May 14, 2007
When it comes to video games, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino presents a bit of a quandary.In recent months he has backed video game legislation; supported a campaign to remove M-rated game ads from mass transit vehicles; and billed Sony for the cost of police officers who responded to a disturbance during the PS3 launch.
Despite his track record, the Boston Globe reports that Menino hosted a recent conference at Northeastern University to explore ways in which game development companies could be encouraged to set up shop in Massachusetts. Said Menino:
We want to help these young people and entrepreneurs understand that we're a digital-friendly city. My administration is dedicated to helping creative industries flourish."
Already in the Boston area are developers such as Turbine (Asheron's Call, Lord of the Rings Online), Harmonix (Guitar Hero series), Blue Fang Games (Zoo Tycoon), and Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's startup 38 Studios.
Comments
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The perfect candidate. For what you can understand.. it is just long enough to meet the needs of this country's 1 minute political slogan, audio clip oriented electorate.
but at least Harmonix is awesome.
Perfect!
He who talks sh**, will eventually find need to kiss a**.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
I think it means I need more sleep.
Anyways, Menino, you want to find ways to get more ways to get devs into your city? Start by not being an overreactive douche. Believe me, it helps.
Everyone loves a flip-flopper.
It wasn't a very good conference. The morning was talks about Boston from different prospectives. The afternoon had pannel talks. It seemed each one was straying and less relevent to the problems to starting a Business.
Nothing new was proposed from any party the conference. The City had no plan, but talked about what they were doing already. Heck the VC's on their pannel talked about "going to Asia". The group pannel I was in was dominated with the issue that most schools don't have a clue what the industry needs and most companies haven't planned for (or can budget) training or interns.
The only good thing about the conference was that it was a good place to network.
Flip-flopper.
Just not to Hasbro's.
So he's a politician, and a lousy one.
He has to persecute us becuase it will get him reelected. On the other hand, he wants our money.
It's nothing personal. It's just business.
I think it means your first instinct was correct. Considering his track record of over reactions and desire to ban any and everything, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he would sent SWAT teams in to raid developers a la Crytek.