1 Like To the people complaining. If marriage equality existed then there would no longer be campaigning for it. The quicker it happens the quicker these companies will shut up about it.
EA, Microsoft, Zynga again voice opposition to Defense of Marriage Act
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Gaming companies join more than 200 US firms in signing document calling on Supreme Court to repeal act that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.
Electronic Arts, Microsoft, and Zynga have again voiced their opposition to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The companies have joined with 275 other United States firms in signing an amicus brief calling on the Supreme Court to repeal the act that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.
"Although marriages are celebrated and recognized under state law, DOMA, a federal law withholding marital benefits from some lawful marriages but not others, requires that employers treat one employee differently from another, when each is married, and each marriage is equally lawful," reads a line from the brief. "DOMA thus impairs employer/employee relations and other business interests."
Other companies signing the brief include Facebook, Amazon, Starbucks, Twitter, The Walt Disney Company, and GameSpot parent company CBS Corporation. No other game companies signed the brief.
EA, Microsoft, and Zynga signed a similar brief last summer. Speaking with GameSpot, EA corporate communications representative Sandy Goldberg explained that this new brief supports a different Supreme Court case, but its goal is the same.
"This brief is similar in nature of course, but supports a different Supreme Court case, this one being United States vs. Windsor. Both have the same implication--that DOMA presents an issue for employers by forcing them to put married employees in two categories which creates regulatory, tax, benefits and morale problems for employers," Goldberg said.
EA last month joined a Human Rights Campaign business coalition to support the repeal of DOMA.
In addition, the publisher will join with the HRC and the Ford Foundation in New York City next week to discuss LGBT issues in games. The half-day event will see attendees discussing the origin of homophobia in games, the difference between exclusive and inclusive language, and how employers can create and promote inclusive work environments for LGBT employees.
Baltimore Ravens linebacker and recent Super Bowl champion Brendon Ayanbadejo will host a fireside chat at the event that will focus on the challenges of creating an inclusive culture, according to a description of the talk.
The Defense of Marriage Act, which was enacted by the federal government in 1996, legally defines marriage as between one man and one woman. The Obama administration since found the act's third section (which contains the definition) unconstitutional and has refused to act upon it.
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
1469 comments
1 Like 
maybe if Zynga and EA stopped their political shit the former wouldnt go bankrupt and would stop hiring embezzling CEO's and the latter would actually make a good working video game like it hasn't done for years. Stop the political bullshit, you're a video game company, you cant even do that shit right and you wanna tackle another frontier?
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@fender1903 So you're getting a divorce when you can no longer sperm your wife? Or is there not a woman out there as ignorant as you?
1 Like @fender1903Marriage should be left to those that can ACTUALLY reproduce.
So even heterosexuals that can't have a child do to fertility problems can't get married either or people that are too old to have kids can't get married. Completely ignorant statement.
@bannermanner i concur. just coz EA and Zynga (who make shit vid games by the way) are involved doesnt mean you have to report it here i come to gamespot to spot games not fucking political shit.
3 Like WTF does DOM have to do with making games!? Seriously, shut-up and make games. This has nothing to do with anything in the gaming industry. I hear enough of this garbage, and I don't need to hear it here too.
Marriage should be left to those that can ACTUALLY reproduce. And LGBT is not a civil rights issue! What a slap in the face to all the blacks who actually fought on the streets for their rights, only to have some emotionally and psychologically impaired people a couple generations later think that their special and need the right to marry the same sex. Sick.
1 Like no wonder this world and it's people are so s****d up, please stick to trying to make good games ... these gaming businesses trying to tap into marriage problems is just so ....weird....the saying more money than sense comes to mind. don't just reap the profit bucket, put something back into evolving this tired franchise properly. please keep out of religion and politics!!!!
3 Like I'm so happy I'm not religous. I prefer being open minded and non hating. Not saying that all religous people are, just I've met more than enough. Besides, people like me keep the population and teen pregnancy down. :)
4 Like A lot of people with nasty, hateful comments. Makes me wonder what kind of life they have if they spew the deplorable things they do, just because they're doing it over the web.
