Where Is The Gamer Advocacy?

By: Stephen Crane (Photo: Flickr user Adriano Aurelio Araujo)

Up on that hill here in D.C. there is one group that was seemingly the legal champion of video games. The Entertainment Software Association, otherwise known as the ESA has been crucial in supporting the games industry in legal battles here in the US, but unfortunately it is becoming apparent that while fantastic for the industry in general, the ESA doesn't represent gamers as customers that well. The ESA was named in a list of corporations in favor of stricter coproration control over intellectual property and tighter enforcement against piracy at the risk of the internet as we know it. When a video game advocacy group appears to support legislation so anti-consumer, where can gamers turn to find advocates for them?

Enter the Entertainment Consumers Association. The ECA is a non-profit organization whose membership consists of gamers searching for a collective voice and advocacy in their favor. Its goal is to give us as gamers and video game consumers a way to reach our local politicians and air our concerns. It's almost a counter point to trade organizations like the ESA, IGDA, and the EMA by providing a user focused group. They are a 501(c)(4) charity organization which means while donations are not tax-exempt, their main goal is not profit, but actually fulfilling the best interest of the gamers. That's also exactly why they have come out against the SOPA/PROTECT IP acts.

In times when the best interests of the video game industry appear to be clashing with the best interests of the consumers of the game industry, gamers need to step up and voice their concerns. Resources like the ECA are essential to helping gamers affect public policy as it is being made.

The ECA is also more than an advocacy resource. It is an organization dedicated to bringing gamers together with local chapters all over the United States and a few in Canada. It has a few membership benefits including discounts from Gamefly, Origin, Xbox Live and more. Membership costs only $19.99 and $1.00 for students. They also provide the tools for gamers to get in contact with their representatives to discuss the issues. For those who are curious about the politics or culture of, or even finding jobs in the industry, the ECA is also there with their specific pages.

If you're a gamer, especially one who is in college, take the time to get involved in the ECA and show your support for those who are supporting you. The organization isn't perfect, of course, but it is exactly the right direction we should be going as gamers. Gaming is our hobby and for many of us, a significant part of our lives. We need to make sure our interests as consumers and as gamers are kept in the minds of those making our policies, while engaging the gamer culture to expand itself and pull resources together to accomplish mutual goals.

You can join here.

[FULL DISCOLSURE: Stephen Crane is currently a dues-paying member of the ECA (Joined 11/28/2011). The Entertainment Consumers Association does have have an affiliate program, but The Armed Gamer and associated properties are not involved and thus receive any monetary compensation for writing this article or for getting readers to join.]

Comments

[olanmills]

I just want to point out that no one, including the ESA itself, has ever claimed that the ESA was a gamer/consumer advocacy group.

The ESA represents the game industry, the companies. That is its stated goal. Its members are all gaming-related companies.

This article is wierd. It's just a sales pitch for ECA membership.

BTW, I actually am an ECA member too.

[Armed Gamer]

Oh, I fully recognize that the ESA is simply doing exactly what it is supposed to do: advocate on the side of the game industry. It's just that up until recently the ESA's goals were for the most part aligned with the consumer's goals. Considering the that that it's the most recognizable video game advocacy group out there, when they align against gamers it can sometimes feel a bit disempowering when the high profile group you previously supported seems to be against you.

The ESA's website is full of consumer friendly and focused information. In many ways their defense of the video game industry was a defense of the video game consumer. We see their presence every day with the ESRB as well as many other laws in regards to video games.

I didn't want to make this quite a sales pitch for the ECA, but rather an informative piece so gamers know who actually is speaking for them. The ECA certainly isn't quite as high profile as the ESA, and I feel more consumers need to be made aware that a consumer-based organization exists. I feel gamers need to know they have a voice and just need to find a place where it can be heard.

[Ivan / Atrayo]

I'm also an ECA member now for 3 years time.

One thing to take into account along the lines of your statement that they aren't perfect. ECA has a laser focus only on government policy issues in regards to gaming and gamers. Everything else be it consumer protection from bad actors be it game publishers and game developers. Then its still very much a frontier of the Wild West like in the pre-ECA days. I guess the ECA wants to play nice (pun intended) with the ESA that represents game publishers. If a horrid MMO or other defective game goes retail catching untold suffering to consumers. I'll bet you the ECA will be a paper tiger talking big and doing very little. Since its focus is purely on National and State policy in the U.S., much less Canada.

[Armed Gamer]

Ivan, thanks for the insight! It does make sense. I would be reluctant to go full scale against the ESA myself.