Hal Halpin Rumors Swirl Around Lowenstein Departure
Hal Halpin Rumors Swirl Around Lowenstein Departure
December 18, 2006
Contrary to rumors, outgoing Entertainment Software Association (ESA) boss Doug Lowenstein won't be heading to the newly-launched Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA).Nor has ECA founder Hal Halpin been approached about replacing Lowenstein at the ESA, which represents video game publishers.
That's the word from Halpin, who told GamePolitics last night that he has been contacted about such rumors by a number of reporters since the Lowenstein news broke last week. Of the ESA vacancy, Halpin said:
My preference would be to have a real heavy hitter in the job - someone with a legal background, who knows their way around D.C. but isn't necessarily a part of it. The federal-level legislation is significantly less threatening to the category than is state-level action, so being engrained in the politics on The Hill need not be a priority. Having the coalition partners (EMA, IGDA, ECA) involved in the search, too, would be prudent.
Of the other groups mentioned by Halpin, the Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA) represents video game retailers, while the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) represents those who create the games.
While Halpin has the right pedigree for the ESA's top job, he's wrapped up in the ECA startup at the moment. The new organization for game consumers will officially begin operations sometime next month.
Meanwhile, GameSpot has reported that Lowenstein will assume a job similar to the one he is leaving with a Washington, D.C. trade organization representing investment firms.
By the way, don't forget to vote in GP's who will replace Doug Lowenstein? poll.
Full Disclosure Dept: We should point out that GamePolitics is an ECA partner.
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Posted 03/19/10 at 06:42pm
Valdearg: Sage advice, Zip. Sage advice.
Valdearg: Sage advice, Zip. Sage advice.
Posted 03/19/10 at 06:37pm
ZippyDSMlee: Don;t talk to MS/LIve users that you do not know....is jsut easier that way...
ZippyDSMlee: Don;t talk to MS/LIve users that you do not know....is jsut easier that way...
Posted 03/19/10 at 06:14pm
Flamespeak: Didm't steal anything or other people not knowing what the heck Tribes was but felt inclined to tell me it wasn't Halo.
Flamespeak: Didm't steal anything or other people not knowing what the heck Tribes was but felt inclined to tell me it wasn't Halo.
Posted 03/19/10 at 06:13pm
Flamespeak: stealing 'new' game ideas from Tribes while marketing them as something 'new and shiny'." I was blasted by people claiming Halo
Flamespeak: stealing 'new' game ideas from Tribes while marketing them as something 'new and shiny'." I was blasted by people claiming Halo
Posted 03/19/10 at 06:12pm
Flamespeak: I told some Halo fans that 'with the inclusion of jet packs in Reach, Halo has successfully completed its mission of totally
Flamespeak: I told some Halo fans that 'with the inclusion of jet packs in Reach, Halo has successfully completed its mission of totally
Posted 03/19/10 at 05:39pm
Valdearg: @JDKJ: Well, it's not like you were very subtle, there..
Valdearg: @JDKJ: Well, it's not like you were very subtle, there..
Posted 03/19/10 at 05:18pm
JDKJ: @Val": You got me there. That one was pure troll. And posted in memory of DarkSaber, who hasn't been around much, lately.
JDKJ: @Val": You got me there. That one was pure troll. And posted in memory of DarkSaber, who hasn't been around much, lately.
Posted 03/19/10 at 02:36pm
Andrew Eisen: JDKJ - Probably the widow/widower.
Andrew Eisen: JDKJ - Probably the widow/widower.
Posted 03/19/10 at 02:33pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:who gives a shit about you :P
ZippyDSMlee: JD:who gives a shit about you :P
Posted 03/19/10 at 02:33pm
Valdearg: Lol.. Wow, JDKJ. Troll much?
Valdearg: Lol.. Wow, JDKJ. Troll much?
Posted 03/19/10 at 02:27pm
JDKJ: Who gives a rat's ass about the children of fallen soldiers?
JDKJ: Who gives a rat's ass about the children of fallen soldiers?
Posted 03/19/10 at 02:16pm
Andrew Eisen: I completely agree.
Andrew Eisen: I completely agree.
Posted 03/19/10 at 02:15pm
Valdearg: If they really wanted to help the troops, they should donate their money to a legitimate charity with a good cash in/out ratio.
Valdearg: If they really wanted to help the troops, they should donate their money to a legitimate charity with a good cash in/out ratio.
Posted 03/19/10 at 02:14pm
Valdearg: It's just offensive that people who attend these things think they are helping the troops, when in reality, Hannity is using MOST of the money to live large in the cities he travels to. He could at least scale down his accommodations..
Valdearg: It's just offensive that people who attend these things think they are helping the troops, when in reality, Hannity is using MOST of the money to live large in the cities he travels to. He could at least scale down his accommodations..
Posted 03/19/10 at 02:13pm
Andrew Eisen: Val - But they did get something and that's better than nothing. Also, the Freedom Concert site is clear that expenses are subtracted from the donated amount so while it’s not fraud (from what little I’ve seen) it is pretty crummy.
Andrew Eisen: Val - But they did get something and that's better than nothing. Also, the Freedom Concert site is clear that expenses are subtracted from the donated amount so while it’s not fraud (from what little I’ve seen) it is pretty crummy.
