IGDA Newsletter - September 2002

================================
IGDA Newsletter - September 2002
================================


=============================
0.0 A Word From Graeme Devine


1 IGDA News
1.1 Volunteer Writers Wanted for Online Games Whitepaper
1.2 GDC Europe & ECTS 2002 Summary
1.3 Charne on Protecting your IP
1.4 Chapter Updates & News


2 From the Wire
- Videogame Industry is Booming
- No Causality in Shootings
- Henry Jenkins Talks Back
- Consoles, Games Donated To US Submariners
- Greek Parliament Outlaws Games
- New Association for the Research of Games
- Games as Political Commentary
- Electronic Multimedia Awards up for Grabs
- Greek Court Throws Out Videogame Cases
- US Violent Crime Rate Lowest in Three Decades
- Game Rooms Under Fire


3 Events, Benefits & Services Update
3.1 Updated Member Benefits
3.2 Upcoming Events


4 Logistical Bits
4.1 Thanks to our Sponsors and Partners!
4.2 IGDA Registration
4.3 Contact Information
========================================



=============================
0.0 A Word From Graeme Devine
=============================


Dear IGDA Members and friends,


Well, the season of gaming is upon us, with major releases from most
publishers this last month with plenty more to come! I just know all of you
are either busy finishing a game for release, or finishing a game that has
been released!


And just to prove that wackiness can still be part of this world, look at
the events happening in Greece this last month (see below). This goes to
show why being organized is a "good thing" -- it's only through a strong
community and unified voice that we can represent ourselves.


Well, it's back to Super Monkey Ball 2 for me.... I mean working on DOOM 3.



Graeme Devine
Chairperson, IGDA





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


1.1 Volunteer Writers Wanted for Online Games Whitepaper
--------------------------------------------------------
Last year's Online Games Whitepaper was a tremendous success, with more than
5000 readers globally. Work on the 2003 edition is underway, and the Online Games
Committee is looking for volunteer writers to help prepare the report. If you are active
(or very interested) in online games and would like to get more information about
volunteering for the IGDA Online Games Committee Whitepaper Project, please
email Alex Jarett, the Committee chairperson,
for more information.


http://www.igda.org/online_report.htm




1.2 GDC Europe & ECTS 2002 Summary
----------------------------------
A summary report covering the IGDA's recent trip to GDC Europe and ECTS has
been posted along with several pictures. Part of GDCE, the IGDA's Academic
Day was successful in building bridges with the European academic community.


http://www.igda.org/Endeavors/Events/events_gdce-ects_2002.htm




1.3 Charne on Protecting your IP
--------------------------------
Jim Charne has updated his "Famous Last Words" column with advice on how to
protect your early game designs and concepts via copyrights, trademarks,
patents, trade secrets and self help.


http://www.igda.org/Services/Legal/lastwords/lastwords.htm




1.4 Chapter Updates & News
--------------------------
Many IGDA chapters held meetings recently, and several
provided great summary reports:


- Austin held their inaugural (a.k.a. revival) meeting with Warren Spector
speaking:
http://www.austingamedevelopers.org/2002-8-20/index.html



- Colorado hosted a panel to discuss IP law:
http://www.coloradogamedev.org/20020909.html



- Chicago heard all about Alchemy:
http://www.igda.org/Chapters/chicago/chicago_summary_Aug02.htm



- A new chapter started in Detroit:
http://www.igda.org/Chapters/detroit.htm



- Houston hosted another great gathering:
http://www.polygonists.org/igda8/



- A new chapter recently started in Orange County, California:
http://www.igda.org/Chapters/orangecounty.htm



- San Diego discussed royalties and breaking into the biz:
http://www.igda.org/Chapters/sandiego/sandiego_summary_Jul02.htm



- San Francisco held a casual gathering:
http://www.igda.org/Chapters/bayarea/bayarea_summary_Aug02.htm



- Lithuania held a "GameJam" session:
http://www.igda.org/Chapters/lithuania/report02.htm



