"Reasonable organizations can disagree on principle, but can work together for the betterment of families and children," said NIMF spokesman Darin Broton to GamePolitics.

In an editorial aside, GamePolitics points out that "there's a wide gap between 'working with' and 'accepting money from.'" Continuing, the editorial claims that "taking funding from the industry it purports to be watching is a credibility-damaging decision on the organization's part."

As reported yesterday, the NIMF is using the ESA funds to "develop an on-line e-learning zone for using the latest interactive technologies to help kids and adults understand the issues and potential areas of concern with the Internet."

When not "working with" its foes to build "on-line e-learning zones," the NIMF usually occupies itself by bickering with the ESRB and claiming to prove that exposure to violence causes violent behavior. Broton's complete statement, reproduced from GamePolitics, follows:

For 12 years, the Institute has been a leader in helping families maximize the benefit and minimize the harm of media. To continue our success in helping parents navigate the constantly changing technology, the Institute will work with organizations that support its mission to give parents the tools to make them even more successful. Reasonable organizations can disagree on principle, but can work together for the betterment of families and children.

This isn�t the first time the Institute has worked with an organization it has been at odds with in the past. As you may recall, we worked together with the ESRB earlier this year during the release of GTA IV. The two organizations issued a joint statement telling parents to beware and follow the ESRB�s rating on the box. Where there are areas of agreement, the Institute will work with reasonable organizations to help parents and families. If the Institute has concerns with a particular issue within the gaming industry, we will respond appropriately. Nothing has changed.