GamePolitics.com: Difference between revisions

GamePolitics.com
	GP homepage
Type of site	Blog
Owner	Entertainment Consumers Association
Created by	Dennis McCauley
URL	GamePolitics.com
Commercial	No
Registration	None
Launched	March 2005
Current status	Defunct

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GamePolitics.com was a blog which covered the politics of computer and video games. GamePolitics was launched by freelance journalist Dennis McCauley in March 2005. At the time, McCauley was the video game columnist^[1] for The Philadelphia Inquirer, a position he held from 1998 to 2009. Growing somewhat bored of writing video game reviews, McCauley created GamePolitics in order to track the political, legal and cultural impact of video games.^[2] The site was often referred to as GP by followers.

Under McCauley's tenure as editor, frequent topics included video game legislation, the effects of media coverage on video games and gamer culture, and stories about high-profile critics and/or supporters of the industry. Early on, GP established itself as a site which included a great deal of original content based on McCauley's reporting. For example, GP published the first interview^[3] with Patrick Wildenborg, the Dutch modder who discovered the infamous Hot Coffee mod sex animations embedded in Rockstar Games' controversial Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

GP's frequent and incisive coverage of the unfolding Hot Coffee scandal brought mainstream media attention to the site from publications such as Fortune^[4] and The New York Times^[5] as traditional news outlets attempted to come to grips with the political and societal aspects of the burgeoning video game controversy. In December 2007, Entertainment Weekly named GamePolitics to its "100 Greatest Websites".^[6] GP has also been cited in The Washington Post.^[7]

GamePolitics was referenced^[8] in Sex in Video Games, a 2007 book by game developer, activist and academic Brenda Brathwaite and has also been cited in numerous scholarly writings.^[9]

The activities of Jack Thompson, an activist against violence and/or sex in video games,^[10]^[11]^[12] were a common subject of coverage, particularly between 2005 and 2009.

During McCauley's time as editor, GamePolitics adopted a pro-consumer orientation, leveling sharp criticism at the video game industry on certain issues. Most notable among these was a series of editorial and articles charging that game publisher Electronic Arts had engaged in monopolistic practices in regard to its popular Madden NFL franchise. As early as April 2005, GamePolitics called for the United States Department of Justice to investigate E.A.'s conduct in regard to a possible Madden monopoly.^[13] While no Justice Department investigation was forthcoming, in 2008, a class action suit was filed against Electronic Arts on behalf of gamer consumers who were negatively impacted by Madden pricing.^[14] The allegations in the lawsuit largely followed the line of reasoning laid out by McCauley's coverage. In July 2009, GamePolitics broke the news that plaintiffs in the class action suit alleged that monopolistic practices by E.A. had cost Madden buyers $926 million.^[15] The class action was eventually settled for $27 million in 2013.^[16]

GamePolitics has had on occasionally contentious relationship with video game industry lobbying group the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). In 2008, the site criticized the choice of Texas Gov. Rick Perry as keynote speaker for the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). The commentary provoked a harsh response from the ESA, whose spokesman told video game blog Joystiq, " ...calling GamePolitics a news site is as laughable as saying there's a Cuban free press."^[17]

GamePolitics has also covered a small number events live, including a demonstration in Philadelphia which was staged to protest against a first-person shooter game published by the United States Army as a recruiting tool.^[18]

Hal Halpin subsequently founded the Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), a non-profit organization for video game consumers. On October 25, 2006, it was announced that GamePolitics.com had been acquired by the ECA and that McCauley would stay on as editor.^[19]

GamePolitics was initially published on the LiveJournal blogging platform with the GP blog embedded within a standard HTML site design. However, this structure proved problematic, particularly with RSS feeds. For this reason the site was redesigned and migrated to the WordPress platform in late 2006. Following the ECA acquisition, GamePolitics was migrated to the Drupal CMS format.

