ECA Wants Gamers To Email Obama

As a response to Obama's repeated calls for Americans to "put the videogames away," the ECA wants gamers to email President Obama about the positive aspects of gaming culture. On their website the ECA provides a pre-written email to the President that highlights the virtues of gaming. Wii Fit and Dance Dance Revolution are brought up to illustrate how certain games can encourage healthy lifestyles, while LittleBigPlanet and the modding community are used as examples of gaming's ability to education and train gamers for future employment. Other points appeal to the use of videogames as training tools in the professional world, and in our military. The letter goes on to point out that Obama himself underwent situational training with videogames to help, "plan out contingencies, plan for future events, and work on possible scenarios."

At the time of press, the ECA did not respond to our follow up questions.

Tyler says:

I'm glad the ECA is taking steps to raise awareness of the benefits of our hobby, and I'm especially pleased with the points the ECA makes regarding the use of videogames in professional, military and political training. It's hard to argue against the merits of gaming when our own institutions are using them as training tools. And I'm also thankful for the ECA including a well written, and thought out letter to Obama, instead of leaving that up to us. After all, can you image what Obama would think of videogames if message board trolls were the ones communicating with him?

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