Survey finds video games top holiday wish lists
A recent poll conducted by KRC Research, commissioned by the Entertainment Software Association, found that 42 percent of those surveyed will give or hope to receive a computer, console of related software for the holidays. The poll also found that 52 percent of participants believe that with the shaky economy, video games are a good option for family entertainment this holiday season (check out our “Non-Gaming Parents Should Follow When Buying Videogames for Their Kids feature” for some great holiday gift giving advice).
These numbers represent a 9 percent increase over 2007 and the research backed up the fact that both men and women enjoy computer and video games almost equally. Forty-seven percent identified women as recipients of such gifts, a 31 percent increase from 2007. Fifty-Four percent of those who play computer and video games also plan to play with a friend or family member during the holiday season - according to those surveyed.
“Computer and video games are topping holiday lists because they provide a superior entertainment value for the whole family,” said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the ESA, the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. “With 68 percent of American households playing computer and video games, U.S. consumers value the creative and innovative products the entertainment software industry produces and are seeking them out for themselves and to give as gifts.”
The national telephone poll, conducted for the ESA by KRC Research, surveyed 1,001 U.S. adults, between November 4 and 8, 2009.
What’s on the top of my wish list? Peace on earth, goodwill towards men, and an orange Crispy Gamer ball cap. That’s a gift worth having.
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Category DS, Industry, Mac, Mobile, Other, PC, PSP, Platforms, PlayStation 3, Public Interest, Wii, Xbox 360, iPhone, iPod Touch | Tags: Christmas,Computers,Consoles,ESA,Hardware,holidays,Software,Survey,Video Games,Wish List
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ESA founder to be honored by AIAS
The founder of the Entertainment Software Association, Douglas Lowenstein, is to be awarded the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Lifetime Achievement Award (www.interactive.org). Lowenstein launched the ESA (under the former title the Interactive Digital Software Association) in 1994. During his 13 years as president, the ESA launched the E3 Expo, fought vigorously against piracy, established lobbying efforts at the state and federal level, opposed laws that attempted to restrict free speech related to the games and the industry, and more. Though Lowenstein has taken his fair share of criticism from both inside and outside the game industry, it is hard to deny that his influence on the business has been a positive one.
“It was under Doug’s leadership that the industry fought off dangerous efforts to impose restrictions on video game content,” said Jay Cohen, AIAS Board chair. “For those of us in the AIAS, it is no exaggeration to say that the artistic freedom we now enjoy stems directly from Doug’s efforts.”
“This Lifetime Achievement Award represents the greatest professional honor I have ever received and I am grateful beyond words to the AIAS,” said Lowenstein. “To be honored for doing a job I loved, and fighting for values I deeply hold on behalf of an industry and people I felt privileged to represent is profoundly humbling.”
Lowenstein will become the third recipient of the award, joining Howard Lincoln and Minoru Arakawa, founders of Nintendo of America, and Ken Kutaragi, the father of PlayStation. The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Lifetime Achievement Award will be given during a gala event at the 2010 D.I.C.E. Summit (located at the Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Guildhall at SMU Students score $30k in scholarships
Recently at a luncheon hosted by The Guildhall at SMU, ten students were awarded $30,000 in scholarship funding. Ten students were awarded scholarships on behalf of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS), D3Publisher and the Entertainment Software Association Foundation.
The $10,000 AIAS Academy Scholarship is awarded biannually to an incoming student who students who exemplify “the organization’s spirit and commitment to advancing the global interactive community.” The ESA Foundation Computer and Videogame Scholarship Program recognizes academic excellence of women and minorities pursuing a Master’s degree or graduate certificate at SMU with an annual scholarship of $10,000. D3Publisher honored students who have excelled academically by granting the $10,000 Shane Hensley Scholarship for Game Development Excellence this year.
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Game development a regular vocation at many American colleges
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) wants you to know that colleges are now heavily supporting curriculum that is directly or indirectly related to the vocation of video game development. According to the ESA, a record number of colleges, universities and other institutions of higher learning – 254 in 37 states and the District of Columbia – now offer courses and degrees in computer and video game design, programming, and art. These include certificate programs in 3D Animation & Interactive Media to master’s degrees in Computer Graphics and Game Technology. The ESA sees the uptick of institutions offering these programs as a reflecting of the growing importance of video games on the economy and culture of the United States.
