ESA Names Michael Gallagher to Top Job

ESA Names Michael Gallagher to Top Job

May 17, 2007
The Entertainment Software Association has a new boss.

An overnight press release from the ESA, which represents leading video game publishers, brought news that Michael D. Gallagher will take the reins later this month. He replaces Doug Lowenstein, who helped found the organization in 1994 and left earlier this year.

Gallagher is a former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications & Information and served as chief telecommunications and policy advisor to the Bush Administration.

Said Microsoft exec Robbie Bach, who chairs the ESA Board of Directors:
Mike's outstanding technology, policy, and government relations experience makes him a strong fit for the ESA, where issues like intellectual property, self-regulation, and industry social and economic contributions are at the forefront of the agenda.

Jerry Berman, president of the Center for Democracy and Technology, added:
Mike Gallagher is an experienced Washington hand - he understands the intersection of technology and policy and we look forward to working with him and the ESA to pursue our shared goals of keeping kids safe, empowering and educating parents, and protecting the First Amendment.

Gallagher weighed in with his thoughts on the new job:
It is a privilege to represent the dynamic entertainment software industry. With over two-thirds of American heads of households playing video games, and the tremendous opportunities available to the industry on every device -- from consoles and PCs to handhelds and broadband enabled cell phones -- the business is poised for tremendous growth. I look forward to working with federal and state leaders to foster an environment where the industry and its consumers can thrive.
Posted in

Comments

Submitted by Soldatlouis - May 19, 2007 at 5:03 am -0500
The good thing (the very good thing) is that he has an experience in policy, technology and government relations.

The bad thing is... well, it's not such a "bad" thing, but in fact, I wish he could also have been involved in video games in the past. OK, Doug Lowenstein didn't come from video game industry either and he did a nice job anyway. But I would like to see, one day, video game publishers represented and defended by one of them.

For the moment, let's wait and see what Mr. Gallagher will do.
Submitted by ferrarimanf355 - May 17, 2007 at 7:58 pm -0500
I'm with everyone here. If Mr. Gallagher can quickly distance the video game industry from that moron in Austrailia, he'll be getting off to a great start.

Oh, and GP, if you sign on to Xbox Live and see a friend request from tifosiotaku, that's me! Add me! :-)
Submitted by Verbinator - May 17, 2007 at 2:19 pm -0500
Congrats to Mr. Gallagher. Go out and kick some butt ... but start by letting the news media know the difference between a jerk in Australia and the professional game making industry.

We game-folk can tell the difference between the writings of a current events blogger and the output commercial news organizations. Be nice if they could tell the difference about us too.
Submitted by Archgabe - May 17, 2007 at 12:44 pm -0500
I would like... I dunno... Me in the hotseat.

Now hear me out. I know ehough to make a proper legal arguement. I know what the first amendment says. But that is not the problem that the ESA had in the past. The problem was that they would not act when the clearly needed to. They did nothing to educate and call politicians and groups which will remain nameless (because I don't know the names of all of them but rest assured that most of them had "Family" in their name) on their ignorance and blatant misinformation. On the very rare ocation that they did, they did nothing to PR the right information into mass media. Because of this attitude where the only thing the ESA ever did was to assist with court cases. What is needed is someone who will be "loud" and rebute any lie.

I sure hope this guy can deliver.
Submitted by BlueWolf72 - May 17, 2007 at 11:48 am -0500
If it wasnt this guy who did you want to be in the hot seat for the job?
Submitted by Gameboy - May 17, 2007 at 11:17 am -0500
I only hope the ESA knows what they are doing. I'm a little cautious, but have little reason to doubt he'll do fine. If this guy is going to take the job seriously, we'll probably be reading about his remarks on the V-Tech Rampage fiasco tomorrow. Until he actually starts working though, I'll hold my judgement.
Submitted by Jabrwock - May 17, 2007 at 9:45 am -0500
"chief technology advisor to President George W. Bush."

Hopefully he wasn't behind those assenine claims that 90% of movies are pirated by camcorder in Montreal...
Submitted by Daniel Schrager - May 17, 2007 at 9:56 am -0500
Only time will tell for Mr. Gallagher.

My predictions? He'll be strong in defending the rights and freedoms of the industry while hyping up and supporting stricter rating/retail policies.

Who knows if it will be a good or bad thing, I wouldn't mind games like GTA, Gears or even Halo staying out of the hands of those under 18. My greatest hope would be to tighten ratings and retail policy while championing the right of devs to make the games they wish.

