IGDA Newsletter - July 2004
===========================
IGDA Newsletter - July 2004
===========================
===========================
Table of Contents
===========================
0: A Word From Jesse Schell
1: IGDA News
- Lobbying Update: Washington-State Bill HB1009
- Lack of Quality of Life Ever Present...
- Upcoming IGDA Event Participation
- SIG Updates: QA, HR, AI, GA
- Columns Update
2: Chapter Meetings/Reports
3: From the Wires
- Dini slams industry's failure to champion development talent
- Boy inspires cancer video game
- Game for a Little Therapy?
- Medical study links games to obesity
- This is science?
- Lawmakers take aim at virtual violence
- Parents Set Rules, But Kids Still See TV Violence
- FTC gives games industry mixed report card
- Q&A: ESRB president Patricia Vance
- Los Angeles To Impose Restrictions On Gaming Cybercafes
- The Video Game Nudity Trend
- 'Casual' video games are serious business
- Indie Innovation?
- E3 2004 Report: Booth Babe Dialogues
- Why the Edinburgh International Games Festival is Unique
- EFF Counts Nintendo as Enemy
- Europe Reconsiders Software Patents
- Global Software Piracy Study
4: Logistical Bits
===========================
===========================
0: A Word From Jesse Schell
===========================
Dear Members and friends,
Excellent freedom of speech news from the state of Washington this month!
Kudos to all our local members who helped out... Also, there is some
thought-provoking news about game developers suing for overwork. You can
read the details below, but both of these topics tie into something I've
been meaning to mention...
Most IGDA members think of the IGDA as being primarily about community -
chapter meetings, for example. And community is indeed half of our mission
-- but many overlook the other half: advocacy. In other words, the IGDA
works hard to address problems facing the community of developers, problems
that no single individual or company could solve alone.
Right now, the IGDA is working on several issues: censorship, business and
legal affairs, credit and recognition, diversity, quality of life, and
relations with academia. Want to help out with these things? Or, maybe you
know some other relevant issue the IGDA should be working on? Crunch time
is just around the corner, so jump to http://www.igda.org/advocacy/ to find
out how the org is making a difference and where you can get involved.
- Jesse Schell
Chairperson, IGDA
Professor of Entertainment Technology, Carnegie Mellon University
CEO, Schell Games
=====================================
AD: Austin Game Developers Conference
=====================================
September 9-10, 2004, Austin, Texas
It's time again for the coolest game conference of the year. Austin Game
Developer's Conference expands to 7 tracks dedicated to multiplayer online
games, mobile game development and console game development with more than
100 speakers. Detailed technical, design, service, production and business
sessions. Network with industry veterans, friends and colleagues in a
casual environment. Preview new technologies. Cool conference parties.
Machinima Theater and more. All this and more for only $125 when you
register before August 15, 2004. Price includes full access to the Mobile
Game Conference and the Women's Game Conference.
http://www.GameConference.com/
=====================================
============
1: IGDA News
============
Lobbying Update: Washington-State Bill HB1009
---------------------------------------------
On July 15th, 2004, the U.S. District Court in Seattle granted summary
judgment to overturn Washington state bill 1009 which was set to regulate
certain videogames, ruling the legislation unconstitutional. The decision
once again affirms that video games are protected speech. HB 1009 would
have banned minors from purchasing video games that depicted violence
against law enforcement officers (claiming that the playing the games
causes increased aggression and violence in children and young adults). The
Court found that the "legislature's belief that video games cause violence,
particularly violence against law enforcement officers, is not based on
reasonable inferences drawn from substantial evidence."
The IGDA was a joint-plaintiff, along with the ESA, IEMA and other industry
organizations who contested HB 1009 as an attack on game creators' ability
to express their ideas.
For further details, news links, court rulings and statements:
http://www.igda.org/censorship/lobbying.php#hb1009
Lack of Quality of Life Ever Present...
---------------------------------------
On Monday, June 28th, a programmer in the video game industry sued media
and telecom giant Vivendi Universal, claiming he and his colleagues were
regularly forced to work extra hours and denied overtime pay. In recent
months, several lawsuits have been filed in California by tech employees
seeking to be classified as overtime-eligible and obtaining compensation
for working more than 8 hours a day, or 40 hours a week.
It is sad, but not surprising, to hear of a game industry lawsuit like
this. Further, this is only one aspect of the often severe working
conditions in our industry leading to early burnout, wasted resources and
poor quality games.
