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Lowenstein stepping down as ESA pres

  • By Curt Feldman, GameSpot
  • Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:28 pm PT

Organization founder, industry advocate accepts offer to join non-game-related trade group.

Doug Lowenstein, president of the Electronic Software Association (ESA), will leave his post as president in early 2007, according to an executive at an ESA member organization. According to the source, ESA members were informed of the news late last week. A public announcement was to have been made this week, but will not surface until after the weekend. Lowenstein leaves an organization still reeling from the decision to radically downsize the group's marquee event, the annual E3 Expo trade show.

According to various sources, Lowenstein has accepted a position with a still-forming trade organization that would represent a consortium of investment community firms. Lowenstein is expected to remain with the ESA through at least February 2007. As of press time, ESA reps could not be reached to confirm the news, nor had IDG staff returned e-mails asking to comment on how this might effect the upcoming E3 Media Festival.

Lowenstein founded the ESA precursor, the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), in April 1994. The IDSA was renamed Electronic Software Association in 2003, though its mission remains the same--to represent the North American game industry on Capitol Hill, advocate for strong antipiracy legislation worldwide, and support the ESA-created Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), the nonprofit group that rates games with content descriptors.

43 Comments

  • Cloud737

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 9:17 am GMT

    Oh well, it`s not like it`s gonna hurt the gaming industry, right?

  • UnrealPro

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 2:45 pm GMT

    Quote: Israels_Son I hope they can get someone with comparable or more testicular fortitude. The industry needs someone who can drop the hammer on jerks like Jack Thompson and Joe "I won't take a stand against real violence, just fake violence" Lieberman and not break a sweat doing it.

    Well said buddy, there are still psychos like Jack, Joe, and Hillary on the loose looking intently on slaughtering the 1st Amendment and hell bent on making all of our lives miserable.

  • Israels_Son

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 7:15 am GMT

    I hope they can get someone with comparable or more testicular fortitude. The industry needs someone who can drop the hammer on jerks like Jack Thompson and Joe "I won't take a stand against real violence, just fake violence" Lieberman and not break a sweat doing it.

  • nas-tmayne2k6

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 7:07 am GMT

    how is that shameful im just pointing out the obvious

  • jojoforpres

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 1:16 am GMT

    Wow, just wow. You read the story and all you see is his last name? Shameful. I'm not Jewish, by the way.

  • lol_waffles

    Posted Dec 17, 2006 10:45 am GMT

    That sucks, Lowenstein was a great guy who stood up to enemies of the 1st Amendment.

  • Shtinky

    Posted Dec 17, 2006 8:15 am GMT

    He's probably stepping down because of the whole E3 down-sizing thing. I heard he was actually against the idea in the first place.

  • Runningflame570

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 10:30 pm GMT

    Not many knew exactly what he did or even heard of him..in fact I'm one of those people, but after reading this I can say that you will be missed Doug. Hopefully your successor will be able to achieve as much as you did.

  • bossjimbob

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 7:10 pm GMT

    Quote: Erinaceus1991 "All I can say is...thank you and good luck, Doug."

    Agreed.

  • YukoAsho

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 6:45 pm GMT

    Hopefully the next guy will have the guts to fight for gaming legitimacy in the media and not just in the courts.

  • Erinaceus1991

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 5:44 pm GMT

    All I can say is...thank you and good luck, Doug.

  • UnrealPro

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 5:03 pm GMT

    You all KNOW Jack Thompson is jumping off his walls right now. He was on the news the other day blabbing about his fanatical Puritan views and filling my parents heads with garbage, sadly his brainwashing got the best of them. Anyone got any videos they know of where Jack makes an absolute fool of himself? I want to show my parents how bad this guy really is and make sure his brainwashing never affects them again.

  • gatsbythepig

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 2:06 pm GMT

    lowenbrau

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 12:30 pm GMT

    Who will be the new president?

  • NinjaFoot

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 11:45 am GMT

    ComputerNDogs, He didn't lose his job because E3 is downsized. E3 was out of control. All the big publishers weren't seeing enough of a return to justify the ridiculous investment required to garner attention there.

