Entertainment Consumers Association
Encyclopedia
Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA
) is a United States-based non-partisan, non-government
, non-profit organization
dedicated to the interests of individuals who play computer and video games in the United States and Canada.
, a game industry veteran and former president of the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association
(IEMA) – now called the Entertainment Merchants Association
(EMA) – founded ECA in July 2006. The concept of the ECA was born following an IEMA board of directors meeting, in which Halpin recognized a need for consumer representation. The association was launched as a means for consumer rights advocacy following a string of anti-games legislation aimed at criminalizing the sale of certain video games. Although publishers were effectively represented by Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and retailers by Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA), consumers of video games were virtually unrepresented until the launch of ECA.
, specifically in defending and advancing the interests of gamers. The organization does this through a variety of initiatives including netroots
and lobbying
efforts at the state and national governmental level, an activity permitted by its 501(c)(4) status. ECA also coalition builds with like-minded organizations including First Amendment advocacy groups and parallel trade associations. The ECA is non-partisan and does not support, oppose or give money to any candidates or political parties.
The ECA Member division negotiates and offers reduced rates for members with various companies that sell game-related merchandise and services including; magazine and premium website subscriptions, discounts on game rentals and purchases and free or discounted admission to trade shows, conferences and concerts, etc. They provide programs for reduced-cost medical and life insurance, financial aid, tuition assistance and scholarship opportunities for members as well as career advice, job boards, resume writing aid and discussion forums and boards.
The association distinguished itself early by weighing in publicly on issues that the parallel trade associations did not, including standing in defense of the game Mass Effect
and its developer, BioWare
, during the related controversy surrounding supposed sexualization of the product. ECA issued a press statement calling on FOX News to retract the misleading story. ECA also was a founding member of the Gamers for Net Neutrality initiative, which sought to educate and empower gamer consumers about the issues surrounding network neutrality as it relates to online gaming. Partnering with MoveOn.org, SaveTheInternet.com, and Games for Change, the coalition provides an educational area on ECA’s website as well as digital advocacy tools for gamers. The association also established several other digital advocacy sub-groups including Gamers for Digital Rights, Gamers for Universal Broadband. Membership is not required to participate in any of the three grass roots initiatives.
On May 12, 2010 the ECA announced that they would be submitting an amicus curiae
(friend of the court) document in support of the gaming industry in the upcoming Schwarzenegger v. EMA First Amendment case. The organization also stated that they intend to amend a consumer petition to their brief to request that the court find that games should continue to enjoy the same First Amendment protections as music and movies and not be legislated and regulated like alcohol, tobacco and firearms.
, a blog originally written and maintained by Dennis McCauley
, now run by noted game journalist Pete Gallagher
, the former Editor-in-Chief of GameDaily.com. GP, as it had come to be known in the business and by the site’s fans, was and remains a key information portal for all matters related to game legislation and grass roots
lobbying initiatives.
The organization also publishes a daily email-based electronic newsletter, ECA Today, which is mailed nightly to all members. The newsletter informs and educates gamers about current and potential anti-games legislation, and acts as a call to arms in the association’s grass roots lobbying initiatives employing electronic advocacy. ECA also emails out a monthly members-only newsletter which keeps members abreast of the efforts being undertaken and advises the membership of new partnerships and coalitions it has joined. And the final two products are GameJobs.com, the interactive entertainment industry’s leading job board, and Video Game Yellow Pages (VGYP), which has served for over ten years as the defacto-standard in online directory information for the games business.
, moved from its original home at Crispy Gamer
to GameCulture.
his "wish for a dirty bomb attack on NYC..." This was sent to the FBI, and shortly thereafter GP, which had allowed the posted comment for twelve hours, removed it, thereby admitting the inappropriate conduct of one of its supporters.
