Treehouse Restaurant & Lounge
9926 York Rd
Cockeysville, MD 21030
map
Topic will be discussion about "Fracture", the soon to be released game from Day 1 Studios with some of the most cutting edge terrain deformation in a commerical title.
]]>The Jam is a marathon session that challenges teams of designers, programmers and artists to work round-the-clock to create small, playable games that demonstrate innovative ideas in short amounts of time. Competitors will then showcase their work, which will be critiqued and judged by a panel of professional game developers and educators.
"The goal of Games for Health is to use all the resources that exist in the greater game development field to provide solutions to health and health care challenges," said Ben Sawyer, co-founder of the Games for Health Project. "Experimental game jams, which owe their heritage to demo jams in Europe, have become popular events in the past five years. We want to tap into the incredible creativity these jams foster and put that to use in health domain."
The Jam's Grand Prize winner will receive $3,000 in prize money from the Games for Health Project. An additional prize of $1,000 will be offered to the best student-built game. The Health Game Jam's host partner is the University of Baltimore. Prize partners include the Baltimore County Department of Economic Development and Microsoft Corporation. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Pioneer Portfolio, which supports innovative ideas that may lead to breakthroughs in the future of heath and health care, is a major supporter of the Games for Health Project and helps makethe Health Game Jam possible.
The theme for October's Jam is personal health and wellness. Once participants are gathered, the Games for Health Project will unveil a simple challenge and set of goals for games to be developed over the course of a weekend. Beginning Friday evening, teams will incubate an idea, draw up basic supporting design and art, and then program it into a playable prototype. Winners will be judged not only on the originality, quality and playability of their resulting work, but also by how well the game potentially addresses the problem presented at the outset.
Game jams work best when led by a dedicated host and core group of teams. The Health Game Jam's host partner is the University of Baltimore and its game development program, led by Stuart Moulthrop
and Kathleen Harmeyer. While not limited to students in the program, student teams, many familiar with the jam concept, will form the core of groups expected to participate.
"We are honored to host this event for the Games for Health Project," Harmeyer said. "Our Simulation & Digital Entertainment program at the University of Baltimore integrates the full range of concepts and skills needed to launch a career in game and simulation development. With its internships and capstone development seminar, the Bachelor of Science program provides an ideal entry point for aspiring professionals. We look forward as hosts to watching our students compete with other visiting independent game development teams from around the region."
"The Games for Health Conference has been a major event in Baltimore the past three years and is another example of the robust activity in games and serious games in the greater Baltimore region," said Fronda Cohen, director of marketing and communications for the Baltimore County Department of Economic Development. "By bringing the Health Game Jam to the University of Baltimore, we can showcase the next generation of designers, programmers, and artists who will contribute to our local serious games industry."
QUALIFYING & REGISTERING TO COMPETE
The Health Game Jam is open to individuals and teams of all shapes and sizes, including student groups, independent game developers and
individuals with programming chops. Participants can register for the jam by sending their information to gamejam@gamesforhealth.org. Participants must be or have a team with at least one programmer
with demonstrable game development programming experience using either Flash, XNA, OpenGL, PyGame, etc. Please provide an example of past work, however basic or advanced, to qualify. Teams may include up to six members with varying skills. All team members must be 18 years of age or over to participate, or be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at all times during their participation. All games created at the Jam will remain the property of the creators, but life-long promotional use of all executables and screen captures from work produced will be granted to the Games for Health Project by the Jam's participants. Any questions about participating may be addressed to gamejam@gamesforhealth.org
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
The Games for Health Project is supported by the Pioneer Portfolio of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Joining the Games for Health Project with additional support for the Health Game Jam are the Baltimore County Department of Economic Development.
ABOUT GAMES FOR HEALTH
The Games for Health Project, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Pioneer Portfolio, is a growing community of innovators that bridge the worlds of games and health. The Project promotes and advances opportunities to explore the health and economic benefits of applying games and game technology solutions to pressing health and health care challenges.
Games for Health was founded by the Serious Games Initiative, a Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars effort, to better address the needs, innovations and research questions the growing area of health games posed. The Project also produces the Games for Health Conference, now in its fourth year.
For more information, visit gamesforhealth.org
]]>When: Thursday, September 4th, 8:00 - 9:00 PM
Where: The Engineering Society of Baltimore
11 W. Mount Vernon Place
Baltimore, MD 21201
http://www.esb.org/
The talk is free and open to the public. Tell your friends!
]]> Title: "Game Programming: Oh say, can you C?"Description:
Programming a computer game: There are three types of programming in
games: (1) game play on one end, (2) engine on the other, and (3) the
layer in between that allows the two others to communicate.