The IGDA's recent Quality of Life White Paper points to many productive
ways that developers and publishers can improve conditions in their
companies and potentially prevent such issues from arising to the level of
litigation.
http://www.igda.org/qol/whitepaper.php
Related news links:
"Programmer sues Vivendi games unit for overtime"
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5544585
"Developer working conditions hide a cancer in the games industry"
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=dev&aid=3721
Upcoming IGDA Event Participation
---------------------------------
The IGDA will be participating the following upcoming events:
- SIGGRAPH: We'll be hosting a "birds of a feather" gathering for all game
developers at the show
- Leipzig Games Convention: Board member Bob Bates and program director
Jason Della Rocca will be lecturing in the developer program.
- CEDEC: The IGDA's Japanese chapter will be hosting an Academic Day during
the first day of the CESA Developers Conference.
- Video Game Developers Summit: The IGDA's Chicago chapter is working with
a local animation festival to host a local developers conference.
Check online for details on these events and the IGDA's participation:
http://www.igda.org/events/
SIG Updates: QA, HR, AI, GA
---------------------------
The IGDA's Special Interest Groups have been keeping themselves busy over
the past several months...
- Quality Assurance: A new SIG to cover quality assurance and test has just
been launched. They have a mailing list up and running and some big ideas
for future projects...
http://www.igda.org/qa/
- Game Accessibility: The GA-SIG has just released a comprehensive white
paper exploring the design of games for players with disabilities.
http://www.igda.org/accessibility/
- Human Resources: The HR-SIG released a summary report from their tutorial
at the past GDC.
http://www.igda.org/hr/
- Artificial Intelligence: The AI-SIG's standards committee continues to
plug away on interface protocols, and has released their extensive yearly
progress report.
http://www.igda.org/ai/report-2004/report-2004.html
Columns Update
--------------
Monthly columns updated for this month:
- The Ivory Tower:
What scope is there for game researchers, developers and players to
collaborate in making games?
http://www.igda.org/columns/ivorytower/
- Famous Last Words:
Insurance Requirements for Developers
http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/
- Culture Clash:
Half-Life, Too - Graphics have never been better. Or worse.
http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/
- The Games Game:
Jaded Expectations
http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/
======================================================
AD: SIGGRAPH 2004 Advanced Content for Game Developers
======================================================
SIGGRAPH 2004, August 8-12 in Los Angeles is an intense week of
cutting-edge research, new techniques, surprising technologies, and the
tools you need to succeed in the extremely competitive gaming industry.
Designers, artists, animators, and programmers will discover advanced
content that isn't available anywhere else as well as an Exhibition that
will empower every game development pro. Relevant content will be included
in 45 SIGGRAPH 2004 Courses, Papers, Panels, Exhibitor Tech Talks, and
Special Sessions. New for SIGGAPH 2004, one day passes are available.
http://www.siggraph.org/s2004/games
======================================================
===========================
2: Chapter Meetings/Reports
===========================
Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings:
http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php
Los Angeles
Meeting, July > Game Mods Meeting
http://www.igda.org/la/calendar.htm
Frankfurt am Main
Report, July > Character in Game Development
http://www.igda.org/frankfurt/#reports
Chicago
Meeting, July > How to Write a Design Document
http://www.igda.org/chicago/next.htm
Israel
Meeting, July > Chapter Casual Pub Meeting
http://www.cfxweb.net/igda/meetings.php
Brighton
Meeting, July > Social gathering
http://www.igda.org/brightonuk/
Japan
Meeting, July > SIG-Online Game "The Case Study of Chinese Market"
http://www.igda.jp/modules/news/article.php?storyid=218
Phoenix
Report, July > Remote Team Management and Organised Rigging
http://igda-phx.org/resources.php?id=17
Lyon
Report, July > IP in a videogame production
http://www.igda.org/lyon/
North Carolina Triangle
Report, July > Impressive 3D Gaming on Elumens' VisionStation
http://www.igda.org/nctriangle/meeting_jun04.htm
Mexico City
Report, July > Capitulos Estudiantiles
http://www.igda.org/mexico
Japan
Report, June > SIG-Online Game 1st Meeting Report
http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2004/06/19/103,1087654282,27665,0,0.html
Seattle
Report, June > Game Audio: Past, Present, and Future
http://www.igda.org/seattle/reports/06_2004r.htm
=================
3: From the Wires
=================
News stories and articles from around the web...
