IGDA Newsletter - June 2003
===========================
IGDA Newsletter - June 2003
===========================
=============================
0: A Word From Kathy Schoback
1: IGDA News
- IGDA Joins Industry Coalition Challenging Washington State Video Game Bill
- GDC Europe Scholarship Program Kicks Off
- Article: Game Accessibility: Potentials and Opportunities
- E3 Report and Other Event Action
- Columns Update
2: Chapter Updates...
3: From the Wires
- GDC 2004 Call for Abstracts Live
- Constitution protects video games
- Are Videogames Art?
- Been There, Done That
- Video games boost visual skills
- ESA 2003 Consumer Survey: Games a Positive Addition
- Bio-Warriors and Implant Freaks
- Early Video Game Prototypes Rebuilt
- The Laws of the Virtual Worlds
- Power Balancing: An Interview With Chris Crawford
- Game Over - Games for Learning
- Modeling Human Prefrontal Cortex in Quake III Arena
- Police concerned over teen game addiction
4: Logistical Bits
=============================
=============================
0: A Word From Kathy Schoback
=============================
Dear Members and friends,
From the recent decision in the St-Louis video game case:
"...the government cannot silence protected speech by wrapping itself in
the cloak of parental authority."
Those of us in-industry greet cases such as this, in which the courts
reaffirm video games' protected status under the USA's First Amendment,
with a resounding "no duh". Clearly this is not as obvious to policymakers
and, dare we say, the amorphous "general public."
The IGDA works hard to increase awareness of the beauty and complexity of
an interactive gaming experience via the Violence and Social Issues
Committee, endeavors such as the Game Developers Choice Awards, via the
Education Committee, as well as a close collaboration with the ESA.
However, it is incumbent upon each of us to spread the message through our
own circle of friends and family as well.
How many of us have parents who can't explain to their friends what we do?
We may play games with our children or industry friends, but do we leave a
party game running on our console for friends to fiddle with during a
cocktail gathering? How about a combination LAN/block party for the
neighborhood? Seminar on the game industry at your local community center?
If these sound farfetched, it only illustrates the divide between "grown-up
life" and games. Until we bring games out of our offices and into the life
we share with our families and friends, we can't expect the widespread
understanding we need as a medium.
Looking forward to continuing the discussion in the IGDA forums:
http://www.igda.org/Forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=85
Happy playing!
Kathy Schoback
Chairperson, IGDA
Director of Product Operations, Eidos
=======================================
Partner Ad: Digital Media Collaboratory
=======================================
Join game development luminaries for an intensive AI in Games Workshop at
The University of Texas at Austin. Learn about emerging applications of
innovative game play and examine new trends in digital game research.
Participants will work with top industry professionals during break-out
sessions.
Visit http://dmc.ic2.org or call 512-482-0273 x253 for more information.
=======================================
============
1: IGDA News
============
IGDA Joins Industry Coalition Challenging Washington State Video Game Bill
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The IGDA joined leading retail and game industry groups in filing a lawsuit
in the U.S. District Court of Seattle, Wash., challenging the
constitutionality of a recently enacted Washington state statute
(Washington state HB1009) seeking to ban the sale to minors of certain
video games.
The IGDA joined the lawsuit with co-plaintiffs the Washington Retail
Association, the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA), the Interactive
Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA), the Entertainment
Software Association (ESA), and Hollywood Video.
"Game developers take their creative responsibilities very seriously,"
stated Jason Della Rocca, program director of the IGDA. "As video games
emerge as the art form of the 21st century, developers need the freedom to
explore and express all aspects of the human condition. Having
state-enforced regulation would stifle creativity - and consumer choice -
to a point that would simply not be accepted in other forms of art and
entertainment."
http://www.igda.org/newsroom/press_060503.php
GDC Europe Scholarship Program Kicks Off
----------------------------------------
The 2nd annual Game Developers Conference Europe Student Scholarship
Program is now taking applications. Twenty-five college students will be
awarded complimentary full access passes to the GDC Europe August 26-29,
2003, opening the doors to coveted conference seminars and panel
discussions and potential job opportunities.
