March 6, 2007 - First National Public Awareness Campaign Calls for Reform of Unfair Lending by Banks, Credit Card and Mortgage Companies

Major Consumer Groups Unite in New Organization—Americans for Fairness in Lending—to Highlight Need for Regulations and to Promote Fair Lending Principles through Internet, Print/Radio Ad Campaign; linked to release of Maxed Out documentary

(March 6, 2007) – The first national campaign to end rampant abuses of consumers by the lending industry in America is being launched today by Americans for Fairness in Lending (AFFIL), a new partnership of consumer, civil rights, faith-based, non-partisan and grassroots organizations. The AFFIL campaign is made possible by assistance from ACORN, Center for American Progress, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, NAACP, National Consumer Law Center, National Council of La Raza, UAW, and U.S. PIRG, among others.

Americans for Fairness in Lending takes on one of America’s biggest industries and will expose widespread predatory lending practices, provide information to help consumers fight back, educate policymakers about the need for reform, and demand action to assist debt-burdened Americans.

The new campaign calls for the lending industry—banks, credit card companies, auto financers and mortgage companies—to end their abusive practices and establish fair lending that helps to build and preserve individual and community assets.

The national campaign premieres today on the new AFFIL website — http://www.affil.org — and in print and radio ads under the theme “It’s A Disaster That’s Happening in America.” The advertising campaign will be supported by an interactive website serving as a resource for consumers to help them understand the traps of predatory lending and offering a range of online debt-relief tools. AFFIL’s campaign also coincides with the theatrical release of the acclaimed documentary Maxed Out, a compelling examination of debt in America.

Americans for Fairness in Lending represents constituencies such as the elderly, distressed homeowners, minorities, college students, and others who are targeted for excessive credit lending, high-interest payday loans, and multiple mortgages, according to AFFIL Executive Director Kirsten Keefe.

“Extending and increasing the personal debt of Americans is the stock in trade of today’s lending industry,” explained Keefe. “More than two decades of deregulation have led to the proliferation of banks, credit card companies, mortgage companies, auto financiers and other lenders that deliberately target high-risk borrowers who are struggling financially, specifically because they are almost guaranteed to trigger the highest fees and penalties—an essential source of income for the lending industry.”

The AFFIL campaign helps consumers fight back by raising awareness through print and broadcast advertising, revealing the tricks and traps of predatory lending, and offering a range of online debt relief tools such as Alerts to Predatory Practices, Shopping Guides for Loans, Debt Calculators, Resource Pages keyed to localities around the country, and Share Your Story space to combat the isolation that people in debt often face.

“The Americans for Fairness in Lending campaign is an opportunity to ensure that Americans have the knowledge and resources they need to make smart credit decisions,” said Brandee McHale, program officer at the Ford Foundation, a funder of AFFIL. “AFFIL unites the efforts of many of the nation’s most effective consumer advocates, providing people with a one-stop resource to take action and get the support they need to build and protect their assets.”

The AFFIL campaign is part of a wave of activities that will focus America’s attention on the murky, multi-billion dollar business of aggressive and unfair lending. On March 9, the acclaimed documentary film, Maxed Out will be released in major cities in advance of a national run.

Filmmaker James Scurlock’s examination of debt in America veers from comic absurdity to sheer tragedy as it shows current lending practices wreaking havoc upon the lives of ordinary Americans. The movie and the accompanying book Maxed Out both identify AFFIL as the go-to resource for consumers who want to learn more, share a lending horror story, find help or demand action.

AFFIL is working closely with author/filmmaker James Scurlock to raise public awareness at cohosted screenings of Maxed Out across the country.

“Maxed Out will be a stunning eye opener in showing how the lending industry targets borrowers on the basis of their likelihood of running up huge amounts of debt,” said Tamara Draut, Program Director of the Economic Opportunity Program at Demos, an AFFIL partner organization. “College students, for example, are aggressively targeted by credit card companies, despite the fact that most college kids earn little to no income. We see thousands of young people starting their adult lives burdened with thousands of dollars in high-interest debt.”

Other partners noted how important it is for the AFFIL to reach key constituencies with the facts about predatory lending.

“Hispanic consumers need greater access to affordable credit to help move them into the ranks of the American middle class, but many abusive industry practices have trapped consumers into a cycle of unmanageable debt,” said Eric Rodriquez, Deputy Vice President, National Council of La Raza.

“The nation’s working middle class is largely living on expensive borrowed money,” added Sylvia E. Johnson, Legislative Representative for the International Union, United Auto Workers. “For many, the task of meeting even basic expenses increasingly means accruing more and more debt, and lenders are taking advantage without conscience or ethical restraint. It is time to restore some common-sense regulation to this industry that is running out of control and bankrupting honest and hard-working Americans.”

“The partners in AFFIL hope that the campaign will inspire Americans of all walks of life to stand up and demand change,” said Keefe. “Our goal is to reshape and hold accountable a lending industry that will be fair, act responsibly, and protect the interests of the borrowers it exists to serve.”

Rants from the Alphabet Series ('W' is for 'Wealth')

My house is bigger than your house. My car is more expensive than your car. My paycheck is bigger than your paycheck. My stock portfolio is bigger than yours. While we know competition is inherent in nature, the method that we use to measure our own value has not evolved much beyond the cave-dwelling era. We choose the easiest milestones to measure ourselves against others. And we continue to ignore intangibles, and most of the real value manifests in that which is not readily seen. If I make more money than you, am I a better person? Do I add more value to society? Will I be missed more than you? Despite America placing a great deal of Judeo-Christian reverence on that which cannot be seen, we seem to readily ignore it outside of our own houses of worship and especially when it comes to defining wealth.

We use a language of finance and mathematics to quantify the extent our wealth. Uncle Neil is worth millions. Uncle Dan is our ‘character’ in the family, he was in the Peace Corps and now he works with the homeless somewhere, can you imagine that? I wonder what caused Uncle Dan to give up and drop out like that? And can you imagine, his wife and poor children barely scraping by? What does she do—oh, that’s right she teaches in the public school system, poor dear.

What doesn’t get discussed is that while living in the large home (and “summering” elsewhere), driving the nice BMW’s and enjoying the large stock portfolios one of Uncle Neil’s children is in their second round of rehab. Uncle Neil is having an affair and so is his wife, a functioning alcoholic.

Who is wealthier and worth more? It depends on if we measure, and what we use to measure. Why do we use a financial tools to measure? Because those that have amassed significant wealth choose to use a moneystick for comparison. You always play the game you can win. Think of a large pyramid. Those at the top amass greater wealth by enlisting more people at the bottom and middle-levels. They don’t really care what level you attain, provided it is beneath them. It is interesting to me that when a friend invites us to a “special business opportunity” and we go to an Amway presentation we may snicker, however we are previewing a microcosm of American Capitalism (not a free-market). It is how the system works (or doesn’t work depending upon your perspective).

