Fox News vs. Modern Warfare 2

According to our friends at Game Politics and the Entertainment Software Association, Fox News will be taking on the contrived controversies of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 this morning on the Fox & Friends morning show.

The ECA, which owns and operates the Game Politics blog, received an email from FOX News at around 11 a.m. EST on Tuesday asking to speak to an “expert gamer” about the controversies surrounding the game. Here’s a quote from that email:

“I write to inquire about a possible interview tomorrow on Fox & Friends. We’re the morning show of the Fox News Channel, and are planning on doing a segment on the new Xbox game, Modern Warfare 2. We’re hoping to have a debate on the game, and would love to speak to an expert gamer on the controversies surrounding the game. The debate is for 6:50am tomorrow morning, on camera.”

The email was sent to the ECA’s Jason Andersen, director of PR. The ECA declined to take part in the discussion, because according to GP, Fox News would not offer any details on the discussion planned for the segment. We all know how their last major segment on Mass Effect with psychologist Cooper Lawrence, so sending someone in there blind seemed like a bad idea, no doubt.

The segment will run on the morning show at 6:50 a.m. EDT, according to GP.

ECA launches Gamers for Digital Rights

The Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA) has formed a new work group called Gamers for Digital Rights. This new group’s online presence is already now live and offering information for consumers who want to learn more about their legal rights and understand more about digital content distribution, license agreements, virtual property, and piracy. Gamers for Digital Rights is free to join and provided the tools and resources that the ECA says will help protect the rights of video game consumers today.

The ECA also announced that it recently hired Robert L. Hunter, IV as its Digital Rights Consultant. In his new role, Mr. Hunter will head up the ECA’s efforts on related outreach and educational programs for the Government Affairs team. Mr. Hunter also currently serves as the President of Global Intellectual Property Securities, a consulting firm dedicated to helping multinational clients develop IP education and enforcement programs. Previously, he was the Director of Strategic Operations and Development for IPSA International, as well as Manager for IP Enforcement with the Entertainment Software Association.

To learn more about digital rights and how to join the Gamers for Digital Rights group, visit www.theeca.com.

Utah Attorney General: Bring It On, Thompson!

Snap, snap! It’s already been brought! No this is not the beginning of a cheer-off between former lawyer turned unemployed activist Jack Thompson and currently employed Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff - if only, right? Speaking to Game Politics (better known as JTNN), The AG of Utah brushes off some recent Thompson threats to “proceed” if his office doesn’t “take action against major retailers like Best Buy, Target and Wal-mart for alleged sales of Grand Theft Auto IV to minors.”

Here’s the full measure of Mark Shurtleff had to say (the most important part to us, anyway):

.. I’m not concerned about his threats of impeachments or lawsuits or anything else. I just won reelection by 70% of the vote and he himself is facing his own troubles out there [in Florida]. So, whatever, bring it on, Jack. I’m really not going to give it much thought, frankly.”

And there we are.. but with all due respect to the Utah AG, you’re not doing a very good job of ignoring him.