In his final speech as head of the ESA, Doug Lowenstein told those attending his D.I.C.E. keynote that he was proud of the ESA and ESRB but saddened by the developer's unwillingness to stand up for their work.Describing them as "cut and run developers," Lowenstein lamented about game makers who create controversial content and then refuse to defend it. "If you want to be controversial, that's great," Lowenstein remarks, "but then don't duck and cover when the shit hits the fan. Stand up and defend what you make." Lowenstein also blasted what he called a "Greek chorus" of those criticizing the ESA but not offering any suggestions or solutions.
Other targets in Lowenstein's crosshairs include those who didn't take the time to join the Video Game Voters Network ("You go to a website, click a few keystrokes and that's it. No one has bothered to take the time to do that, and it makes me sick.") and the gaming press for a lack of maturity and professionalism relative to the film and music industry press.
Lowenstein has always been open, albeit a bit careful, with his words, so it's certainly interesting to see him let loose before leaving the industry. He has always been effective and lobbying and has a heap of accomplishments; imagine how things might have been different, for better and worse, if this Fire and Brimstone Lowenstein had been running the ESA.