Dini slams industry's failure to champion development talent
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=dev&aid=3752
Boy inspires cancer video game
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3839091.stm
Game for a Little Therapy?
http://tinyurl.com/4zpf2
Medical study links games to obesity
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/07/01/news_6101806.html
This is science?
http://tinyurl.com/2x3tt
Lawmakers take aim at virtual violence
http://tinyurl.com/6pnll
Parents Set Rules, But Kids Still See TV Violence
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5601237
FTC gives games industry mixed report card
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/07/09/news_6102272.html
Q&A: ESRB president Patricia Vance
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/07/09/news_6102312.html
Los Angeles To Impose Restrictions On Gaming Cybercafes
http://games.slashdot.org/games/04/07/08/2334249.shtml
The Video Game Nudity Trend
http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/lbbcolumns/2004/0521.asp
'Casual' video games are serious business
http://tinyurl.com/5m8ys
Indie Innovation?
http://www.gametunnel.com/html/section-viewarticle-50.html
E3 2004 Report: Booth Babe Dialogues
http://www.gamecritics.com/feature/report/e3expo2004_babes/page01.php
Why the Edinburgh International Games Festival is Unique
http://biz.gamedaily.com/my_turn/
EFF Counts Nintendo as Enemy
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=3986
Europe Reconsiders Software Patents
http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/blog.asp?blogID=1481&trk=nl
Global Software Piracy Study
http://www.bsa.org/globalstudy/
==================
4: Logistical Bits
==================
Thanks to our Partners!
-----------------------
The IGDA extends its sincerest thanks to all our Partners! Especially those
who just joined us, or recently renewed their commitment to support the
game development community:
- Alias
- Avid Alienbrain
- Austin Community College
Without their support the IGDA simply would not survive - let alone thrive.
Further details and a complete list of Partners are available online:
http://www.igda.org/partners
Newsletter Subscription
-----------------------
You can update your subscription details via your MyProfile page:
http://www.igda.org/membership/myprofile.php
If you need help, contact us.
IGDA Membership
---------------
Your support is critical to the success of the IGDA, and our industry.
There are dozens of reasons to join the IGDA, ranging from personal career
advancement to more lofty industry-wide goals.
Join today:
http://www.igda.org/join
Contact Information
-------------------
Please contact us if you have questions, comments or input.
http://www.igda.org/contact.php
-------
- end -
-------
IGDA Newsletter - July 2004
===========================
===========================
Table of Contents
===========================
0: A Word From Jesse Schell
1: IGDA News
- Lobbying Update: Washington-State Bill HB1009
- Lack of Quality of Life Ever Present...
- Upcoming IGDA Event Participation
- SIG Updates: QA, HR, AI, GA
- Columns Update
2: Chapter Meetings/Reports
3: From the Wires
- Dini slams industry's failure to champion development talent
- Boy inspires cancer video game
- Game for a Little Therapy?
- Medical study links games to obesity
- This is science?
- Lawmakers take aim at virtual violence
- Parents Set Rules, But Kids Still See TV Violence
- FTC gives games industry mixed report card
- Q&A: ESRB president Patricia Vance
- Los Angeles To Impose Restrictions On Gaming Cybercafes
- The Video Game Nudity Trend
- 'Casual' video games are serious business
- Indie Innovation?
- E3 2004 Report: Booth Babe Dialogues
- Why the Edinburgh International Games Festival is Unique
- EFF Counts Nintendo as Enemy
- Europe Reconsiders Software Patents
- Global Software Piracy Study
4: Logistical Bits
===========================
===========================
0: A Word From Jesse Schell
===========================
Dear Members and friends,
Excellent freedom of speech news from the state of Washington this month!
Kudos to all our local members who helped out... Also, there is some
thought-provoking news about game developers suing for overwork. You can
read the details below, but both of these topics tie into something I've
been meaning to mention...
Most IGDA members think of the IGDA as being primarily about community -
chapter meetings, for example. And community is indeed half of our mission
-- but many overlook the other half: advocacy. In other words, the IGDA
works hard to address problems facing the community of developers, problems
that no single individual or company could solve alone.
Right now, the IGDA is working on several issues: censorship, business and
legal affairs, credit and recognition, diversity, quality of life, and
relations with academia. Want to help out with these things? Or, maybe you
know some other relevant issue the IGDA should be working on? Crunch time
is just around the corner, so jump to http://www.igda.org/advocacy/ to find
out how the org is making a difference and where you can get involved.
