Game pessimist Keith Vaz slips industry showdown

Backbench MP Keith Vaz –better known within the game community for his frequently objectionable outbursts on violent game content – has made a last-minute exit from a Whitehall debate where he would have faced a number of execs in the game industry.

Vaz had a panel seat booked alongside the likes of EA’s Keith Ramsdale and Tiga CEO Richard Wilson, but at the eleventh hour event organizers announced he “couldn’t make it”. Today’s Whitehall eForum event had featured various panel discussions with guests such as David Braben, Eidos’ Ian Livingstone, game enthusiast MP Tom Watson and shadow culture minister Ed Vaizey.

Attendees jeered upon hearing the announcement that Vaz wouldn’t be attending after all, and the crammed meeting room was evidently filled with industry execs who wanted to ask Vaz to explain his frequent colouring of games as evil.

Vaz quickly became the subject of ridicule from his fellow panelists as well as audience members. Ian Livingstone was Vaz’ last minute replacement for the panel, and the Eidos Life President took his seat and began to pejoratively recite the kind of soundbites Vaz is known for.

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