The association had a very public battle with game publisher, Electronic Arts
, following the release of Spore in September 2009 due to digital rights management software which was included in the game, but had not been disclosed to consumers. The restrictiveness of that DRM was also an issue and the ECA’s GamePolitics website became the lightning rod which channeled gamers’ discontent. Six months prior, ECA President, Hal Halpin, suggested that game publishers create a disclosure icon for software packaging to alert consumers to the presence of DRM at a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) conference in Seattle, Washington.
On December 2, 2009, controversy arose regarding the ECA’s membership cancellation policy, in which the association’s membership terms and conditions were changed without notifying ECA users. The change was made due to an exploit in a partner’s coupon codes. The cancellation policy change temporarily required that members mail a physical letter requesting cancellation while the association upgraded their systems. There were also complaints about the change in the terms and conditions being made without notifying the membership, which struck some members as ironic given the ECA’s stance regarding End User License Agreements.
The three week ordeal ended on December 24, 2009 once the promised new modules went public giving members online account termination and an online auto-renewal opt-out functionality similar to Xbox Live and ECA’s listing with the CT Better Business Bureau was raised to an A-.
In April 2010, some former ECA members found their accounts being automatically renewed, and their credit cards charged ECA's annual membership fee. Those renewed ex-members canceled their memberships through the mail during the December 2009 controversy, while other renewed members had canceled their memberships through the online options established in January 2010. The fourteen former members who identified themselves on ECA’s forums all reported that they had received refund checks along with a note of apology from the association.
legal assistance from Hughes Hubbard & Reed
. Additionally, the association lists the brands and companies which are marketing partners with the ECA on their website. Most provide discounts and special promotions, but none provide funding.
ECA
ECA may refer to:Government and government agencies:* Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, a part of the United States Department of State* Economic Cooperation Administration, a former United States government agency...
) is a United States-based non-partisan, non-government
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
, non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
dedicated to the interests of individuals who play computer and video games in the United States and Canada.
History
Mr. Hal HalpinHal Halpin
Hal Halpin is an American computer game executive and entrepreneur, and is the president and founder of the Entertainment Consumers Association .- Background :...
, a game industry veteran and former president of the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association
Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association
The Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association was a United States-based non-profit organization dedicated to serving the business interests of leading retailers that sell Interactive entertainment software...
(IEMA) – now called the Entertainment Merchants Association
Entertainment merchants association
The Entertainment Merchants Association is the not-for-profit international trade association dedicated to advancing the interests of the $32 billion home entertainment industry....
(EMA) – founded ECA in July 2006. The concept of the ECA was born following an IEMA board of directors meeting, in which Halpin recognized a need for consumer representation. The association was launched as a means for consumer rights advocacy following a string of anti-games legislation aimed at criminalizing the sale of certain video games. Although publishers were effectively represented by Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and retailers by Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA), consumers of video games were virtually unrepresented until the launch of ECA.
Activities
ECA is an ardent supporter of consumer rights and advocacyAdvocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
, specifically in defending and advancing the interests of gamers. The organization does this through a variety of initiatives including netroots
Netroots
Netroots is a term coined in 2002 by Jerome Armstrong to describe political activism organized through blogs and other online media, including wikis and social network services. The word is a portmanteau of Internet and grassroots, reflecting the technological innovations that set netroots...
and lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
efforts at the state and national governmental level, an activity permitted by its 501(c)(4) status. ECA also coalition builds with like-minded organizations including First Amendment advocacy groups and parallel trade associations. The ECA is non-partisan and does not support, oppose or give money to any candidates or political parties.
The ECA Member division negotiates and offers reduced rates for members with various companies that sell game-related merchandise and services including; magazine and premium website subscriptions, discounts on game rentals and purchases and free or discounted admission to trade shows, conferences and concerts, etc. They provide programs for reduced-cost medical and life insurance, financial aid, tuition assistance and scholarship opportunities for members as well as career advice, job boards, resume writing aid and discussion forums and boards.
