Video game industry seeks political clout

by Ross Miller { Jan 15th 2008 at 1:00PM }

The strange relationship between the video game industry and politics just got more complicated. Mike Gallagher, president of the Entertainment Software Association, spoke with the New York Times today about his intentions to start a political action committee (PAC) for making campaign contributions. The PAC -- which represents major publishers like Disney, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony -- was approved by the board last fall and will reportedly be ready to go in March.

Gallagher estimated the PAC would donate $50,000 to $100,000 to national candidates this year, a number which he labels as small, but a good start. He also talked about combining contribution efforts with the ESA initiative Video Game Voters Network. "If I can walk into the office of a member of Congress and tell them we have 20,000 voters in their state who are already signed up to write letters and act based on game-related issues that concern them, that's powerful," he said. You know what also helps? Money; good thing that's covered too. We're interested in seeing how game rhetoric on Capitol Hill changes, if at all, following the PAC initiative.

[Via Game Politics]

Tags: election, new-york-times, nyt, nytimes, pac, politics

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kamizar @ Jan 15th 2008 1:36PM

As much as I love video games, I hate PACs, so torn right now...

Obie @ Jan 15th 2008 1:52PM

I wonder if that is why politicians were so hostile to video games? Not the morality thing, oh no, we simply were not lining their pockets.

Oh well as much as I hate those fat cats, the VG business has money, time to throw some around and get those politicians off our backs....works for the gun and drug industry right?

Tiptup300 @ Jan 15th 2008 3:17PM

Thank you pac. Wheres the free petition online I sign?

Kendall B @ Jan 15th 2008 1:56PM

It's unfortunate that something like this is even necessary.

Killjebus @ Jan 15th 2008 1:58PM

To those of you in the media...you KNOW I am right. Videogames do NOT make kids more violent. There is NOT an epidemic of youth violence gripping the country. Instead, the exact OPPOSITE is happening. Violent crime (especially in young people) has gone down every year for the past 30 years and is now at its LOWEST in 40 years!!! Yet you keep reporting the utter NONsense of a youth culture "drunk" on violent videogames and committing murder and mayhem because they cannot control themselves after playing the violent videogames.

I know you continue to spread the lies because it gives you ratings. Ratings mean more viewers which leads to more advertising dollars (MONEY) for you.

The time to STOP this fear-mongering NONsense starts now. The time to expose the lies of the media starts now. The time to expose the lies of the politicians starts now. What is happening now with Videogames is NO different than what happened with Rock n Roll in the 50's.

I remember reading this article about a year ago. I forwarded it to Jack Thompson (self proclaimed violent videogame expert), and many other news sites. I never heard back from ANY of them, surprise surprise, especially Jack.

I encourage everyone of you to forward this article to news stations, your politicians, EVERYONE. The time to expose the blatant lies about videogames is at hand. We have to do something now, b4 it is too late.

Send them emails every single FRACKING day, do not give up, just like Andy never gave up in sending out letters in Shawshank Redemption.

The media does NOT want this to get out, as this will immediately discredit the YEARS of bullchit they have been feeding the lemmings. (general population)

Please, please, please.....continue to forward this article on a DAILY basis to the media and politicians.

http://www.gamerevolution.com/features/violence_and_videogames