There is nothing inherently wrong in wanting to provide a nice lifestyle for yourself and your family. However when it becomes your only focus you begin to lose sight of why you began the journey in the first place. It is all too easy to succumb to the trappings of materialism and lose yourself. What is important is as individuals we must move beyond abdicating the definition of success, self-worth, wealth and value to others, especially when they have a selfish interest in establishing the rules and framework of the game.

We are told that taxes are bad, they interfere with our ability to accumulate wealth and prevent us from our place at the top of the pyramid. We are told this about taxes while our neighborhoods, schools, roads and levee’s erode and decay. Ask anyone at the top of the pyramid if they accumulated their wealth merely through avoidance of taxes. We do not need “Tax Relief”. What we need is a system that will allocate societal resources that will improve the foundation of America while providing a better future for generation after generation. We may seek to pay less in taxes to increase our individual holdings, while weakening our communities, neighborhoods and towns.

Business faces the same set of issues. America has been weakened by focus on short-term business indicators, revenue, profit and equity value. While these measures are important, they are simple indicators of the state of a particular business, and how it compares to its peers. Long term strategy and sustainability are traded for short-term gains and we now suffer from an intense focus on profit. Profit is being squeezed out, not by adding value but by externalizing costs to society and this is the real tax that society pays. This tax is not assessed by the American Government, it is assessed by the wealthy elite by consuming resources, polluting our land, water and skies and continuing to undermine our ability to have a representative government. This is the real tax on society, and absent a government that will protect society through regulation and enforcement the tax is growing at an unprecedented rate.

The wealthy will continue to reward corporations that generate profit without regard for anything else with their investment, support and political influence which result in eroding protections for society. We must counter this onslaught by no longer spending our money on products (whenever possible) on products that are the result of such an economic free-for-all. If we are successful as a society, the equity value of corporations that are supporting a neoconservative fascist agenda will drop faster than you can say Romney-Thompson in 08—as revenue moves to businesses led by visionaries that are evolving their companies toward a triple bottom line -a balance of people, planet and profit. Since there is nothing the elite fears more than a decrease of their wealth (as a direct measure of their own power and influence) they will be forced to move their investment into companies that are doing the right thing because that’s what the revenue and profits will dictate. The real economic revolution can begin.

Video gamers are burning with questions for Republican presidential candidates - but will they get to ask them?

Jesse Vetters’ submitted a question about video game to CNN for the Republican Debate, which inspired GamePolitics.com’s Dennis McCauley and ECA President Hal Halpin to put out the call to other gamers to submit questions on topics dealing with video games.

MTV has the coverage here, http://www.mtv.com/games/video_games/news/story.jhtml?id=1575175.

Jesse Vetter’s original question, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU-5B-Y30KE.

You can watch a mashup of a lot of the questions submitted by ECA members here, http://www.searchles.com/channels/show/1751.

Republican YouTube Debate - Will Gamers' Questions Make The Cut?

Tonight is CNN’s Republican YouTube Debate which will air at 8 p.m. ET on CNN.

After sorting through over 3,500 video submissions, some by your fellow ECA members, CNN will narrow the questions down to approximately 45. Will a question dealing with video games make the cut?

You can check out CNN’s online coverage at their site, http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/22/you.tube.debates/index.html.

Also, reply with your thoughts leading up to, during, and after the debate right here on this thread.

Blog Round Up for December 4, 2007

Check out the latest headlines from GamePolitics:

Senators on Hand as NIMF Report Card Zings Game Biz for “Ominous Backslide”

Dr. David Walsh of the National Institute on Media & the Family issued his 12th Annual Video Game Report Card this morning. In doing so he criticized the video game industry for “an ominous backslide on multiple fronts.”

Flanked by a pair of U.S. Senators (Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota) as well as Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN), Walsh awarded an overall grade of C to the game business.

Annual Video Game Report Card: The Grades

Parental Involvement: C
Ratings Education: B-
Retailers’ Policies: C-
National Retailers: D
Game Specialty Stores: B
Game Rental Shops: F

ESRB: Video Game Report Card Flawed, Contradicts Govt. Findings

ESRB president Patricia Vance wasted little time in responding to criticism leveled against her organization by this morning’s release of the National Institute on Media and the Family’s annual Video Game Report Card.

D.C. Smackdown Parodies Politicians & Pundits

John McCain battling Anne Coulter?

Hillary Clinton vs. Bill O’Reilly?

It could happen in D.C. Smackdown.

Former Disney animator Dave Holbrook’s new PC parody allows players to stage 16 levels of comedic combat. The game’s 17 recognizable characters include politicians, pundits and celebrities. As with most fighting games, each character possesses a signtaure move. Hillary Clinton, for example, can employ the “Intern Trample,” while Bill O’Reilly can rely on the “No Spin Zone”.

Detroit Prosecutor Issues (outdated) List of 10 Violent Games to Avoid For the Holidays

Detroit is the second most dangerous city in America, according to 2006 crime statistics.

Top Prosecutor Kym Worthy thinks violent video games may play a role. As reported by the Detroit News, Worthy has issued her 3rd annual list of the Top 10 Most Violent Games.

GameCulture Launches

The ECA has launched the beta version of its newest website, GameCulture. The Gameculture website will focus on how videogames, game technology, and game culture are changing the world around us.

ECA President Hal Halpin had this to say:

“We couldn’t be more excited to introduce GameCulture, or more blessed to have Aaron heading it up. It’s absolutely core to our [ECA] mission that we redefine the label ‘gamer’ and in doing so reverse the negative stereotypes which anti-games legislators and anti-gamer advocates have created.”

GameCulture was designed and will be managed by veteran journalist Aaron Ruby, co-author of Smartbomb, a 2005 New York Times Editor’s Pick. Aaron had this to say:

“I’m really looking forward to the launch of GameCulture. One of the best kept secrets about videogames is that regardless of whether you like them or hate them, games are profoundly influencing every facet of our culture, from the esoteric to the everyday.

It’s not just about entertainment anymore. The intersection of games and culture is a fascinating place, and the ECA web team did an amazing job of building a site that offers something new to dedicated gamers while remaining relevant for those who don’t normally follow game media.”

You can check out the new GameCulture website at http://www.gameculture.com/, and let us know here in the comments your thoughts.

Blog Round Up for December 5, 2007

You can check out all of the below posts at Gamepolitics, www.gamepolitics.com

ECA Unveils New GameCulture Site

There is some big news this morning from Hal Halpin and the Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA).