On September 14, 2009, Dennis McCauley announced that he was stepping down as editor. Pete Gallagher (former editor-in-chief of ECA Today and GameDaily) was named as his successor.^[20] Gallagher's run at GamePolitics was short-lived, however. James Fudge succeeded Gallagher as editor. In the wake of McCauley's 2009 departure, GamePolitics editorial focus underwent a significant change in direction. The site discontinued original reporting with the vast majority of articles simply linking to content created elsewhere.

In April 2016, managing editor James Fudge announced that GamePolitics would be shutting down, as the site's mission of protecting games had been accomplished after Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association and the site was no longer needed. The site no longer updates as of April 18, 2016.^[21]

References

^ "Dennis McCauley". philly.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
^ Totilo, Stephen (March 2, 2006). "Is A Senator Trying To Ban Your Favorite Video Game? Web Site Helps You Find Out". MTV. Archived from the original on August 17, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
^ "Did Rockstar Circumvent the ESRB Rating System?". GamePolitics.com. July 4, 2005. Archived from the original on October 19, 2014 – via LiveJournal.
^ McLean, Bethany (August 22, 2005). "Sex, Lies, and Videogames". Fortune. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
^ Zeller, Tom Jr. (February 20, 2006). "Defending Cruelty: It's Only a Game". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
^ "The 100 Greatest Websites". Entertainment Weekly. December 21, 2007. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
^ Natividad, Amanda (October 14, 2008). "paidContent.org - Gaming A New Platform For Political Ads; Obama Ad Shows Up On Xbox". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
^ Brathwaite, Brenda (2007). Sex in Video Games. Charles River Media. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-58450-459-7.
^ "GamePolitics.com". Google Scholar. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
^ Musgrove, Mike (April 17, 2007). "Va. Tech: Dr. Phil & Jack Thompson Blame Video Games". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
^ Ryan, Oliver (June 9, 2006). "Louisiana braces for...video game threat". CNN. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
^ McCullagh, Declan (October 16, 2006). "Florida judge won't ban "Bully" video game". CNET. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2008.
^ "Reebok Case Has Implications for EA NFL Monopoly; GamePolitics Renews Call for Justice Dept. Probe". GamePolitics.com. May 26, 2005. Retrieved October 14, 2020 – via LiveJournal.
^ Sinclair, Brendan (June 13, 2008). "Gamers sue EA over football exclusivity". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
^ "Economist: EA's Madden Monopoly Cost Gamers Up To $926 Million". GamePolitics.com. July 14, 2009. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
^ McAfee, David (May 31, 2013). "EA Gets Nod For $27M Deal In Football Game Antitrust Row". Law360. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
^ Sliwinski, Alexander (June 3, 2008). "ESA calls out GamePolitics for unfair coverage [update]". Engadget. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
^ Good, Owen (May 3, 2009). "Protest Against Video Game Army Recruiting Ends in Arrests". Kotaku. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
^ Feldman, Curt (October 25, 2006). "ECA acquires news blog GamePolitics". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
^ "Veteran Games Journalist Named Editor of GP". GamePolitics.com. September 14, 2009. Archived from the original on September 23, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
^ Sinclair, Brendan (April 4, 2016). "GamePolitics shutting down". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2016.

[1] "Dennis McCauley". philly.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.

[MTV1-2] Totilo, Stephen (March 2, 2006). "Is A Senator Trying To Ban Your Favorite Video Game? Web Site Helps You Find Out". MTV. Archived from the original on August 17, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2016.

[3] "Did Rockstar Circumvent the ESRB Rating System?". GamePolitics.com. July 4, 2005. Archived from the original on October 19, 2014 – via LiveJournal.

[4] McLean, Bethany (August 22, 2005). "Sex, Lies, and Videogames". Fortune. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.

[5] Zeller, Tom Jr. (February 20, 2006). "Defending Cruelty: It's Only a Game". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2019.

[6] "The 100 Greatest Websites". Entertainment Weekly. December 21, 2007. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.

[7] Natividad, Amanda (October 14, 2008). "paidContent.org - Gaming A New Platform For Political Ads; Obama Ad Shows Up On Xbox". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2017.