The association distinguished itself early by weighing in publicly on issues that the parallel trade associations did not, including standing in defense of the game Mass Effect
Mass Effect
Mass Effect is an action role-playing game developed by BioWare for the Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows by Demiurge Studios. The Xbox 360 version was released worldwide in November 2007 published by Microsoft Game Studios...
and its developer, BioWare
BioWare
BioWare is a Canadian video game developer founded in February 1995 by newly graduated medical doctors Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk, and Augustine Yip. BioWare is currently owned by American company Electronic Arts...
, during the related controversy surrounding supposed sexualization of the product. ECA issued a press statement calling on FOX News to retract the misleading story. ECA also was a founding member of the Gamers for Net Neutrality initiative, which sought to educate and empower gamer consumers about the issues surrounding network neutrality as it relates to online gaming. Partnering with MoveOn.org, SaveTheInternet.com, and Games for Change, the coalition provides an educational area on ECA’s website as well as digital advocacy tools for gamers. The association also established several other digital advocacy sub-groups including Gamers for Digital Rights, Gamers for Universal Broadband. Membership is not required to participate in any of the three grass roots initiatives.
On May 12, 2010 the ECA announced that they would be submitting an amicus curiae
Amicus curiae
An amicus curiae is someone, not a party to a case, who volunteers to offer information to assist a court in deciding a matter before it...
(friend of the court) document in support of the gaming industry in the upcoming Schwarzenegger v. EMA First Amendment case. The organization also stated that they intend to amend a consumer petition to their brief to request that the court find that games should continue to enjoy the same First Amendment protections as music and movies and not be legislated and regulated like alcohol, tobacco and firearms.
- The State of California’s case is an appeal urging the Court to adopt a new constitutional standard that would enable states to ban the sale or rental of violent video games for those under age 18. The Ninth Circuit Court previously found that there was no proof that playing such games would cause physical or psychological harm to minors. The appeals court also said the law was not the least-restrictive approach to protecting children from exposure to such games.
GamePolitics.com
The ECA merged a number of long-standing staple brands when forming the organization which lent it early credibility and built-in expertise in the respective fields. Among the more prominent brands was GamePolitics.comGamePolitics.com
GamePolitics.com is a blog about the politics of computer and video games started by freelance journalist Dennis McCauley.Frequent topics include video game legislation, the effects of media coverage on video games and gamer culture, and stories about high-profile critics and/or supporters of the...
, a blog originally written and maintained by Dennis McCauley
Dennis McCauley
Dennis McCauley is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Portland Pirates in the American Hockey League.On July 30, 2010, he was signed as a free agent by the Buffalo Sabres.-External links:...
, now run by noted game journalist Pete Gallagher
Pete Gallagher
Pete "Zuie" Gallagher is a drummer best known for his work with the ethno-funk duo, Ak & Zuie, with Steve Jay.-Trivia:* Gallagher sat-in for Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz on drums for three shows during "Weird Al" Yankovic's 2003 Poodle Hat Tour. A minor illness prevented Schwartz from playing the kit,...
, the former Editor-in-Chief of GameDaily.com. GP, as it had come to be known in the business and by the site’s fans, was and remains a key information portal for all matters related to game legislation and grass roots
Grass Roots
Grass Roots is an Australian television series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation between 2000 and 2003.The series is set around the fictional Arcadia Waters Council near Sydney, and was primarily a satirical look at the machinations of local government...
lobbying initiatives.
The organization also publishes a daily email-based electronic newsletter, ECA Today, which is mailed nightly to all members. The newsletter informs and educates gamers about current and potential anti-games legislation, and acts as a call to arms in the association’s grass roots lobbying initiatives employing electronic advocacy. ECA also emails out a monthly members-only newsletter which keeps members abreast of the efforts being undertaken and advises the membership of new partnerships and coalitions it has joined. And the final two products are GameJobs.com, the interactive entertainment industry’s leading job board, and Video Game Yellow Pages (VGYP), which has served for over ten years as the defacto-standard in online directory information for the games business.