The ECA is launching the beta version of GameCulture, a brand new destination for gamers, mass media outlets and entertainment consumers of all sorts. GameCulture will feature a unique editorial voice which will provide a sense of how videogames, game technology, and game culture are changing the world around us.

Oklahoma Politician Who Authored Video Game Law is Now ESRB’s Pal

We’ll say it again:

Politics makes strange bedfellows.

Yesterday, an ESRB press release trumpeted yet another partnership with a state-level politician. This time it is State Senator Glenn Coffee (R) who is teaming up with the video game industry’s content rating board on a parental awareness program.

Congressmen Want More Openness in ESRB Rating Process

For years, Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA) has been a critic of video game violence.

Now Baca has been joined by fellow Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA) in a call for greater openness in the game industry’s rating process.

Game Retailers Dispute NIMF’s Video Game Report Card

The Annual Video Game Report Card issued yesterday in Washington, D.C. by Dr. David Walsh and the National Institute on Media and the Family didn’t sit well with many in the game industry.

ESRB head Patricia Vance quickly issued a counterpoint to NIMF. The Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA), representing video game retailers, followed suit later in the day.

ABC’s Jake Tapper Covers the NIMF Annual Report Card

In a well balanced video report, Jake Tapper of ABC News looks at criticisms leveled against the video game industry in yesterday’s Video Game Report Card.

Meanwhile Chicago’s ABC-7 offers a pretty straightforward piece which mentions the Report Card in relation to game ratings issues.

Blog Round Up

Here are the latest headlines from GamePolitics.com.

Colorado Church Shooter Was Kept Away from Video Games By Parents

Matthew Murray, who killed four people and wounded several others during a pair of horrific church shootings over the weekend, apparently wasn’t permitted to play video games while growing up.

U.S. Army Creates Video Game Squad

Training and Simulation Journal Online reports that the United States Army has established a project office to create and deploy video games for the training of soldiers.

Think Tank Issues Study on Video Game Ratings

The Competitive Enterprise Institute, a Washington, D.C. think tank with a free market orientation, has issued a detailed position paper on media content ratings, including those of the ESRB.

Schwarzenegger Distances Himself from THQ’s Conan Game

Although California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger® helped build his acting career by starring in the 1982 film Conan the Barbarian, he is carefully distancing himself from THQ’s recent Conan video game release.

Postal 2’s Vince Desi Talks Manhunt 2, Game Censorship, Politics

Vince Desi, head honcho at Running with Scissors, is no stranger to controversy. His Postal franchise remains a target for video game violence critics long after the last game in the series (2003’s Postal 2) was released. During a lengthy 1up interview, Desi dishes on a variety of topics related to the politics of video games today.

Where the Presidential Candidates Stand on Video Game Legislation

GamePolitics readers are obviously quite interested in where the presidential candidates of both parties stand on video game issues.

But so far, there hasn’t been much hard information available on this topic.

Now, watchdog group Common Sense Media has helped fill in the blanks

Otesha launches 2008 Cycling and Performing Tours

The Otesha Project has announced the routes for the 2008 Otesha Cycling and Performing Tours (Check out: www.otesha.ca/bike+tours/index.en.html). Applications are now being accepted for seven regional tours throughout Canada that will take more than 120 inspiring young change-makers on the journey of a lifetime. You could be one of them!

Tour members will share an incredible experience as they live as a mobile and sustainable community for two months. They will cycle from performance to performance, braving the elements, connecting with communities along the route, and exploring all the ups and downs of directly addressing environmental and social injustices through their own every day actions.

Tours will start in May, July, and September, departing from Ottawa, Vancouver, and Halifax. These are the tour routes:

Algonquin Tour May 1 to June 25

Spin from Ottawa through Algonquin Provincial Park, follow the sunny shores of Georgian Bay along the Bruce Peninsula, over to the sandy beaches of Manitoulin Island and onward to Sudbury. Car-free.

Great Lakes Tour May 1 to June 25

The Great Lakes are calling! Cycle the rocky shores of three of North America’s largest fresh water lakes – Huron, Erie and Ontario. Venture from Ottawa through rugged terrain and bustling towns. Destination: Niagara Falls! Car-free.

Northern Appalachian Tour May 1 to June 25

Cycle from Ottawa through the Eastern Townships, across the border and through the ancient Mountains of Vermont and Maine. Destination: New Brunswick and the red sand shores of the Bay of Fundy. NB: A passport is required, as the team will be traveling through the USA.

Sunshine Coast Tour July 2 to August 26

Tackle Vancouver Island from tip to tip. Starting in Vancouver, cycle up the Inside Passage, across to the Island, north to Port Hardy and then south again to funky Victoria. Car-free.

Kootenay Mountain Tour July 2 to August 26

From Vancouver to Calgary, start at the ocean edge, spin through coastal forests, on to the sunny Okanagan, and up and down the silver peaks of southern British Columbia.

Rising Tide Tour Sept. 2 to Oct. 27

Feel your spirits rise with the highest tides in the world. Starting in Halifax, cycle along the Atlantic Ocean around southern Nova Scotia and the red sand shores of the Bay of Fundy.

Across the Rock Tour Sept. 2 to Oct. 27

Starting in Halifax, north to Cape Breton, ferry over to Newfoundland and across the Rock to North America’s most easterly point. Lots of hills (and possibly snow)!

Apply now! More information available at www.otesha.ca.

Spread the word! Spread the hope!

Peace and bicycle grease, The Otesha Project

Members Update

Re-posted from 12/19/07 ECA Today:

2007 ECA SUMMARY Hal Halpin, President, ECA

I was recently asked by a reporter to try and encapsulate briefly all of the accomplishments, challenges and tasks that were undertaken in the past year since we soft-launched. I groaned in response and said something flip like, “how much time do you have?” In reflecting back after hanging up, I realized that it has been some time since our last Member Update and while our staff, and many in the media, know well what we’ve been up to, that we could be doing a better job of communicating that to you, our members.

To that end, we’re going to do two things: one is recycle a summary piece that I put together for the reporter because it succinctly captures the cross-section of what the ECA has been doing:

Public Relations – like all ECA effort, PR is truly a team one. It’s a collaboration between ONE PR Studio and our management team, and utilizing those resources effectively to maximize the exposure of the association is a daily – sometimes hourly – task. We have done hundreds of press interviews, articles, news mentions and feature stories. We make sure that when there’s an issue that affects game consumers, the ECA is there to weigh-in. Additionally, the president writes guest columns for GameDaily, 1UP and EGM, all of which further establish the organization. PR, like most other things in our first year, was challenging. We needed to educate the endemic and non-endemic media, explain the basics of what a non-profit membership org is and why it’s needed and then quickly ramp up to meet the needs as they arose. Tracking for all the press that ECA received can be found here. The best thing I can say about the Herculean PR efforts is this: I run into executives all the time who think that the ECA is older than it is; they’re shocked to find that we’re brand new because we’re omnipresent.

