November 22, 2007

November Meeting

============================================
* November Meeting Plans - XNA tutorials - Wednesday 11/28/07

We will again be meeting up at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in
the room 1011 of the IAVS (Institute for Advanced Vehicle System -
Borg Warner) auditorium. We will again meet from 6-9
pm. This time we will have Dave Redding, who has been covering some
XNA for some time. Check out his blog here and ramp up on your XNA to
bring some good questions to the meeting:

Dave's Blog


Directions

Read on for information about our December Christmas Party! Have a great Thanksgiven weekend!

============================================
* December Christmas Party - Chapter Future - Wednesday 11/28/07

We will have our Christmas party on Friday 12-7-2007. It will be held
at the Vistatech Auditorium on the Schoolcraft College campus in Novi,
MI.

This meeting will be critical as we will discuss the future direction
of the chapter. We need everyone out that wants to see the chapter
succeed and move forward. I am hoping to arrange some sort of dinner
as well, so stay tuned. We need everyone's support to make the
chapter succeed.

Please RSVP for this event at:
Sign up here!

$5.00 entrance fee for non-members
Free for IGDA Local Chapter members.

Posted by RichElswick at 12:16 AM | Comments (0)

October 04, 2007

October Meeting - Education Round table discussion

The Detroit Chapter of the IGDA is proud to announce the upcoming Education round table being hosted at University of Michigan-Dearborn on Wednesday October 24th from 6-9 pm.

The following members are currently scheduled to participate in the round table discussion:

Dr. Bruce Maxim - U of Mich-Dearborn
Dr. John Laird - U of Mich-Ann Arbor
Brian Winn - MSU
Kim Callery - IADT Detroit

This is looking to be an exciting meeting, especially as the New Mexico chapter of the IGDA is hosting something similiar in November. LSU is also hosting a 2 day seminar very similiar to this as well: www.cct.lsu.edu/dme

Located in Dearborn, Michigan room 121 of the CIS building.
Directions can be found here:
http://www.umd.umich.edu/maps_directions/

The campus map showing the CIS building is located here:
http://www.umd.umich.edu/fileadmin/template/ia/files/Marketing/Campus%20Map-05-17-07.pdf

Look forward to seeing you out there,
Detroit IGDA Chapter Board members

Posted by RichElswick at 08:08 AM | Comments (0)

September 24, 2007

AAUGA and IGDA Joint Meeting in September

Our chapter and the Autodesk Animation Users Group Association(AAUGA) State of Game Design in Detroit and Beyond.

Covering Flash, the Creative Environment in Detroit, Market Trends,
casual games and why you will probably have to move away from Michigan
if you want to work in the Computer Gaming Industry, but that may
change soon.


--> Read the Extended Entry for details about where and what you need to do to attend.

As Autodesk is sponsoring the meeting for the User Group and Bill
Riley has invited us to join them in a joint meeting, they also
sponsor a luncheon sandwich, so please email William Riley at 020
(WRiley (at) itt-tech.edu) IF you cannot contact him, then try contacting one of the coordinators for more info or post on our IGDA forums.

Details from Bill are below. If anyone else wants to talk or present
on some subject, now is the time to introduce yourself and your
company to some new folks out there.

See you all on the 30th,
Rich Elswick

--> Details about the event from Bill Riley:

Mark your calendars for 30 September. From 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, as the
Troy AAUGA chapter will be meeting at ITT Technical Institute. The
address is 1522 E. Big Beaver Road. If you need more information
please email William

The topic will be Computer Games. There is increased activity in the
Detroit metropolitan area. Many new and returning companies are
involved in Game Design. Let me have your ideas for other interested
people and your sandwich choice - Ham and Cheese, Italian or Vegetarian.

Thanks, Bill Riley

Here is the link to the address.

Posted by RichElswick at 05:34 PM | Comments (0)

August 22, 2007

August Chapter Social gathering at Dragonmeand Brewery on Thursday Aug. 23rd.

Come on out to Dragonmead Brewery from 6:30 PM until everyeone goes home. This is a social gathering with no agenda other than hanging out and talking about Game Dev.

Dragonmead is located in Warren, MI right off I-696 on the Service Drive.

