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October 31, 2005
Future Play videos now available
Five keynote presentations and one panel presentation from Future Play 2005 is now posted online. All the sessions are great. For those that could not attend Future Play, I highly recommend checking them out. For those that did, you may want to watch them again! ;-)
You can find them at http://www.futureplay.org/news.php?ID=28.
Posted by BrianWinn at 08:24 PM | Comments (0)
October 07, 2005
Video game law and policy debate at MSU
On Friday, October 14th, there will be a unique and timely event held at the Michigan State Univesrity Union. The Quello Center for Telecommunication Management and Law and Intellectual Property & Communications Law Program at Michigan State University are bringing in the top researchers, industry representatives, and government officials to discuss the future of game content, law, and policy across two compelling panel discussions:
Panel Discussion: Game intellectual property law and policy
Time: 1:30-2:30pm, Friday, Oct. 14
Location: MSU Union Parlor CThe "Game intellectual property law and policy" panel will explore the unique intellectual property, copyright, and patent issues arising in the game industry as related to game developers, publishers, and players.
Moderator:
- Dr. Peter Yu, Associate Professor of Law & Director of the Intellectual Property & Communications Law Program, Michigan State University
Panelists:
- Prof. Bruce Boyden, Visiting Professor of Law, Michigan State University
- Trevor Fencott, President, Groove Games
- Greg Costikyan, CEO, Manifesto Games
- Greg Silberman, Partner, Technology, Intellectual Property & Outsourcing, Kaye Scholer LLP
Panel Discussion: Game content, ratings, censorship, and the first amendment
Time: 2:45-4:45pm, Friday, Oct. 14
Location: MSU Union Parlor CThe "Game content, ratings, censorship, and the first amendment" panel will be a lively debate on a controversial subject. The panel includes Dr. Henry Jenkins III, professor of comparative media studies at MIT who has written extensively on the benefits of video game, Dr. Craig Anderson, psychology professor at Iowa State University whose research shows there is a significant relation between exposure to media violence and aggressive behavior, Dr. Clay Calvert, professor of communications and law at Penn State University who argues that the recent legislation that restricts violent video game sales infringes on the First Amendment, Jason Della Rocca, executive director of the International Game Developers Association who advocates that digital games should not be treated any differently from other forms of art and creative expression, Dr. Kevin Saunders, MSU law professor and author of the recent book Saving Our Children from the First Amendment, and John Lazet, Chief of Staff to Michigan Senator Alan Cropsey who recently sponsored legislation that restricts the sale of violent video games in Michigan.
Moderator:
- Dr. Steve Wildman, Co-Director of the Quello Center for Telecommunication Management and Law, Michigan State University
Panelists:
- Dr. Henry Jenkins III, Friedlaender Professor of Humanities and Director of the M.I.T. Comparative Media Studies Lab
- Dr. Clay Calvert, J.D., Associate Professor of Communications and Law, Penn State University
- Dr. Kevin Saunders, J.D., Professor of Law, Michigan State University
- Dr. Craig A. Anderson, Distinguished Professor, Department of Psychology, Iowa State University
- Jason Della Rocca, Executive Director of the International Game Developers Association
- John Lazet, Chief of Staff to Michigan Senator Cropsey
These two panel sessions are part of the international conference on the future of game design and technology, called Future Play, taking place at the Michigan State University Union October 13-15. The Future Play conference, a unique international partnership between Michigan State University and Algoma University College, focuses on three main themes. The first theme, future game development, addresses academic research and emerging industry trends in the area of game technology and game design. The second theme, future game impacts and applications, includes academic research, emerging industry trends, and public policy related to the positive and negative impacts of games on individuals and society. Finally, the third theme, future game talent, is designed to provide a number of industry and academic perspectives on the knowledge, skills, and attitude it takes to excel in the games industry for students considering careers as game developers.
To take part in the conference, attendees must register online or at the event. However, attendance at these two special panel sessions are open to the community at large and registration is not required.
To find out more information about the conference and register, visit: http://www.futureplay.org
Posted by BrianWinn at 06:36 PM | Comments (0)
October 02, 2005
September 2005 Meeting Report
Jay and Brian, the chapter coordinators introduced the meeting at the University of Michigan’s north campus Media Union.
Andrew Pinson, president of Wolverine Soft:
Our meeting hosts, the University of Michigan Game Development group Wolverine Soft spoke on its plans for the current school year, including a show-off of their new website (wolverinesoft.org) with customizable member profiles, an updatable calendar and project database and more. With several projects in development, the group expects to have something to show at a future IGDA meeting.
Future Play Preview:
Brian Winn discussed the upcoming Future Play conference taking place October 13-15 at Michigan State University. The conference has an excellent line-up of keynotes, invited speakers, academic papers, and other exciting events such as an independent game exhibition. A conference flyer is available that outlines the highlights. Attendees were encouraged to take part in this unique event.
Jacob Pollack and Randy Rockafellor speak:
Two leaders of the Southeastern Michigan professional SIGGRAPH chapter (SEMAFX.net), discussed future plans for uniting members of the local IGDA with their organization for creative and business-oriented projects, including the “Groups of Eight” teams, as well as inviting all who can attend to their annual Halloween Party (at a yet-to-be-determined night club).
Brian DeMarco, Distinguished Speaker:
Since the fall meeting was a back-to-school kickoff to benefit attending students from Michigan, Michigan State, ITT Tech, Michigan Dearborn, Ferris State and Lawrence Tech, the feature presentation from Brian DeMarco, formerly of Monolith productions, dealt exclusively with breaking into the game industry. Students kept the questions coming as Brian discussed at length his process of entering the game industry, how he rose in his career, and what life is like for those working within.
IGDA for Michigan, and student chapters:
The IGDA Southern Michigan Chapter has been approached by several student groups looking to form their own Student IGDA chapter, and it was discussed that the IGDA professional chapter could serve as an umbrella organization for the smaller groups as they develop, lending support and guidance as well as potentially increasing the IGDA meetings and events to monthly schedule that would rotate from 3-4 locations within the state.
Posted by BrianWinn at 12:26 AM | Comments (0)