ESA Collapsing?
Category: Game Industry -
Post Date: May 31, 2008
As many people are aware, earlier this year the now-combined companies of Activision and Vivendi announced they would not attend E3 this year. Even more shocking, both companies are withdrawing from the Entertainment Software Association, the U.S. trade body for entertainment and video game companies. Most all significant publishers are members of the ESA, a withdrawal of these major companies was big news.
Then LucasArts announced their retreat in the days following. Citing that it was not in their best interests to remain in the trade group, LucasArts joined Activision and Vivendi into the independent.
And recently, company id Software has decided to join their fellows.
Could it be that there's something going rotten in the ESA? Why are so many major companies leaving, and what will happend to them and the ESA? I think we're looking at the gradual fall of the ESA and the E3 show in general, in light of recent downsizing. The ESA just isn't as relevant as it used to be, and E3's new style isn't favorable to many game companies.
id Bids ESA Adieu
LucasArts exits ESA
Activision/Vivendi leave ESA, skip E3
Then LucasArts announced their retreat in the days following. Citing that it was not in their best interests to remain in the trade group, LucasArts joined Activision and Vivendi into the independent.
And recently, company id Software has decided to join their fellows.
Could it be that there's something going rotten in the ESA? Why are so many major companies leaving, and what will happend to them and the ESA? I think we're looking at the gradual fall of the ESA and the E3 show in general, in light of recent downsizing. The ESA just isn't as relevant as it used to be, and E3's new style isn't favorable to many game companies.
id Bids ESA Adieu
LucasArts exits ESA
Activision/Vivendi leave ESA, skip E3
~greengamer
Recovering WoW Addict
I think the downfall of the E3 is coming fast. Downsizing one of the countries biggest forms of showcasing the latest games and hardware is naturally going to hurt the market. However, I can't pretend to know much about the ESA. But I know companies like LucasArts, Activison and Vivendi are well experienced and would not pull out of something unless it was in their best interest.
-GG
[P.S.] Force Unleashed = *drool*
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-GG
*Cassed
Wordsmith
Yea, I'm looking forward to Force Unleashed, but that hunger is tempered by limited funds D:
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So tell me what does freedom mean
If I'm not free to be as twisted as I want to be
~greengamer
Recovering WoW Addict
Better start saving then- the list of summer/fall games that are coming out (or just released) is surprisingly huge for a normally slow time of year for games. (Spore comes out FINALLY)
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-GG
ѻchalkley3
says: GG NEXT MAP
The same ESA who sends out overzealous and often false accusations of piracy? Shame, I'll really miss them.
$spot
Supreme Commander
The problem I see here, is that without the ESA, there is a vacuum of rating oversight which many a politician can use to pounce on and turn the regulating of the gaming industry federal.
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"This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure." - Winston Churchill
~Kevlar
Owned A Dreamcast
I can't claim to know the official reasons of why these people are pulling out, but most of the industry pundits are blaming the loss of ESA founder Doug Lowenstein. New president Mike Gallagher has yet to gain anyone's trust and some people are losing faith.
I don't think this is going to be the "downfall" of the ESA though. It looks more like a low point. The organization's become pretty important and I think that someone will step in if things get much worse.
Join the riot!