but i think lobbying should be eliminated completely from the political process. Lobbying and Pork (not the meat) both should be banned or made illegal somehow. I don't believe that video games or movies are the root of violent behavior, bad parenting is. I just can't rejoice in the game industry getting into this political bribery game though.

[Jeffpinball]

Quick Recap on this article. Lobbying + money + politicians = Get it your way. Lobbying should be a crime.

[ThrillHouse37]

Sorry to disagree with all you "outlaw lobbying" people out there but that's like crying "outlaw free speech." While I'm not against limiting the clout of lobbyists making it illegal is tantamount to cutting politicians off from constituents completely. Along with Abramoff and friends some other lobbyist groups you may want to unsubscribe from if you're truly against the practice: AAA, AARP, WGA, SAG, any unions you belong to, Journalists' associations, ACLU and so on. Not all lobbyists are bad and labeling them as such is as irresponsible and ignorant as saying video games kill people.

[jsmuli2]

"Let's face it: the old fools who have no idea what video gaming is all about are dying off by the minute and those people who actually value video games because they recognize the entertainment valued provided by them, should be around for quite a while to carry that torch."

Actually, it's the old people we should be in favor for, it's just like in the music industry - It was all the old executives of the label companies that just wanted to sell, and if people were making all anti-war albums in the 60s and 70s they didnt care because it increased sales, and in return, higher profits.

As for video games, the second we get younger people making our laws with video games it's always "oh i know what's best, i don't need their input, I am one of them!" but they aren't and since they are politicians, they are not gaming as much or at all anymore... So really, leave it up to the money making old guys to settle things because, well, they don't care what the content is in the games, as long as it sells.

[Pard68]

Honestly in a world were almost every form of entertainment, from the movie industry to the music industry, has decided to put their two cents in on politics, I find video games a refreshing and peaceful place where I am not constantly being badgered about the War on Terror and Phone Tapping and Oil Prices and Hilary vs. Obama and Racism and Education and Poverty. It is a place I can just hang out with friends and have a good time without having to thing let alone worry about the world outside my 72" of bliss. So why must they infect a good media format, like gaming, with the bickering and biased crap we call politics?

Ask me and I say video games has enough, all games these days that focus on modern warfare have back story in terrorism and oil. Why do I need EA and MS and to make it worse, people from half a world away like Nintendo and Sony, telling me how I should see politics? Besides that does politics even have a place in violent games like GTA and Halo and COD? No! Politics is a nonviolent thing and should not be incorporated into the vast majority of games. And if this happens some smartass polictian will begin to corrupt my video games, next thing I know instead of seeing the constantly updated Movie and Video Games posters when I play RB6 Vegas I will see things like VOTE DEM or VOTE REP or VOTE NO ON ISSUE 67! I mean common who wants that?!

[brandonh33]

Ya I think congress should sponser a video game where, get this, you are a congress man! you could totally write bills and stuff about how you think there should be a tax on people who make $72,442 at .01% to save the rainforests. And like nba live you will have all the real congress members when you are trying to pass the bill. You know, if one always wears a red tie, he would have a red tie on! And after new elections you can buy a $3.00 add on to update congress members, the clothes, and their opinions! Talk about the greatest video game ever! There could also be something like a weekly download to get all the latest issues and debates. Oh man everyone is going to be after this game. They wont be able to keep it in stock! Ya, I am way too bored. Feel free to comment on other things that should be included in the game!

[Papa Chango]

Am I the only person who thinks it's about time this industry has woken up and realize that political payoffs are the only way to get somewhere in this country?

Something big may be in the works, and we have insider deals with crooked politicians to thank for it.

I hear this weeks TWIT. Reisinger is tech's Jon Stewart.

[TheDarkerBrother]

This is rather a two-edged sword: on the one hand, it is very good and timely for someone to step up and represent the interests of Gamers and Developers in the political realm; on the other hand, Lobbying is itself a major part of the plague destroying our American Political landscape...i.e., Corruption.

What sort of message does it really send to non-gamers if we laud and celebrate the use of bribes to get our agendas met? It simply proves the idea they (generally) hold, that Gamers and Game Developers are nothing but intellectual pimps, prostituting the minds of the Youth with violence, obscenity, and stupidity. Any person with half a brain knows that Lobbying is an evil practice, contributing more to the dilapidation of our Country than any GTA game could ever dream of!

This is a start, getting some Representation in Gov't...but an evil start that needs to be improved upon, and I'm ashamed at you, Don, for completely ignoring this aspect of the issue.