Breaking: Activision and Vivendi discontinue ESA membership
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ May 2nd 2008 at 11:12AM }
The ESA's Rich Taylor, senior VP of communications and research (full quote after the break) says, "We can confirm that Activision and Vivendi Games opted to discontinue their membership. The ESA remains dedicated to advancing our industrys objectives such as protecting intellectual property, preserving First Amendment rights, and fostering a beneficial environment for the entire industry."
"While the Entertainment Software Association remains the preeminent voice for U.S. computer and video game publishers, we can confirm that Activision and Vivendi Games opted to discontinue their membership. The ESA remains dedicated to advancing our industrys objectives such as protecting intellectual property, preserving First Amendment rights, and fostering a beneficial environment for the entire industry. Our high level of service and value to members and the larger industry remains unchanged."
-- Rich Taylor, Senior Vice President of Communications and Research, Entertainment Software Association
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
CooperHawkes @ May 2nd 2008 11:17AM
WHAT THE HECK!?!?!
rv @ May 2nd 2008 12:08PM
WHAT THE FUCK!?!?!
peacebyanymeans (AKA: Moorio) @ May 2nd 2008 12:59PM
OH, JESUS CHRIST!!
The Doctor @ May 2nd 2008 6:09PM
Activision wants to be
NEW AND EXCITING.
copa @ May 2nd 2008 11:19AM
In other news, Activision has announced they will be forming another organization, the Activision Software Association.
The ASA will be kind of like the ESA, but a little crappier.
They have already announced plans to form ASA:2 and ASA:3 later this year.
In 2009, we will be seeing seven new organizations, including ASA: Project 8 and ASA: Aerosmith.
Odd number ASA organizations will be put together by Treyarch to save money.
wes @ May 2nd 2008 12:13PM
best post ever...
Jason @ May 2nd 2008 12:14PM
Gold.
Marlos Hill @ May 2nd 2008 3:22PM
MONEY!
NATO_Duke @ May 2nd 2008 11:21AM
Whatever shall we do now? I feel so lost!
No, really, I don't care. Should I? They quit an industry trade organization - what's the big deal?
Dirk Dorkelson @ May 2nd 2008 4:07PM
If you don't think the world's largest video game publisher pulling out of the trade organization that's the pre-eminent entity fighting censorship in gaming is significant, well, uh... I don't know what to say about that without hurling a petty insult.
NATO_Duke @ May 2nd 2008 5:34PM
Well Dirk, I'm glad we agree that you having a hissy fit doesn't do anything for us.
Mromson @ May 2nd 2008 11:21AM
And the Story unfolds.
Now we know why Activision Blizzrd won't be attending E3... Now we need to find out why.
velocitystrike @ May 2nd 2008 11:31AM
I'm sure "industrys" wants an apostrophe.
Yourself @ May 2nd 2008 11:47AM
My browser is displaying a character where it should be, wtf?
Borzen @ May 2nd 2008 11:42AM
What is up with them, also this means Blizzard must do the same. NOOOOOOO!!!
Pixelantes Anonymous @ May 2nd 2008 11:46AM
Any idea as to why they did this?
Are they unhappy about ESA's work? Or is it about the membership fees?
Kyrra @ May 2nd 2008 12:11PM
E3 isn't a big loss to Blizzard as they tend to run their own events as it is. But it does make you wonder why they decided to pull out.
Some more info on the ESA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entertainment_Software_Association
dvnt @ May 2nd 2008 1:09PM
Perhaps they feel the ESA no longer had their best interests in mind or were incapable of performing their duties.
I wonder though, the Wiki page says they support the ESRB but are they the same entity in the bigger picture?
If so, that means Activision would no longer have to support the ESRB's ratings system. But that would make it difficult to get their products into retail stores or advertise. Maybe they plan to sell direct or do digital distribution?
But most likely they think the ESA is incompetent and no longer wish to support them.
Ralod @ May 2nd 2008 1:23PM
I think this marks the end of the ESA, and E3. The downsizing of the event, instead of going the other way making it a public event was a huge mistake on their parts. America needs a convention like the Toyko Game show, and no E for everyone is not it(but PAX is getting there...)
2 Days closed for media, 2 days open to all. It would be a damn goldmine.
Brennan @ May 2nd 2008 2:06PM
so since they r out of the ESA, does this mean they wont making video games anymore?
TrojanGuy @ May 2nd 2008 2:23PM
Pretty weird decision. I wonder if Activision/Blizzard will continue to have ESRB ratings on their games. And if not, aren't there some states that have laws based on those ratings? What would happen to Activision/Blizzard game sales in those states. I'm curious to see what Activision says about this in the future.
Skytram @ May 5th 2008 5:47PM
@ TrojanGuy - First of all, SC sucks.
Second - Might be due to your crappy education but, ESA != ESRB.
;) (All in good fun, go Bruins!)
kchenisp @ May 2nd 2008 2:56PM
You don't have to be an ESA member to get your games rated by the ESRB, so this doesn't affect their storefront presence at all.
The ESA does, however, get to set policy and stuff like that, so basically Activision and Vivendi are giving up their "vote" in those processes. Apparently they didn't feel like that privilege was worth the membership dues.
It'll be interesting to hear why, specifically, they decided to leave, but it won't really change anything.
ianp711 @ May 2nd 2008 7:57PM
I think I also read somewhere that the president (or should I say douche) of the ESA had a lot to do with it. He's been making some bad decisions, not making it worthwhile for some publishers to go to E3, and now even cancel their membership.
Moral of story, don't be a douche...
hvnlysoldr @ May 4th 2008 12:04AM
Obviously Activendi broke ESA's numero uno rule:
No not talking about ESA. They're planning on making Call of Jack Thompson 4: World of GuitarShock