IGDA Newsletter - October 2006
==============================
IGDA Newsletter - October 2006
==============================
=================
Table of Contents
=================
0: A Word From Brian Reynolds
1: Tools SIG Launch
2: Other SIG Action: AI news, Edu blog, Writers quarterly/survey
3: Event Action: Montreal Summit, Game Connection, Liverpool, Portugal, OGDC
4: Columns Update
5: Chapter Meetings/Reports
x: Logistical Bits & Unsubscribe Info
=================
=============================
0: A Word From Brian Reynolds
=============================
Greetings fellow developers!
Though you may not realize it, October and November are the months when many of the industry's award panels begin the work of selecting nominees and finalists for the upcoming awards season. If you've ever received an industry award, you'll know how great it makes you feel especially when it's an award that comes from your community of peers. But were you aware of the careful planning and work that goes into selecting nominees, and even more importantly into making sure the selection process is fair? It turns out there's quite a long way to go between nominations and "the envelope please"!
For the Choice Awards that the IGDA presents at GDC each year, we've put a great deal of thought into the makeup of our selection committee and the procedures it uses. Each year the IGDA board appoints a diverse group of international community members from varying disciplines and backgrounds. Further, all committee actions are determined by an "approval" voting system, allowing for more nuanced results. All aspects of the awards process have been designed to avoid potential abuses (after all, as gamers and game developers we should all be familiar with and vigilant against ways that the system can be "gamed").
It will be several months yet before you'll start hearing about nominees and finalists, but meanwhile the wheels are already turning.
- Brian Reynolds
Chairperson, IGDA
President, Big Huge Games
===================
1: Tools SIG Launch
===================
The IGDA has just launched a new special interest group focus on tools development. Their new site/blog is at:
http://www.igda.org/tools/
The SIG also has a new mailing list and an online discussion forum to dive into.
The Tools SIG hopes to raise awareness about what "tools" are, how they can be developed more productively, and how teams can get more out of them over time. By providing a community for tool developers, the SIG will encourage idea sharing between companies and reduce the amount of redundant work being done.
******************************************************************
** Ad: Video Game Voters Grassroots Network Expands Its Efforts **
******************************************************************
Take action to stop legislative threats against the US video game industry by joining the Video Game Voters Network (VGVN), a coalition of voting-aged Americans who play computer and video games and who want to defend their choice of entertainment from unnecessary government regulation. The VGVN has recently launched a voter registration drive, and has taken the Network to MySpace (www.myspace.com/vgvn). The Network has already generated tens of thousands of letters to legislators around the country please join in this important grassroots movement to protect our computer and video game!
http://www.myspace.com/vgvn/
http://www.videogamevoters.org/
******************************************************************
================================================================
2: Other SIG Action: AI news, Edu blog, Writers quarterly/survey
================================================================
Other recent SIG news includes:
- Latest newsletter issue from the Game AI SIG:
http://five.pairlist.net/pipermail/gameai_news/2006/000004.html
- Launch of the Education SIG's blog:
http://www.igda.org/education/
- Game Writers SIG survey:
http://www.igda.org/writing/survey/
- Latest quarterly from Game Writers SIG:
http://gwsig.quantumcontent.com/?p=19
============================================================================
3: Event Action: Montreal Summit, Game Connection, Liverpool, Portugal, OGDC
============================================================================
Member discounts at upcoming events and related event action include:
- 10% member discount at Montreal International Game Summit (November 8-9)
- £25 member discount at Game Design & Technology Workshop in Liverpool (November 15-16)
- 200 Euro discount for IGDA Studio Affiliates at Game Connection Lyon (December 5-7)
- $50 member discount at Online Game Developers Conference in Seattle (May 10-11)
- Trip Summary: GAMES2006 Portugal:
http://www.igda.org/blogs/realitypanic/archives/001968.html
Full details and links available online:
http://www.igda.org/events/
=================
4: Columns Update
=================
Monthly columns have been updated:
Famous Last Words
-----------------
"The Power of Music"
- Quick praise for VGL and the issue of performance rights
http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/lastwords_Oct06.php
Culture Clash
-------------
"Play as I Say - Rescuing children from childhood"
- A response to criticisms over the value of digital play
http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/clash_Oct06.php
The Games Game
--------------
"The Experience Experience"
- A look at need for game making experience
http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/gamesgame_Oct06.php
===========================
5: Chapter Meetings/Reports
===========================
Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings:
http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php
Madison
Tuesday, November 21 > Guestspeaker and SIG Meeting
http://www.igdamadison.com/
Hamburg
Thursday, November 16 > Chapter Meeting
http://www.igda.org/hamburg
Denmark
Thursday, October 26 > Ethics and games, by researcher Miguel Sicart from ITU
http://www.igda.dk/
New York City
Thursday, October 26 > Playing the Game: Making Games in NYC
http://www.largeanimal.com/igda/playingthegame
Orlando
Thursday, October 26 > IGDA Orlando Presents Garages Games Torque Engine!