[8] Brathwaite, Brenda (2007). Sex in Video Games. Charles River Media. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-58450-459-7.

[9] "GamePolitics.com". Google Scholar. Retrieved October 14, 2020.

[10] Musgrove, Mike (April 17, 2007). "Va. Tech: Dr. Phil & Jack Thompson Blame Video Games". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2008.

[11] Ryan, Oliver (June 9, 2006). "Louisiana braces for...video game threat". CNN. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008.

[12] McCullagh, Declan (October 16, 2006). "Florida judge won't ban "Bully" video game". CNET. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2008.

[13] "Reebok Case Has Implications for EA NFL Monopoly; GamePolitics Renews Call for Justice Dept. Probe". GamePolitics.com. May 26, 2005. Retrieved October 14, 2020 – via LiveJournal.

[14] Sinclair, Brendan (June 13, 2008). "Gamers sue EA over football exclusivity". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.

[15] "Economist: EA's Madden Monopoly Cost Gamers Up To $926 Million". GamePolitics.com. July 14, 2009. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.

[16] McAfee, David (May 31, 2013). "EA Gets Nod For $27M Deal In Football Game Antitrust Row". Law360. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.

[17] Sliwinski, Alexander (June 3, 2008). "ESA calls out GamePolitics for unfair coverage [update]". Engadget. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2017.

[18] Good, Owen (May 3, 2009). "Protest Against Video Game Army Recruiting Ends in Arrests". Kotaku. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2015.

[19] Feldman, Curt (October 25, 2006). "ECA acquires news blog GamePolitics". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2009.

[EsOut-20] "Veteran Games Journalist Named Editor of GP". GamePolitics.com. September 14, 2009. Archived from the original on September 23, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009.

[21] Sinclair, Brendan (April 4, 2016). "GamePolitics shutting down". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2016.