Each type of programming is different from the others. Programmers are
drawn to one or another type of programming because of its power or
beauty. Sid has developed a flexible style of programming that allows
him to make instantaneous changes at the game play level.
An engine programmer needs a bit more conformity to step in where
someone else left off. The programmers in the middle have fun because
they can make the other two "worlds" talk to each other. Sid and other
speakers will discuss the different types of programming and how they
"play nice" together.
For your convenience, we include transportation information below.
Thank you for your attention,
The BACM Executive Committee
Emil Volcheck, Chair
Jay Smart, Vice Chair
Joyce Little, Secretary
Kathleen Harmeyer, Treasurer
Craig Holcomb, Member at Large
David Isherwood, Member at Large
--------------
Transportation
Light Rail:
From the light rail stop at Howard and Centre, walk a block north, turn
right on Monument, then go four blocks east to Mt. Vernon Place.
The light rail schedule is on the web at:
http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/lightrail/schedule/
]]>This meeting will be held in the backroom of the Greystone Grill located at Hunt Valley Mall. (118 DD Shawan Road, Hunt Valley, MD)
Anyone may attend the meeting, although we recommend you sign up as an IGDA member. (If we hit room capacity IGDA members will have preference.) You can sign up to become an IGDA member at: igda.org.
]]>Breakaway has graciously offered to host the event, as well as provide Pizza and Soda to all who attend.
]]> Where:When:
May 29th from 7pm – 9pm
What:
Student Showcase
If you are interested in participating please contact Lisa Robinson at lrobinson ~at~ breakawayltd.com to set up an appointments.
]]>This event brings speakers from the industry to come and speak about their areas of expertise in the industry. No RSVP is required to attend this free event.
For more information, see the post in the Baltimore IGDA forum.
Note: As of 4/3/08 its now in Lecture Hall III. The above entry has been modified to reflect this.
]]>Elections were held and we have a new board:
Chapter Coordinator: Tronster Hartley (Geek House Games LLC / Breakaway Games)
Content Manager: Paul Oliver (Legendary Studios)
Community Manager: Brett Doerle (Day 1 Studios)
Additionally we have an Advisory board:
Jonathan Hamel (Breakaway Games)
Lucien Parsons (Zenimax)
Anyone may attend the meeting. Drink tickets and buffet-style food will be provided thanks to our sponsor Autodesk. Only existing IGDA members are allowed to vote. You can sign up to become an IGDA member at: igda.org
]]>There is a rally being held in Annapolis, MD in a few weeks. If you are in the industry now or intend on being in the industry at a Maryland studio, please come out and support this event.
Date: Wed, Feb 27
Time: Arrive 9:30am for 10:00am press event. Visit legislators after.
Place: Annapolis, MD, The Maryland Inn, 16 Chruch Circle
Details: www.fightthetechtax.com
Sponsors: Everybody -- MCSA, Tech Tax Coalition, Chambers, Tech Councils, Associations
We will start at an indoor location for a press event and staging. Then we will guide you across the street to your legislators' offices. You may speak your piece. Or simply provide support just by being in the same room while others talk.
Mark you calendar. Bring your colleagues, management, staff, and customers.
A few years ago over 1,000 doctors came to Annapolis and saved themselves. We need to do the same. Bring everybody you can!
We will provide more details later. For now, please reserve the day in your calendar. This is the event you have been waiting for!
Tom Loveland
Co-Founder, Maryland Computer Services Association
CEO, Mind Over Machines, Inc.
443.738.8010 direct
tloveland@mominc.com
There's a range in quality among publishers out there, and THQ's a good one, or so I've heard, anyway, from those who have worked with them. Good luck, folks!
Summing up the state of area studio acquisitions, then:
Who's next? Who's left? You know who you are.
Location: George Washington University Campus
Marvin Center
3rd Floor Auditorium
800 21st Street NW
Washington, DC 20052
More information at: www.dcacm.org/announce.html
]]>It is taking place on the 5th floor of the Student Center, which is 1 block from the Light Rail University of Baltimore / Mt. Royal stop.
Pizza and games afterwards.
This event is free and open to the public.
For questions contact Kathleen Harmeyer
]]>We will be meeting at our regular spot, the 2nd floor of the Treehouse Restaurant & Lounge in Cockeysville:
Treehouse Restaurant & Lounge
9926 York Rd
Cockeysville, MD 21030
map
CORRECTION:
This meeting is open to everyone, but only IGDA members in good standing may vote. Sign up now and have a direct impact on your local chapter.