The Entertainment Consumer Association, which describes itself as the first video game consumer advocacy organization, today announced that it has struck partnerships with major industry groups and events such as Ziff Davis Media (1UP Network), NCsoft, Video Games Live, Yahoo! Games, Gen Con, Intec, and others. Earlier this year, the ECA also announced that it has acquired respected politically charged video game industry coverage blog GamePolitics. Founded this year, the ECA aims to educate and advocate for gamers at a consumer level rather than an industry level. Its founder and president Hal Halpin was the founder of the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association, which this year merged with the Video Software Dealers Association to become the Entertainment Merchants Association.

Membership to the ECA runs $19.99 per year, and confers various benefits including discounts and trials to various industry publications, services, and events.