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+{{Short description|Blogging site}}
-'''GamePolitics.com''' is a [[LiveJournal]] powered [[blog]] about the [[politics]] of [[computer and video games]] started by [[Dennis McCauley]]. It is frequently referenced to from many other videogame sites.
+{{Lead too long|date=January 2017}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
+{{Infobox website
+| name             = GamePolitics.com
+| favicon          =
+| logo             =
+| screenshot       = Game politics sm.jpg
+| caption          = GP homepage
+| url              = [https://gamepolitics.com/ GamePolitics.com]
+| commercial       = No
+| type             = [[Blog]]
+| registration     = None
+| owner            = [[Entertainment Consumers Association]]
+| author           = Dennis McCauley
+| launch_date      = March 2005
+| current_status   = Defunct
+| revenue          =
+}}
+'''GamePolitics.com''' was a [[blog]] which covered the [[politics]] of [[PC game|computer]] and [[video game]]s. GamePolitics was launched by freelance journalist Dennis McCauley in March 2005. At the time, McCauley was the video game columnist<ref>
+{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/dennis_mccauley?c=r|title=Dennis McCauley|work=philly.com|access-date=2015-06-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621171042/http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/dennis_mccauley?c=r|archive-date=2015-06-21|url-status=live}}</ref> for ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'', a position he held from 1998 to 2009. Growing somewhat bored of writing video game reviews, McCauley created GamePolitics in order to track the political, legal and cultural impact of video games.<ref name=MTV1>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1525249/20060302/index.jhtml?headlines=true|publisher=MTV|title=Is A Senator Trying To Ban Your Favorite Video Game? Web Site Helps You Find Out|date=March 2, 2006|access-date=September 13, 2016|last=Totilo|first=Stephen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817061620/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1525249/20060302/index.jhtml?headlines=true|archive-date=2007-08-17|url-status=dead}}</ref> The site was often referred to as GP by followers.
+Under McCauley's tenure as editor, frequent topics included video game [[legislation]], the effects of media coverage on video games and gamer culture, and stories about high-profile critics and/or supporters of the industry. Early on, GP established itself as a site which included a great deal of original content based on McCauley's reporting. For example, GP published the first interview<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/35003.html |title=Did Rockstar Circumvent the ESRB Rating System? |work=GamePolitics.com |via=LiveJournal |date=July 4, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019054358/http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/35003.html |archive-date=2014-10-19 }}</ref> with Patrick Wildenborg, the Dutch modder who discovered the infamous [[Hot Coffee mod]] sex animations embedded in [[Rockstar Games]]' controversial ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]''.
-Frequent topics include covering proposed and enacted video game legislations, and reporting on people and groups who make critical attacks on video games or video game community.
+GP's frequent and incisive coverage of the unfolding Hot Coffee scandal brought mainstream media attention to the site from publications such as ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=McLean|first=Bethany |author-link=Bethany McLean
-===Jack Thompson and Gamepolitics===
+|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/08/22/8270037/index.htm|title=Sex, Lies, and Videogames |date=August 22, 2005|work=Fortune|access-date=2015-06-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621172255/http://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/08/22/8270037/index.htm|archive-date=2015-06-21|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''[[The New York Times]]''<ref>{{Cite news|last=Zeller |first=Tom Jr.|author-link=Tom Zeller Jr.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/20/technology/20link.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1434895762-H96AM5%2FTBUVNw6%2Ffg496iA |title=Defending Cruelty: It's Only a Game |work=The New York Times|date=February 20, 2006|access-date=2019-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621183746/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/20/technology/20link.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1434895762-H96AM5%2FTBUVNw6%2Ffg496iA |archive-date=2015-06-21 |url-status=live }}</ref> as traditional news outlets attempted to come to grips with the political and societal aspects of the burgeoning video game controversy. In December 2007, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' named GamePolitics to its "100 Greatest Websites".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2007/12/21/100-greatest-websites/6|title=The 100 Greatest Websites|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=December 21, 2007|access-date=2015-06-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621174205/http://www.ew.com/article/2007/12/21/100-greatest-websites/6|archive-date=2015-06-21|url-status=live}}</ref> GP has also been cited in ''[[The Washington Post]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Natividad|first=Amanda |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/14/AR2008101401881.html|title=paidContent.org - Gaming A New Platform For Political Ads; Obama Ad Shows Up On Xbox|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 14, 2008|access-date=2017-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727115254/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/14/AR2008101401881.html|archive-date=2018-07-27|url-status=live}}</ref>