http://www.igdaorlando.org/
Salt Lake City
Thursday, October 26 > First Meeting: Justice League Heroes Postmortem
http://www.igda.org/slc
San Francisco
Report, October 13 > Autopsy: Ubisoft & Telltale Games - CSI: 3 Dimensions of Murder Postmortem
http://www.igda.org/sf
Toronto
Report, October 12 > Clint Hocking: The Last 3D Revolution
http://www.igda.org/toronto/toronto_summary_oct12-06.htm
Hamar
Report, October 5 > Presentation by Mr Jorgen Tharaldsen of Funcom
http://www.igda.org/hamar
Paris
Report, September 27 > "The Impact of games on gamers" translated in english
http://igda.paris.free.fr/paris/reports/reports_2006/chapter_report_fev06_en.htm
Mexico City
Report, September 22 > Discussion: Game Development Opportunities in Mexico
http://www.igda.org/mexico
Malaysia
Report, September 22 > Mobile Core Meeting
http://igdamalaysia.blogspot.com/
Seattle
Report, September 21 > Health and Family and Game Development
http://www.igda.org/seattle/reports/09_2006r.htm
Montreal
Report, September 20 > Organic Game Design on Assassins Creed
http://www.igda.org/montreal/archives/2006/09/organic_game_de.html
Austin
Report, September 19 > Guitar Hero II at Beerland
http://www.igda.org/austin/archives/2006/09/meeting_report.html
==================
x: Logistical Bits
==================
Unsubscribe/Subscribe to Newsletter
-----------------------------------
You can unsubscribe or update your newsletter subscription details via your MyProfile page:
http://www.igda.org/membership/myprofile.php
If you need help, contact us.
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:
- ACG Event Management Sdn. Bhd
- ATI Technologies
- Autodesk Media and Entertainment
- Cal Poly Pomona
- CellPerformance.com
- Columbia College Chicago
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- Suffolk 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
Contact Information
-------------------
Please contact us if you have questions, comments or input:
http://www.igda.org/contact.php
RSS Feeds for IGDA News and Chapter Updates
-------------------------------------------
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
-------
- end -
-------
IGDA Newsletter - October 2006
==============================
=================
Table of Contents
=================
0: A Word From Brian Reynolds
1: Tools SIG Launch
2: Other SIG Action: AI news, Edu blog, Writers quarterly/survey
3: Event Action: Montreal Summit, Game Connection, Liverpool, Portugal, OGDC
4: Columns Update
5: Chapter Meetings/Reports
x: Logistical Bits & Unsubscribe Info
=================
=============================
0: A Word From Brian Reynolds
=============================
Greetings fellow developers!
Though you may not realize it, October and November are the months when many of the industry's award panels begin the work of selecting nominees and finalists for the upcoming awards season. If you've ever received an industry award, you'll know how great it makes you feel especially when it's an award that comes from your community of peers. But were you aware of the careful planning and work that goes into selecting nominees, and even more importantly into making sure the selection process is fair? It turns out there's quite a long way to go between nominations and "the envelope please"!
For the Choice Awards that the IGDA presents at GDC each year, we've put a great deal of thought into the makeup of our selection committee and the procedures it uses. Each year the IGDA board appoints a diverse group of international community members from varying disciplines and backgrounds. Further, all committee actions are determined by an "approval" voting system, allowing for more nuanced results. All aspects of the awards process have been designed to avoid potential abuses (after all, as gamers and game developers we should all be familiar with and vigilant against ways that the system can be "gamed").
It will be several months yet before you'll start hearing about nominees and finalists, but meanwhile the wheels are already turning.
- Brian Reynolds
Chairperson, IGDA
President, Big Huge Games
===================
1: Tools SIG Launch
===================
The IGDA has just launched a new special interest group focus on tools development. Their new site/blog is at:
http://www.igda.org/tools/
The SIG also has a new mailing list and an online discussion forum to dive into.
The Tools SIG hopes to raise awareness about what "tools" are, how they can be developed more productively, and how teams can get more out of them over time. By providing a community for tool developers, the SIG will encourage idea sharing between companies and reduce the amount of redundant work being done.
