Last month, during a C-SPAN appearance, Entertainment Software Association president Michael Gallagher named the games he likes playing -- and showed love for a DS game almost no one talks about.
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Thank goodness my mom has a DVR. And that I visited her for the holidays. She recorded ESA president Michael Gallagher's December 5 appearance on C-SPAN interview show "The Communicators," during which gaming's chief advocate in Washington told his interviewers what the industry does and doesn't want from the government.
"We believe our story is a good one," Gallagher told C-SPAN's Pedro Echevarria, emphasizing the proliferation of E and T-rated games, the booming business of publishers in this recession era and the ESA's successful defense against states' attempts to legislate content in games.
He talked about the challenges of piracy, the need to promote learning about game development in American schools and cast doubt that the gaming industry would face effective laws to limit content: "We believe the information we have -- the relationships we have -- are good. And [laws restricting video games] won't move forward especially at the time our country is in, when were engaged in two wars, we have very significant economic issues, we have the problems with the automotive industry and global warming. Legislation where we are doesn't look like it would resonate with the American people."
That's all well and good, Michael Gallagher, father of three teenagers, but how do you know what you're talking about? What games do you play?
Here's what's in the ESA president's rotation: "When I travel, I tend to bring 'Spore' on my DS these days along with 'Mario Kart'... I have all three consoles and play a wide variety of games. Right now what the kids want around Christmas time they want to see a little 'Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party.' My daughter's really into 'Animal Crossing' for the Wii. On the PS3 and Xbox 360, my son is into more of the deeper games like 'Dead Space' and 'Fable 2.'
Host Echebarria followed up with: "Do you say no to him?"
Gallagher: "What I tell him is that, as a responsible parent, I'll have to try those out first and make sure they are appropriate for you."
Earlier in the episode, Gallagher championed 'Rock Band" over "Guitar Hero" and threw in plugs for "SingStar" and "Lips," showing not only a breadth of knowledge about gaming but a great instinct to name games from as wide a selection of major ESA publisher members as possible.
Now, about "Spore" DS, is anyone else playing that, on airplanes, trains or otherwise?