- Jesse Schell
Chairperson, IGDA
Professor of Entertainment Technology, Carnegie Mellon University
CEO, Schell Games
=====================================
AD: Austin Game Developers Conference
=====================================
September 9-10, 2004, Austin, Texas
It's time again for the coolest game conference of the year. Austin Game
Developer's Conference expands to 7 tracks dedicated to multiplayer online
games, mobile game development and console game development with more than
100 speakers. Detailed technical, design, service, production and business
sessions. Network with industry veterans, friends and colleagues in a
casual environment. Preview new technologies. Cool conference parties.
Machinima Theater and more. All this and more for only $125 when you
register before August 15, 2004. Price includes full access to the Mobile
Game Conference and the Women's Game Conference.
http://www.GameConference.com/
=====================================
============
1: IGDA News
============
Lobbying Update: Washington-State Bill HB1009
---------------------------------------------
On July 15th, 2004, the U.S. District Court in Seattle granted summary
judgment to overturn Washington state bill 1009 which was set to regulate
certain videogames, ruling the legislation unconstitutional. The decision
once again affirms that video games are protected speech. HB 1009 would
have banned minors from purchasing video games that depicted violence
against law enforcement officers (claiming that the playing the games
causes increased aggression and violence in children and young adults). The
Court found that the "legislature's belief that video games cause violence,
particularly violence against law enforcement officers, is not based on
reasonable inferences drawn from substantial evidence."
The IGDA was a joint-plaintiff, along with the ESA, IEMA and other industry
organizations who contested HB 1009 as an attack on game creators' ability
to express their ideas.
For further details, news links, court rulings and statements:
http://www.igda.org/censorship/lobbying.php#hb1009
Lack of Quality of Life Ever Present...
---------------------------------------
On Monday, June 28th, a programmer in the video game industry sued media
and telecom giant Vivendi Universal, claiming he and his colleagues were
regularly forced to work extra hours and denied overtime pay. In recent
months, several lawsuits have been filed in California by tech employees
seeking to be classified as overtime-eligible and obtaining compensation
for working more than 8 hours a day, or 40 hours a week.
It is sad, but not surprising, to hear of a game industry lawsuit like
this. Further, this is only one aspect of the often severe working
conditions in our industry leading to early burnout, wasted resources and
poor quality games.
The IGDA's recent Quality of Life White Paper points to many productive
ways that developers and publishers can improve conditions in their
companies and potentially prevent such issues from arising to the level of
litigation.
http://www.igda.org/qol/whitepaper.php
Related news links:
"Programmer sues Vivendi games unit for overtime"
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5544585
"Developer working conditions hide a cancer in the games industry"
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=dev&aid=3721
Upcoming IGDA Event Participation
---------------------------------
The IGDA will be participating the following upcoming events:
- SIGGRAPH: We'll be hosting a "birds of a feather" gathering for all game
developers at the show
- Leipzig Games Convention: Board member Bob Bates and program director
Jason Della Rocca will be lecturing in the developer program.
- CEDEC: The IGDA's Japanese chapter will be hosting an Academic Day during
the first day of the CESA Developers Conference.
- Video Game Developers Summit: The IGDA's Chicago chapter is working with
a local animation festival to host a local developers conference.
Check online for details on these events and the IGDA's participation:
http://www.igda.org/events/
SIG Updates: QA, HR, AI, GA
---------------------------
The IGDA's Special Interest Groups have been keeping themselves busy over
the past several months...
- Quality Assurance: A new SIG to cover quality assurance and test has just
been launched. They have a mailing list up and running and some big ideas
for future projects...
http://www.igda.org/qa/
- Game Accessibility: The GA-SIG has just released a comprehensive white
paper exploring the design of games for players with disabilities.
http://www.igda.org/accessibility/
- Human Resources: The HR-SIG released a summary report from their tutorial
at the past GDC.
http://www.igda.org/hr/
- Artificial Intelligence: The AI-SIG's standards committee continues to
plug away on interface protocols, and has released their extensive yearly
progress report.
http://www.igda.org/ai/report-2004/report-2004.html
Columns Update
--------------
Monthly columns updated for this month:
- The Ivory Tower:
What scope is there for game researchers, developers and players to
collaborate in making games?
http://www.igda.org/columns/ivorytower/
- Famous Last Words:
Insurance Requirements for Developers
http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/
- Culture Clash:
Half-Life, Too - Graphics have never been better. Or worse.
http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/
- The Games Game:
Jaded Expectations
http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/
======================================================
AD: SIGGRAPH 2004 Advanced Content for Game Developers
======================================================
SIGGRAPH 2004, August 8-12 in Los Angeles is an intense week of
cutting-edge research, new techniques, surprising technologies, and the
tools you need to succeed in the extremely competitive gaming industry.
