Back in September, one of our MyQJ contributors talked about Kansas Senator Sam Bronwback (R) and his introduction of a bill called the Truth in Video Game Ratings Act. The gist of the bill is that the Entertainment Software Ratings Board's (ESRB) game ratings should be based on the game's entire content and not just on viewing a game's most offensive content.

Fast forward to today. Doug Lowenstein has relinquished his ESRB presidency and Senator Brownback is gunning to be the next top inhabitant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (that's the White House for those who don't know). He is also re-introducing the said bill. This is what he said in a statement about it:

Video game reviewers should be required to review the entire content of a game to ensure the accuracy of the rating. The current video game ratings system is not as accurate as it could be because reviewers do not see the full content of games and do not even play the games they rate. The Truth in Video Game Rating Act would also commission a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study to determine the efficacy of the... ESRB ratings system.

Former ESRB head Doug Lowenstein said in September that this bill will not succeed and that people would not be represented by the average American parents. With him out of the picture, what happens next?

The gloves come off for former Entertainment Software Association (ESA) president Doug Lowenstein.

In his final speech over at the DICE Summit, Doug fired off rockets at game developers, the game press, and publishers for their failure to protect the future of the video game industry. "I'm sick and tired of people in this industry sitting on their hands and waiting for others to do the hard work," he said.

Lowenstein targetted the industry's lack of participation in the likes of video game-related legislation, further elaborating on the poor presence shown in movements like the Video Game Voters Network.

"You have to go on a website, click a few keystrokes, and you can send letters to Senators and Congressmen. And 90 percent of the people in this room who have a stake in the future of this industry haven't bothered to take the time to do that. And it makes me sick."

Moving on, Lowenstein also presented stern words for developers and their stance on creating controversial content in their products (like, say GTA?). "If you want to be controversial, fine - that's great. But damn it, don't duck and cover when the sh*t hits the fan."

Lowenstein went on to state his view of the the gaming press, which he felt was not holding up to its role as an informative entity for the gaming and non-gaming community "I think the games press doesn't ask enough of itself, and I hope that it does. It needs a higher level of maturity. It needs to take itself seriously," Lowenstein said. He further criticized the press for their allocation of resources to controversy-related topics - such as the likes of anti-gaming lawyer Jack Thompson - and the press' lackluster coverage of the ESA's activities.

Lastly, Doug lamented on the E3's notorious downsizing. "It put this industry on the map like nothing else could have done. We never could have drawn the mass-media without a central event," he said. "In 1994, this industry was unknown, it was backwater, it was the stepchild of entertainment."

This may be one of the last few occasions we will ever hear something about Doug Lowenstein. We all know that he will be leaving his position as the ESA president come February. While we will never really know what made the influential official resign, we guess at least we can tell you where he is going.

The new group that Lowenstein will be heading is called the Private Equity Council. We haven't heard nor read much about this group yet, so we'll just quote the official press statement:

[It is a group] whose purpose will be to conduct research and provide information about the industry to policy makers and others interested in understanding what private equity is, how it operates and the increasingly important role this alternative asset class plays in the U.S. and global economy.

Furthermore, Lowenstein will start heading the Private Equity Council as soon as he steps down from ESA presidency. Lowenstein claimed previously that despite this development, his days at the office is still very busy, and that he is still very much involved with ESA until he leaves.

Guys, it is now official. Entertainment Software Association (ESA) finally confirmed today the rumors circulating about the resignation of Doug Lowenstein as the organization's president. The rumors, that began before the weekend, were also true about Lowenstein starting a new trade group.

Furthermore, ESA mentioned that they have began looking for someone to replace Lowenstein. While no prospects were named yet, everybody knows that the group's ex-president certainly left a big void that is hard to fill in. Twelve years ago, Lowenstein founded ESA together with a companion. Today, he left it with 32-strong employees and a strong reputation regarding anti-piracy enforcement, domestic and international intellectual property policy, government and media relations as well as research.

Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA) President Bo Andersen reflected on the void the resignation created. He reiterated how the guy slaved and built ESA into a positive and influential institution in the videogame industry. Finally, Lowenstein leaves everyone in the industry this message:

I have been honored to represent the amazing companies of the ESA, to serve as their advocate and to be part of an industry which is having such a profound and positive effect on our culture and the world of entertainment. Like our industry, the ESA has grown and matured and is now stronger and more robust than ever before. The future of video games and its trade association is very bright indeed.

You guys are all aware what the heck Entertainment Software Association is, right? Being the main videogame trade group in the U.S., the said association used to take care of the annual anticipated E3 expo trade show. Used to. Not anymore. Things have changed, haven't you heard about "it"?

At any rate, ESA is in the news again today as words about the resignation of President Doug Lowenstein continues to spread. This actually began as early as Friday but we decided not to report it yet because information are still scarce. However, it seems that the resignation will indeed push through.

Various reports have mentioned that Lowenstein accepted a position with another trade organization that is yet to be launched. Furthermore, the said group will be composed of representatives from a consortium of investment community forms. The reports have mentioned that the president will leave ESA early 2007. There is now a question, if these are true, whether Lowenstein would finish his term or not. His term is to expire this coming February.

More importantly, everyone is wondering what further repercussions this would have in the upcoming E3. The reports finally mentioned that an announcement was made during the weekend but it would be revealed within today or tomorrow. Try checking later for updates regarding this matter.

Ever feel like you've never been cool enough to enter a club, or that you're too sober to get into Alcoholics Anonymous? We can tell you right now that the emotional blow is like being hit by lead pipe in the back: excrutiatingly painful but it straightens you out some.

The E3 Media and Business Summit, once proudly seen by fans everywhere as The E3 Gamer's Gankfest and Freeplay Galore, seems to be firmly in the hands of game makers at large. Doug Lowenstein, President of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), told folks at GameSpot that the ESA will be more hands-off in the invitation process for next year's event. Instead, the list of people who will get an invitation will be based upon recommendations made by ESA members rather than by the the ESA itself.

What does this mean? In business terms, Lowenstein is quoted by GameSpot as saying, "[T]he point is for attendees to be the people participants want to see in one-on-one meetings...[but] that is not for me to say or influence." In practical terms, it means that because the members of the ESA is comprised of big-name game and console makers from Activision to Ubisoft (is there a company starting with a "Z" somewhere?), the people who will be visiting the event will either be big names in media, important members of the gaming press, or possibly PR people for the different companies.

Darn.

Guess we'll just have to visit the other E3 then.

Yeah, by now, every person that has seriously embraced video gaming as part of his/her life is aware of the sudden changes that'll prompt him/her to bid farewell to the E3 as he/she knew it. The Halls of QJ has been ringing with dead silence every single time the matter is brought up (it's happening right now). But we all have to move on as E3, arguably gamers' own version of World Cup and Winter Olympics, undergoes some major tweaks that'll indirectly affect all of us.

Entertainment Software Association president Doug Lowenstein, in an interview with Wall Street Journal, has revealed what exactly those "major tweaks" will be - a new name, a new venue and a new date. According to him, the event will be dubbed as the E3 Media Festival starting next year, cementing thoughts that the affair will now only be joined by members of the press from various media.

From last E3's groundbreaking attendance of 60,000 visitors, next year's event will have a toned-down population of around 5000 people. In fact, Lowenstein has cited that the huge number of participants is primarily the reason why all the changes are being made, saying that "some companies were frustrated because E3 was such a huge, sweeping event it became increasingly difficult to get their messages out."

Instead of the traditional May affair, the next E3 (if we could still call it that) will be held on July to give publishers more time to develop their projects and to strategically bring it nearer to Christmas where most games are usually released. The event will also say goodbye to the Los Angeles Convention Center as the ESA divulged plans to use two hotels, holding press events and meetings in suites and conference rooms - there goes our booths and the booth babes along with it.

As much as we want to present this news as an objective one, it's really hard not to choke out some disappointments while tackling the matter. The gamer in us conquers the inner writer/reporter as it cry for the game demos open for civilians, promos for the attendees, E3 booth babes, lost opportunities for smaller developers, and the shed "people image" of the event we used to know as E3...