Grassroots Group Makes Gamers' Voices Heard on Policy Issues

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 13, 2006--The "Video Game Voters
Network," a new grassroots political network for gamers, officially
launched today at www.videogamevoters.org. The website was created as
a means for American adults who play computer and video games to
organize and take action on important policy issues affecting the
computer and video game industry.


"Computer and video games represent one of the most important new
media developments of this generation. Unlike many other forms of
entertainment they offer players the opportunity to explore, be
creative, learn through interaction and express themselves to others,"
said Will Wright, Chief Designer at Maxis. "It is vitally important
that we protect and nurture this new art form so that it can reach its
full potential. Like most new forms of artistic expression that have
come before (music, novels, movies), the primary critics of video
games are the people that do not play them."

The Video Game Voters Network opposes efforts to regulate the content
of entertainment media, including proposals to criminalize the sale of
certain games to minors, or regulate video games differently than
movies, music, books, and other media. The site, a project of the
Entertainment Software Association (ESA), enables gamers to stay
updated about these and other game industry-related issues, to
register to vote, and to take action by contacting federal, state, and
local officials to express their views. Gamers over 18 years old can
join the Network and/or send a letter to policymakers at
www.videogamevoters.org.

"With over seventy bills to restrict game sales to minors already
pending in state legislatures across the country this year, it's time
for gamers to make their voices heard loudly and clearly, to let
politicians know that they will no longer stand by and let games be
the scapegoat for larger social problems," said ESA president Doug
Lowenstein. "Gamers can join together through the Video Game Voters
Network to send a strong message to politicians to let them know that
gamers care, that they vote, and that they will no longer tolerate
these unconstitutional, unnecessary, and uninformed attacks on this
important form of entertainment."

The ESA is the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and
public affairs needs of the companies publishing interactive games for
video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the
Internet. ESA members collectively account for more than 90 percent of
the $7 billion in entertainment software sales in the U.S. in 2005,
and billions more in export sales of entertainment software. For more
information about the ESA, please visit www.theESA.com.