3 Like First of all, it's not their business. Second, marriage should only be between a man and woman.
@but_chik13 @MasterOfSprites @fluffy_puppy666 @bmart970 Because questioning is the way to the truth.
Why do they care? They should care about making money for their products, not anything else.
3 Like EA, Microsoft, Zynga, etc. If you all want more customers, heterosexual couples it's obviously the only way to produce more.
3 Like They are not doing it for profit or presige. They believe the world is over populated and homosexual marriages is the perfect solution to this "problem". They also promote and fund a lot of abortions. Bill Gates is not shy about this fact.
3 Like it's just a commercial action. they care about money so they do everything to gain new costumers
2 Like @HoolifanStyle Homossexuals are a very, very small portion of the society, if its a commercial action, then its for a very small group of people, it wouldn't make a difference. They are doing it because they are not conservative morons.
8 Like @Shanks_D_Chop @HoolifanStyle If its not the case where were these companies ten years ago? They've waited till its past tipping point to say anything. Very courageous of them.
3 Like The only reason these companies are standing against the bill is for good PR, let's be perfectly honest. Yes it's great that they are, but I don't believe that they really care about these issues.
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@ceromaster I could or you could actually read and understand the article? It's really not very complicated, this act would affect how companies such as EA have to treat their employees.
Grow up child. Just because you don't see it, EVERYTHING is affected by politics. It's called the real world. Try living in it.
10 Like In other words, "Gamespot again reports controversial issue to prompt massive commenting and generate more money"
@Muteki_X what are you talking about? its every websites goal to increase traffic and viewership so why would that bother you? talk about complaining about absolutely nothing. what next you upset the sky is blue?
@philMcCrevis How is what I said "complaining"? Think before you talk and you won't look like such a dumbass. BTW, yes it pisses me off the sky is blue. Why the hell can't it change it up and be deep purple or green once in a while?
@Muteki_X @PotHeel I am willing to admit that my argument wasn't as fleshed out as it could have been, allow me to elaborate:
Stories like this are not major drivers of revenue, the presence of advertisements is minimal. Videos, the main page and reviews are where the majority of revenue is earned. This is a low key story, however the controversial nature of the content is guaranteed to spark internet interest. That internet interest in turn means that more visit the site, comment and will perhaps view other content later on, which may eventually grow profits although this is by no means a guarantee.
So contrary to your 'averment' angry internet man, Gamespot did not post this story with profit as their number one priority, that would be simply nonsensical.
@PotHeel Furthermore, I never explicitly linked commenting to generating money, i.e. ??commenting and generate more money? versus ?commenting to generate more money?. If you misinterpreted, then that is your blunder. In fact, you substantiate my claim in your last dictum ??to keep the fanbase interested and engaged, on these merits this story is an unequivocal success?. ?Interested and engaged? people translate into cash through usage.
@PotHeel Your averment is incongruous. You state ?GS do not earn money from?each story viewed? which is promptly contradicted by ?they earn money from each advertisement seen or interacted with?. You yourself connote that the advertisement may be seen on the emcee?s page or clicked in order to view the advertiser?s page. Advertisements appear in the sidebars each time a user visits the story. Occurrences of advertisement displays are factored into the equation for recompense. Therefore, as I asseverated, more hits equate to more money.
@Muteki_X @PotHeelOne never intended it to be an adequate economic model, merely an illustration of simplicity.
Also, your assumption is heavily flawed, as I pointed out earlier. GS do not earn money from each comment made, nor each story viewed. Instead they earn money from each advertisement seen or interacted with. Stories like this exist to keep the fanbase interested and engaged, on these merits this story is an unequivocal success.
@PotHeel Let me fill in the blank for you.
3) Free websites earn money for everytime someone uses that website, e.g. more hits = more money
Is that simple enough for you or do you need me to dumb it down for you a little more?
1 Like @Muteki_X They get money, an interesting conversation starts in the comments and you don't have to click the link. Don't be so cynical.
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