- Tokyo will be holding a seminar and party during the Tokyo Game Show:
http://www.igda.org/Chapters/tokyo.htm



Many chapters (Los Angeles, Amsterdam, New York City, San Diego and others)
will meet in coming weeks. Check the Chapter Calendar for dates and details:


http://www.igda.org/Chapters/chapters_calendar.htm




==========================================
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==========================================
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========================================



===============
2 From the Wire
===============


Videogame Industry is Booming
http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=422



No Causality in Shootings
http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=423



Henry Jenkins Talks Back
http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=424


Consoles, Games Donated To US Submariners
http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=425



Greek Parliament Outlaws Games
http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=426



New Association for the Research of Games
http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=427



Games as Political Commentary
http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=428



Electronic Multimedia Awards up for Grabs
http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=431



Greek Court Throws Out Videogame Cases
http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=432



US Violent Crime Rate Lowest in Three Decades
http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=434



Game Rooms Under Fire
http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=435




====================================
3 Events, Benefits & Services Update
====================================


3.1 Updated Member Benefits
---------------------------


- IGDA Membership Card
All new and renewing IGDA members will now receive a membership card.
Expect to receive your membership card within a month after joining or
renewing. The card represents your involvement in the community, and will
be put to use at events like GDC and local chapter meetings. View a sample
online:


http://www.igda.org/images/card.jpg




3.2 Upcoming Events
-------------------


Tokyo Game Show
http://www.cesa.or.jp/english/index.html
20-22 September, Tokyo, Japan



Mobile Commerce World Europe
http://www.mobilecommerceworld.com/mcw_euro2002/
24-26 September, London, UK



International Conference on Virtual Systems & Multimedia
http://www.vsmm.org/2002/
25-27 September, Gyeongju, Korea



Lulu Tech Circus
http://www.techcircus.com/
27-29 September, Raleigh, NC



ACM Collaborative Virtual Environments
http://www.cve2002.org/Intro.html
30 Sep - 2 Oct, Bonn, Germany



IMIGRA
http://www.vdl.ufc.br/imigra2002/index.shtml
7-10 October, Fortaleza, Brazil



Digital Arts World
http://www.digitalartsworld.co.uk/
9-11 October, London, UK



Interactive Entertainment Forum
http://www.marcusevans.com/events/CFEventinfo.asp?EventID=6665
14-15 October, Copenhagen, Denmark



Project Bar-B-Q
http://www.projectbarbq.com/
17-20 October, Boerne, TX



Pop!Tech: Artificial Worlds
http://www.poptech.org/
18-20 October, Camden, Maine



Mobile Entertainment & Gaming Expo
http://www.megexpo.com/
21-24 October, Hollywood, CA



Mobile Games Convention
http://www.ef-telecoms.co.uk/mgames/igda
21-23 October, Barcelona, Spain



Challenge of Computer Games
http://free.art.pl/ktltf/Gry-info.html
25-27 October, Lodz, Poland




=================
4 Logistical Bits
=================


4.1 Thanks to our Sponsors and Partners!
----------------------------------------
The IGDA extends its sincerest thanks to all our sponsors and partners!


Without their support, and the continued backing from the developer
community, the IGDA simply would not survive - let alone thrive.


Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP
Alias|Wavefront
Gamasutra.com
Gama Network
GameDev.Net
Game Developer magazine
Game Developers Conference
GIGnews.com
Intrinsic Graphics
Jostick101.org
Mary-Margaret.com
Microsoft Research


Get more info online:
http://www.igda.org/About/Sponsors/sponsors.htm
http://www.igda.org/About/Alliances/alliances.htm




4.2 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/Membership/membership.htm


Or refer a friend to win prizes:
http://www.igda.org/Membership/Referrals/referrals.htm




4.3 Contact Information
-----------------------
Contact our membership coordinator if you have questions, comments or input.


Liz Wakefield
IGDA membership coordinator
liz@igda.org