Douglas Lowenstein
Douglas Lowenstein
Douglas Lowenstein is the founder and former President of the Entertainment Software Association. He resigned on February 12, 2007 to head up the newly formed Private Equity Council...
average based bond book both buyer cds consumer content creates diverse entertainment game games harshly illogical industries industry james knowing legally movies music parental player range sold subject treat treated video viewed warning wide
In 2004, the average game buyer was 37 years old and the average game player was 30. Knowing this, our industry creates a wide range of content for a diverse consumer audience, just as other entertainment industries do. And, it's illogical that video games would be treated more harshly than R-rated movies or music CDs with parental warning labels, both of which can be legally viewed and sold to minors. How can you treat a video game based on James Bond any different than a book or movie based on the same subject matter?
almost asking computer entertainment expected forum games holiday launch percent products shelves store time video
E3 exhibitors tell us that almost 80 percent of the products that will be displayed at this year's show are expected to be on store shelves in time for the 2001 holiday season. So, if you want to know what the more than 60 percent of Americans who play computer and video games will be asking for this holiday season, you need to be at E3, the world's most important forum for the launch of interactive entertainment products and technologies.
clear dollars fight found leave legal parents proposal protracted waste
It was clear to everyone that the proposal would be found unconstitutional and would waste taxpayers' dollars in a protracted legal fight that would leave parents no better off.
amendment create freedoms involved known law misguided sell start video
Everyone involved with this misguided law has known from the start that it is an unconstitutional infringement on the First Amendment freedoms of those who create and sell video games.
against compelling damage effort entertainment exciting fate industries limited parents providing similar struck taxpayer waste
AB1179 is punitive against retailers, will waste limited taxpayer dollars, and when it is struck down by the courts, as has been the fate of similar statutes, parents will be no better off for this effort to damage one of the state's fastest-growing and most exciting industries that is providing some of the most compelling entertainment in the world today,
business cd clear crime element facilities families illegal involved money organized raise software
It's very clear that in Taiwan, for example, there's a significant organized crime element that has been involved in making a business of software piracy. Organized crime families raise the money and then make the investments for illegal CD replication facilities in China, in Paraguay.
console initiative maker power proud taken
I am proud that each console maker has taken the initiative to give power to the parents.
both cds games harshly illogical legally movies music parental sold treated video viewed warning
it's illogical that video games be treated more harshly than R-rated movies or music CDs with parental warning labels, both of which can be legally viewed and sold to minors.
adult balance charge existing games kids mature media parents rating responsibility retailers sell strikes strong ultimate voluntary
The combination of these new controls, the existing ESRB rating system, and voluntary commitments by retailers not to sell Mature and Adult Only games to minors strikes the right balance between strong self-regulation and the ultimate responsibility of parents to take charge of the media their kids consume.
adult america anyone balance belongs charge computer concrete entertainment existing extremely games hands kids mature media parents pleased power rating regulate responsibility retailers sell sony stepped steps strikes strong ultimate voluntary
The ESA is extremely pleased that Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony Computer Entertainment America have voluntarily stepped up to take concrete steps to put the power to regulate the games kids play where it belongs ? in the hands of parents, not government, retailers, or anyone else. The combination of these new controls, the existing ESRB rating system, and voluntary commitments by retailers not to sell Mature and Adult Only games to minors strikes the right balance between strong self-regulation and the ultimate responsibility of parents to take charge of the media their kids consume.