Rethos.com - theeca's News Feed

Blog Round Up

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:30:28 -0400

You can catch all the news at GamePolitics.com.

Resident Evil 5 Race Controversy Resurfaces

While the issue of race in the trailer for the upcoming Resident Evil 5 has received GamePolitics.com.

Army Recruitment Going Interactive

Brand Week reports th...

Blog Round Up

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:19:35 -0400

You can catch all the news at GamePolitics.com.

The Onion Riffs on WoW

WoW is popular fodder for satirists these days. This time, it's The Onion with World of World of Warcraft...

GamePolitics.com.

Video Game Voters Network Claims 150,000 Members

The Entertainment Software Association, the trade group which represents the interests of US video game publishers, issued a press release today claiming that enrollment in its GamePolitics.com

Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers

Boston's WHDH-7 has a report on a retail sting in which local video game shops fare...

Blog Round Up

Fri, 09 May 2008 17:26:40 -0400

You can catch all the news at GamePolitics.com.

Exclusive GP Interview: Congressman Talks Video Game Ratings, Video Game Rape, The Daily Show

An exclusiv...

Blog Round Up

Mon, 05 May 2008 20:48:26 -0400

You can catch all the news at GamePolitics.com.

Tivo Alert: Grand Theft Childhood Authors on Glenn Beck Tonight

Last week we were treated to GamePolitics.com

Variety Game Writer Troubled by "Exclusive" Reviews (including GTA IV's)

Ben Fritz, who writes ECA) has, this morning, launched a new web-based initiative in beta.

Gamers for Net Neutrality is a joint undertaking of the ECA, SavetheInternet.com and Games for Change. An ECA press release reports that th...

Blog Round Up

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:48:13 -0400

You can catch all the news at GamePolitics.com

The Bar Trial of Jack Thompson (Part 2): Judge Who Removed Thompson From Alabama GTA Case Testifies

This is the second part of an investigative series that Miami attorney...

Massachusetts Will Consider Video Game Legislation This Week

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:14:22 -0400

The Massachusetts legislature will hold a hearing on Tuesday to consider House Bill 1423, a video game measure introduced last year but not acted upon.

In its current form the bill closely resembles the Jack Thompson-authored Louisiana video game law, which was ruled unconstitutional by a U.S. District Court judge in 2006 (see: Judge Trashes Louisiana Govt. ...

ESA Shutting Down NYC Office, Consolidating Operations to D.C.

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:16:03 -0400

GamePolitics has learned that the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which represents the interests of U.S. video game publishers, is consolidating operations by shutting down its New York office.

Although the ESA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., it has long maintained a New York office which it shares with the ESRB, the video game industry’s content rating organization. The ESRB will remain up and running at the New York location.

ESA New York was headed by Senior VP and General Counsel Gail Markels, a respected, former Broo...

Blog Round Up

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:01:42 -0400

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.

Excellent post on the Presidential Election and Video Games.

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:00:46 -0400

Nic Kelman at Giant Realm has written an excellent post on the upcoming presidential elections and video games and has some good food for thought. You can read the article at, http://www.giantrealm.com/gaming/hillary-could-use-a-good-game.

Blog Round Up

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:56:38 -0500

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...

ECA Launches First Action Pages

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:36:39 -0500

Today, ECA’s first two action campaigns went live (www.theeca.com). These new campaigns will allow you to weigh in on proposed anti-gamer legislation, communicate with the media and effect change in our society.

Blog Round Up

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:31:56 -0500

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 lawsui...

SavetheInternet.com Cheers Internet Freedom Preservation Act

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:50:34 -0500

http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=336

SavetheInternet.com Cheers Internet Freedom Preservation Act

House bill would protect Net Neutrality, spur public discussion of Internet issues

WASHINGTON — Members of the SavetheInternet.com Coalition voiced strong support for the bipartisan “Internet Freedom Preservation Act 2008” expected to be introduced today by Reps. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Chip Pickering (R-Miss.). This landmark bill would protect Net N...

PBS's "Front and Center" takes on the issue of video game violence

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:25:36 -0500

PBS's "Front and Center" takes on the issue of video game violence. Guests include:

Dr. Roger Desmond is a Professor, School of Communications, University of Hartford; He has written extensively on the media and children.

Hal Halpin, President of the Entertainment Consumers Association, an advocacy organization for consumers of interactive entertainment.

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.

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 candida...

For those still undecided voters.

