Things didn't look so good for the ESA last year, with major companies such as NCSoft and LucasArts abandoning ship and all the not-so-hot feedback about E3. The ESA obviously saw the need to make a change, and this the announcement that this year's E3 could possibly be the biggest yet, it looks like things are looking rosy once again. Well, that and the fact that new members are coming to the ESA to replace the ones that left.

Crave Entertainment, KOEI Corporation and Playlogic Entertainment, Inc. formally announced that they have joined the ESA today, and I'm wondering how many more companies we may see make the same move, especially after the sound of this year's "bigger and better than ever" E3. It sounds pretty exciting, and I'm glad to hear things are on the upswing again for the ESA. Otherwise, I'd have to make like that wolf up there when it comes to enduring another E3 that felt less like a gaming convention and more like an accounting conference.

CRAVE ENTERTAINMENT, KOEI CORPORATION AND PLAYLOGIC ENTERTAINMENT JOIN THE ESA

APRIL 27, 2009 – WASHINGTON, DC – Crave Entertainment, KOEI Corporation and Playlogic Entertainment, Inc. are the three newest members of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the trade association announced today. These companies bring a wealth of experience, innovation and artistic talent in delivering high quality entertainment software for a variety of platforms.

“Our growing membership is a reflection of the ESA’s valued and successful work on the key public policy issues facing the entertainment software industry,” said Michael D. Gallagher, CEO of the ESA. "Crave Entertainment, KOEI and Playlogic are key partners in leading that effort, and I am pleased to welcome them to the ESA."

Formed in 1997 and based out of Newport Beach, Calif., Crave Entertainment is a publisher of videogame entertainment products for all of the major console and handheld gaming platforms that focuses on providing quality content in the casual and value gaming markets.  Crave Entertainment publishes software in a variety of genres including Brunswick Bowling and the Pinball Hall of Fame series.

“With the Fillpoint acquisition of Crave Entertainment and SVG Distribution complete, we are excited to be renewing our membership and affiliation with the ESA”, stated David Burchi, Senior Vice President of Content and Strategic Development.  “The ESA has been instrumental in our industry and we are proud to be a part of their efforts.”

Based in Burlingame, Calif., KOEI Corporation established operations in 1988 as the North American subsidiary of KOEI Co., Ltd. of Japan. KOEI is respected worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and simulation games, and is the innovator of the Tactical Action genre. The company's Warriors series of games have generated a combined 18 million units in global sales.

"KOEI is proud to join the ESA, an organization that represents the positive growth of the computer and video game industry," said President Kenji Matsubara of KOEI Corporation. "We look forward to participating in the association's ongoing programs and initiatives, and to working with member companies to broaden the visibility of the entertainment software industry in the U.S."

Playlogic Entertainment Inc., with its U.S. headquarters in New York, is an independent publisher of entertainment software for consoles, PCs, handhelds, mobile devices and other digital media. Playlogic publishes various genres of games developed throughout the world and also has an in-house production facility located in the Netherlands.

“We are launching Playlogic as a standalone publisher in North America with the goal to bring gaming content that appeals to audiences of all ages and gaming interests,” said Paige Carlson, Vice President, Sales and Operations, North America. “You’ll see a lineup that includes family friendly console games as well as ground-breaking mature rated games for the core next gen gamer.”

About the Entertainment Software Association

The Entertainment Software Association is the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. The ESA offers services to interactive entertainment software publishers including a global anti-piracy program, owning the E3 Expo, business and consumer research, federal and state government relations, First Amendment and intellectual property protection efforts. For more information, please visit www.theESA.com.

About SVG Distribution / Crave Entertainment

Based in Newport Beach, California, Crave Entertainment / SVG Distribution is a full-service video game sales and distribution company and specialty publisher of videogame entertainment products for Wii™, Nintendo DS™, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. SVG Distribution / Crave Entertainment is a subsidy of Fillpoint. For more information about Crave Entertainment / SVG Distribution, please visit www.svgdistribution.com and www.cravegames.com.

About Fillpoint

Located in Malta, New York, Fillpoint is a leading provider of direct-to-consumer fulfillment services, distributor and e-commerce solutions for videogame hardware, software, accessories and PC software for national retailers and software publishers. For more information, please visit www.fillpoint.com.

About KOEI Corporation

KOEI develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software for video game systems and personal computers. For fiscal 2007, KOEI posted worldwide revenues of $291 million. KOEI maintains operations in Japan, the U.S., the UK, Canada, China, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Lithuania. On April 1st, 2009, KOEI Co., Ltd. and TECMO, LTD. merged to form TECMO KOEI HOLDINGS CO., LTD. More information about KOEI and its products can be found at www.koei.com.

About Playlogic
Playlogic Entertainment, Inc. is an independent worldwide publisher of entertainment software for consoles, PCs, handhelds, mobile devices, and other digital media. Playlogic distributes its products through all available channels, online and offline. Playlogic, who currently has approximately 110 employees, is listed on Nasdaq OTC under the symbol "PLGC.OB" and is headquartered in New York, USA and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Its in-house game development studio “Playlogic Game Factory” is based in Breda (the Netherlands).

Playlogic's portfolio includes games that are being developed by several teams at the Playlogic Game Factory, as well as games developed by a number of studios throughout the world with approximately 400 people of external development staff. The Playlogic Game Factory also develops first party titles for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE).

Playlogic publishes quality games, working with leading technology to produce digital entertainment from concept to finished product. Playlogic plans to publish 12 titles, on several platforms, during 2009.