******************************************************************
** Ad: Video Game Voters Grassroots Network Expands Its Efforts **
******************************************************************
Take action to stop legislative threats against the US video game industry by joining the Video Game Voters Network (VGVN), a coalition of voting-aged Americans who play computer and video games and who want to defend their choice of entertainment from unnecessary government regulation. The VGVN has recently launched a voter registration drive, and has taken the Network to MySpace (www.myspace.com/vgvn). The Network has already generated tens of thousands of letters to legislators around the country please join in this important grassroots movement to protect our computer and video game!
http://www.myspace.com/vgvn/
http://www.videogamevoters.org/
******************************************************************
================================================================
2: Other SIG Action: AI news, Edu blog, Writers quarterly/survey
================================================================
Other recent SIG news includes:
- Latest newsletter issue from the Game AI SIG:
http://five.pairlist.net/pipermail/gameai_news/2006/000004.html
- Launch of the Education SIG's blog:
http://www.igda.org/education/
- Game Writers SIG survey:
http://www.igda.org/writing/survey/
- Latest quarterly from Game Writers SIG:
http://gwsig.quantumcontent.com/?p=19
============================================================================
3: Event Action: Montreal Summit, Game Connection, Liverpool, Portugal, OGDC
============================================================================
Member discounts at upcoming events and related event action include:
- 10% member discount at Montreal International Game Summit (November 8-9)
- £25 member discount at Game Design & Technology Workshop in Liverpool (November 15-16)
- 200 Euro discount for IGDA Studio Affiliates at Game Connection Lyon (December 5-7)
- $50 member discount at Online Game Developers Conference in Seattle (May 10-11)
- Trip Summary: GAMES2006 Portugal:
http://www.igda.org/blogs/realitypanic/archives/001968.html
Full details and links available online:
http://www.igda.org/events/
=================
4: Columns Update
=================
Monthly columns have been updated:
Famous Last Words
-----------------
"The Power of Music"
- Quick praise for VGL and the issue of performance rights
http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/lastwords_Oct06.php
Culture Clash
-------------
"Play as I Say - Rescuing children from childhood"
- A response to criticisms over the value of digital play
http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/clash_Oct06.php
The Games Game
--------------
"The Experience Experience"
- A look at need for game making experience
http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/gamesgame_Oct06.php
===========================
5: Chapter Meetings/Reports
===========================
Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings:
http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php
Madison
Tuesday, November 21 > Guestspeaker and SIG Meeting
http://www.igdamadison.com/
Hamburg
Thursday, November 16 > Chapter Meeting
http://www.igda.org/hamburg
Denmark
Thursday, October 26 > Ethics and games, by researcher Miguel Sicart from ITU
http://www.igda.dk/
New York City
Thursday, October 26 > Playing the Game: Making Games in NYC
http://www.largeanimal.com/igda/playingthegame
Orlando
Thursday, October 26 > IGDA Orlando Presents Garages Games Torque Engine!
http://www.igdaorlando.org/
Salt Lake City
Thursday, October 26 > First Meeting: Justice League Heroes Postmortem
http://www.igda.org/slc
San Francisco
Report, October 13 > Autopsy: Ubisoft & Telltale Games - CSI: 3 Dimensions of Murder Postmortem
http://www.igda.org/sf
Toronto
Report, October 12 > Clint Hocking: The Last 3D Revolution
http://www.igda.org/toronto/toronto_summary_oct12-06.htm
Hamar
Report, October 5 > Presentation by Mr Jorgen Tharaldsen of Funcom
http://www.igda.org/hamar
Paris
Report, September 27 > "The Impact of games on gamers" translated in english
http://igda.paris.free.fr/paris/reports/reports_2006/chapter_report_fev06_en.htm
Mexico City
Report, September 22 > Discussion: Game Development Opportunities in Mexico
http://www.igda.org/mexico
Malaysia
Report, September 22 > Mobile Core Meeting
http://igdamalaysia.blogspot.com/
Seattle
Report, September 21 > Health and Family and Game Development
http://www.igda.org/seattle/reports/09_2006r.htm
Montreal
Report, September 20 > Organic Game Design on Assassins Creed
http://www.igda.org/montreal/archives/2006/09/organic_game_de.html
Austin
Report, September 19 > Guitar Hero II at Beerland
http://www.igda.org/austin/archives/2006/09/meeting_report.html
==================
x: Logistical Bits
==================
Unsubscribe/Subscribe to Newsletter
-----------------------------------
You can unsubscribe or update your newsletter subscription details via your MyProfile page:
http://www.igda.org/membership/myprofile.php
If you need help, contact us.
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:
- ACG Event Management Sdn. Bhd
- ATI Technologies
- Autodesk Media and Entertainment
- Cal Poly Pomona
- CellPerformance.com
- Columbia College Chicago
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- Suffolk 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
Contact Information
-------------------
Please contact us if you have questions, comments or input:
http://www.igda.org/contact.php
RSS Feeds for IGDA News and Chapter Updates
-------------------------------------------
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
-------
- end -
-------
Last updated:
09/28/2009 - 11:50 AM
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