It’s been a dramatic few months for The Game Manufacturers Association in America. They proposed a restructure in October to include companies and individuals who weren’t game manufacturers, this after dealing with some last-minute candidates, and more recently even launched a search engine.
Now, ICv2 reports that the group wants to overhaul governance. In particular, new bylaws will expand the number of non-game-makers on the board.
As it stands now, publisher members get to elect four officials to the board, while retail companies get to appoint one member and wholesalers one more.
The proposals mean that the six types (creators, publishers, wholesalers, retailers, media and events, and production) will each elect two.
The goal is chiefly to get retailers more power. Retailers shift games unless Kickstarter is involved. It’s been a terrible time for retailers, but publishers benefit from them as they give games longevity beyond the crowdfunding hype.
GAMA also makes 70% of its revenues from events. That’s hardly healthy in a world of lockdowns and the group needs to diversify.
While GAMA is about promoting the activities of games companies to media, Geek Native, like many blogs, isn’t a member because it costs to join (and this writer is based in Scotland). That’s perhaps an unwelcome barrier for getting publisher and retailer news out.
Voting members of GAMA have until July 2 to decide whether to accept the new proposals.
Join (or start) the healthy debate. Share your observations below.
