IGDA Newsletter - March 2003

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IGDA Newsletter - March 2003
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0: A Word From Graeme Devine


1: IGDA News
- 2nd Edition of Online Games Whitepaper Released
- IGDA Annual Report for 2002
- Academic Summit Content and GDC Report Posted
- Choice Award Recipients Announced; Metroid Prime takes Game of the Year
- Board of Director Nominees Step Into the Ring
- 20% Member Discount on E3 Conference and Workshops
- Columns/Articles Update


2: Chapter Updates...


3: Industry News
- ESA Presents Arguments Against St. Louis Videogame Ban
- Flood of GDC Content and News Coverage
- More Good, More Bad: The Violence Debate Continues
- Online Games a Platform for Activism and Problem Solving
- Professor Proclaims that Gaming is Good


4: Upcoming Industry Events


5: Logistical Bits
===========================


===========================
0:A Word From Graeme Devine
===========================


Dear Members and friends,


Like many of you, I got back from a wonderful GDC and promptly caught the
flu. Lying in bed after watching one too many Captain Scarlet DVDs, I had
plenty of time to reflect on the adventure the previous week had been.


And what a GDC it was. The biggest moment for me was the posthumous
presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Game Boy creator Gunpei
Yokoi's family by Sega's Yuji Naka during the Game Developers Choice
Awards. Standing off stage watching this unfold is something I will
treasure for the rest of my life. I was on stage next to present the Game
of the Year, and found it very hard to keep all the emotion bottled.


I talked to the IGDA's GDC Scholarship recipients and our chapter
coordinators from all corners of the world. I loved the international feel
we seemed to foster at this year's GDC.


I was told by quite a few people that they found my newsletter
introductions to be occasionally whacky. I took this as a term of
endearment, but upon reflection from my sick bed, I feel I may have
misinterpreted the compliment...


And so, onwards with this months goodies. Scroll on gamer!


Graeme Devine
Chairperson, IGDA




===========
1:IGDA News
===========


2nd Edition of Online Games Whitepaper Released
-----------------------------------------------
The IGDA's Online Games Committee has released the 2nd edition of their
Online Games Whitepaper. The Whitepaper provides online games market
statistics, business model descriptions, technology summaries and publisher
listings, among other resources. The Online Games Whitepaper is free to
download for all IGDA members and registered users.


http://www.igda.org/online/online_whitepaper.php




IGDA Annual Report for 2002
---------------------------
Each year, we do up an annual report to summarize the activities of the
IGDA over the past year and progress on our mission and goals.
This report is printed and distributed to over 50,000 game developers
and industry professionals worldwide. Here now is the IGDA 2002
Annual Report (~2mb pdf) for your viewing and reading pleasure.


http://www.igda.org/about/IGDA_2002_Annual_Report.pdf




Academic Summit Content and GDC Report Posted
---------------------------------------------
Following up from last week's Game Developers Conference, the bulk of the
content from the Academic Summit has been posted, along with a summary
report and pictorial of the entire conference. Enjoy!


http://www.igda.org/events/events_gdc_2003.php
http://www.igda.org/academia/events.php




Choice Award Recipients Announced; Metroid Prime takes Game of the Year
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The IGDA named recipients of the Game Developers Choice Awards at the 3rd
annual ceremony during the 2003 GDC. The Oscars of games, the Choice Awards
are true peer recognition honors, as all nominees and recipients are voted
on free of charge, by game developers. The evening event celebrates
creativity and artistry as well as technological genius. Check the Choice
Awards web site for a full list of recipients.


http://www.igda.org/awards/pr_2003_0307.htm




Board of Director Nominees Step Into the Ring
---------------------------------------------
We have nine brave people who have stepped forth as nominees for the IGDA
Board of Directors. Each candidate has provided a brief statement of
candidacy, which can viewed on the elections page. The nominees are:


John Feil - LucasArts
Jerod Kirby - Octagon Entertainment
Mitzi McGilvray - TapWave
Aaron Pulkka - Hyper Entertainment
Jason Robar - Consultant
Andrew Rupf - Rogers AT&T Wireless
Jesse Schell - Carnegie Mellon University
Chacko Sonny - Savage Entertainment
Mark W. Warner - Nexus Entertainment


http://www.igda.org/board/elections.php



Private/secure online ballots have already been sent to members of record
as of March 13th. Please contact us if you are having
any difficulties with the online voting system.




20% Member Discount on E3 Conference and Workshops
--------------------------------------------------
All IGDA members are eligible for a 20% discount on E3's conference and
workshops. The discount is valid until May 2nd. See the Member Discounts &
Promos page for further details.


http://www.igda.org/membership/discounts.php#e3




Columns/Articles Update
-----------------------
Our monthly columns have all been updated for March. Also, this month we
welcome a new column, presented in conjunction with the Digital Games
Research Association, called "The Ivory Tower", which will provide us with
insight from the academic community.


