Charles Schultz 2010 Board Statement
Candidate Position Statement:
I would like to serve on the IGDA Board of Directors in order to contribute to IGDA members and the game industry as whole in the following ways:
ENGAGE micro-studios and individual developers of mobile and social games, foster their membership, and grow their involvement in IGDA SIGs, events and activities. This includes game development teams that work outside of traditional studios such as those working for smartphone manufacturers. My participation in 2009 at the Launch Pad “Gaming and Mobile Apps Summit”, South Florida Technology Alliance’s “Game Changing Technologies” panel and the Miami “Winter Break Mini Animation Fest” are examples of the ways we can engage non-traditional sources.
ENCOURAGE and promote responsible gaming across all genres and platforms. This includes the choices made by game players as well as game designers and developers. Involvement with health gaming as a developer or presenter of health-based games, as I have done at the “Games for Health” and “Children with Diabetes” conferences, is an example of what can be done at regional and chapter levels to more strongly identify the IGDA with responsible gaming.
ENVISION new directions for games and gaming professionals, and seed the technologies and business models that will drive the next generations of video game innovation and growth. Once these futures have been defined, we can help schools and game technology companies put the training, software and tools in place for each new wave. I am a proven innovator with 16 US patents, able to work with the board to anticipate possible futures and how we will get there. With a Masters Degree in Computer Education and experience in classroom teaching and course design, I can lead the way to prepare and equip individual teachers and their institutions for the changes we envision.
In addition to the qualifications mentioned above, I am a board member of the IGDA South Florida chapter with 20+ years of experience with mobile and social apps development and testing for Motorola and Research In Motion. My book “Game Testing All In One” was published in 2005 and I recently contributed a chapter to a book on virtual worlds and e-commerce scheduled for publication in 2010.
Thank you for considering me as your representative on the IGDA Board.
Candidate Bio:
Education:
BS Electrical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
MS Computer Education, Barry University
Employment:
More than 20 years of mobile apps development and test leadership
Currently employed as a Software Architect with Research in Motion
Previously an Operations Manager for Motorola's Global Software Group
Game Industry Contributions:
Board Member, IGDA South Florida chapter
Author, "Game Testing All In One"
Chapter contributor for an upcoming book on Virtual Worlds and E-Commerce
Developer of Westwood College's "Game Software Testing and Debugging" course
Contributor to the "Visions" MMORPG
Designer and Lead Developer of the WellWorld health-concept MMORPG
Presenter at the 2005 Games for Health conference
Panel Moderator at the 2009 Gaming and Mobile Apps Summit
Presenter at the 2009 Winter Break Mini Animation Fest
Other:
16 US patents issued, including patents for the Guitar Phone (7196260) and ""Method and system for reality gaming on wireless devices"
Senior Member, American Society for Quality
Certified Software Quality Engineer
Six Sigma Green Belt
Electronic Music Artist
Multiple recognitions for education contributions http://tinyurl.com/yjnd5ep
Frisbee Master
Board Interview Q and A:
1. What do you see as the biggest challenge facing game developers today? What should the IGDA’s role be in addressing that challenge?
The future. There is no guarantee that there will continue to be a demand for games in their current form or the skills that game developers currently possess to design, code and test them. The IGDA can guide and shape the industry at any point in time, but cannot stop radical shifts to other forms of entertainment or a redefinition of how games are delivered and played by consumers. Rather than waiting to react, we should make attempts to foresee various future scenarios and have plans in place for how our members should prepare themselves with the tools and skills to meet those future needs. For example, will anyone be playing a game from a console five years from now and buy games on a physical format like a CD or cartridge, or will all gaming be hosted by cloud computing services and delivered directly to your tablet device or 3DTV, where you rent or buy games on demand? A new generation of developers and studios will emerge to become the leaders of the next business and technology models of video gaming. The IGDA can use innovation tools to create the most probable scenarios for the game industry’s next evolutionary steps and work to guide studios, technology vendors and schools to be viable and relevant providers of goods and services for the next wave.
2. How do you expect to contribute to the IGDA Board? What qualifications or skills do you possess that will enhance your contributions?
I expect to contribute to the IGDA as an innovator with 16 US patents and training in TRIZ innovation techniques, as an experienced instructor with a Masters Degree in Computer Education, six years of experience as a classroom instructor, and as an experienced mobile and social app designer, developer and tester.
I expect to be engaged with SIGs, education partners and gaming companies to engage the new generation of mobile app and social game developers who are currently “under the radar” – working alone or inside non-gaming companies such as mobile phone app developers. I would also like to continue to contribute to the health gaming community and other positive initiatives and programs for “responsible” gaming. Additionally, with my publication and writing experience, it would be natural for me to be involved in one or more white papers as a contributor or editor.
3. How much time do you expect to volunteer to the IGDA? How will you manage this commitment?
I have always had a “second life” beyond my primary employment and have chosen to direct it in different directions at different stages in my career – as a teacher, inventor, robot developer, graduate student, language student, music student, music instructor, music performer, South Florida IGDA Board Member, game tester, game blogger and author. If I have the privilege to serve on the IGDA Board, that will be the focus of my energy. I will contribute the time necessary to accomplish the goals and tasks that are assigned to me, while engaging and guiding other people who can best contribute to the success of the project.
4. As an IGDA member, you’re often asked to get things done on a short timeframe and tight budget. What do you think a reasonable expectation of a board member’s contribution is? How will you accomplish your goals as a board member?
Short timeframes and tight budgets have been the norm in my profession, so my approach will be to figure out what’s the best solution that can be accomplished for the given time and monetary budget, provide a realistic plan towards achieving that, and work with the people and resources to a successful result. I would not only be prepared to lead an initiative when called upon, but also serve to assist others with their programs. Besides working on projects in my “comfort zone” I also look forward to be challenged with work in new areas that I can explore and contribute to from a different perspective.
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