The Entertainment Software Association

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October 2014
September 2014
August 2014

Welcome to the Entertainment Software Association

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is the U.S. association exclusively dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of companies that publish computer and video games for video game consoles, personal computers, and the Internet. ESA offers a global content protection program, business and consumer research, government relations, and intellectual property protection efforts. ESA also owns and operates E3.

To read more about ESA, please click any of the following links:

ESA Foundation Nite to Unite Gala, October 22, 2014

Purchase tickets now for A Nite to Unite — for Kids (NTU), an annual gala hosted by the ESA and supported by members of the association and the entertainment software industry to raise funds for the ESA Foundation.

For more information please visit www.nitetounite.org.

Noteworthy Industry News

10/10/2014 – Behind League of Legends, E-Sports’s Main Attraction
10/10/2014 – MIT to offer free online courses in game design, ed tech
10/6/2014 – School Bets Video Game Scholarship Can Draw Talent
9/30/2014 – Zwift Is Trying to Turn Indoor Cycling Into Virtual Reality
9/29/2014 – Do video games trump brain training for cognitive boosts?

U.S. Colleges and Universities Offering Video Game Courses & Degrees

The video game industry offers a rewarding and lucrative career path for aspiring designers, developers, and programmers. In 2014-2015, a record 390 American colleges, universities, and technical schools are offering programs in video game-related topics – preparing more students for careers in the $21 billion-per-year entertainment software industry. View our complete list of schools by program offerings and location.

PSA Reminds Parents to Check the Ratings

ESA and the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) produced a new PSA that reminds parents to check computer and video games’ ESRB ratings, use the ESRB’s free mobile app to learn more about game content, and set parental controls on game systems. The PSA is one of many tools and policies the video game industry has developed to help parents make informed game choices and guide safe entertainment experiences. To watch the PSA, click here.

STEM Video Game Challenge

ESA proudly co-sponsors the National STEM Video Game Challenge, an annual competition to motivate interest in science, technology, engineering and math subjects by tapping into the natural passion of youth for playing and making video games. To meet previous challenge winners, and learn more about the competition, please visit http://www.stemchallenge.org.

Making Our Own Stories

Strauss Zelnick, chairman and CEO of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. and chairman of the ESA Board of Directors, recently addressed the 2014 Aspen Ideas Festival: "Making Our Own Stories: The Evolution of Games, Storytelling, and Entertainment."

Video Game Voters Network

Video games are often threatened by legislation on the federal, state and local levels, and it is time for gamers to stand up and voice their concerns. The Video Game Voters Network leads this battle.

Essential Facts

Download the 2014
Essential Facts About
the Computer and
Video Game Industry.

Video: Active Play Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+) Challenge

Video: Active Play PALA+ Challenge

ESA partners with the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition to offer the Active Play Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+) Challenge, which highlights active video games as one tool to help Americans lead more active lives.

To view a video about the challenge, click here.

Content Protection Information

The objective of ESA's Content Protection Program is to attack and reduce global entertainment software piracy, which is estimated to cost the U.S. industry millions of dollars every year. The program's primary components are policy work, training and education, and a number of different enforcement efforts in the United States and abroad.