Here are directions.

They have some very minimal bar food as well, but don't plan to have much of a dinner. I stress the bar aspect of the food. No wifi either.

Posted by RichElswick at 10:38 AM | Comments (0)

July 06, 2007

July Meeting and 2007 InterFace Conference

IADT College is putting on a one-day conference on July 28th. See
detailed information below.

We will have an IGDA meeting at their school, which is at 15 mile
and I-75, from 6-8 PM after the conference is over for the day! There are 4 out of town speakers coming in for the conference so it will be WELL worth the price of admission, plus it is close!

Our meeting will be covering XBox Live and submitting games for it
presented by Cris Boyer! (Will Burton may participate some as well)
I have posted the flyer for the conference to the Yahoo Group's
page. Please feel free to distribute and/or print it at will. If you are interested in Exhibiting at the conference, please contact
Kim Callery at her information shown below.

Sorry, no discount for us IGDA members this year due to some logistics, but perhaps if it
goes well maybe next year.

Address for the conference is:
Troy Community Center
3179 Livernois
Troy MI 48083

Address for the chapter meeting is:
International Academy of Design & Technology - Detroit
1850 Research Drive
Troy, MI 48083

Posted by RichElswick at 01:15 PM | Comments (0)

May 10, 2007

May IGDA Meeting Postpwn3d

Due to health issues with the speaker, we're moving the talk "The Business of Xbox Live Arcade" back to later in the month. Keep an eye on this space or the mailing list (or both!) for updates.

Posted by CristopherBoyer at 11:03 PM | Comments (0)

February 05, 2007

IGDA and Semafx join again for a 2x2 event!

We wish to welcome Autodesk to our February event! This is the first time we've hosted the Big A since acquiring Alias! So we've decided that one demo isn't enough! We're featuring a DUO of Demos, for Maya and for Max, with a discussion of features of both- and most importantly, how their shared workflow can enhance your process! Thanks to the College of Creative Studies for hosting this event in the Ford building, in the Andersen Auditorium. Get there early to mix and mingle! Afterglow to follow. Students encouraged to attend.

We are joining together with SemaFX for this event as the topic is applicable to both our organizations. See you there and stay tuned for specific directions soon.

When: February 20, 6:30 PM

Location:
College for Creative Studies
201 East Kirby
Detroit, MI 48202-4034

Fee: Free

Posted by RichElswick at 11:15 PM | Comments (0)

January 01, 2007

January Meeting on the 16th at a MoCap Studio - Dangerous Moves

Our first meeting of the year will be on January 16 at Dangerous Moves, the new motion capture studio in Detroit. Michael Bolden, the fellow in charge, (you may know him from the Games in Detroit meetup.com group) is going to show us how it all comes together.


Dangerous Moves is at 4925 Cadieux, just east of Warren Ave. Reports are
that parking is not excessive, but it's recommended that we get there early. This is a joint meeting with SEMAfx, the official Metro Detroit chapter of SIGGRAPH, which for those not in the know are computer graphics professionals. This stuff applies to us both, so we are teaming
up for great justice. Meet & greet starts at 6:30pm, and the meeting proper starts at 7:00pm.

Posted by RichElswick at 01:55 AM | Comments (0)

December 08, 2006

December 12th Social get together

So, the Semafx folks are having their Christmas get together on Tuesday December 12th at 7 PM at Dave and Busters in Utica. Cris Boyer and I plan on meeting before thier meeting at before hand to hang out and socialize at about 6 PM. Those that would like to join us are more than welcome to hang out and have drinks, appetizers or if we get enough people and there are some interested, perhaps a table for a bit of dinner, unless you plan on participating in the SEMAfx Christmas party, which is cool too.

For those that were wondering what is going on with the chapter, then come on out and chat with Cris as he is our newest chapter coordinator and will be helping guide our Southern Michigan Chapter into the future!

See you there,
Rich Elswick

Posted by RichElswick at 07:22 AM | Comments (0)

May 12, 2006

May Meeting - Galactic Civilizations 2 Post Mortem by Brad Wardell & Stardock

We are having our May meeting on Wednesday May 17th, yes next week from 7-10 pm at Station 885 (www.station885.com) in Plymouth, MI.