Government Relations – our Government Affairs department was fortunate enough to hire on some amazing talent to staff it. Head up by former ESA legal exec, Jennifer Mercurio, the ECA is now part of a broad coalition of organizations (the list of which is going to be a separate press release in early Q1). We have set position statements on key matters concerning gamers which can be found here. We have established a digital advocacy initiative, which will commence more publicly with the roll-out of our new related module in the next 60 days. There are ECA groups on FaceBook, MySpace, LinkedIn, MeetUp, and others. Coalition partners are excited to have consumer interests at the table and believe that our presence alone may represent a paradigm shift. Motivating and empowering our members to become active, involved and passionate, while channeling that energy remains the key.

Marketing – the largest internal department has arguably been challenged with the most; establishing our presence as a credible and formidable force in the space. Directed by our seasoned marketing guru, Heather Ellertson, the ECA has had a presence at every major trade and consumer show related to the games space and next year will attend over 120 events. We impress over 11 million gamers with our advertising campaign via bartered ads that would have otherwise cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. We established an affiliate program that will ensure a regular and steady influx of new paying members. And we have branded the association, our innovative logo and our name as the defacto standard. ECA stands beside ESA, ESRB, EMA and IGDA in reputation and in perception because of the regular and impressive marketing efforts in totality. Members join because of the value proposition of receiving many times more in goods and services than their dues cost, a list of which can be found here (and is only in its infancy).

Advertising – during the research phase of our evolution, just a year and a half ago, we retained Ignited Minds as our ad agency of choice. Run by industry expert, Eric Johnson, the agency helped– and indeed continues to help – shape first impressions. We’ve run three major ad campaigns over the past year, ranging from the shock of the “needle and gun” ad to the “half the games in this magazine” campaign, and found one to be more compelling than the next. What good would the 11M people exposure be if our messaging wasn’t on-point and engaging? After PR, advertising is our public face – it represents exposure to many more people than would normally see or understand the product. We now have full-page ads running in most of the endemic media outlets, banners and buttons on many of the leading gamer newsletters and websites and partners helping us to hammer home that same message.

IT – as a web-based organization, we knew going in that IT would be our backbone. We’d need to have web-based services that replaced real-world ones because of our target audience. In the past year we have introduced several key modules which enable the website. We’re also integrating digital advocacy into the very fabric of the site. Everything we do is for the benefit of the community, and as a result the solution needs to be effective in the near term, but scalable in the long term. Modules introduced or under construction include: Membership, Community, Ads, Accounting, Forums, Directory, Survey & Polls, Subscriptions, Career Center, and Member Manager. While not overt, these modules are the engine that drives the machine. Our IT director, Nasim Islam, along with our web design firm, Acro Media – and three internal project management teams – work to ensure that our presence on-line is what it is, and will be so much more.

Publications – the association publishes several well-known publications in the interactive entertainment space that serve the needs of our members as well as the broader community. GamePolitics, edited by founder Dennis McCauley, is our game news site focused on anti-game/gamer legislation and political issues that affect gamers. GameJobs is the industry’s leading career portal and job board. GameCulture, introduced in beta form in December 2007 and edited by well-known journalist Aaron Ruby, is our mass market publication which publicizes the positive impact games and gamers have had on society. And ECA Today is our nightly newsletter which consolidates the day’s news from partner media outlets and is mailed to all ECA members, which is maintained by Pete Gallagher, the former EIC of GameDaily. Our publications are our communications vehicles, our education outlets and our means of providing true worth and value to the community. They help define who were are and how we’re perceived.

Chapters – we have established six new chapters in the past six months, a testament to gamers and their belief in the association. We established a quick reputation on college campuses nationwide by simple outreach. Gamer clubs exist at more than 300 universities, with many of them teaching coursework, or even granting degrees, in interactive entertainment. We simplified the chapter agreement so that it wasn’t an intimidating process and talk with educators and students about their ECA chapter existing like any other school-sanctioned organization. Chapters will, in the future, also be how we mobilize physical grass roots efforts; working with our GR and PR folks and having those members testify, sign petitions and speak with legislators. Our chapters will be a means for getting gamers together, for LAN parties, tournaments, festivals, career fairs or other networking opportunities.

………………………………………………………………

Secondly, we’re close to launching a few more of the back-end modules that we’ve been talking about and one of those will contain a blog. We haven’t finalized the framework of how it’ll work or if it’s purely a member information portal (similar to, but clearly different from, the ECA section of the GamePolitics Forums). It will be a way for us to more regularly keep you in the loop. And as the association grows, in size and influence, it’ll be increasingly important to have you be aware of things – because the diversity of what we’re doing on your behalf is impressive… if I do say so… ;)

So the below will be the first step in the process and in addition to being mailed out to the membership via email, it’ll also be posted on the forums so that you can ask follow-up questions or make suggestions. You should also check us out at the following social networking sites (ECA forums, MySpace page, FaceBook Group, Gather, and LinkedIn) as we have a presence and would love to hear from you.

And finally, I’d like to take this opportunity – on behalf of team ECA – to wish you all a safe, happy and healthy New Year!

Best,

-Hal

Catch ECA President Hal Halpin on the iGame Radio Podcast

http://media.macradio.com/mp3s/iGame_Radio_2007_12_17.mp3

Hal was interviewed by Omaha Sternberg for her December 17th episode of the Macradio Podcast, iGame Radio. You can listen to the first part at the link provided as Hal explains what the ECA is, what it stands for, and what it’s doing for gamers.

This is a great interview for those who want to find out more about what the ECA is, and for those wondering about what’s currently being worked on. Hal’s interview starts about half way through the podcast.

Part II of Omaha Stern

http://media.macradio.com/mp3s/iGame_Radio_2008_01_01.mp3

Host Omaha Sternberg interviews Hal Halpin of the ECA about the advocacy group in the second of a two-part series…what it does, what it stands for, and what it is doing for gamers.

CNET Posts Their Presidential Technology Questionnaire Responses

In late November, CNET sent questionnaires to the top candidates-measured by funds raised and poll standings-from each major party. They asked each candidate the same 10 questions. Six of the candidates responded. Topics such as digital copyright, surveillance, internet taxes, and net neutrality were covered.

You can check out the six candidates responses here, http://www.news.com/News.com-2008-Technology-Voters-Guide/2009-1028_3-6221134.html?tag=st.nl

Blog Round Up

Here’s the week’s news provided by GamePolitics.com.

