Forum Overview :: Gamerasutra :: Inside the Disarray Facing the Video Game Organization Behind E3

[quote name="Injustice"][quote name="<a href="https://variety.com/2019/gaming/features/entertainment-software-association-mike-gallagher-e3-1203211280/">Variety's Brian Crecente</a>"]In the past, when Gallagher would suggest something that other ESA employees thought might be off-putting to the game industry at large, they were able to guide him away from potential landmines. But it appears he began to push even further into his conservative views. He was, one source told Variety, a big fan of Trump’s — stocking his office with Trump wine and proudly displaying a copy of Trump’s boxed game in his office. This was something that some office visitors (often members of the typically left-leaning video game industry) found worrisome, sources said. To make matters worse, Gallagher started pushing for the ESA to publicly support Trump-backed policies when possible, a shift in behavior compared to his arms-length approach to the Obama administration.[/quote] The ultimate proof that the multi-billion dollar videogames industry is actually a liberal conspiracy: some of its members were put off by an office full of Donald Trump memorabilia. [quote name="<a href="https://variety.com/2019/gaming/features/entertainment-software-association-mike-gallagher-e3-1203211280/">Variety's Brian Crecente</a>"]Following the leadership change in the board, Gallagher asked if they would approve the creation of a new role: chief of staff, with an eye on promoting a young employee, sources said. But several members of the board questioned his need for one. Months later, Gallagher fired a well-respected, high-level staff member, sources said. Gallagher then created a new title and gave the young employee a raise, assigning her several high-profile roles at the association once held by the person fired, according to sources. This move was particularly devastating to morale, sources said. Internal unhappiness with the series of changes was made worse by the fact that some believed the employee wasn’t ready to take on the added responsibility. In one internal email sent to Variety, a working group noted that there were fundamental problems with a major plan by the employee and that it wasn’t ready to be rolled out.[/quote] What Brian is tiptoeing around here is the implication that this tight, young employee didn't get where she is through professional merit alone. Do you have any idea how hard it is to call a woman a whore in print these days? Especially when your only source is anonymous gossip?[/quote]