Entertainment Software Association President Lowenstein Quits

Following an early report from a few days ago, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is now confirming that Douglas Lowenstein is resigning as president of the organization he's been leading for the past 12 years (!). He will be leaving the group early next year, in order to launch "a start-up trade group in the investment industry". According to various sources cited by GameSpot, Lowenstein has accepted a position with a still-forming trade organization that would represent a consortium of investment community firms.

Lowenstein is one of those people who made a huge impact on the gaming industry, without actually making any games or dealing with the creative process in any direct way. He founded the organization - then known as the Interactive Digital Software Association - in 1994, advocating against piracy and, in recent years, against the likes of Jack Thompson or inapt politicians trying to ban violent video games. The ESA also became synonymous with the North American rating group ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board), and up until this year, with the greatest of gaming shows - the E3, of course.

During Lowenstein's mandate, revenues in the gaming industry grew from about $3 billion to more than $10 billion. But surprisingly, the ESA only grew from 2 employees at launch to just 32 employees, who are working on a range of programs - from anti-piracy enforcement and domestic and international intellectual property policy, to government and media relations and research. Then again, the ESA reunites many more members and companies, who collectively account for more than 90% of the $7 billion in entertainment software sales in the U.S. in 2005 (and billions more in export sales of entertainment software).

Taking Lowenstein's place as president of the ESA will probably be Robbie Bach (ESA Chairman and President of Microsoft's Entertainment & Devices Division). At least until they can find for a proper replacement.

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)