Ed Vaizey, shadow minister for arts, has told IncGamers that both ELSPA (Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association) and Tiga (an independent body representing the interest of games developers) should “merge and have a name everyone can understand.”
“Two trade bodies for one industry, why?” was Vaizey’s response.
Vaizey, a keen advocate of the industry, also slammed the current governments handling of the industry, claiming the recently run Change4Life campaign implied “if you play videogames you’re a couch potato, but not if you watch TV, which is crazy.”
“If you sit and read a book for three hours…you’re still sitting down for three hours. You’re more active playing a videogame.”
But Vaizey also said the industry itself had more to do.
“The videogame industry has to up its game and tell people what they’re about.”
“There are all these great stories about videogames which never get into the press.”
“[The two trade bodies – ELSPA and Tiga] [s]hould get together and talk to each other, and get the good press stories out there.
“Start getting prominent people who play videogames and videogames are a large part of their life, to talk about them.”
We’ve contacted ELSPA and Tiga, and will update you as and when we have any further information.
Published: May 13, 2009 11:38 am