Austrian Association for Entertainment Software

Austrian Association for Entertainment Software ; (ÖVUS)
purpose	Advocacy for entertainment software
Seat	Vienna , Austria
founding	January 2007
president	Niki Laber
Members	8th
Website	www.ovus.at

The Austrian Association for Entertainment Software (ÖVUS) is a community of interest and sector representation of providers, producers, distributors and media professionals of entertainment software in Austria.

Association

The association was jointly founded in January 2007 by Electronic Arts Austria , Microsoft Austria , Sony Computer Entertainment Austria and Ubisoft Austria .

As a contact for media as well as political and social institutions, ÖVUS would like to make the industry better known and provide information on the subject of "computer, video and online games". Measures to increase media literacy among young people and parents as well as the protection of young people are promoted and supported, as are industry exhibitions and educational institutions. ÖVUS is a member of the European ISFE (Interactive Software Federation of Europe), which also operates PEGI (Pan European Game Information) .

Niki Laber was appointed president.

tasks

The following goals are sought:

Communication via computer, video & online games

The association focuses on the goal of publicizing the importance and sustainability of the medium in a media-effective manner.

Development of measures to promote media skills as well as the protection of children and young people

The association informs parents and legal guardians about the possibilities of youth protection when dealing with video games. It is an important concern to promote and educate the protection of minors in the media. This is implemented through events such as Game City and cooperation with parents' associations in schools. ÖVUS advocates uniform labeling by PEGI and the identification of particularly valuable games by BuPP .

Fight against software piracy

The purpose is to take action against software piracy with ISFE , the Austrian Association for Antipiracy (VAP) and the national legislature and to take preventive action. By curbing illegally distributed software, the damage it causes to industry is to be minimized.

Support of industry exhibitions

The association supports local trade fairs and industry exhibitions, such as the Austrian Game Award, which promote the topic of "interactive entertainment". Game City has also been organized in cooperation with the City of Vienna since 2007 , which has more than 60,000 visitors a year and, in addition to the presentation of current or soon-to-be-available video games, is also intended to provide information about the protection of children and young people.

Educational support

The growth of the digital entertainment market also creates new jobs. ÖVUS tries to promote training opportunities especially in this area in Austria.

Creation of independent sales charts

In cooperation with media control, ÖVUS creates independent sales charts for computer, video game and entertainment titles. This is to ensure that all sales in Austria are recorded and published in an effective manner.

Cooperation with international associations

The range of the ÖVUS is to be expanded through cooperation with international associations. A cooperation with the BIU in Germany was already concluded in advance of the establishment .

Members

Web links