Students can now apply online for an IGDA scholarship at
www.igda.org/scholarships. The deadline to enter is Monday June 23, 2003.
Recipients will be announced in late July 2003. Applicants are required to
be full-time college students (or equivalent) and IGDA student members for
consideration. The IGDA's Education Committee and board members will judge
scholarship applications.
Complete information on the scholarship program and requirements can be
found online:
http://www.igda.org/scholarships
Article: Game Accessibility: Potentials and Opportunities
---------------------------------------------------------
A new article outlining game accessibility by Thomas Westin (of
Terraformers fame (an IGF winner)) has been posted. The article looks at
factors to consider when developing games, and gives a sense of the
untapped market for those living with a disability (deaf, blind, etc).
As the article suggests, Thomas is looking into starting a game
accessibility initiative and those interested are encouraged to join the
discussion.
http://www.igda.org/articles/twestin_access.php
http://www.igda.org/Forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=160
E3 Report and Other Event Action
--------------------------------
The IGDA's E3 report and pictorial have been posted. In summary, E3 was a
fun event - despite all the noise...
Jumping ahead, the IGDA will next be at the SIGGRAPH conference in San
Diego with a small batch of activities (booth, panel, forum, developer
gathering, etc). Also, be sure to check out their page highlighting
sessions most relevant to game developers.
And, jumping back to GDC 2003, many of the roundtable moderators have
posted their own roundtable summary reports and everyone is invited to
continue the discussions started at GDC...
http://www.igda.org/events/events_e32003.php
http://www.igda.org/events/
http://www.siggraph.org/s2003/games/
http://www.igda.org/events/gdc03_roundtables.php
Columns Updated
---------------
Our monthly columns have all been updated for June:
- The Ivory Tower:
The more we talk, the smarter we get: the conversation between game
designers and researchers
http://www.igda.org/columns/ivorytower/
- Famous Last Words:
Walking Through Contracts
http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/
- Culture Clash:
The Deplorable Word - Who defines our "Mainstream"?
http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/
- The Games Game:
Demonstrating Outstanding Passion
http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/
==================
2: Chapter Updates
==================
Paris
Meeting, June > Postmortem Rayman 3
http://igda.paris.free.fr/paris/index.htm#NextMeet
New Jersey North
Meeting, June > Meeting at Bloomfield College
http://www.igda.org/njnorth
Denmark
Meeting, June > Visionday event at DTU in Copenhagen
http://www.imm.dtu.dk/visiondag/VD03/grafisk/gravision.html
Israel
Meeting, June > Israeli Chapter Meeting
http://www.igda.org/israel
New Jersey North
Report, June > New Digs! Allright!
http://www.igda.org/njnorth/nj_summary_may03.htm
Switzerland
Report, June > River - Barbecue and chapter site update
http://www.igda.org/swiss/meetingsr.htm
Montreal
Report, June > The Harvey and Warren Show
http://www.igda.org/montreal/reports/summary_Jun03.htm
Vancouver
Report, May > Indie Engines and Online Publishing
http://www.igda.org/vancouver/reports.htm
Portland
Report, May > First Meeting Report
http://www.igda.org/portland/meeting01.htm
Manila
Report, May > Results of 2nd Meeting
http://www.igda.org/manila/
Orange County
Report, May > Game Audio meeting aftermath
http://www.igda.org/oc
Dallas
Report, May > Programming Notes - Squirrel Eiserloh on Time in Games
http://www.dallasigda.org/notes.htm
Colorado
Report, May > Garrett Link Presents On Developing Content For RealNetworks
http://www.coloradogamedev.org/20030505.html
Mexico City
Report, May > Minuta de la 1ra reunión
http://www.igda.org/mexico
=================
3: From the Wires
=================
GDC 2004 Call for Abstracts Live
http://www.gdconf.com/abstracts
Constitution protects video games
http://money.cnn.com/2003/06/03/technology/games_firstamendment/index.htm
Are Videogames Art?
