Though we are still about 15 months from the 2008 elections, it's nearly impossible to read or watch something these days without hearing someone trying to influence the vote you will cast on November 4th, 2008.

And though websites like GamePolitics.com have been around for some time, there seems to have been a dramatic upswing in recent months in the number of gamers becoming politically aware. A couple of organizations looking to rally gamers against restrictive legistlation have popped up recently as well.

The Video Game Voters Network, started by Michael Gallagher and the Entertainment Software Association, recently boasted that over 100,000 gaming "activists" had registered on the site . While the video they just released might lead one to believe they aren't entirely serious, they have pledged to "actively make their voices heard in Washington, DC and in state legislatures across the country.”

You can see their video below and judge for yourself how serious they take the issues we're grappling with.

The Entertainment Consumers Association, founded by industry veteran Hal Halpin, states that its mission is "to give game consumers a voice and to ensure that elected officials hear their concerns and appreciate the growing influence of the gamer demographic." Interestingly enough, the ECA also offers members benefits such as discounts on subscriptions and game rentals.

But today I would like to call gamers' attention to another vote - one that in many ways can have as dangerous an impact on our industry as any bill from Senators Hillary Clinton or Joseph Lieberman. It is the vote you make with your wallet. This week (and every time you buy a game) you participate in an election of sorts - you tell Publishers and Developers what you want them to make more of, at what level of quality, and how much you are willing to pay for it.

This issue comes particularly to mind with the release of the latest Madden from Electronic Arts. And just like political commercials, newspaper ads, youtube debates, and townhall meetings, you can barely escape the onslaught of campaigning that is going on trying to whip you up into a feverish frenzy to buy this game.

Now, I am not making any comments as to the quality of this game. In fact, as embarrassing as you may think it is, I have never played a Madden football game*. I haven't followed any news on the features added to this latest release or read any previews, but I have heard from a lot of you in the past about this franchise and it hasn't all been good. I've come across talk of the yearly sequels containing little more than team roster updates, and pricey Xbox Live downloads that contained information that should have already been in the game manual. Again, I want to stress that I don't know about any of this first hand, but I know it is a concern for a lot of you. So I simply want to remind you that you are voting with every dollar you spend. Remind your friends too, because just as in governmental politics, we can't escape the consequences of the decisions and actions of those around us.

As someone who has dedicated his life to the improvement of the games industry, this is one of the issues I am most passionate about and I hope you will share my appreciation of its importance. You aren't just buying a game, you are shaping video gaming's future.

-Captain Almighty

*As a Super Hero who uses the powers of video games to fight crime, I find a little more utility in getting familiar with hockey titles.