Conservative Site Charges “Explicitly Graphic Sexual Intercourse” in Mass Effect

The Cybercast News Service, a conservative site, claims in a report published this morning that best-selling Xbox 360 title Mass Effect contains “explicitly graphic sexual intercourse.”

If Candidates Were Consoles…

Game scribe Wagner James Au considers the top tier of Democratic presidential candidates and finds them rather like video game consoles.

Custom Xbox 360 Keeps You Company During Hospital Stay

Whether it’s a car crash or an errant Wiimote to the cranium, sometimes we end up in the hospital.  It can be scary, it can be boring, and your doctor isn’t always there to answer your questions.

California Files Appeal on Video Game Law Ruling

According to a press release from the office of State Sen. Leland Yee (D), California has filed its planned appeal of a U.S. District Court ruling which struck down the state’s 2005 video game law last August.

Video Game Voters Network Targets Wisconsin State Senator’s Game Tax

Suddenly, Wisconsin State Senator Jon Erpenbach has become Public Enemy #1 for the video game industry.

Player Succeeds at World of Warcraft Non-violently

Can you make it to level 70 in WoW without killing anything?

WoW Insider reports on a player who does just that.

Stuck in 3rd Place, Edwards Campaign Begs for Avatar Attention

While top contenders Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton slug it out for the Democratic presidential nomination, that gurgling sound you hear could be the death rattle of the John Edwards campaign.

But Edwards isn’t giving up without a fight. A post on the John Edwards 08 Blog rallies young supporters to push the former North Carolina senator in online worlds.

Gamer Builds Nuclear Reactor in Home; FBI Pays a Visit

This game is rated M for… Mushroom cloud?

We joke, of course.

But the FBI recently paid a visit to a Texas gamer who was attempting to build a small nuclear reactor in his basement. They were accompanied by local cops as well as officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Conservative Authors Accuse Hillary of Video Gamesmanship

With a narrow win in yesterday’s New Hampshire primary, Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign has survived to fight another day.

So do accusations that she is a nanny state proponent. Writing for Human Events, Cord Blomquist and John Berlau of conservative think tank the Competitive Enterprise Institute, (CEI) accuse Clinton of not trusting parents to raise their own children, particularly in regard to video games.

McDonald’s Claims that Video Games Super-size Kids

Last month it was the soda makers who blamed childhood obesity on video games.

This time around, Mickey D’s is pointing its greasy finger at your console.

Editor: Upset with Coverage, GameCo’s Cut Ties with EGM

Did three major game companies decide to stop cooperating with Electronic Gaming Monthly?

That’s what EGM editor-in-chief Dan “Shoe” Hsu writes in an editorial in the January issue. As reported by Video Game Media Watch.

Liz Woolley, Prof, Destructoid Blogger Debate MMO Addiction

The debate over video game addiction has fallen off the radar ever since the American Medical Association declined to classify it as an official diagnosis last summer.

Blame Game: Cops Finger Video Games in Separate Incidents

We’re not quite sure of the connection, but WSOC-9 reports that police in Gaston County, North Carolina say three 19-year-olds who set fire to eight cars and a vacant home were inspired by the ultra-violent 2003 PC game, Postal 2.

Blogger: Barack Obama Puts Tiger Woods Golf Game Stare To Good Use

Today is a huge day for Barack Obama.

If his expected strong showing in the New Hampshire primary materializes, the first-term U.S. Senator from Illinois could be crowned the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee by nightfall.

ESA Boss Slams Wisconsin Video Game Tax Proposal

GamePolitics has, in recent weeks, been tracking a proposal by Wisconsin State Senator Jon Erpenbach to add a 1% surcharge to video game purchases in order to fund a juvenile justice program.

Call of Duty 4’s Modern Combat Theme Makes Dad Think Twice

Modern-day first-person shooter Call of Duty 4 made it onto just about everyone’s Game of the Year list.

But, GOTY attention notwithstanding, a Florida newspaper columnist and parent is troubled by the game’s ultra-realistic modern war theme. Writing for the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Ralph De La Cruz discusses his angst.

Economists: Violent Films Prevent Actual Violence

Do ultra-violent films like Saw and Hostel actually increase public safety?

And, if so, what is the implication for violent video games?

God Save the Queen (from Nintendo)

Add Queen Elizabeth II to the growing ranks of seniors who are learning to love video games thanks to Nintendo’s popular Wii console.

Irish Censorship Board Censors Out “Censor” From its Name

When last seen by readers of GamePolitics, the Irish Film Censor’s Office was in the process of banning Manhunt 2 from the Emerald Isle.

But the Irish Independent reports a name change is in the works for the IFCO, which feels it no longer does much censoring.

Blog Round Up

Here’s the news provided by Gamepolitics.com.

Islamic Site Accuses “America’s Army” Game of Brainwashing

Even in the United States, the belief that the Defense Department uses the America’s Army game series as a military recruitment tool is  controversial.

It’s probably not surprising, then, that Empowered Muslim Youth, an Islamic blog, accuses America’s Army of “brainwashing.”

Fine Print: Lawyers Get $1M, you get (up to) 35 bucks in Hot Coffee Deal

As the gaming press widely reported recently, Take Two has settled a class-action lawsuit filed against it in the wake of the 2005 Hot Coffee scandal. Gaming Steve has dug into the fine print of the deal and discovered that the big winners are - surprise! - lawyers.

GTA IV Gets Dated, Triggers Obligatory Jack Thompson Threat

Last week’s announcement that the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto IV would be released on April 29th did not escape the notice of Miami attorney Jack Thompson.

Cooper Lawrence: “I Misspoke” about Mass Effect

The pop psychologist and author who so enraged the gaming community this week with her condescending attitude and false characterizations of BioWare’s Mass Effect has ‘fessed up to the New York Times.

Video Game Retailers Come Out Against New Mexico Tax Proposal

Yesterday, GamePolitics reported on the Entertainment Consumers Association’s opposition to a Sierra Club proposal that would impose a 1% surcharge on video games and TV sets sold in New Mexico.

We’ve also heard from the Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA), a trade group which represents a large bloc of video game retailers. The EMA has likewise taken a position against the proposed levy and shared with GamePolitics a letter sent to the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club in Albuquerque.

GP on Joystiq: Stand Up & Be Counted

…the one in which GP explains why EA’s decision to fight for Mass Effect means as much to gamers as it does to the video game industry.

Mass Effect Saga Continues: Fox News Says it Has Invited EA

There’s a new twist in the Mass Effect saga…

MTV Multiplayer reports that an unnamed Fox News rep claims the network has invited Electronic Arts to appear.

Parents Television Council Wants Video Game Legislation

Recent word that the Entertainment Software Association would begin making political contributions on behalf of the video game industry brought a sharp response from watchdog group the Parents Television Council.