http://www.gamecritics.com/feature/editorial/videogames_art/page01.php
Been There, Done That
http://www.avault.com/editorials/index.asp?editorial=edit116
Video games boost visual skills
http://www.nature.com/nsu/030527/030527-5.html
ESA 2003 Consumer Survey: Games's a Positive Addition
http://www.theesa.com/5_14_2_2003.html
Bio-Warriors and Implant Freaks
http://www.anarchy-online.com/content/news/articles/6100L/
Early Video Game Prototypes Rebuilt
http://www.avault.com/news/displaynews.asp?story=652003-125253
The Laws of the Virtual Worlds
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=402860
Power Balancing: An Interview With Chris Crawford
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20030605/carless_01.shtml
Game Over - Games for Learning
http://soundprint.org/radio/display_show/ID/1183/name/Game+Over
Modeling Human Prefrontal Cortex in Quake III Arena
http://www.vuse.vanderbilt.edu/~noelledc/resources/VE/IDED/home.htm
Police concerned over teen game addiction
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3505220
==================
4: Logistical Bits
==================
Thanks to our Partners!
-----------------------
The IGDA extends its sincerest thanks to all our Partners! Without their
support the IGDA simply would not survive - let alone thrive.
Academy of Art College
Alias|Wavefront
Art Institute of California - San Diego
Butterfly.net
Charles River Media
Criterion Software
Digital Media Center at Seneca College
Digital Media Collaboratory at UofT at Austin
Discreet
Havok
Institute for Information Industry, Taiwan
Kaydara
Mary-Margaret.com
Microsoft Research
NDL
NXN Software
Quazal
SN Systems
Sun Microsystems
Universirty of Derby
Virtools
Xbox Advanced Technology Group
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 get need help, simply contact us at http://www.igda.org/contact.php.
IGDA Registration
-----------------
Your support is critical to the success of the IGDA, and our industry. Our
membership is made up of programmers, designers, artists, producers and
many other development professionals who see the importance of working
together to advance games and game development as a craft. There are dozens
of reasons to join the IGDA, ranging from personal career advancement to
more lofty industry-wide goals.
What are you waiting for? Join today.
http://www.igda.org/join
Contact Information
-------------------
Do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions, comments or input.
http://www.igda.org/about/contact.php
IGDA Newsletter - June 2003
===========================
=============================
0: A Word From Kathy Schoback
1: IGDA News
- IGDA Joins Industry Coalition Challenging Washington State Video Game Bill
- GDC Europe Scholarship Program Kicks Off
- Article: Game Accessibility: Potentials and Opportunities
- E3 Report and Other Event Action
- Columns Update
2: Chapter Updates...
3: From the Wires
- GDC 2004 Call for Abstracts Live
- Constitution protects video games
- Are Videogames Art?
- Been There, Done That
- Video games boost visual skills
- ESA 2003 Consumer Survey: Games a Positive Addition
- Bio-Warriors and Implant Freaks
- Early Video Game Prototypes Rebuilt
- The Laws of the Virtual Worlds
- Power Balancing: An Interview With Chris Crawford
- Game Over - Games for Learning
- Modeling Human Prefrontal Cortex in Quake III Arena
- Police concerned over teen game addiction
4: Logistical Bits
=============================
=============================
0: A Word From Kathy Schoback
=============================
Dear Members and friends,
From the recent decision in the St-Louis video game case:
"...the government cannot silence protected speech by wrapping itself in
the cloak of parental authority."
Those of us in-industry greet cases such as this, in which the courts
reaffirm video games' protected status under the USA's First Amendment,
with a resounding "no duh". Clearly this is not as obvious to policymakers
and, dare we say, the amorphous "general public."
The IGDA works hard to increase awareness of the beauty and complexity of
an interactive gaming experience via the Violence and Social Issues
Committee, endeavors such as the Game Developers Choice Awards, via the
Education Committee, as well as a close collaboration with the ESA.
However, it is incumbent upon each of us to spread the message through our
own circle of friends and family as well.
How many of us have parents who can't explain to their friends what we do?
We may play games with our children or industry friends, but do we leave a
party game running on our console for friends to fiddle with during a
cocktail gathering? How about a combination LAN/block party for the
neighborhood? Seminar on the game industry at your local community center?
