IGDA Newsletter - November 2008

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IGDA Newsletter - November 2008
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Table of Contents
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0: A Word From Jen MacLean

1: Global Game Jam: 15 countries, 42 sites, unlimited creativity!

2: GDC09 Scholarship Program Now Accepting Applications

3: Leadership Forum Recap

4: Event Action: Living Worlds, Mobile Forum, GDC

5: Columns Update

6: Chapter Meetings/Reports

x: Logistical Bits & Unsubscribe Info
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==========================
0: A Word From Jen MacLean
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Dear Members and friends,

We just wrapped up the second IGDA Leadership Forum in San Francisco, which was, in my highly-biased view, a wonderful event. The organizing committee did an amazing job of pulling together fantastic speakers, including industry visionaries like Mark Cerny, Don Daglow, and Rich Hilleman. The speakers themselves shared the considerable benefit of their varied and valuable experiences and insights, on topics as varied as studio growth cases and workshops on managing different personality types. And the attendees -- engaged, passionate, eager to learn and, most importantly, to lead -- added energy beyond any conference I've attended.

At the same time as the Leadership Forum, the IGDA's Women in Games mailing list ( http://www.igda.org/women/community.html - everyone is welcome to participate) was engaging in a typically passionate debate about the industry and the behavior of leaders and perceived leaders. These two separate events underscored one of the most important missions of the IGDA. By connecting game developers with peers, exposing new ideas, and providing great outlets for networking and discussion (whether live, like the Leadership Forum, or virtual, like our mailing lists and forums), we give developers the neutral forum they need to enhance their community, their profession, and their lives. I applaud the efforts of the Leadership Forum's organizing committee, speakers, and attendees, as well as the moderators and participants in the Women in Games community; representative of so many of our Special Interest Groups and committees, these dedicated volunteers make game development more fun for everyone.

Thanks, everyone, for your contributions to the IGDA and to the industry.

- Jen MacLean
Chairperson, IGDA
VP Business Development, 38 Studios



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** Ad: GDC 2009 Registration is Now Open! **
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The 23rd Annual Game Developers Conference (GDC) returns to San Francisco's Moscone Center on March 23-27, 2009. It's a week of learning, networking, and inspiration as over 18,000 developers convene to further the digital entertainment industry. The GDC hosts over 400 lectures, panels, tutorials and round-table discussion on a comprehensive selection of game development topics taught by select speakers worldwide. Events taking place at the GDC include the 11th Annual Independent Games Festival, the 9th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards, the 2nd Annual Independent Games Festival Mobile Awards and many more.

IGDA Members get $50 off GDC09 Conference Passes. Take advantage of your discount and register today!

For more info and to register, jump to:
http://www.gdconf.com/?cid=GDC09_QUENX1

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1: Global Game Jam: 15 countries, 42 sites, unlimited creativity!
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Get ready for the Global Game Jam, a simultaneous event happening within the same 48 hours around the world. GGJ is the weekend of January 30 ­ February 1, 2009, so catch up on your sleep and mark your calendars that you are going to be at a local Jam.

Some of the world's greatest developers were asked to help create the constraints and mechanics of the GGJ... One of the game constraints in each time zone will be changed, mixing things up for everyone.

There are 42 different Jam host sites across 15 different countries. To check on sites close to you, get more info or sign up to participate, check out:

http://www.globalgamejam.org/



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** Ad: The 6th Annual Mobile Games Forum **
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21 ­ 22 January 2009
The Tower Hotel, London, UK

Now in its 6th year, the Mobile Games Forum is firmly established as the leading Mobile Games event in Europe. With the whole ecosystem present ­ operators, publishers, developers, handset manufacturers and software providers ­ all industry viewpoints will be represented. The unbeatable MGF09 speaker line-up includes over 40 cutting-edge viewpoints from industry leaders.

Special £499 independent developer rate and 15% discount for IGDA members; email andrew_mowbray@osneymedia.com or call +44 (0)207 336 4692 for details.

For event info and to register, jump to:
http://www.mobilegamesforum.co.uk/

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2: GDC09 Scholarship Program Now Accepting Applications
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The IGDA has just launched the Student Scholarship Program for GDC09. Twenty-five university students will be awarded complimentary "Main Conference" passes to the 2009 Game Developers Conference. The deadline to enter is Thursday, January 15th, 2009. Recipients will be announced mid February.

Applicants are required to be full-time university students (or equivalent) and IGDA student members for consideration. Scholarship applications will be judged by a panel of professional game developers.

