Okay, I will start...gamepoliticsApril 7 2006, 15:23:24 UTC
Hal, for GP readers who may not be very familiar with the IEMA, can you tell us a little about the organization and its involvement with the political process?
How 'bout this one? I committed a grave sin by not recording where I stole this from, though I think it may be from someone who commented on this very journal. I'd like to give credit where credit's due and all.
Question about EnforcementkeddrenApril 7 2006, 15:28:18 UTC
First off, of course, is a thank you to Mr. Halpin for taking time out of his day to drop by and chat. I'm sure we all greatly appreciate it.
Question: At the Capital Hill hearings last week, Patricia Vance said that the ESRB was going to start being more aggresive in regards to video game ratings and enforcement, up to and including fines. How much authority does the ESRB really have over the IEMA's membership in regards to this sort of enforcement?
Re: Question about Enforcementhal_halpinApril 7 2006, 15:33:59 UTC
We work very closely with the ESRB, as you might imagine. And like many of you we want our policies and procedures enforced more thoroughly at the store level - which has recently played-out via the recent FTC report.
As for fines and penalties, it has been a matter discussed several times in the past - though I'm not sure that Pat meant that ESRB planned to get in the middle of that. It should be noted that IEMA members take the matter of inhibiting the sale of M-rated games pretty seriously. In the rare instance where we are granted access to methodology, our retailers usually act upon the results (in some instances staffers who make mistakes are reprimanded, in others dismissed).
Re: Question about EnforcementkeddrenApril 7 2006, 15:50:08 UTC
Thanks for that. As a follow up, do you think that enforcement needs to go further than just the individual employee level? Are fines necessary when an M-rated game such as GTA winds up in the hands of a 12 year old? Also, who would be in a possition to enforce those fines?
Re: Question about Enforcementnightwng2000April 7 2006, 15:51:30 UTC
From the merchant association standpoint, it would seem that fines and penalties would be useful for repeat offenders (either store or corporate level). While requiring stores to follow their own policies by reprimands and even terminations works for the rare events, certainly just having the threat of a fine of some sort could encourage retailers to stay vigilant in making certain their overall employee roster sticks to the policies
( ... )
You'll have to forgive my ignorance with regard to formatting... I'm brand-new at this, but hopefully I'll learn as I go.
To answer the IEMA question: the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association is the US non-profit which represents the leading retailers of computer and video games. Our members cumulatively account for about 75% of the $10B market. And members include almost all of the major (or as the FTC would call them "national") chain stores.
Re: One thing...hal_halpinApril 7 2006, 15:38:15 UTC
Humm... we do work well with the IGDA (International Game Developers Association), the trade group which represents the development community. But generally I would say that a criticism I have for all game industry folks is that we don't take these issues personally enough. Collectively we need to engage more in the subject, be more knowledgeable about the facts, and be the representatives/ambassadors that we could and should be in representing the industry.
A pet peeve of mine is hearing someone who works in the business spout off opinions not based in fact - either pro or con in the debate. With sites like this one, and access to such a wealth of information so readily available, it really isn't that hard to get to know the facts.
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You, Sir Halpin, are doing a very great thing here. I mean, talking to real live human beings? The Unwashed Masses(tm)?
Where politicians fear to tread, indeed.
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How 'bout this one? I committed a grave sin by not recording where I stole this from, though I think it may be from someone who commented on this very journal. I'd like to give credit where credit's due and all.
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Question: At the Capital Hill hearings last week, Patricia Vance said that the ESRB was going to start being more aggresive in regards to video game ratings and enforcement, up to and including fines. How much authority does the ESRB really have over the IEMA's membership in regards to this sort of enforcement?
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As for fines and penalties, it has been a matter discussed several times in the past - though I'm not sure that Pat meant that ESRB planned to get in the middle of that. It should be noted that IEMA members take the matter of inhibiting the sale of M-rated games pretty seriously. In the rare instance where we are granted access to methodology, our retailers usually act upon the results (in some instances staffers who make mistakes are reprimanded, in others dismissed).
Reply
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You'll have to forgive my ignorance with regard to formatting... I'm brand-new at this, but hopefully I'll learn as I go.
To answer the IEMA question: the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association is the US non-profit which represents the leading retailers of computer and video games. Our members cumulatively account for about 75% of the $10B market. And members include almost all of the major (or as the FTC would call them "national") chain stores.
Reply
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A pet peeve of mine is hearing someone who works in the business spout off opinions not based in fact - either pro or con in the debate. With sites like this one, and access to such a wealth of information so readily available, it really isn't that hard to get to know the facts.
Reply
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