- food and fees
- About Gal Civ 2
- Additional items, Freeform Fusion
- Help Wanted with the chapter activities

There are fees associated with this meeting:

$10 = IGDA Members (national chapter, student or professional)
$10 = IGDA Members (local chapter) - none as of right now.
$15 = non-IGDA Members
$25 = non-IGDA Members, who join the local chapter at this meeting.

Please send a verbal RSVP to Richard-at-moyaentertainment.com

Please click on Continue Reading for more details about the meeting.

---> food and fees

There will be food for attendees, which is covered in part by sponsorship from Stardock (http://www.stardock.com) and in part by a entrance fee. Drinks will be available at a cash bar.

The fee for attendees as follows:

$10 = IGDA Members (national chapter, student or professional)
$10 = IGDA Members (local chapter) - none as of right now.
$15 = non-IGDA Members
$25 = non-IGDA Members, who join the local chapter at this meeting.

We have decided to set our local chapter membership rate at $20 a year. For this meeting only the local chapter dues at this meeting only will be $15.

So, if you come to the meeting and want to join the local chapter as well, your fee for the meeting will be $25.

Your local chapter membership money will be used to pay for this meeting as well as future meetings, if we have any extra left over.

---> About Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords

Galactic Civilizations II is the sequel to Stardock's award-winning strategy game. Set 30 years further in the future, the alien races from Galactic Civilizations are caught up in an inter-stellar civil war. But as they will all soon learn, there are far worse things in the universe ... than each other.
Here is a link to their site: http://www.galciv2.com/

---> Additional items, Freeform Fusion

We will briefly talk about chapter activities, specifically dues and putting together an Advisory Board, plus additional help wanted.

---> Help Wanted with the chapter activities

We need someone to write a Meeting Event Report and take Pictures for us to post once the meeting is over. This is a simple job and will help us out a lot!

Sorry for the late meeting notice, hope to see you all at the meeting.

Rich Elswick
Jay Semearad
Brian Winn

--> Visit the local chapter webpage at http://www.igda.org/smichigan
--> Visit our local chapter sponsor, Stardock, at http://www.stardock.com

Stardock was founded in 1993. Its mission has been to create PC software for both the business and consumer markets.
It is best known for creating extensions to operating systems such as Microsoft Windows and IBM OS/2. These extensions have enabled companies and individuals to customize their operative environment to suit their individual needs.

Stardock's software has been licensed and used by hundreds of companies. Microsoft licensed Theme Manager OEM to deliver branded desktops for Xbox and their games, ATI licensed DirectSkin to create a skinned configuration program. Movie Studios have licensed DesktopX Pro to create alternative looking computer environments. Companies such as Alienware have licensed Stardock's software to deliver high performance custom desktop environments.

Posted by RichElswick at 11:00 AM | Comments (0)

March 26, 2006

April 2006 Meeting Announcement

It has been a few months since our last chapter meeting, so it is far time we all got together!

The next chapter meeting is scheduled for 2pm to 5pm on Sunday, April 9th, 2006 at the Michigan State University Communication Arts Building in Room 161 (map and directions).

Agenda:


  1. Recap from the Game Developers Conference 2006 - GDC2006 just concluded in San Jose, California. This meeting will include all the latest news, rumors, and announcements coming from the show.
  2. Made in Michigan Game Demo - The SpartaSoft team will be demoing and discussing their recent IGF Student Showcase Winner game, Ballastic. They may also discuss the results of their recent 24 hour game jam.
  3. Postmortem on The Punisher by Eric Arnold from Volition.
  4. Chapter Project Overview - Recently some members of the IGDA chapter and SEMAFX chapter have begun to collaborate on a game project. There will be an overview of this effort at the meeting.
  5. Other Chapter News - We will also discuss any other chapter news.
  6. Socialize/Dinner - For those interested, we will be going to Pizza House after the meeting for informal discussion and dinner.