-[[Jack_Thompson#LiveJournal.2FGamePolitics|Main Article: Jack Thompson]]
+GamePolitics was referenced<ref>{{cite book|last=Brathwaite|first=Brenda |author-link=Brenda Romero|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xc8TAQAAIAAJ&q=%22GamePolitics.com%22|title=Sex in Video Games|publisher=Charles River Media |year=2007|page=119|isbn=978-1-58450-459-7}}</ref> in ''Sex in Video Games'', a 2007 book by game developer, activist and academic [[Brenda Romero|Brenda Brathwaite]] and has also been cited in numerous scholarly writings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22GamePolitics.com%22|title=GamePolitics.com |work=Google Scholar|access-date=2020-10-14}}</ref>
-[[Jack Thompson]], frequently visits and comments on the site. In the beginning he posted anonymously and made many press releases and insults directed towards the owner and the gamers that visited the site. Dennis decided to ban anonymous posting after Jack made inappropriate comments regarding a gamer's suicide.
-In response to [[GamePolitics]] requiring that all persons commenting on stories have [[LiveJournal]] accounts, Jack Thompson signed up the service using the screen name [http://johnbthompson.livejournal.com/ johnbthompson], although he initially deleted this account himself, and later restored it. He then created [http://jackthompson888.livejournal.com jackthompson888]. What Thompson did not realize however, was that when people responded to comments that he made, he would receive an email in his inbox notifying him that he had received a comment from a user, and what that comment was. Mr. Thompson perceived it to be threats sent via LJ:
+The activities of [[Jack Thompson (activist)|Jack Thompson]], an activist against [[violence and video games|violence]] and/or [[sex and nudity in video games|sex]] in video games,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2007/04/va_tech_dr_phil_jack_thompson.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902092000/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2007/04/va_tech_dr_phil_jack_thompson.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 2, 2012 |title=Va. Tech: Dr. Phil & Jack Thompson Blame Video Games |access-date=2008-08-28 |last=Musgrove |first=Mike |date=2007-04-17 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>
-:''The Congress has passed and the President has signed into law a statute [[Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act|that makes it a crime to send harassing emails to anyone]], if it is done anonymously. That means, all you little pixelantes who are sending me emails through LiveJournal and who are not also providing your names, addresses, and phone numbers are violating this criminal statute.''
+{{cite web |last=Ryan |first=Oliver |date=2006-06-09 |title=Louisiana braces for...video game threat |publisher=CNN |url=https://money.cnn.com/blogs/browser/2006/06/louisiana-braces-forvideo-game-threat.html |access-date=2008-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725232453/https://money.cnn.com/blogs/browser/2006/06/louisiana-braces-forvideo-game-threat.html |archive-date=2008-07-25 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6126245-7.html|title=Florida judge won't ban "Bully" video game|access-date=2008-08-27|last=McCullagh|first=Declan|date=2006-10-16|work=[[CNET]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025023930/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6126245-7.html|archive-date=2012-10-25|url-status=live}}</ref> were a common subject of coverage, particularly between 2005 and 2009.
+During McCauley's time as editor, GamePolitics adopted a pro-consumer orientation, leveling sharp criticism at the video game industry on certain issues. Most notable among these was a series of editorial and articles charging that game publisher [[Electronic Arts]] had engaged in monopolistic practices in regard to its popular ''[[Madden NFL]]'' franchise. As early as April 2005, GamePolitics called for the [[United States Department of Justice]] to investigate E.A.'s conduct in regard to a possible ''Madden'' monopoly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/24662.html |title=Reebok Case Has Implications for EA NFL Monopoly; GamePolitics Renews Call for Justice Dept. Probe |work=GamePolitics.com|via=LiveJournal|date=May 26, 2005|access-date=2020-10-14}}</ref> While no Justice Department investigation was forthcoming, in 2008, a class action suit was filed against Electronic Arts on behalf of gamer consumers who were negatively impacted by ''Madden'' pricing.