Research conducted by the ESA found that California has 46 institutions of higher learning – the most of any state – offering such courses or degrees. Other states in the top 10 are New York (21); Texas (20); Florida (19); Illinois (16); Pennsylvania (12); Massachusetts (11); Washington (9); Georgia (8); Arizona, Michigan, and Colorado (7).
“Today, video games are not only the fastest growing entertainment medium, they are also increasingly used in education and business for professional training and e-learning,” Rich Taylor, senior vice president. “These new college programs underscore the importance of the video games industry, which is well-poised to create additional employment and professional opportunities in the coming years.”
While it certainly heartening to see more schools offer these kinds of educational opportunities, it would be interesting to see some statistics from schools that have offered a game development curriculum; do graduates find jobs after college - not just intern work, but real honest-to-goodness jobs at companies of all shapes and sizes? These are the questions I want answered as a parent.
You can check out the full list of schools by visiting The ESA.
ESA Foundation hands out 30 scholarships
The ESA Foundation announced this morning that it has selected 30 student video game developers from across the nation to receive $90,000 in scholarships for the 2009-2010 academic year. Those receiving these scholarships are fresh out of high school and plan to continue on to college at 26 academic institutions from California to New Jersey studying subjects from computer science to digital animation.
Since 2007, the ESA Foundation Scholarship Program has assisted women and minority students who want to work in the computer and video game industry. Scholarships are offered annually for full-time study at accredited four-year colleges and universities for students pursuing degrees in industry related subjects including video game development, computer science, digital animation, programming and software engineering.
More than 200 U.S. colleges, universities and trade schools now offer video game courses or degrees. Students interested in the 2010-2011 scholarship program, can find out more at www.theesa.com Applications for the next round of scholarships will be accepted in Jan. 2010.
Ubisoft founder to be named 2009 ESA Champion
He will not get a title belt though, but maybe a nice plaque. The ESA Foundation will honor Yves Guillemot, chairman and chief executive officer of Ubisoft, as the 2009 ESA Champion at this year’s Nite to Unite for Kids event. The annual black-tie gala will take place on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 and recognize Guillemot while raising money for the foundation’s work on behalf of children.
In 1986, Guillemot saw the potential of entertainment software and collaborated with his four brothers to create Ubisoft. More than two decades later, Yves’ business acumen has put Ubisoft into athe position of an entertainment software industry leader. Today, the company is the fourth largest independent publisher in the U.S. and the creator of such hits as Assassin’s Creed , Prince of Persia, Rayman, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon.
Guillemot joins a distinguished list of entertainment software luminaries including George Lucas, Dan DeMatteo; Electronic Arts’ Bing Gordon; Toys ‘R Us’ Michael Goldstein; Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto and Howard Lincoln; Sega’s Isao Ogawa; Sony Computer Entertainment’s Ken Kutaragi and Electronic Boutique’s Jeffery Griffiths.
The 2009 Nite to Unite for Kids is open to everyone with tickets costing $500 each. Table sponsorships are also available. For ticket information call 800-949-3660.
ESA vs. the Chicago Transit Authority
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), challenging the CTA’s prohibition on certain computer and video game advertisements as a violation of the guarantees of free speech under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleges that the CTA is unfairly targeting the entertainment software industry by enacting an ordinance that selectively bans advertisements of computer and video games rated “Mature 17+” (M) or “Adults Only 18+” (AO).
In January of this year, the CTA enacted Ordinance 008-147, prohibiting any advertisement that “markets or identifies a video or computer game rated “Mature 17+” (M) or “Adults Only 18+” (AO).” The ESA’s suit contends that this new ordinance is unconstitutional and restricts speech in a public forum that is otherwise open to all speakers without a compelling interest for doing so. In addition, the complaint argues that the ordinance discriminates on the basis of viewpoint and ignores less restrictive means of achieving the supposed ends of the ordinance.