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:15:35 -0500

WQAD has put together this 14 question survey to help voters match their stances on issues with the remaining Presidential candidates. If you still are undecided and want to see which candidate is closest to your stances take a couple of minutes to find out, http://www.wqad.com/Global/link.asp?L=259460.
Super Tuesday is tomorrow, February 5, when 24 states will hold primaries and caucuses to make their choices for President known. Make sure to make your voice heard, we encourage you to go out and vote.

ECAâ€™s Hal Halpin Calls on Fox News to Retract Mass Effect Story

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:16:34 -0500

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.

In a letter issued this afternoon to Fox Newsâ€™ Teri Van Horn, producer of last Mondayâ€™s offensive Live Desk segment, Halpin wrote:

On behalf of the [ECA], the national non-profit organization representing American video game consumers, I urge you to correct and repudiate the misstatements leveled by Fox Newsâ€™ Live Desk regarding the story and character interactions in Mas...



Blog Round Up
Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:07:39 -0500
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 too...


CES 2008, germ warfare, and the little booth that could...GypsyFly PMSâ€™s 1up Blog
Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:58:49 -0500
Hey what’s up everyone? My name is Daniela Lao, but everyone just calls me Gypsyfly. I’m one of the leaders of the largest all female video game teams in the world called PMS Clan (Pandora’s Mighty Soldiers). I’m also a proud member of the ECA. The ECA (
Entertainment Consumers Association) is basically a non profit advocacy organization that started in 2006 for gamers. I joined ECA because I spend a lot of money on games-a lot of money. I also want politics kep...


Blog Round Up
Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:23:43 -0500
Here’s the week in news provided by Gamepolitics.com.
gi.biz: Brit PMâ€™s Stab at Video Games is Dirty Politics
Last week GamePolitics reported that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown blamed video games – at least in ...


Housekeeping: Forum Server Move
Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:53:23 -0500
The fabulous GamePolitics Forums have moved onto the main site of the Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA).


	The move has been planned for some time and, save for the color change, should be quite seamless to users. All existing forum data (user names, post counts, etc.) has been ported over to the new server.


	ECA president Hal Halpin commented on the forum move:


	We are really excited about all of the new modules and other applications that are coming online. One of the existing resources is the GamePoliticsForums, which...


Are you registered to vote?
Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:00:14 -0500
With the Presidential primary season upon us and registration closing in many states, MoveOn.org and Catalist have provided this website where you can check to see if you’re registered to vote.  After which you can send a message to your friends encouraging them to check their status.  If you’re not registered  to vote you can do so through this Rock the Vote tool.
 GamePolitics.com.

Conservative Site Charges â€œExplicitly Graphic Sexual Intercourseâ€ 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 â€œexplicitly graphic sexual intercourse.â€

NBC, Microsoft, AT&T, and several digital filtering companies said â€œthe time was right to start filtering copyrighted content at the network level.â€



	See the NYTimes blog for the full story and chilling news on your ability to post and access unfiltered information online.


CNET Posts Their Presidential Technology Questionnaire Responses
Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:13:15 -0500
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


Part II of Omaha Stern
Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:16:21 -0500
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.


Catch ECA President Hal Halpin on the iGame Radio Podcast
Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:29:34 -0500
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 itâ€™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 whatâ€™s currently being worked on.  Halâ€™s interview starts about half way through the podcast.


Members Update
Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:27:28 -0500
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, â€œhow much time do you have?â€ 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 we...


Blog Round Up
Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:51:34 -0500
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 ...


Blog Round Up for December 5, 2007
Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:19:36 -0500
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

GameCulture Launches
Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:53:44 -0500
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:


	â€œWe couldnâ€™t be more excited to introduce GameCulture, or more blessed to have Aaron heading it up. Itâ€™s absolutely core to our [ECA] mission that we redefine the label â€˜gamerâ€™ and in doing so reverse the negative stereotypes which anti-games legislators and anti-gamer adv...


Blog Round Up for December 4, 2007
Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:07:15 -0500

Check out the latest headlines from GamePolitics:

	
Senators on Hand as NIMF Report Card Zings Game Biz for â€œOminous Backslideâ€


	Dr. David Walsh of the National Institute on Media & the Family issued his 12th Annual Video Game Report Card this m...


Republican YouTube Debate - Will Gamers' Questions Make The Cut?
Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:09:10 -0500
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 th...


Video gamers are burning with questions for Republican presidential candidates - but will they get to ask them?
Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:07:39 -0500
Jesse Vettersâ€™ submitted a question about video game to CNN for the Republican Debate, which inspired GamePolitics.comâ€™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 question...