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sinclair|first=Brendan |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gamers-sue-ea-over-football-exclusivity/1100-6192409/|title=Gamers sue EA over football exclusivity|work=GameSpot|date=June 13, 2008|access-date=2015-06-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129115059/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gamers-sue-ea-over-football-exclusivity/1100-6192409/|archive-date=2015-01-29|url-status=live}}</ref> The allegations in the lawsuit largely followed the line of reasoning laid out by McCauley's coverage. In July 2009, GamePolitics broke the news that plaintiffs in the class action suit alleged that monopolistic practices by E.A. had cost ''Madden'' buyers $926 million.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/07/14/economist-ea039s-madden-monopoly-cost-gamers-926-million#.VY8XePlViko |title=Economist: EA's Madden Monopoly Cost Gamers Up To $926 Million |work=GamePolitics.com|date=July 14, 2009|access-date=2015-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630190535/http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/07/14/economist-ea039s-madden-monopoly-cost-gamers-926-million#.VY8XePlViko |archive-date=2015-06-30 |url-status=live }}</ref> The class action was eventually settled for $27 million in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=McAfee|first=David |url=http://www.law360.com/articles/446348/ea-gets-nod-for-27m-deal-in-football-game-antitrust-row|title=EA Gets Nod For $27M Deal In Football Game Antitrust Row|work=Law360|date=May 31, 2013|access-date=2015-06-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701014745/http://www.law360.com/articles/446348/ea-gets-nod-for-27m-deal-in-football-game-antitrust-row|archive-date=2015-07-01|url-status=live}}</ref>
-:''If you want [[Dennis McCauley]] sued for this, in order that I will then discover your true identities in order to put some of you into jail like the kid in Houston I got arrested, keep it up.''
+GamePolitics has had on occasionally contentious relationship with video game industry lobbying group the [[Entertainment Software Association]] (ESA). In 2008, the site criticized the choice of Texas Gov. [[Rick Perry]] as keynote speaker for the [[E3|Electronic Entertainment Expo]] (E3). The commentary provoked a harsh response from the ESA, whose spokesman told video game blog ''[[Joystiq]]'', " ...calling GamePolitics a news site is as laughable as saying there's a Cuban free press."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2008/06/03/esa-calls-out-gamepolitics-for-unfair-coverage/|title=ESA calls out GamePolitics for unfair coverage [update]|last=Sliwinski|first=Alexander |work=Engadget|date=June 3, 2008|access-date=2017-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033703/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/03/esa-calls-out-gamepolitics-for-unfair-coverage/|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=live}}</ref>
-In an effort to point Mr. Thompson in the right direction, a LiveJournal user by the name of [http://startropics.livejournal.com startropics] replied to this post in a helpful manner.
+GamePolitics has also covered a small number events live, including a demonstration in Philadelphia which was staged to protest against a [[first-person shooter]] game published by the [[United States Army]] as a recruiting tool.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5238213/protest-against-video-game-army-recruiting-ends-in-arrests|title=Protest Against Video Game Army Recruiting Ends in Arrests|last=Good|first=Owen |work=Kotaku|date=May 3, 2009|access-date=2015-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630185956/http://kotaku.com/5238213/protest-against-video-game-army-recruiting-ends-in-arrests|archive-date=2015-06-30|url-status=live}}</ref>
-:''Mr. Thompson sir, perhaps I should enlignten you as to how LiveJournal comments work, just as a courtesy. It's alright to be a little clueless, as I'm sure this is the first blog you've ever had.''
+[[Hal Halpin]] subsequently founded the [[Entertainment Consumers Association]] (ECA), a non-profit organization for video game consumers. On October 25, 2006, it was announced that GamePolitics.com had been acquired by the ECA and that McCauley would stay on as editor.<ref>{{cite web|last=Feldman |first=Curt |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6160461.html |title=ECA acquires news blog GamePolitics |work=GameSpot |date=2006-10-25 |access-date=2009-08-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720023919/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6160461.html |archive-date=2008-07-20 }}</ref>
-:''When someone leaves a "comment" or reply to a statement that you have made on LiveJournal, whether as a post or a reply to a post, the user in question that is being replied to is sent an email as a courtesy to let them know that they have received a comment. The email also contains the comment in question, and an option to reply to it using the email.''
+GamePolitics was initially published on the [[LiveJournal]] blogging platform with the GP blog embedded within a standard HTML site design. However, this structure proved problematic, particularly with [[RSS]] feeds. For this reason the site was redesigned and migrated to the [[WordPress]] platform in late 2006. Following the ECA acquisition, GamePolitics was migrated to the [[Drupal]] CMS format.
-:''Now when you were replying anonymously, you weren't receiving these emails because LiveJournal had no idea where to send the notification emails. Now it does.''
