According to a post on www.gamepolitics.com, Gov. Rick perry has declared February 3rd as Entertainment Software Day or Video Game Day! Supposedly this is the first time a state has recognized the gaming industries publicly for it's support of the state economy, bringing in $395 million last year for Texas, according to the ESA. Speaking of the ESA, here is a comment from ESA CEO Mike Gallagher:
"The support of Governor Perry, Senator Duell and Representative Dukes for the entertainment software industry in Texas is an endorsement of the artistic and economic contributions our industry has made to the state.These lawmakers are helping grow our industry as we work to create new jobs for Texans; boost the state’s economy; and help discover new ways computer and video games can improve the ways Americans live, work and play."
Great to see that this is being announced, but I only wonder if this would have had any precedence if done earlier? I mean, we have seen at least 3 studio closures; Vigil Entertainment, Ensemble Studios, and Midway Austin in the past few months. And like all aspects of business right now, the gaming industry is NOT recession proof. Hopefully, this announcement will inspire some new studios to come down south and try to set up shop in DFW or Austin. I will keep my fingers crossed.
image courtesy of http://www.theesa.com/images/gallagher.jpg and article can be read in full at http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/02/03/guv-declares-quotentertainment-software-dayquot-texas
No comments:
Post a Comment