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Video Game Voters Network Passes 150,000 Activists Mark
Grassroots Network Reaches Milestone in Political Engagement
June 9, 2008 – Washington, DC – The Video Game Voters Network (VGVN), a coalition of voting-aged gamers whose purpose is to educate and mobilize the gamer community in political activities, enrolled over 150,000 members the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today. VGVN members defend their choice of entertainment from unnecessary government regulation by reaching out to elected officials and making their voices heard.
“VGVN members should be proud of their robust activity in support of computer and video games. These dedicated activists are crucial in efforts to fight back state government attempts to regulate computer and video games,” said Michael D. Gallagher, CEO of the ESA, which represents U.S. computer and video game publishers. “With each political challenge, gamers stepped up and made their voices heard by elected officials. We know that from California to New York and state capitols in between, members of the VGVN directly contacted their representatives and expressed their opinions.”
Gallagher went on to say, “But, we can’t and won’t let up. As Americans go to the polls this fall, the gaming community is paying attention and will actively engage in the political process.”
The VGVN supports legislative efforts to improve the environment for the computer and video game industry as well as legislators who help ensure games are treated the same as movies, music, books, and other Constitutionally-protected media. Since its creation in 2006, VGVN members sent hundreds of thousands of communications to elected officials in support of equal protection under the First Amendment for the computer and video games they enjoy. Recently, the organization scored a key victory in Massachusetts, where the legislature tabled a measure that would have criminalized the sale of certain video games.
“Politicians who think easy political points can be scored at the First Amendment’s expense need to know that such efforts will be aggressively opposed by the gamer community,” said Gallagher. “VGVN members believe that parental education, not government regulation, is the way to ensure our children only have access to age-appropriate games.”
The VGVN enables gamers to stay updated on game industry issues, register to vote, and to take action by contacting federal, state, and local officials to express their views. The organization will expand its efforts this fall by having a presence on college campuses and encouraging additional voter engagement by the gaming community.
For more information on the Video Game Voters Network and its grassroots mobilization efforts, please visit www.VideoGameVoters.org.
The ESA is the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. The ESA offers services to interactive entertainment software publishers including a global anti-piracy program, owning the E3 Media & Business Summit, business and consumer research, federal and state government relations, First Amendment and intellectual property protection efforts. For more information, please visit www.theESA.com.
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