GameCulture.com
On December 5, 2007 the ECA announced that the association was launching another publication, called GameCulture. Journalist and co-author of SmartBomb: The Quest for Art, Entertainment, and Big Bucks in the Videogame Revolution, Aaron Ruby, was hired on to be the Editor-in-Chief. The association felt the need to launch the site as a resource for promoting gaming in a more positive light and addressing the ways in which gamers and gaming have impacted broader society. In September 2009, GameCulture added veteran game journalist, John Keefer to its ranks who was followed by New Zealand-based writer, Julie Gray, in January 2010. Popular web comic, Experience Points, penned by Scott JohnsonScott Johnson
Scott Johnson may refer to:In music:* Scott Johnson , American composer* Scott Johnson , instructor for the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps* Scott Johnson , guitarist for Gin BlossomsIn sports:...
, moved from its original home at Crispy Gamer
Crispy Gamer
Crispy Gamer is an independent video game focused site that features general coverage, commentary, reviews, comics, and videos about video games and video game culture.- History and Foundation :...
to GameCulture.
Controversy
On July 9, 2009, an ECA and GamePolitics enthusiast posted the comment at GamePolitics' ShoutBoxShoutbox
A shoutbox, saybox, tagboard, or chatterbox is a chat-like feature of some websites that allows people to quickly leave messages on the website, generally without any form of user registration....
his "wish for a dirty bomb attack on NYC..." This was sent to the FBI, and shortly thereafter GP, which had allowed the posted comment for twelve hours, removed it, thereby admitting the inappropriate conduct of one of its supporters.
The association had a very public battle with game publisher, Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
, following the release of Spore in September 2009 due to digital rights management software which was included in the game, but had not been disclosed to consumers. The restrictiveness of that DRM was also an issue and the ECA’s GamePolitics website became the lightning rod which channeled gamers’ discontent. Six months prior, ECA President, Hal Halpin, suggested that game publishers create a disclosure icon for software packaging to alert consumers to the presence of DRM at a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) conference in Seattle, Washington.
On December 2, 2009, controversy arose regarding the ECA’s membership cancellation policy, in which the association’s membership terms and conditions were changed without notifying ECA users. The change was made due to an exploit in a partner’s coupon codes. The cancellation policy change temporarily required that members mail a physical letter requesting cancellation while the association upgraded their systems. There were also complaints about the change in the terms and conditions being made without notifying the membership, which struck some members as ironic given the ECA’s stance regarding End User License Agreements.
The three week ordeal ended on December 24, 2009 once the promised new modules went public giving members online account termination and an online auto-renewal opt-out functionality similar to Xbox Live and ECA’s listing with the CT Better Business Bureau was raised to an A-.
In April 2010, some former ECA members found their accounts being automatically renewed, and their credit cards charged ECA's annual membership fee. Those renewed ex-members canceled their memberships through the mail during the December 2009 controversy, while other renewed members had canceled their memberships through the online options established in January 2010. The fourteen former members who identified themselves on ECA’s forums all reported that they had received refund checks along with a note of apology from the association.
Support
The ECA receives financial support from its dues-paying membership – individuals who pay $19.99 annually ($14.99 for students and members of the military). The association claims not to accept funding from industry partners, nor does it permit game publisher advertising on any of its websites or publications, though open job placements on the ECA’s GameJobs.com are paid-for by game industry companies. The organisation also receives additional pro bonoPro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
legal assistance from Hughes Hubbard & Reed
Hughes Hubbard & Reed
Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP , founded in 1888, is a law firm headquartered in New York City.The firm's history dates back to the late 19th century when it counted among its partners former Chief Justice of the United States Charles Evans Hughes.Hughes Hubbard was recently ranked first among law firms...
. Additionally, the association lists the brands and companies which are marketing partners with the ECA on their website. Most provide discounts and special promotions, but none provide funding.