Then again, I think we're all rather open to disaster, at this point.
Submitted by Zach - May 17, 2007 at 8:44 am -0500
Hopefully this guy will have the balls to stand up and beat down the rampant lies and other bullshit that opponents of the industry love to throw our way. Lowenstein didn't even have to the balls to sue Thompson for blatant slander.
Submitted by Korrd - May 17, 2007 at 8:46 am -0500
He comes in at an interesting time. I imagine it'll take a while for him to get situated, but I'd be immeasurably impressed if he tackled the V-Tech Rampage situation straight away.

Silence was the failure of his predecessor (and the industry as a whole). I guess we'll see if anything changes...
Submitted by Daniel - May 17, 2007 at 8:52 am -0500
A member of the Bush Administration. Oh crap.
Submitted by brokenscope - May 17, 2007 at 9:13 am -0500
Well I guess we did okay, only 2 posts so far felt the need to jump on the bush thing.
Submitted by ~the1jeffy - May 17, 2007 at 7:36 am -0500
Press release link?
Submitted by Black Manta - May 17, 2007 at 6:58 am -0500
Everything sounded fine up until the point where it said, "chief telecommunications and policy advisor to the Bush Administration." That set off alarm bells in my head. Wasn't Kevin Martin of the FCC also a Bush appointee? And look where that's gotten us.
Submitted by E. Zachary Knight - May 17, 2007 at 6:49 am -0500
@ Joe:

I hope they will speak up soon and blast that NY politician who asked for the boycott.

I also hope that this guy will be out there in the first days anytime we need defended and all other times is engaged in PR work to help other understand and accept the video game industry.
Submitted by hayabusa75 - May 17, 2007 at 5:52 am -0500
Well...this could be very interesting. An leader who had his roots in the tech side of the federal government has the potential to garner more credibility from the other side...this actually has me kind of hopeful. Can't wait to see what he has in store for us!
Submitted by LightWarrior - May 17, 2007 at 5:55 am -0500
...hitler? o.O
Submitted by LightWarrior - May 17, 2007 at 5:57 am -0500
Sorry I commented on the wrong new topic.
Submitted by Joe_Snow - May 17, 2007 at 6:20 am -0500
As Tycho says, My default policy is "Cautious Optimism." While I hope this guy can do the job, he sounds a little too much like a politician.

Lets see how he does with the V-Tech Rampage issue.

GamePolitics ShoutBox

Posted 11/20/09 at 05:42pm
ZippyDSMlee: oh may the cute stab out your eyes, http://www.youtube.com/user/simonscat
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:17pm
JDKJ: O.K. Suit yourself. But when you're wearing Ray-Bans, sitting on a curb with a white cane and a cup of pencils, and doing Stevie Wonder impersonations, don't say I didn't warn you.
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:10pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No thank you I don;t want your cooties...or STDs...
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:01pm
JDKJ: Me. I'm rehearsing the role just in case I do get dubbed Zippy The Soecnda.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:59pm
DarkSaber: Wait, is that meant to be Zippy, me or you?
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:49pm
JDKJ: I cud caer lez. =^^= *wakes up in mid-afternoon after staying up until 3:00AM soldering resistors on to circuit boards, stumbles around in formerly white but now grey underwear, while simultaneously scratching groin with vigor and making coffee*
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:46pm
DarkSaber: knell? Don't you mean Neil? Anymore of tht and I'll dub thee Zippy The Soecnda
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:44pm
JDKJ: Now, now, Saber. Don't be salty. You weren't the first one to knell and bob and you ain't gonna be the last one, either.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:42pm
DarkSaber: JD's feeling rather desperate it seems.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:33pm
JDKJ: C'mon, Zip. You already touch yourself way too much. Spread the love. Before you go blind.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:27pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No and I ain't touching any part of you or your friends!! :P
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:25pm
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Lik Mitaint?
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
ZippyDSMlee: neill and bob,oldest giveing head joke and most lamest...
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
JDKJ: But thanks for the memory. MIB's a classic. *sings* "Here come the Men in Black. Galaxy defenders. Here come the Men in Black. They won't let you remember."
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:for the record I told you you can suck your own dck.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:07pm
JDKJ: Naw, man. That's Mueedeegiaap and Bob. And you can stop bobbing. I got Zippy bobbing now, too.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:56pm
DarkSaber: OH I get it now! It's Men In Black quote! The twins that run the comm centre in HQ.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:49pm
JDKJ: I'd like to introduce you to them. First, Neil. Then, Bob.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:47pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:I know they are intimate friends of yours...
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:44pm
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Neil and Bob?
Login or register to post shouts