Within days of the ESA announcement, PTC president Tim Winter issued a statement essentially threatening that his organization would target any elected official who “cashed a check” from the ESA

In an interview with Ars Technica PTC’s national grassroots director Gavin McKiernan, explained that video game legislation is central to its dispute with the video game industry.

ECA Opposes New Mexico Video Game Tax

Earlier this week GamePolitics reported on a New Mexico proposal which would impose a 1% sales tax on video games and TV sets.

The Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA) has now issued a statement in opposition to the New Mexico tax.

British Court Sends Manhunt 2 Back for Reconsideration

If you were waiting to purchase Manhunt 2 in the U.K., plan on waiting a bit longer.

As reported by GameSpot, a ruling by a judge in London’s Royal Courts of Justice will force a re-review of the game’s status by Britain’s Video Appeals Committee.

EA Calls Out Fox News Over Mass Effect Smear

Jeff Brown, VP of Communications for Electronic Arts, has requested that Fox News correct Monday’s disgraceful trashing of Mass Effect.

British Game Biz to Work with Government on Obesity Issue

Should the video game industry have a role in combating the obesity epidemic?

MCV reports that ELSPA, the trade group representing U.K. game publishers, has said it looks forward to working on the issue with the government of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Games Offer Biting Satire on Role of Religion in Politics, War

Here at GamePolitics we’re sensitive to the various religious persuasions (or not) of our readers. I mention that right up front because the pair of mini-games discussed in this article will surely be offensive to some.

New Mexico Considers Tax on Video Games

Video games and TV sets could be subject to a 1% sales tax in New Mexico if a coalition of environmental groups has its way.

Second Lifer Parodies Presidential Candidate Huckabee

A Second Life resident known for biting political commentary has turned his attention to Republican Mike Huckabee.

Presidential Paintball Game Causes Alarm

A web-based game which pits the major presidential candidates against one another in cartoon combat has raised concerns.

Blog Round Up

You can find the up to date news at Gamepolitics.com

Who Are the Tech-Friendly Candidates?

Last week, GamePolitics reported on Yahoo! Games’ recap of where the major presidential candidates stand on video game issues.

Cnet’s Declan McCullagh has now penned an insightful article which outlines how the top candidates view some critical technology issues. While not game-specific, some of these issues will certainly affect gamers in a significant way

One Doom Game Per Child? Classic Shooter Fires Up Controversy

One of our favorite do-good projects, One Laptop Per Child, finds itself in the midst of an unexpected game violence controversy. OLPC’s goal,of course, is to spread the power of personal computing and the Internet to children in poverty-stricken areas.

More Criticism of New Mexico Video Game Tax Legislation

New Mexico Rep. Gail Chasey’s recent proposal to tax video games and TV sets is controversial, to say the least.

HB583, the No Child Left Inside Act, would levy a 1% tax on games and TV’s. It enjoys the backing of environmental group the Sierra Club.

ESRB Releases Rating Breakdown for 2007

In its Winter newsletter, the ESRB has released the breakdown of ratings which it assigned to video games in 2007.

BBC Program: Brainy DS Game Discriminates Against Scottish Accents

Computer and Video Games reports that Nintendo DS title Brain Training (known as Brain Age in the U.S. market) was accused of discriminating against Scottish accents on a U.K. news program this week.

Mainstream Media Shoots Self in Foot with Sensationalized Game Coverage

Watching Fox News’ recent Mass Effect hatchet job, it became immediately apparent that the network knew nothing about the game and was in fact making outrageous claims about non-existent sexual escapades.

Perhaps the most frightening thing is that when confronted with the facts afterward the network didn’t seem to care that it got the story wrong.

Perhaps it should.

Publisher Gamecock Launches Site to Promote Voter Registration & Upcoming Game

E3 2007 convinced us that the crew at upstart publisher Gamecock Media Group are a little bit… different.

By way of reinforcing that idea, Austin-based Gamecock has debuted **#@ The Vote!, a new website which is designed to encourage voter registration as well as promote Gamecock’s upcoming political parody Hail to the Chimp.

Immigrant Detainees’ Wii Play Sparks U.K. Protest

The question comes up from time to time: Should prisoners be allowed access to video games?

A member of the British Parliament and a taxpayer watchdog group say no, and have weighed in against the use of Nintendo’s Wii system by foreign detainees held in a U.K. prison.

Study: Men More Likely to Become Game-Addicted

A Stanford University researcher claims that men are more likely to develop a video game addiction than women.

As reported by Palo Alto’s KCBS-AM.

MIT’s Henry Jenkins: Why the Chinese Fear Game Addiction More than Game Violence

In the United States and Europe, the cultural struggle over the video game medium typically focuses on graphic portrayals of violence and sexuality.

In China, however, concerns over so-called video game addiction are fueling the debate. At least, that’s how MIT professor Henry Jenkins sees it. Writing for his Confessions of an Aca-Fan blog, Jenkins details a recent trip to China, where he attended the International Games and Learning Forum.

Rockstar’s Houser Expects GTA IV Controversy

Rockstar VP Dan Houser expects Grand Theft Auto IV to be controversial when it launches on April 29th.

Could Game Industry Nemesis Lieberman be VP Candidate?

Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman has long been a thorn in the side of the video game industry. The Independent Democrat brought to bear the pressure that led to the formation of the ESA and ESRB in the mid-1990’s.

So how would he deal with video game issues as vice-president?

In Finland: Political Party Wants Games Screened for Violence, Sex

The Finnish Christian Democratic Party (CDP) has issued a call for video games to be screened for violent and sexual content before being made available to the public.

Most Gamers Willing to Forgive Cooper Lawrence

GamePolitics has been running a poll for the last two days in order to determine if the gaming community is willing to forgive (but certainly not forget) Cooper Lawrence’s trashing of Mass Effect.

Yahoo! Games Rates Prez Hopefuls on Video Game Issues

Where do the leading presidential candidates stand on video game issues?

Ben Silverman of Yahoo! Games summarizes the positions of the top three candidates from both parties. Included in the recap is Democrat John Edwards, who announced yesterday that he is dropping out.

ECA’s Hal Halpin Calls on Fox News to Retract Mass Effect Story

Hal Halpin, president of the Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), has weighed in on the Mass Effect episode, calling on Fox News to correct its smear of the popular Xbox 360 game.

Blog Round Up

You can catch all the news at Gamepolitics.com.

Gaming "Cesspool" will Flow on Without Mitt Romney

Among 2008 presidential candidates, Republican Mitt Romney was one of the more strident critics of video games.

It's the Law: ECA Can't Endorse a Prez Candidate - Hal Halpin Explains Why

Clinton? Obama? McCain? Huckabee? Ron Paul?

