Entertainment Consumers Association

Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA) is a United States-based nonpartisan, non-government, non-profit organization dedicated to the interests of individuals who play computer and video games in the United States. Game consumers in the US represent over 30 million Americans and the industry grosses roughly $10 billion annually. [Top 10 Facts, The ESA - http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php]

History

Mr. Hal Halpin, a game industry veteran and former president of the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA) – now called the Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA) – founded ECA in July 2006. The concept of the ECA was born following an IEMA board of directors meeting, in which Halpin recognized a need for consumer representation. [Gamers On Trial: The ECA's Hal Halpin on Consumer Advocacy, Gamasutra - http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1796/gamers_on_trial_the_ecas_hal_.php] The association was launched as a means for consumer rights advocacy following a string of anti-games legislation aimed at criminalizing the sale of certain video games. The industry itself was well represented by the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), Entertainment Software Association (ESA), and Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA), but those that purchase and play games were virtually unrepresented until the launch of the ECA.

Activities

ECA is an ardent supporter of consumer rights and advocacy, specifically in defending and advancing the interests of gamers. [ECA Sponsors Regional Chapters to Empower Gamers, GameSpy - http://www.gamespy.com/articles/876/876057p1.html] The organization does this through a variety of initiatives including lobbying efforts at the state and national governmental level, an activity permitted by its 501(c)(4) status. ECA also coalition builds with like-minded organizations including First Amendment advocacy groups and parallel trade associations. The ECA is non-partisan and does not support, oppose or give money to any candidates or political parties. [ECA Promotes Politics, but no Candidates, Escapist - http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/81258-ECA-Promotes-Politics-but-no-Candidates]

The ECA Member division negotiates and offers reduced rates for members with various companies that sell game-related merchandise and services including; magazine and premium website subscriptions, discounts on game rentals and purchases and free or discounted admission to trade shows, conferences and concerts, etc. [ECA Member Benefits, The ECA - http://www.theeca.com/membership_benefits] They provide programs for reduced-cost medical and life insurance, financial aid, tuition assistance and scholarship opportunities for members as well as career advice, job boards, resume writing aid and discussion forums and boards.

The association distinguished itself early by weighing-in publicly on issues that the parallel trade associations did not, including standing in defense of the game Mass Effect and its developer, BioWare, during the related controversy surrounding supposed sexualization of the product. ECA issued a press statement calling on FOX News to retract the misleading story. [Destructoid Interview: Hal Halpin, Destructoid - http://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-interview-hal-halpin-71079.phtml] ECA also was a founding member of the Gamers for Net Neutrality initiative, which sought to educate and empower gamer consumers about the issues surrounding network neutrality as it relates to online gaming. Partnering with MoveOn.org, SaveTheInternet.com, and Games for Change, the coalition provides an educational area on ECA’s website as well as digital advocacy tools for gamers.

GamePolitics.com

The ECA merged a number of long-standing staple brands when forming the organization which lent it early credibility and built-in expertise in the respective fields. Among the more prominent brands were GamePolitics.com, a blog and website written and maintained by Dennis McCauley, a noted game journalist. GP, as it had come to be known in the business and by the site’s fans, was and remains a key information portal for all matters related to game legislation and grass roots lobbying initiatives. [ ECA Acquires GamePolitics, Wired - http://blog.wired.com/games/2006/10/eca_acquires_ga.html] GameJobs.com is the interactive entertainment industry’s leading job board and career site. And the Video Game Yellow Pages(VGYP), served the business for over ten years as the defacto-standard in online directory information.

The organization also publishes a daily email-based electronic newsletter, ECA Today, which is mailed nightly to the entire membership free of charge. The newsletter informs and educates gamers about current and potential anti-games legislation, and acts as a call to arms in the association’s grass roots lobbying initiatives employing electronic advocacy.

On December 5, 2007 the ECA announced that the association was launching another publication, called GameCulture. [ECA Launches GameCulture.com, GameDaily - http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/eca-launches-gameculturecom/?biz=] Journalist and co-author of SmartBomb: The Quest for Art, Entertainment, and Big Bucks in the Videogame Revolution, Aaron Ruby, was hired on to be the Editor-in-Chief. The association felt the need to launch the site as a resource for promoting gaming in a more positive light and addressing the ways in which gamers and gaming have impacted broader society.

ee also

*Gamer

External links

* [http://www.theeca.com/ Entertainment Consumers Association]
* [http://www.gamepolitics.com/ GamePolitics]
* [http://www.videogameyellowpages.com/ Video Game Yellow Pages]

References