- The Ivory Tower: Pac-Man and the Ivory Tower
http://www.igda.org/columns/ivorytower/



- Famous Last Words: Scope Your Definitions
http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/



- Culture Clash: The Play's the Thing
http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/



- The Games Game: Hit the Trenches Before Starting a Studio
http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/



Additionally, we have two new articles posted:


- Panel on Game Addiction
http://www.igda.org/articles/austin_addiction.php



- How to Satisfy Women
http://www.igda.org/articles/soconnor_women.php




=================
2:Chapter Updates
=================


San Francisco
Meeting, March > Game Submission Guidelines and Industry Stats & Trends
http://www.igda.org/sanfran/



Colorado
Report, February > Game Critique and Analysis Part 2 led by David Thomas
http://www.coloradogamedev.org/20030203.html



Southern Michigan
Report, February > Advanced 3D Modeling and Animation with Discreet
http://www.igda.org/smichigan/Feb03/report.htm



Vancouver
Report, February > Words and Photos from January!
http://www.igda.org/vancouver/reports.htm



Denmark
Report, February > February 2003 Bar Meeting Report
http://www.igda.org/Forums/showthread.php?threadid=4313



North Carolina Triangle
Report, February > "A Tale of Two Studios" by Mike Capps
http://www.igda.org/nctriangle/meeting_feb03.html



Colorado
Report, March > Puzzles In Games at CU Boulder
http://www.coloradogamedev.org/20030304.html



North Carolina Triangle
Meeting, March > Next meeting is Tuesday, March 25
http://www.igda.org/nctriangle/meetings.htm



San Francisco
Report, March > SF IGDA, February Meeting Report
http://www.igda.org/sanfran/bayarea_summary_Feb03.htm



New Jersey North
Report, March > Summary of the March 2003 Meeting
http://www.igda.org/njnorth/nj_summary_mar03.htm



Vancouver
Report, March > Who Saw What at GDC
http://www.igda.org/vancouver/reports.htm



Houston
Meeting, March > Skada'Kael Tech Demo - March 27
http://www.igda.org/houston/



DC & Vicinity
Meeting, March > Next Meeting: March 29 - GMU Student Union Building
http://www.igda.org/dc/#dc_details



Colorado
Meeting, April > Post GDC Wrap-up and Swag give-away 2003
http://www.coloradogamedev.org/




===============
3:Industry News
===============


ESA Presents Arguments Against St. Louis Videogame Ban
http://www.igda.org/newsroom/news_item.php?nid=532



Flood of GDC Content and News Coverage
http://www.igda.org/newsroom/news_item.php?nid=530



More Good, More Bad: The Violence Debate Continues
http://www.igda.org/newsroom/news_item.php?nid=525



Online Games a Platform for Activism and Problem Solving
http://www.igda.org/newsroom/news_item.php?nid=521



Professor Proclaims that Gaming is Good
http://www.igda.org/newsroom/news_item.php?nid=520




==========================
4:Upcoming Industry Events
==========================


Russian Game Developers Conference
http://www.kriconf.ru/
21-22 March, Moscow, Russia



Technologies for Interactive Digital Storytelling & Entertainment
http://www.zgdv.de/TIDSE03/
24-26 March, Darmstadt, Germany



Milia
http://www.milia.com/
26-28 March, Cannes, France



digifest
http://www.dxnet.net/digifest/
26-29 March, Toronto, Canada
(10% discount for IGDA members)




Game Market Watch Conference & Expo
http://www.jupiterevents.com/gmw/spring03/index.html
1-2 April, Los Angeles, CA



Computer Gaming Technology Conference
http://www.cgt.auc.ca/
3-5 April, Ontario, Canada



Mobile Entertainment
http://www.ibctelecoms.com/entertainment/?src=mobentigda
8-9 April, London, UK



Video Games: The Next Level
http://www.cencom.org/INDEX.HTM/CALENDAR/SEMINARS/Seminars.htm#video
21 April, New York, NY



Playing Away - Mobile Games
http://www.nmk.co.uk/playingaway.cfm
23 April, London, UK



GAMES & MOBILE FORUM
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/events/Games&MobileForum_04282003.htm
28 April, New York, NY




=================
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
Charles River Media
Criterion Software
Digital Media Collaboratory
Havok
Kaydara
Mary-Margaret.com
Quazal
SN Systems
Virtools


Further details and a complete list of Partners are available online:
http://www.igda.org/partners




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