[MUD-Dev] off-line pk

[Richard Aihoshi aka Jonric]

At 09:26 PM 05/06/01 -0700, Raph Koster wrote:

>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: David Loeser
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2001 10:25 PM
>> To: mud-dev at kanga.nu
>> Subject: RE: [MUD-Dev] off-line pk

>>   I'm wondering when game developers are going to unite, form a
>>   P.A.C. and be represented on Capital Hill (or at the U.N.)?
>>   Seriously, with all of the acts of violence that are being
>>   associated (or more like blamed on/) with computer
>>   entertainment, will, IMHO, have huge repercussions on the
>>   industry and in particular; online gaming.

> It's called the IDSA and Doug Lowenstein is our figurehead. And
> yes, he testifies to Congress (did so with the McCain hearings not
> that long ago).

Without discounting what it does in any way, the IDSA's fundamental
purpose, as clearly stated on its website (www.idsa.com), is to
represent the business interests of publishers.

> About The Interactive Digital Software Association
 
> The Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA) is the
> U.S. association exclusively dedicated to serving the business and
> public affairs needs of companies that publish video and computer
> games for video game consoles, personal computers, and the
> Internet. IDSA members collectively account for more than 90
> percent of the $6.0 billion in entertainment software sold in the
> U.S. in 2000, and billions more in export sales of U.S.-made
> entertainment software.

> The IDSA offers services to interactive entertainment software
> publishers including a global anti-piracy program, owning the
> Electronic Entertainment Expo trade show, business and consumer
> research, government relations and First Amendment and
> intellectual property protection efforts.

It's more accurate to say the International Game Developers
Association (www.igda.org) is the organization that represents
developers.  There is some overlap in areas of interest, but the
IGDA is definitely much more focused on topics that are relevant to
developers.  It also has a board of directors consisting of
developers; while I didn't see a list, it seems pretty likely that
the members' representatives to IDSA are corporate types.  However,
the IGDA doesn't yet have the funding or the visibility of the IDSA,
the main reason probably being that not enough developers join.

Cheers.




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