Students can now apply online:

http://www.igda.org/scholarships/



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3: Leadership Forum Recap
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The IGDA welcomed nearly 400 producers, team leads and studio directors to San Francisco for its second annual Leadership Forum. Organized in conjunction with the IGDA's Production SIG, the conference focused on the nuts and bolts of team/project management, as well as the more intangible skills of leadership.

A volunteer team of "live" bloggers posted summaries of each session to the conference website. Additionally, some event photos are up at the site as well.

http://www.igda.org/leadership/


Note, the ppt slides and videos of the recorded sessions will also be made available online for members in the coming weeks (as well as for purchase on DVD).

Special thanks to our sponsors for making the Leadership Forum possible:
- Autodesk - http://www.autodesk.com/
- Hansoft - http://www.hansoft.se/
- EA Partners - http://www.ea.com/
- Green-Ear - http://www.green-ear.com/
- Image Metrics - http://www.image-metrics.com/
- GameRecruiter - http://www.gamerecruiter.com/
- Infinity Science Press - http://www.infinitysciencepress.com/
- Lenovo - http://www.lenovo.com/
- MrMike's Addins - http://www.mcshaffry.com/mrmike/
- Omni Interactive Audio - http://www.omniinteractiveaudio.com/
- Sneaky Games - http://www.sneakygames.com/
- Sony Online Entertainment - http://www.soe.com/
- Versant - http://www.mmohospital.org/
- Epic Games - http://www.unrealtechnology.com/



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4: Event Action: Living Worlds, Mobile Forum, GDC
=================================================

Member discounts at upcoming events and related event action include:

- $100 early rate for for Living Game Worlds IV in Atlanta, Georgia (1-2 December)

- 15% member discount for Mobile Games Forum in London, England (21-22 January)

- $50 member discount for GDC in San Francisco, California (22-27 March)

Full discount details and links available online:
http://www.igda.org/events/


Also, check out the trip "report"/photos from the executive director's recent trips:

- Montreal International Game Summit
http://www.realitypanic.com/archives/382

- Ontario Game Summit + GameON:Finance 2.0
http://www.realitypanic.com/archives/380

- Games Convention Asia:
http://www.realitypanic.com/archives/376



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5: Columns Update
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Monthly columns have been updated:

Famous Last Words
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"Who Owns Student Work Product?"
- Exploring IP rights of students
http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/lastwords_Nov08.php


Culture Clash
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"Intelligent Design - Want better games? Listen to gamers"
- On the need to better incorporate player feedback
http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/clash_Nov08.php


The Games Game
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"Time to Start Building a Portfolio"
- Some advice for portfolio creation
http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/gamesgame_Nov08.php



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6: Chapter Meetings/Reports
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Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings:
http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php


Albuquerque
Thursday, December 11 > Holiday Mixer/Charity Game Night
http://groups.google.com/group/riogrande-igda/browse_thread/thread/2a8244bd7a6ed11a?hl=en


Berlin
Wednesday, December 10 > Maya / Endorphine / Unity3D Engine
http://www.igda.org/berlin


Ottawa
Wednesday, December 3 > Come PLAY with IGDA!
http://www.igda.org/ottawa/index_files/Page592.htm


Pittsburgh
Report, November 10 > 3rd Annual South Side Studio Crawl Recap
http://www.igda.org/pittsburgh/archives/2008/11/the_3rd_annual.html


Finland
Report, November 1 > IGDA Finland Season Report for 2007-2008 Season, part 1
http://igda.fi/?p=224


Philadelphia
Report, October 28 > Gamers turn out for Relic and Big Huge at U of Penn
http://www.igda.org/philly/archives/2008/11/the_october_mee.html


North East UK
Report, October 20 > IGDA Chapter Meeting In Newcastle
http://www.igda.org/neuk/Events/Meeting002Report.html



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x: Logistical Bits
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-----------------------------------
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Or, you can update your newsletter subscription details via your MyProfile page:
http://www.igda.org/membership/myprofile.php



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:

- A K Peters, Ltd.
- Cogswell Polytechnical College
- Columbia College Chicago
- Future Play Conference
- IGN Entertainment / FOX
- Scaleform Corporation
- Tipperary Institute

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



Contact Information
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Please contact us if you have questions, comments or input:
http://www.igda.org/contact.php

19 Mantua Road
Mount Royal, New Jersey
USA 08061


RSS Feeds for IGDA News and Chapter Updates
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The IGDA web site has RSS feeds for IGDA news (eg, org announcements, committee work, etc) and chapter updates (eg, upcoming meetings, event reports). Those using RSS readers can point to:

IGDA News: http://www.igda.org/igda_news_rss.php

IGDA Chapter Updates: http://www.igda.org/igda_chapters_rss.php

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