Posted 03/19/10 at 02:12pm
ZippyDSMlee: fou fundrasier, from a fou consertive, who would have thought :P.
ZippyDSMlee: fou fundrasier, from a fou consertive, who would have thought :P.
Posted 03/19/10 at 02:11pm
Valdearg: The problem, Zip, is that barely ANY of the proceeds are going to the children. It's all going so hannity can line his own pockets and enjoy a life of luxury. He is a grade A Piece of Human Crap.
Valdearg: The problem, Zip, is that barely ANY of the proceeds are going to the children. It's all going so hannity can line his own pockets and enjoy a life of luxury. He is a grade A Piece of Human Crap.
Posted 03/19/10 at 02:09pm
ZippyDSMlee: Hanaity cn afford to pay for it himself so all proceeds go to the childernz or whatever. .....
ZippyDSMlee: Hanaity cn afford to pay for it himself so all proceeds go to the childernz or whatever. .....
Posted 03/19/10 at 02:09pm
ZippyDSMlee: But anyway you want to pad your rep with a funrasier get 80% to the people its suppose to go to....
ZippyDSMlee: But anyway you want to pad your rep with a funrasier get 80% to the people its suppose to go to....
Posted 03/19/10 at 02:03pm
ZippyDSMlee: VLag:thats ture but alot of cop and fireman and other thigns are under 10% to what they give to what they are raising money for
ZippyDSMlee: VLag:thats ture but alot of cop and fireman and other thigns are under 10% to what they give to what they are raising money for
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Comments
I definitely share your concerns there. There's a fine line between a strong leader who defends his people, and a strong leader who defends his people AND rules them with an iron fist.
Anyways, all jokesaside, while I share most everyone's opinion that the next ESA president should be a bit more on the proactive side (who would say no to a cross-country tour, reminding state legislators how much support, not to mention money, they'd lose supporting a dead-end anti-VG bill?) it wouldn't take much for someone in that position to go to the dark side, and like battlechicken mentioned, it'd be the "Your Mom"/Kotaku debacle all over again, but on a grander scale.
It's hard to say. Playing defensively has worked for the ESA so far, but all it takes is one nutcase judge giving the thumbs-up to a law for the whole thing to fall apart. And going too aggresively would put them in the same light as the previously-mentioned RIAA, and the MPAA. Whoever the new prez is, he's got a bit of a tightrope to walk here. He's probably not going to please everyone, but as long as he does his damnedest to keep me from being a fugitive from justice because I play GTA every now and again, he'll have my thumbs-up.
As far as a replacment ,I think that hal has it right, but whoever they get has to be aggressive, has to make use of the legal system and turn it to our advantage. No more lies, no more slander. You don't tell the story straight, we see you in court. Maybe then the news, the politicans ,and jack thompson will shut there mouth
I might be loathe to advocate such legal tactics, but enough is enough. They aren't learning, they aren't changing, it's time we start making them pay attention, and the best way to do that is to make it costly for them to lie.
Then, maybe then, we can start to change things.
How dare you Mentally Mastrabating Media Murderers attempt to establish yourself as a country.
We're still after you, Farcry developers! And this time....Your L337 h4x will be no use!
-Germanswatguy,Sergeant Major of the Anti Pixelante Attack Squad(A.P.A.S)
The old pics made you look like Terry Funk.
Now, you look like you're ready to don an X-Men uniform and go fight the forces of evil.
Somebody's been working out. No, really, compared to the old photos, you look like you've gotten younger.
nightwng2000
NW2K Software
Well. I personally would like to say that I will miss the kind and gentle Lowenstein; even with his unprecedented kindness to puppies and fondness for church bake sales. His departure could very well mark the end of the lovable ESA, with it's rainbows and rivers of chocolate... ushering in a dark age... an age of preventative litigation.
The thing that I love most about Lowenstein's ESA is the fact that it defends itself, as opposed to searching for fights. I see a distinct difference between the two, and I find the first admirable, and the second morally reprehensible when referring to an industry group. It is my opinion that if the new head of the ESA decides to 'be more proactive', it is merely a matter of time before the ESA 'proactively' mirrors the RIAA in action and attitude. (A good example is the 'your mom is E for everybody' T-shirt reaction, and the ESA's threatening action on kotaku for posting an article about it)
Being aggressive will just mean there is always another lawsuit to file.. Another fight to pick. When the big threats are gone -- and a day *will* come where the critical battles will have been fought and won -- the icy legal glare of the heartless ESA will fall on you and me.
I personally would rather have the industry tolerate a little misinformation and slander from ignorant pols; only fighting the battles that really matter, than aggressively enforcing it's ideals... as the logical step after all these baseless government lawsuits taper off is an endless string of baseless ESA lawsuits.
And yes, this is me, not a campaigning spambot. You may email me for confirmation if you wish.
But yeah, Lowenstein should've been a lot more rabid. If you have to talk down two unconstitutional bills, and they fire three more at you, there comes a point where you have to say "I have had it with these motherfucking bills in this motherfucking country". Sure, you can sit back and think "meh, it's not going through anyway", but that doesn't hasten the realization that such laws are completely pointless.