If these sound farfetched, it only illustrates the divide between "grown-up
life" and games. Until we bring games out of our offices and into the life
we share with our families and friends, we can't expect the widespread
understanding we need as a medium.
Looking forward to continuing the discussion in the IGDA forums:
http://www.igda.org/Forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=85
Happy playing!
Kathy Schoback
Chairperson, IGDA
Director of Product Operations, Eidos
=======================================
Partner Ad: Digital Media Collaboratory
=======================================
Join game development luminaries for an intensive AI in Games Workshop at
The University of Texas at Austin. Learn about emerging applications of
innovative game play and examine new trends in digital game research.
Participants will work with top industry professionals during break-out
sessions.
Visit http://dmc.ic2.org or call 512-482-0273 x253 for more information.
=======================================
============
1: IGDA News
============
IGDA Joins Industry Coalition Challenging Washington State Video Game Bill
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The IGDA joined leading retail and game industry groups in filing a lawsuit
in the U.S. District Court of Seattle, Wash., challenging the
constitutionality of a recently enacted Washington state statute
(Washington state HB1009) seeking to ban the sale to minors of certain
video games.
The IGDA joined the lawsuit with co-plaintiffs the Washington Retail
Association, the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA), the Interactive
Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA), the Entertainment
Software Association (ESA), and Hollywood Video.
"Game developers take their creative responsibilities very seriously,"
stated Jason Della Rocca, program director of the IGDA. "As video games
emerge as the art form of the 21st century, developers need the freedom to
explore and express all aspects of the human condition. Having
state-enforced regulation would stifle creativity - and consumer choice -
to a point that would simply not be accepted in other forms of art and
entertainment."
http://www.igda.org/newsroom/press_060503.php
GDC Europe Scholarship Program Kicks Off
----------------------------------------
The 2nd annual Game Developers Conference Europe Student Scholarship
Program is now taking applications. Twenty-five college students will be
awarded complimentary full access passes to the GDC Europe August 26-29,
2003, opening the doors to coveted conference seminars and panel
discussions and potential job opportunities.
Students can now apply online for an IGDA scholarship at
www.igda.org/scholarships. The deadline to enter is Monday June 23, 2003.
Recipients will be announced in late July 2003. Applicants are required to
be full-time college students (or equivalent) and IGDA student members for
consideration. The IGDA's Education Committee and board members will judge
scholarship applications.
Complete information on the scholarship program and requirements can be
found online:
http://www.igda.org/scholarships
Article: Game Accessibility: Potentials and Opportunities
---------------------------------------------------------
A new article outlining game accessibility by Thomas Westin (of
Terraformers fame (an IGF winner)) has been posted. The article looks at
factors to consider when developing games, and gives a sense of the
untapped market for those living with a disability (deaf, blind, etc).
As the article suggests, Thomas is looking into starting a game
accessibility initiative and those interested are encouraged to join the
discussion.
http://www.igda.org/articles/twestin_access.php
http://www.igda.org/Forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=160
E3 Report and Other Event Action
--------------------------------
The IGDA's E3 report and pictorial have been posted. In summary, E3 was a
fun event - despite all the noise...
Jumping ahead, the IGDA will next be at the SIGGRAPH conference in San
Diego with a small batch of activities (booth, panel, forum, developer
gathering, etc). Also, be sure to check out their page highlighting
sessions most relevant to game developers.
And, jumping back to GDC 2003, many of the roundtable moderators have
posted their own roundtable summary reports and everyone is invited to
continue the discussions started at GDC...
http://www.igda.org/events/events_e32003.php
http://www.igda.org/events/
http://www.siggraph.org/s2003/games/
http://www.igda.org/events/gdc03_roundtables.php
Columns Updated
---------------
Our monthly columns have all been updated for June:
- The Ivory Tower:
The more we talk, the smarter we get: the conversation between game
designers and researchers
http://www.igda.org/columns/ivorytower/
- Famous Last Words:
Walking Through Contracts
http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/
- Culture Clash:
The Deplorable Word - Who defines our "Mainstream"?