+On September 14, 2009, Dennis McCauley announced that he was stepping down as editor. Pete Gallagher (former editor-in-chief of ''ECA Today'' and ''[[GameDaily]]'') was named as his successor.<ref name="EsOut">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/09/14/veteran-games-journalist-named-editor-gp |title=Veteran Games Journalist Named Editor of GP |work=GamePolitics.com |date=September 14, 2009 |access-date=2009-09-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923025445/http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/09/14/veteran-games-journalist-named-editor-gp |archive-date=2009-09-23 }}</ref> Gallagher's run at GamePolitics was short-lived, however. James Fudge succeeded Gallagher as editor. In the wake of McCauley's 2009 departure, GamePolitics editorial focus underwent a significant change in direction. The site discontinued original reporting with the vast majority of articles simply linking to content created elsewhere.
-:''If you wish to disable this function and search for replied manually, I would suggest turning off email notification. It should be in the Personal Info section. Simply uncheck Receive comment notification e-mails and you should be all set.''
+In April 2016, managing editor James Fudge announced that GamePolitics would be shutting down, as the site's mission of protecting games had been accomplished after ''[[Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association]]'' and the site was no longer needed. The site no longer updates as of April 18, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-04-04-gamepolitics-shutting-down|title=GamePolitics shutting down|last=Sinclair|first=Brendan |work=GamesIndustry.biz|date=April 4, 2016|access-date=2016-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414070449/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-04-04-gamepolitics-shutting-down|archive-date=2016-04-14|url-status=live}}</ref>
-:''Don't worry, I do this sort of thing all the time for my grandfather. I help him all the time with his computer.''
+==See also==
-:''The gamer that cares. David Cochrane.''
+* [[Government simulation game]]
+* [[Jack Thompson (activist)]]
+==References==
-''jackthompson888'' has since been banned from posting at GamePolitics for undisclosed reasons.
+{{Reflist}}
+[[Category:American political blogs]]
-Thompson has since created a new account [http://whittakerchambe.livejournal.com/ whittakerchambe], apparently alluding to [[Whittaker Chambers]], who was posthumously awarded the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]], for his contribution to "the century's epic struggle between freedom and totalitarianism". Thompson claimed that he had endowed a scholarship in Chambers' name, with John Chambers' blessing. (Whittaker's son) This account has since been banned as well after Jack Thompson continued to mock the passing of Mitchell S., and made [http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/202166.html?thread=13558198#t13558198 several derogatory comments] comparing readers of [[GamePolitics]] to Nazis. Quote, ''Gamers are akin to the Hitler Youth. Pixelantes are vigilantes. You put threats ahead of arguments, extortion ahead of enlightenment... You all are the new book burners. Heil PS2! Heil Halo! Heil GTA! Put down the controllers and get a life, you lost souls. Jack Thompson.''
+[[Category:Defunct American websites]]
+[[Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2016]]
-[[Dennis McCauley]] interpreted this as clearly being unacceptably offensive, and banned Thompson's account, stating ''Glad to hear you're getting your own blog, Jack... You can spout all of this crap there to your heart's content.'' (In the same general area, Jack plugged his soon-to-be new website, [http://www.jackandgoliath.com/ Jack and Goliath]).
+[[Category:Internet properties established in 2005]]
+[[Category:Video game blogs]]
-Refusing to be silenced, Jack Thompson created yet another [[LiveJournal]] account, dubbed [http://dennismcawfully.livejournal.com/ dennismcawfully], a cheap attempt to mock [[Dennis McCauley]], the maintainer of [[GamePolitics]]. This account was banned almost instantly.
+[[Category:History of video games]]
+[[Category:Jack Thompson (activist)]]
-Ironically in a post titled [http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/203965.html?thread=13750461#t13750461 Jack Thompson with Some Facts, Not GP Fiction], he wrote ''(Dennis)recommended a blog, which is a terrible idea. I don't need a blog. A blog is for people who have nothing to do with their lives. Kind of like the pixelantes who post here with cowardly, anonymous avatars, all three of you. No, when you're on nationl teevee since 1990, folks, you don't need a blog. You just ring up [[Anderson Cooper]]. Anderson doesn't need a blog either.''
-It didn't take GP readers long to point out that [[Anderson Cooper]] does in fact, [http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog/ have a blog at CNN].
-Currently, Jack Thompson posts under the username JackandGoliath.
-==External links==
-* [http://www.gamepolitics.com/ GamePolitics.com]
-* [http://www.livejournal.com/users/gamepolitics/ LiveJournal page]
-{{cvg-culture-stub}}
-[[Category:Blogs]]
-[[Category:computer and video game websites]]
-[[Category:Political websites]]
-[[Category:Computer and video game culture]]
-[[Category:Videogames journalism]]