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Entertainment Consumers Association
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), is a United States-based nonpartisan, non-government, non-profit organization dedicated to the interests of individuals who play computer and video games in the United States. Game consumers in the US represent over 30 million americans and the industry exceeds $10 billion in gross sales annually. The ECA is the sole entity representing game consumers.
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Mr. Hal Halpin, 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 in response to the need for consumer rights advocacy following a string of anti-games legislation which would have criminalized the sale of certain video games if not for the efforts of trade groups in opposition. The industry itself was well represented by the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), and the Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA), but those that purchase and play games went completely unrepresented until the launch of the ECA.
ECA is an ardent supporter of consumer rights and advocacy, specifically in defending and advancing the interests of gamers. The organization does this through a variety of initiatives including 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 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 were GamePolitics.com, a blog and website written and maintained by Dennis McCauley, a noted game journalist. 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. GameJobs.com is the interactive entertainment industry’s leading job board and career site. And the Video Game Yellow Pages(VGYP), served the business for over ten years as the defacto-standard in online directory information.
The organization also publishes a daily email-based electronic newsletter, ECA Today, which is mailed nightly to the entire membership free of charge. 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.