The computer gaming industry has a number of organizations - the IDSA and the Computer Game Developers Association among them - that exist to promote the industry's interests. But until now there hasn't been an organization whose existence was devoted to lobbying Congress in order to best protect the industry's interests. You know, a political action committee.

　　But that's just what GamePAC intends to do.

　　The organization first announced itself at this year's E3 in Atlanta. And today, it issued a statement about its intent "to develop a political action confederation made up of people who develop, promote, and publish computer games" along with consumers.

　　That statement reads, in part: "Members of GamePAC believe our industry is under siege. In a successful campaign waged by the IDSA, a bill that would have banned violent video games, was defeated in the state of Florida. An even tougher fight is expected next year, and the coordinated efforts of our developers and publishers together with others in our industry is key to maintain our liberties.

　　"It is time that our voices be heard. As an industry, we have more political power than we can even imagine. Except for a few voices - such as the IDSA, an industry trade association representing software publishers - our industry is not heard in Washington and state capitals. However, the voices of lawmakers who want to blame our industry for violence in our society, who want to mandate a ratings system, who pass Internet censorship laws, are heard, while we remain silent. As Thomas Paine pointed out, it is up to each generation to guard its liberties.

　　"When Congress convenes, our liberties are in jeopardy. GamePAC is here to help facilitate and focus the political voice of the gaming industry, to investigate and inform game developers about government intrusion, and to help the game industry represent itself better in the halls of Washington and state capitals."

　　Among the participants involved in the inception of GamePAC were: Mark Shander, the marketing director for IcePick Games; Vince Desiderio, CEO of Running With Scissors; Gail Markels, General Counsel of IDSA; Bobby Seale, founder of the Black Panther Party and head of production for R.E.A.C.H. Cinema Productions; and Derek Smart, designer and lead developer of Battlecruiser: 3000AD.