Douglas Lowenstein Industry Quotations

Interactive entertainment is going through a dynamic period, ... Video and PC games are becoming ubiquitous worldwide as the industry ... (creates) new technology and a range of content to keep up with growing demand from consumers.

Though George Lucas has long been recognized for his tremendous contributions to the world of film, he has also been a leader in the video game business, creating amazing game experiences for players around the globe through one of the industry's most successful companies, ... Our industry and its consumers have benefited greatly from Mr. Lucas work over the years, and we are proud to recognize him as this year's Champion honoree.

As the global computer and video game industry enters an important creative and technological transition, the early sell out of E3Expo affirms the critical importance of this event. As the first place to see the most anticipated next-generation hardware and software titles, and the best place to learn about the industry through its unrivaled conference program, E3Expo 2006 will offer attendees an unparalleled view of the business of games.

It is not up to any industry or the government to set standards for what kids can see or do; that is the role of parents. Everyone involved with this misguided law has known from the start that it is an unconstitutional infringement on the First Amendment freedoms of those who create and sell video games.

In 2004, video games flew off the shelves as eight titles were sold per second per day throughout the year, evidence of the continuing vast popularity of games among consumers of all ages. This industry remains strong and poised for renewed double digit growth over the next five years as we enter a new cycle of video game console launches. The future could not be brighter.

In 2004, the average game buyer was 37 years old and the average game player was 30. Knowing this, our industry creates a wide range of content for a diverse consumer audience, just as other entertainment industries do. And, it's illogical that video games would be treated more harshly than R-rated movies or music CDs with parental warning labels, both of which can be legally viewed and sold to minors. How can you treat a video game based on James Bond any different than a book or movie based on the same subject matter?

The 2004 sales figures are impressive, especially as we enter the twilight of this hardware cycle, and more significantly, looking ahead, the video game industry shows no signs of slowing down. No other entertainment industry has posted the sustained growth over the last decade generated by the video game sector, and given the technological and creative advances ahead, all signs point to surging growth and more record sales for many years to come.