81R6205 MMS-F
By: Dukes H.R. No. 223
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Entertainment software has become a recognized part
of our cultural landscape, with nearly two-thirds of our nation's
households playing computer and video games, and with the average
game player being 35 years old; and
WHEREAS, The technology utilized in computer and video games
continues not only to provide entertainment, but also to help make
positive advances in tools used in the medical, health care, and
human resources industries and to improve our nation's defense
capabilities; and
WHEREAS, Texas ranks third nationwide in computer and video
game development, and the entertainment software industry provides
more than 2,000 direct jobs and over 5,000 indirect jobs for Texas
residents; and
WHEREAS, Academic facilities, such as the Guildhall at
Southern Methodist University, the Department of Visualization at
Texas A&M University, the Technical Certification Program in Video
Game Development at Austin Community College, and the Videogame
Archive at The University of Texas at Austin, provide educational
and research opportunities and curricula that develop some of the
top talent in the entertainment software industry; and
WHEREAS, Committed to helping parents make informed game
decisions for their families, the entertainment software industry
has established a self-regulatory body, the Entertainment Software
Rating Board (ESRB), which has been lauded by the Federal Trade
Commission for its comprehensive and effective entertainment
rating system; moreover, the industry is voluntarily providing
parental control technology in its latest generation of game
consoles; and
WHEREAS, New research shows that computer and video games
often help children to develop their problem-solving and cognitive
reasoning skills, while enabling older players to develop improved
memory, reasoning, and multitasking abilities; in addition,
computer and video games are increasingly providing players of all
ages with ways to increase their physical activity; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 3, 2009, as Entertainment
Software Day in Texas.