Differentiating between the major presidential candidates - especially when it comes to video game issues - can be confusing.

For that reason, Hal Halpin, president of the Entertainment Consumers Association, is often asked which candidate the gamer-centric organization endorses for the 2008 presidential race.

Arab World Frets Over Video Games

While the great majority of video game controversies seem to flare up in either the U.S. or Great Britain, concerns over video game content are increasingly being expressed in the Arab world.

ESA Touts Malaysian Pirate Sting

The Entertainment Software Association, which represents the interests of U.S. video game publishers, is crowing about the recent takedown of a game pirating operation in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

ESA Boss Talks Trends at D.I.C.E. Summit

ESA president Michael Gallagher spoke at his first D.I.C.E. Summit this week, and had a message for attendees.

Fears Emerge that British Prime Minister Will Use Byron Report Against Game Biz

As GamePolitics readers will recall, TV self-help psychologist Tanya Byron has been conducting a review of media influences on children at the behest of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

MCV reports this morning that the U.K. game industry now fears that the PM will use the Byron report to wage a political campaign against video games.

Tennessee Senate Resolution Calls for Study of Violent Games, TV

The Tennessee State Senate will consider a measure which seeks a legislative study into the "adverse societal impact" of violent electronic media.

ELSPA Lauds Tory Report on Childhood; Scant Mention of Video Games

Next Generation reports that ELSPA, representing game publishers in the U.K., has welcomed a report on childhood prepared by the British Conservative Party.

Child Psychologist Scoffs at Video Game Violence Arguments

Writing for the SoutheastPsych blog, a child psychologist has expressed disdain for video game violence concerns.

One Million PS3 Owners Folding@Home

Do you fold?

If you've got a PlayStation 3, perhaps you should join a million other PS3 owners who are providing vital assistance to Stanford University's research into protein folding. The efforts could lead to advances in the fight against diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and cystic fibrosis.

Blog Round Up

You can catch all the news at GamePolitics.com:

Jack Thompson, Seeking Killer's Video Game History, Threatens NIU with Lawsuit

The Northern Illinois University campus is still reeling from Thursday's rampage shooting by an apparently deranged 27-year-old man.

But that hasn't stopped anti-game violence activist Jack Thompson from threatening NIU with a lawsuit. Over video games.

New Game Tracks Plight of Immigrants in U.S.

A newly-launched video game hopes to raise awareness about one of today's hot-button political issues - immigration.

Child Advocates See Wii Controller as Violence Training

While the Nintendo Wii has been riding a wave of nonstop positive press since its November, 2006 launch, a physician and a child psychologist in Boston are concerned that the system may train younger players for violence.

British Bank Blocks Blizzard Bucks

World of Warcraft subscribers will have difficulty paying their monthly game fees if their credit card was issued by U.K. bank Halifax.

Illinois Legislator on NIU Rampage: Don't Blame Guns, Blame Video Games

In the wake of Thursday's tragic shooting at Northen Illinois University, a state legislator was quick to defend guns while attempting to shift blame for the rampage to other targets - including video games.

NIU Shooting: Why Are Games Even Under Discussion?

With his Friday appearance on Fox News, Miami attorney Jack Thompson has managed to once again introduce the video game violence issue into the aftermath of a tragedy.

What is a "Murder Simulator," Exactly?

Given Jack Thompson's current screeching that the NIU rampage killer "trained" on violent video games, a recent article on Gaming Steve seems quite timely.

NY Post: "College Killer Crazy for Violent Vid Game"

The New York Post, a daily tabloid, has a story in this morning's edition with this screaming headline:

College Killer Crazy for Violent Vid Game

Game Over for New Mexico Video Game Tax

New Mexico's much-discussed No Child Left Inside Act has been left out in the cold by state legislators.

Utah Wooing Disney Game Biz with Huge Tax Incentive

As state governments begin to recognize the economic potential of the video game sector, tax incentives have become an increasingly common strategy to lure - or retain - game developers.

ECA Issues Statement on NIU Rampage

This just in from Entertainment Consumers Association president Hal Halpin:

We'd like to extend our condolences to the families, friends and classmates of those who were affected in the school shooting at Northern Illinois University.

Separately, we are disgusted, but no longer shocked, to find that anti-game activists are again rushing to conclusions about what drove Stephen Kazmierczak, the clearly disturbed 27-year-old who police say was responsible for this tragedy, to commit such an act.

Blaming video games for the behavior of the mentally-challenged is vile on many levels. And, as Generations X and Y mature, it is extremely likely that just about all of us have played at least one video game at some point in our lives.

Drawing a parallel between games and violence without any substantive proof is sensationalism for its own sake. This is a sad event, made worse by the irresponsible actions of attention-seekers and the media that has given them a platform for their reckless venom.

Jack Thompson Sees Violent Video Game Link in NIU Campus Shooting

Anti-video game violence activist Jack Thompson appeared on (where else?) Fox News this morning and once again tried to draw a link between violent video games and a deadly school shooting. In this case, Thompson related games to yesterday's rampage at Northern Illinois University.

1up Details Game Biz Campaign Contributions

1up has a story detailing the presidential campaign contributions made by a variety of video game industry employees.

Crime Files: Return Those Game Rentals on Time

It goes without saying that if you rent a video game, you should return it - preferably on time.

ECA, Save The Internet Coalition Laud Net Neutrality Bill

For the average gamer, Net Neutrality is - or should be - an important issue.

Blog Round Up

You can catch all the news at GamePolitics.com.

Minuteman Group Targets New Immigration Game

Issue-oriented PC game ICED (I Can End Deportation) continues to attract negative attention from anti-immigration activists.

The well-known Minuteman Civil Defence Corp (MCDC) has now turned it attention to ICED, which was launched on February 18th by human rights organization Breakthrough. In a solicitation on the Special Guests website, a trio of Minuteman officials are offering themselves as potential guests for talk radio programs.

ESA Boss Talks Politics, Prez Candidates, Piracy

GameDaily BIZ serves up a lengthy interview with ESA CEO Mike Gallagher. It's definitely worth a read as the first-year CEO dishes on a number of topics, starting with piracy.

Video Games Linked to Rape in Parliament Debate

Although we can't think of a single commercial video game with an interactive rape scene, British MP - and frequent game critic - Keith Vaz made sexual violence sound like a gaming staple in a debate on Friday.

Hot Coffee Rewind: Famed Dutch Modder Talks to EGM

Aside from the April Fool's jokes (our fave: Lego Halo), the latest issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly offers a massive - and genuine - preview of Grand Theft Auto IV. The highly-anticipated game, of course, is due to launch on April 29th.

Researcher's New Book Cuts Through the Negative Hype About Video Game Violence

Gamers and parents of gamers will likely find Dr. Cheryl Olson's new book reassuring.