Designers, artists, animators, and programmers will discover advanced
content that isn't available anywhere else as well as an Exhibition that
will empower every game development pro. Relevant content will be included
in 45 SIGGRAPH 2004 Courses, Papers, Panels, Exhibitor Tech Talks, and
Special Sessions. New for SIGGAPH 2004, one day passes are available.
http://www.siggraph.org/s2004/games
======================================================
===========================
2: Chapter Meetings/Reports
===========================
Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings:
http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php
Los Angeles
Meeting, July > Game Mods Meeting
http://www.igda.org/la/calendar.htm
Frankfurt am Main
Report, July > Character in Game Development
http://www.igda.org/frankfurt/#reports
Chicago
Meeting, July > How to Write a Design Document
http://www.igda.org/chicago/next.htm
Israel
Meeting, July > Chapter Casual Pub Meeting
http://www.cfxweb.net/igda/meetings.php
Brighton
Meeting, July > Social gathering
http://www.igda.org/brightonuk/
Japan
Meeting, July > SIG-Online Game "The Case Study of Chinese Market"
http://www.igda.jp/modules/news/article.php?storyid=218
Phoenix
Report, July > Remote Team Management and Organised Rigging
http://igda-phx.org/resources.php?id=17
Lyon
Report, July > IP in a videogame production
http://www.igda.org/lyon/
North Carolina Triangle
Report, July > Impressive 3D Gaming on Elumens' VisionStation
http://www.igda.org/nctriangle/meeting_jun04.htm
Mexico City
Report, July > Capitulos Estudiantiles
http://www.igda.org/mexico
Japan
Report, June > SIG-Online Game 1st Meeting Report
http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2004/06/19/103,1087654282,27665,0,0.html
Seattle
Report, June > Game Audio: Past, Present, and Future
http://www.igda.org/seattle/reports/06_2004r.htm
=================
3: From the Wires
=================
News stories and articles from around the web...
Dini slams industry's failure to champion development talent
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=dev&aid=3752
Boy inspires cancer video game
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3839091.stm
Game for a Little Therapy?
http://tinyurl.com/4zpf2
Medical study links games to obesity
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/07/01/news_6101806.html
This is science?
http://tinyurl.com/2x3tt
Lawmakers take aim at virtual violence
http://tinyurl.com/6pnll
Parents Set Rules, But Kids Still See TV Violence
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5601237
FTC gives games industry mixed report card
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/07/09/news_6102272.html
Q&A: ESRB president Patricia Vance
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/07/09/news_6102312.html
Los Angeles To Impose Restrictions On Gaming Cybercafes
http://games.slashdot.org/games/04/07/08/2334249.shtml
The Video Game Nudity Trend
http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/lbbcolumns/2004/0521.asp
'Casual' video games are serious business
http://tinyurl.com/5m8ys
Indie Innovation?
http://www.gametunnel.com/html/section-viewarticle-50.html
E3 2004 Report: Booth Babe Dialogues
http://www.gamecritics.com/feature/report/e3expo2004_babes/page01.php
Why the Edinburgh International Games Festival is Unique
http://biz.gamedaily.com/my_turn/
EFF Counts Nintendo as Enemy
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=3986
Europe Reconsiders Software Patents
http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/blog.asp?blogID=1481&trk=nl
Global Software Piracy Study
http://www.bsa.org/globalstudy/
==================
4: Logistical Bits
==================
Thanks to our Partners!
-----------------------
The IGDA extends its sincerest thanks to all our Partners! Especially those
who just joined us, or recently renewed their commitment to support the
game development community:
- Alias
- Avid Alienbrain
- Austin Community College
Without their support the IGDA simply would not survive - let alone thrive.
Further details and a complete list of Partners are available online:
http://www.igda.org/partners
Newsletter Subscription
-----------------------
You can update your subscription details via your MyProfile page:
http://www.igda.org/membership/myprofile.php
If you need help, contact us.
IGDA Membership
---------------
Your support is critical to the success of the IGDA, and our industry.
There are dozens of reasons to join the IGDA, ranging from personal career
advancement to more lofty industry-wide goals.
Join today:
http://www.igda.org/join
Contact Information
-------------------
Please contact us if you have questions, comments or input.
http://www.igda.org/contact.php
-------
- end -
-------
Last updated:
09/25/2009 - 2:56 PM
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