About the Entertainment Software Association
Formed in 1994, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), formerly the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), is the U.S. association exclusively dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of companies that publish video and computer games for video game consoles, personal computers, and the Internet.
Association members include the nation's leading interactive entertainment software publishers, which collectively accounted for more than 90 percent of the $7 billion in entertainment software revenues generated in the United States in 2003, and billions more in export sales of U.S.-made entertainment software.
WORLDWIDE ANTI-PIRACY PROGRAM
The ESA's global Anti-Piracy Program is designed to combat worldwide piracy, which is estimated to have cost the U.S. entertainment software industry billions of dollars every year, not including losses from Internet piracy. The program's primary components are policy work, education, and enforcement-including direct investigation and enforcement actions around the world and online.
POLICY ISSUES
The ESA works with government at all levels to make the voice of its members heard on a wide range of crucial legislative and public policy issues ranging from copyright to First Amendment protection and Internet regulation. The ESA also issued Principles and Guidelines for Fair Information Practices regarding the online protection of personal data for the guidance of ESA member companies.
E3 -- ELECTRONIC ENTERTAINMENT EXPO
Every year, the ESA presents the highly acclaimed Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) - the world's largest trade show dedicated exclusively to the interactive entertainment industry. Attendees also participate in educational workshops and seminars. In its eleventh year, E3 2005 is scheduled for May 18 - 20.
ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE RATING SYSTEM
The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) provides a comprehensive set of ratings for computer and video games. The ESRB has rated thousands of titles submitted by more than 400 of the industry's leading publishers.
The ESRB, in association with the interactive entertainment software industry, established a self-regulatory unit: the Advertising Review Council (ARC). ARC is responsible for the implementation, administration and enforcement of advertising principles and content guidelines for the interactive entertainment software industry.
SOURCE FOR INDUSTRY INFORMATION
The ESA is broadly acknowledged as the industry's leading source for consumer, economic and other industry data, as well as information on related market trends.
ESA MEMBERS
Activision, Inc.; Atari; Buena Vista Games; Capcom USA, Inc.; Crave Entertainment; Eidos Interactive; Electronic Arts; Her Interactive; id Software; Konami Digital Entertainment-America; LucasArts; Microsoft Corporation; Midway Games, Inc.; Namco Hometek, Inc.; Nintendo of America Inc.; NovaLogic, Inc., SEGA of America Inc.; Sony Computer Entertainment America; Square Enix Inc.; Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.; THQ, Inc.; Ubisoft Entertainment; Vivendi Universal Games; Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc.; Wild Tangent.