What a Guy… Jack Thompson is Ready to Help EA with T2 Takeover Bid

Describing himself as a longtime Take Two shareholder, controversial attorney Jack Thompson has written to Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello (and, naturally, cc'd several media outlets) with an offer to assist EA in its effort to acquire the Grand Theft Auto publisher.

Prof: Game Industry Barbaric, Continually Chooses Violent Themes

A McGill University professor has slammed the video game industry for producing violent games.

Immigration Game Attacked… Publisher Fires Back

In recent months, GamePolitics has been tracking the development of ICED, a serious game designed to publicize the issues faced by immigrants in the United States. The final version launched earlier this month.

Blog Round Up

Of course you can catch all the news at GamesPolitics.com.

BREAKING: Video Game Critic Spitzer Involved in Prostitution Ring

He may be opposed to violent video games like Hitman: Codename 47, but an FBI document alleges that New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) was known as Client 9 to an upscale, international prostitution ring.

Holocaust Education Game for Nintendo DS Won't See U.S. Release

Nintendo told the New York Times that there are no plans for North American distribution of Imagination is the Only Escape, an under-development DS title.

Australian Attorney General Shouted Down Over R18+ Rating Issue

Recently GamePolitics reported on a move to create an R18+ rating for video games in Australia.

RPI Controversy Continues Following Cancellation of Artist's Video Game Exhibit

Last week GamePolitics tracked the story of Wafaa Bilal, an artist whose Virtual Jihadi exhibit at Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute was cut short following protests from some students and alumni, as well as a visit from the FBI.

Concerned About Impact of Video Games, WV May Offer Hunting in School

Legislators in West Virginia are considering a bill that would authorize the training of public school students to hunt.

Is Brutal "Mortal Kombat Murder" Lacking the Mortal Kombat Part?

GamePolitics readers will likely recall the intense media coverage which attended the December slaying of 7-year-old Zoe Garcia.

Canadian Pol: Bully Bad, 3rd-6th Graders Favor Grand Theft Auto

A Canadian legislator has weighed in with support for a teachers' group which is seeking to regulate Rockstar's controversial Bully: Scholarship Edition.

Editorial: Teachers Should Forget Bully Ban

Bully…

It's back and so is the absurd controversy surrounding it.

Jack Thompson: Florida Bar Will Look Like Bombed-out Building (figuratively speaking)

As GamePolitics readers know, controversial Miami attorney Jack Thompson has been involved in a protracted legal struggle with the Florida Bar and the Florida Supreme Court.

British Prime Minister Meets w/Mom of "Manhunt Murder Victim"

As planned, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown met yesterday with Giselle Pakeerah, mother of 14-year-old murder victim Stefan Pakeerah.

RPI Game Exhibit Nixed Over Terrorism Concerns; FBI May Be Involved

On Monday GamePolitics reported on a brewing video game controversy at Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute in Troy, New York.

Blogger Sees Racism in Grand Theft Auto Series

A unnamed blogger who teaches in a Brooklyn public high school sees racial bias in the ultra-popular Grand Theft Auto series - even though he claims to be a fan.

Georgia Legislators Pass Tax Breaks for Video Game & Film Productions

Could Georgia become the latest destination state for video game developers and filmmakers?

Prez Bid Kaput, Huckabee Kicks Back with Rock Band & Lasagna

After bowing out of the Republican presidential race, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee retired to Little Rock where he accepted condolences from President Bush and decompressed by playing Rock Band.

Jack Thompson Fires Back at EA, Says He Has a Client with a T2 Claim

…so by now you've read Electronic Arts stinging dismissal of controversial attorney Jack Thompson's offer to help it acquire Take Two Interactive. We've just received from Thompson this copy of his response to EA.

Ex-Game Rater Dishes the Dirt… ESRB Boss Fires Back

An ex-employee has pulled the curtain back a bit on the enigma that is the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

Journalist: Teacher Group's Bully Bashing Deserves an F

Steve Tilley, who covers games and gadgets for Canada's Sun newspapers, writes that he is disheartened by the Canadian Teachers' Federation targeting of Bully: Scholarship Edition.

iPods - Not Video Games - Causing Crime?

Forget the nonsense that says playing Counter-strike causes shooting rampages or firing up Bully leads to dishing out swirlies. When it comes to pop culture, iPods may be the real cause of crime.

Wild Blue Yonder: US Air Force Buying 300 PS3's for Research

The USAF has begun a search for 300 PlayStation 3 systems, according to GameDaily. In fact, the Air Force has spec'ed out a specific model - the 40GB PS3.

EA Wants No Help From Jack Thompson in T2 Takeover Bid

GamePolitics readers will recall last week's report detailing Miami attorney Jack Thompson's generous offer to assist Electronic Arts in its bid to acquire Grand Theft Auto publisher Take Two Interactive.

Jack Thompson Sues Florida Bar (yet again)

Controversial Miami attorney Jack Thompson has filed a new federal lawsuit against the Florida Bar. It's at least his fourth such case since late 2006. To tell you the truth, we've lost count.

British Prime Minister to Meet with Mother of "Manhunt Murder Victim"

When 14-year-old Stefan Pakeerah was brutally murdered in 2004, there were claims that his killer, 17-year-old Warren LeBlanc, was inspired to commit the crime by playing the original Manhunt video game.

Why is National Institute on Media & Family Jumping into the File Sharing Debate?

In an unusual move, the National Institute on Media & the Family issued a newsletter alert last Thursday under the heading, "Does your teen understand illegal downloading?"

Rampage Shooters, Video Games & Age

Did you notice that no one raised the issue of video games following Monday's tragic shooting spree at a Wendy's in West Palm Beach, Florida?

That's likely because the shooter, Alburn Edward Blake, was a 60-year-old man.

ECA Builds Coalition on Behalf of Gamers

The Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA) has announced new strategic partnerships with a variety of corporations, non-profits and coalitions that want to lend their support to the ECA and its gamer members.

Comcast Packs Net Neutrality Hearing with Paid Ringers

Is Net Neutrality an important issue for gamers?

You bet.

Mainstream Media Hypocrisy? Bully Blasted, But Buy an Airsoft Gun

With a new round of controversy brewing over today's release of Bully: Scholarship Edition, we happened across a cautionary story about the game on the website of Ontario radio station CD98.9.

Bully Controversy Resurrected with Release of Scholarship Edition

An international coalition of teachers is targeting today's launch of Bully: Scholarship Edition for the Xbox 360 and Wii.

College Republicans Protest Iraqi Artist's Jihad Game Mod

An Iraqi video artist's  "Virtual Jihadi" exhibit is stirring controversy at the Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute campus in Troy, New York.