First Ever Consumer Association Dedicated to Serving the Needs of Gamers Formed by Noted Industry Veteran Hal Halpin
Wilton,
Connecticut (October 12, 2006) – “Give your passion a voice” is what
the Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), a newly formed web-based
consumer organization, is looking to offer gamers who want to rally
behind their favorite pastime. Launched today at www.theeca.com,
the ECA is primed to serve the evolving needs of individuals who play
computer and video games. This first ever of its kind organization
focuses its advocacy efforts on consumer rights, anti-games
legislation, and a host of other public policy concerns in addition to
providing substantial community and affinity benefits to its members.
Founded by industry veteran and advocate Hal Halpin, the ECA is a
501(c)(4) non-profit membership organization established to give gamers
the resource to stand up for their gaming rights while taking advantage
of exclusive membership and affinity benefits.
The mission of
the ECA is to give gaming consumers a voice and ensure that state and
local politicians hear their concerns and appreciate their demographic
power. The organization is designed to be an advocate for the
interactive entertainment consumers who represent nearly fifty percent
of the population, whose average age is 33, and spends $10 billion
annually on gaming, yet are continually overlooked by politicians and
the mainstream press. Gaming fans must make themselves heard, and the
ECA gives them a vehicle to do so.
“The ECA was created to fill
a void that needed to be paid attention to… arguably the most important
group within the interactive entertainment industry, the consumers,”
said ECA founder Hal Halpin. “These individuals are the life-blood to
this multibillion dollar industry yet they have been unrepresented,
until now, which is exciting for myself and the rest of the ECA team as
we are the organization that now allows their voices to be heard.”
The
ECA is also dedicated to providing substantial community and affinity
benefits to its members. With membership, entertainment consumers can
connect with like-minded gaming fans, stay on top of industry issues
and events, explore career and educational opportunities in gaming, and
voice their feedback on issues and products. As part of its member
services, the ECA offers access to a number of key gaming resources
through unique and exclusive partnerships and services including
subscription discounts, savings on game purchases and rentals, access
to industry events, and more. Future potential offerings include
research, a variety of education and information-related assets, career
assistance and guidance, scholarships and financial aid, low-rate
affinity credit cards, and even low-cost comprehensive individual
health and life insurance for members. An annual membership cost will
be $19.99.
Prior to forming the ECA, Mr. Halpin founded the
industry’s retail trade association, Interactive Entertainment
Merchants Association (IEMA), which served the $10 billion video and
computer game business and merged with the Video Software Dealers
Association (VSDA) to form the Entertainment Merchants Association
(EMA) in 2006. Mr. Halpin has been a force in the interactive
entertainment industry for fifteen years as an executive and
entrepreneur. The founder of numerous influential publications and
organizations, he is often called upon to represent the interactive
entertainment industry as an ambassador at large.
For more information, or to sign up for ECA membership, please visit www.theeca.com.
About the ECA
Formed
in 2006, the Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA) is a 501(c)(4)
non-profit membership organization established to serve the evolving
needs of individuals who play computer and video games by giving their
passion a voice. The ECA serves as an advocacy organization for the
interactive entertainment consumers who represent nearly fifty percent
of the population, have an average age of 33, and spend $10 billion a
year on gaming. The ECA mission is to give gamers a voice and ensure
that state and local politicians hear their concerns and appreciate
their demographic power. The Connecticut-based organization focuses its
advocacy efforts on consumer rights, anti-games legislation, and other
public policy concerns as well as providing substantial community,
educational, and affinity benefits to its members—from discounts on
subscriptions and game rentals and purchases to education, employment
assistance, and insider access to industry partners.
CONTACTS: Jason Andersen / Jeane Wong
ONE PR Studio
(510) 893-3271
press(at)theeca(dot)com
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