It would seem that things are going horribly wrong according to Entertainment Software Association president Doug Lowenstein as he laid into the gaming industry for what he sees as their failure to protect the industry’s future.

Lowenstein spoke at the DICE Summit saying, "I'm sick and tired of people in this industry sitting on their hands and waiting for others to do the hard work".

"What is the problem? You cannot expect this industry to grow and prosper if you are not willing to put the time and effort into it."

Trying a bit of audience participation he asked how many of the attendees had signed up for the Video Game Voters Network. What he saw wasn’t to his liking, with only a few hands going up.

"I gotta tell you, that's pathetic", Lowenstein said, stating that the VGVN is the simplest way to get involved.

"You have to go on a website, click a few keystrokes, and you can send letters to Senators and Congressmen. And 90 per cent of the people in this room who have a stake in the future of this industry haven't bothered to take the time to do that. And it makes me sick."

Lowenstein went on to blast "publishers and developers who make controversial content, and then cut and run when it comes time to defend creative decisions. Nothing annoys me more".

"If you want to be controversial, fine, that's great. But damn it, don't duck and cover when the shit hits the fan."

Then it was the press’ turn. "I think the games press doesn't ask enough of itself, and I hope that it does. It needs a higher level of maturity. It needs to take itself seriously", Lowenstein said.

Particularly not to his taste was giving the most coverage to notorious anti-videogames campaigner Jack Thompson which in turn gave him credibility.

>> Link - Official Site/ESA