Michael Gallagher: The Gamer’s Advocate?

Mike Musgrove of The Washington Post recently had a chat with Michael Gallagher the newest “big gun” of the Entertainment Software Association. In this interview, Michael says he hopes to raise the profile of video games among policymakers and thought leaders. “Video games are not getting the type of recognition they deserve as an entertainment medium,” he said. “Politicians don’t understand games and often pick on violence as a way to polarize voters. I think the next step is for us to raise our profile even further so we can garner the same respect given to other entertainment industries, such as the movie industry,” he wrote. According to Mike Musgrove, Gallagher likes to point out that only 8 percent of the games released each year are violent, “mature”-rated titles of the sort that make headlines.

We were all skeptical of Gallagher when he took the position with the ESA, but after reading this piece from The Washington Post, I have to say that we need more people like him advocating gamers and gaming medias on Capitol Hill. If corruption and the obligatory sense of power do not seep through the cracks of his moral fiber, he could certainly do us a world of good considering his position. We should all keep our fingers crossed that he will remain loyal to the gaming industry and that Bill Gates, politicians, and morality groups do not leave him feeling jaded. We all well aware of what D.C. can do to the most honorable person as well as the most loathsome.

via: The Washington Post

Photo Courtesy of The Washington Post, Marvin Joseph