The North American Game Industry - The Video Game Industry: Formation, Present State, and Future - page 92

Regional trade organizations, such as the Georgia Game Developers
Association work to further regional ef orts to encourage growth of the
game industry. These organizations often work with regional governments
to encourage the development or expansion of the kinds of tax incentives
previously mentioned. Although these regional organizations often overlap
with the ef orts of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA),
by encouraging local professional meet-ups, though their focus remains
more on industry-level issues rather than professional ones.
The ESA founded and supports the Entertainment Software Ratings
Board (ESRB), which assigns age and content ratings for games submitted
to them. It is a self-regulatory organization supported by the game industry
to discourage government intervention in the distribution of games. The
ESRB was founded in 1994 after controversy surrounding violent content
in games erupted in the U.S. Although having a game rated by the ESRB is
optional, console manufacturers require that all games released for consoles
must go through the ratings process. All three major console manufacturers
prohibit games that receive an “AO” or adults only rating.
For a game to receive a rating, a development studio, publisher or manu-
facturer must submit graphical and video footage of all extremely violent or
sexual content found in a game. Because many games can be played for signifi -
cantly long periods of time and content only appears in particular situations,
most games are not extensively played as part of the ratings process. The ESRB
has attempted to expand their independent play testing of games as part of the
ratings process, but it is dii cult and time consuming; thus they depend heavily
upon the materials submitted to them by a developer. For smaller games, the
ratings process costs $800; for large game titles the cost is $4,000.
Game developers in North America are represented primarily by the
IGDA. Local chapters can be found in cities throughout North America,
with various levels of developer participation. The IGDA is a non-profi t
organization and depends heavily on the volunteer ef orts of its members.
Special interest groups within the IGDA represent specifi c sub-groups within
the organization. The mission of the organization focuses on advancing the
careers and improving the lives of game developers by connecting them,
with professional development, and by advocating on their behalf on issues
raised by the community. Members of the organization must agree to abide
by the IGDA's code of ethics.
Although game developers in North America have, on occasion, dis-
cussed the idea of a union body, the general consensus of the community
has been that it is not necessary. Some developers, such as writers, may,
however, be members of other union bodies.
DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE INDUSTRY
The demographics of the North American game industry continues to be
a concern for many, with its predominantly white (83 per cent), male (89