http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/
- The Games Game:
Demonstrating Outstanding Passion
http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/
==================
2: Chapter Updates
==================
Paris
Meeting, June > Postmortem Rayman 3
http://igda.paris.free.fr/paris/index.htm#NextMeet
New Jersey North
Meeting, June > Meeting at Bloomfield College
http://www.igda.org/njnorth
Denmark
Meeting, June > Visionday event at DTU in Copenhagen
http://www.imm.dtu.dk/visiondag/VD03/grafisk/gravision.html
Israel
Meeting, June > Israeli Chapter Meeting
http://www.igda.org/israel
New Jersey North
Report, June > New Digs! Allright!
http://www.igda.org/njnorth/nj_summary_may03.htm
Switzerland
Report, June > River - Barbecue and chapter site update
http://www.igda.org/swiss/meetingsr.htm
Montreal
Report, June > The Harvey and Warren Show
http://www.igda.org/montreal/reports/summary_Jun03.htm
Vancouver
Report, May > Indie Engines and Online Publishing
http://www.igda.org/vancouver/reports.htm
Portland
Report, May > First Meeting Report
http://www.igda.org/portland/meeting01.htm
Manila
Report, May > Results of 2nd Meeting
http://www.igda.org/manila/
Orange County
Report, May > Game Audio meeting aftermath
http://www.igda.org/oc
Dallas
Report, May > Programming Notes - Squirrel Eiserloh on Time in Games
http://www.dallasigda.org/notes.htm
Colorado
Report, May > Garrett Link Presents On Developing Content For RealNetworks
http://www.coloradogamedev.org/20030505.html
Mexico City
Report, May > Minuta de la 1ra reunión
http://www.igda.org/mexico
=================
3: From the Wires
=================
GDC 2004 Call for Abstracts Live
http://www.gdconf.com/abstracts
Constitution protects video games
http://money.cnn.com/2003/06/03/technology/games_firstamendment/index.htm
Are Videogames Art?
http://www.gamecritics.com/feature/editorial/videogames_art/page01.php
Been There, Done That
http://www.avault.com/editorials/index.asp?editorial=edit116
Video games boost visual skills
http://www.nature.com/nsu/030527/030527-5.html
ESA 2003 Consumer Survey: Games's a Positive Addition
http://www.theesa.com/5_14_2_2003.html
Bio-Warriors and Implant Freaks
http://www.anarchy-online.com/content/news/articles/6100L/
Early Video Game Prototypes Rebuilt
http://www.avault.com/news/displaynews.asp?story=652003-125253
The Laws of the Virtual Worlds
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=402860
Power Balancing: An Interview With Chris Crawford
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20030605/carless_01.shtml
Game Over - Games for Learning
http://soundprint.org/radio/display_show/ID/1183/name/Game+Over
Modeling Human Prefrontal Cortex in Quake III Arena
http://www.vuse.vanderbilt.edu/~noelledc/resources/VE/IDED/home.htm
Police concerned over teen game addiction
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3505220
==================
4: Logistical Bits
==================
Thanks to our Partners!
-----------------------
The IGDA extends its sincerest thanks to all our Partners! Without their
support the IGDA simply would not survive - let alone thrive.
Academy of Art College
Alias|Wavefront
Art Institute of California - San Diego
Butterfly.net
Charles River Media
Criterion Software
Digital Media Center at Seneca College
Digital Media Collaboratory at UofT at Austin
Discreet
Havok
Institute for Information Industry, Taiwan
Kaydara
Mary-Margaret.com
Microsoft Research
NDL
NXN Software
Quazal
SN Systems
Sun Microsystems
Universirty of Derby
Virtools
Xbox Advanced Technology Group
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 get need help, simply contact us at http://www.igda.org/contact.php.
IGDA Registration
-----------------
Your support is critical to the success of the IGDA, and our industry. Our
membership is made up of programmers, designers, artists, producers and
many other development professionals who see the importance of working
together to advance games and game development as a craft. There are dozens
of reasons to join the IGDA, ranging from personal career advancement to
more lofty industry-wide goals.
What are you waiting for? Join today.
http://www.igda.org/join
Contact Information
-------------------
Do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions, comments or input.
http://www.igda.org/about/contact.php
Last updated:
09/25/2009 - 2:44 PM
Post to Twitter