Women in Games
Informal, friendly, dynamic, - Two words alone can describe the experience of the IGDA London chapter night, "great fun". The IGDA London crowd were lively, particularly ready to get involved and up for a good night among fellow developers. The night itself was perfectly in place, in both indoor and outdoor setting a beautiful summers night in England. This was matched only by the bright lights and sheaves of blood red that leapt from among the battlefields re-created in our game of the show, "Rome: Total War"...
Presented by Tim Ansell, Managing Director of Creative Assembly, the assembled crowd from among the great South East, could only gaze upon (and dribble) as the game that won E3 Strategy Game of the Show 2003 was demonstrated. As a chapter strongly supporting the entire community's ability to stand up and be counted, dynamic questions followed in an interesting Question and Answer session.
Beyond that followed the chapter revival night's centre piece, better yet it included a panel of five women, all respected female industry professionals with a point to prove and a debate, to well, debate what is the world coming to! Even with slight audio difficulties, everyone anticipated, acknowledged and was intrigued by the panel discussion which focused complete discussion on Women in Games Development. Actively taking questions from the crowd, it made for an enthralling debate matched only by the raging debates that continued between crowd personnel throughout the night and there afterwards. The type of panel debated issues continuation that can only come from the IGDA London!
The panel itself was spearheaded by: Violet Berlin [Game-Pad/Whizzbang TV], Margret Robertson [Edge], Nina Kristensen [Just Add Monsters], Judi Spiers [Consultant], Charu Gupta [SCEE]. A wonderful panel, appreciated by all involved, and produced by committee member, Emmeline Dobson.
Reaching the final stage of what was becoming a successful revival night, the belly's were rumbling, rightly so, anticipating the other two word's that clearly go beyond great fun for games developers "free beer", courtesy of Criterion. Enriched in a wonderful informal atmosphere, the event finally reached a tense finale, with roars, laughter, celebration and tears! Of course, as you might have guessed, it was our raffle-based, prize giveaway, with a host of high quality goodies to give away! Someone walked away with 3 or 4 prizes, while others walked away with nothing better luck next time!
The questionnaires were back in, the bar had shut, the place was clear and the formidable force that was the London games developer community had left. Time enough then to confirm with the IGDA that we had just played host to the largest launch day attendance of any other chapter worldwide. A sign of a great community you bet'ya, and a whole lot more see you next time!