Posted by BrianWinn at 01:48 PM | Comments (0)

December 13, 2005

IGDA Holiday Gathering - Monday, Dec. 19th

On Monday December 19th, the Southern Michigan Chapter of the IGDA is hosting a social gathering at Lucky’s Arcade and Restaurant in Novi’s Fountain Walk

The evening will begin around 7pm where the Professionals of the Michigan area will be gathering to discuss the future of the IGDA Michigan Professional chapter. At 8pm we’ll disperse for some holiday socialization, welcoming everyone from local Michigan game companies, independent game developers, university faculty, and SEMAFX graphics professionals. Please treat this as a must-attend event! Together we can foster the community, reach out to other professionals and develop a lasting structure for coordinating future events that are of educational, social and professional benefit to all who attend.

For More information on Lucky’s, please go to http://www.luckystrikeent.com/luckys/luckys.html.

Posted by BrianWinn at 05:45 PM | Comments (0)

September 05, 2005

September 2005 Meeting Announcement

Our bi-monthly meeting is coming up in a few weeks, and it should be a great event this time around! It’s a great time to get involved again in case you haven’t been to the last few meetings! Looking forward to seeing you all there!

The official announcement for our September meeting is as follows:

September 18th, 2005: Fall Kickoff Meeting!
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
3pm-6pm, Media Union (Duderstadt Center) Windows Classrooms 1 & 2
Hosted by Wolverine Soft

With Special Presentations by:

Brain DeMarco, formerly of Monolith Productions (Matrix Online):
"Effective ways of breaking into the gaming industry"

Paul Kerchen, Stardock, Inc.:
“Making Independent Games for Fun and (a bit of) Profit”

As well as:

More information about our distinguished speakers:

Paul Kerchen:
Paul Kerchen has been developing computer games professionally since starting his career at Maxis in 1994. While at Maxis, Paul worked on several incarnations of SimCity and the un-released Simsville. After leaving Maxis and California in 2001, Paul founded his own game company in Michigan, Whirling Chair Games, to develop games for the casual games market. In 2004, Paul took a position at game developer Stardock Systems, where he currently is lead developer of Society, a multi-platform, massively-multiplayer, real-time strategy game.

Brian DeMarco:
Brian has worked in the PC Gaming industry for about the last 7 years. He lived in Michigan for the first 34 years of his life until he decided to move to San Diego, where got a customer service job and has since worked his way up. His last position was Associate Producer of The Matrix Online Monolith Productions in Kirkland, Washington.

Additional Resources:

Directions:
To University of Michigan North Campus also you can get a campus map.

Pizza House (for after the formal meeting) – 618 Church St. by East Quad (part of Central Campus map)

Posted by BrianWinn at 11:27 AM | Comments (0)

May 28, 2005

June 2005 Meeting

The next regular chapter meeting is scheduled for 3pm to 6pm on Sunday, June 5th, 2005 at the Michigan State University Communication Arts Building in Room 161 (map and directions).

Preliminary agenda:
1) E3 Wrap-Up
2) The Game Production Process by Patrick Shaw
3) Thief 2X: An Adventure in Fan-Made Gaming by Valeta Wensloff
4) IGDA Quality of Life Video
5) Made in Michigan Game Demos

Please plan to go out for dinner/drinks after the meeting if you can.

Posted by BrianWinn at 07:27 PM | Comments (0)

April 30, 2005

IGDA/SEMAFX Special Event on May 24, 2005

The Southern Michigan IGDA chapter and SEMAFX (Southeast Michigan ACM SIGGRAPH Professional Chapter) will be hosting a special event at Schoolcraft College on Tuesday, May 24th, 2005. The joint event is being planned to help network the SEMAFX community with the local IGDA community to help spur growth in the local game development community.

The event will run from 7pm to 9pm with a number of presentations and demos, including:

· Introductions
· Schoolcraft Speaker
· Short Demo Reel presentations (Rich Jackson, Stephen Wroble, Simon Warwick)
· IGDA
· Larry Kart -] A Lawrence Tech University Game project
· Jonathan Armstrong - Flash game development
· E3 wrapup teaser (June 5th IGDA meeting )
· Q&A with IGDA
· Larry Kart Play testing sessions

The event is at:
Schoolcraft College
Vistatech Center
18600 Haggerty Road
Livonia, MI 48152

Area Map

Campus Map


Posted by BrianWinn at 07:14 PM | Comments (0)