  • Scorpion16

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 11:24 am GMT

    He was a good man. I hope we get someone who will aggressively fight against moralist blowhards like Jackass Thompson like he did.

  • Fire_Zealot

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 10:43 am GMT

    Well, I hope Jack didnt get to him... If Pat Vance leaves ESRB too, then I'll be worried.

  • ComputerNDogs

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 8:45 am GMT

    It's about time. He might lost his job because because of reducing E3 .

  • Cloud737

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 2:30 am GMT

    I hope this doesn`t affect the game industry in a bad sense.

  • RaNaBiR

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 12:41 am GMT

    More Corporate babble.

  • Doolum

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 12:35 am GMT

    He stays or he leaves,doesnt matter anymore...coz the fact remains..E3 has been downsized

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 11:59 pm GMT

    Oh poo.

  • MasterAsh42

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 10:27 pm GMT

    Oh no, Thompson finally got to Lowenstein!. . .

    Heh. . .That sure sounds funny, but I bet dollars to donuts Jack believes he had something to do with this.

    In all seriousness, though, the man's already done enough and other than the industry's marquee trade show, the whole shebang's in a nice spot for someone else to take up the helm.

    Now if Patricia Vance stepped out of the ESRB. . .then I'd be sweating.

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 8:29 pm GMT

    aw tahts sad news...he did good for gaming

  • CheddarLimbo

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 6:56 pm GMT

    It doesn't bode well for the next E3, but maybe I'll be wrong. I hope the changes don't end up totally ruining that conference on all fronts.

  • Max_Hydrogen

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 6:55 pm GMT

    He fought the good fight against the enemies of freedom,


    Ave Lowenstein, lusuri te salutamus.

  • TryMe01

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 6:33 pm GMT

    i guess he was tired of the games and its problems which have arisen over the past year

  • Commando47

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 6:17 pm GMT

    I think he screwed up on the whole E3 thing but other than that he helped video gamers through alot. He faced up against Thompson, Clinton, Lieberman and a whole slew of ambulance chasers. But seeing him go has divided me into two.... one side wants him to stay since he's a great guy campaigning for equal treatment for video games and so on. But the other is glad to see him go after the downsizing of E3...but one mistake doesn't destroy a great man it just makes him somewhat less popular. But Lowenstein was an excellent leader I don't think anyone can replace him.

  • Mr_Saturn26

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 6:17 pm GMT

    well this sucks, he was a great guy, i hope we get someone who is competent to defend the gaming industry on Capital hill like lowenstein

  • ConManWithGun

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 6:16 pm GMT

    lowensteins awesome

  • nskk

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 5:26 pm GMT

    lowensteins a good guy. hs also my friends uncle

  • jazilla

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 4:17 pm GMT

    This guy is a heavy hitter. Leaving for greener pastures methinks.

  • Xenctuary

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 4:09 pm GMT

    "Lowenstein founded the ESA precursor, the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), in April 1994. The IDSA was renamed Electronic Software Association in 1993 [...]"

    He also pioneered time travel, apparantly =D

  • awarriorofgamin

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 4:06 pm GMT

    aww i like that guy he did alot for the industry

  • GrayWolf323

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:54 pm GMT

    someone might wanna fix the mistake

    "the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), in April 1994. The IDSA was renamed Electronic Software Association in 1993"

    anyways sad to see him go but hopefully someone good will replace him and continue the fight

  • SpareJesus

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:51 pm GMT

    Hm, I managed to mistake ESA for the ESRB..

    ..Bah, I don't care either way. Maybe I would if I were American, but..

  • Proman84

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:50 pm GMT

    He will be missed. Lowenstein's contribution to the success of E3 was great.

  • ConManWithGun

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:49 pm GMT

    as long as there still e3, im happy

  • princeofgames90

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:45 pm GMT

    What happened to the replacment

  • netolic

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:44 pm GMT

    so ea will now be diff.

  • BallGame

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:40 pm GMT

    Slow news day?

  • gamer_girl15

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:39 pm GMT

    ok. Hope it doesn't hurt e3 in some way.

  • goodknight_13

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:34 pm GMT

    first comment, why do we care?

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