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ESA partners with Microsoft & Sony for STEM initiative, launches game creation competitions

November 23rd, 2009 at 01:40pm Under Xbox 360

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the game industry lobby group, today announced two new game creation contests meant to support President Obama’s STEM initiative (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math studies). A partnership between the ESA, Microsoft, Sony, the Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC), and the MacArthur Foundation will help to fund and run a series of STEM-related game design competitions.

Details of the first two competitions – “Game Changers” and the less creatively titled “STEM National Video Game Competition” – are scant at the moment, though the former will involve Sony donating 1,000 PS3s and copies of LittleBigPlanet to libraries and community-based organizations in low-income districts, with plans to share the winning levels free to the gaming public. When asked, an ESA representative told Joystiq that more information would be revealed in “the coming weeks.”

ESA partners with Microsoft & Sony for STEM initiative, launches game creation competitions originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ESA’s ‘Nite to Unite for Kids’ raises $800 000 for children’s charities

November 13th, 2009 at 09:30am Under Uncategorized

The Entertainment Software Association’s (ESA) annual children’s charity dinner, “Nite to Unite for Kids,” which took place on October 13th in San Francisco, was this year able to raise a whopping $800 000 as a result of the sold-out dinner, auction and casino event.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to a selection of organisations that provide aid to children in need, including Web Wise Kids, Hope Lab, ThanksUSA and the One Economy Corporation.

ESA president and CEO Michael Gallagher praised attendees and members of the videogame industry for their support, noting that this latest fundraiser has brought the total amount donated to the ESA Foundation to an incredible $11 million.

During the “Nite to Unite for Kids” event, Ubisoft chairman and CEO Yves Guillemot was honoured as 2009’s ESA Champion, thanks to his forward-looking vision for computer and video games, and his tireless efforts to “translate that vision into reality.”

Guillemot joins the list of previous ESA Champions, and industry legends, George Lucas, Bing Gordon, Shigeru Miyamoto, Howard Lincoln, Isao Ogawa, and Ken Kutaragi.

Source: Gamasutra