First gathering = big success :)

by Jason Della Rocca (January 2001)

The Montreal Chapter had its first ever gathering last night, January 25th.

We packed in the arcade/bar the coordinators had found. This was a pretty cool/relaxed venue to have host the Chapter, even though some people had a tough time finding it...

We are optimistically guessing there was about 100 people who came. OK, ok, it was at least 85!

While I didn't get a chance to meet up with everyone, there were employees from the following companies (in random order):

GameLoft
OpenFace
MusiquePlus
KnightSoft
Ordigraphe
Zen Tao
Ubi Soft
Matrox
Microids
Proksim
a2m
Strategy First
NAD
Nexus
NEC
DTI-Infogrames
Neurovolt
Kaydara
CineGroup
Quebec Government
Alliance Numericq
Teneon

...and others that I don't recall...

The event was very informal - everyone just hung out, chatting with a beer in hand.

Fun was had by all!

Big thanks to the coordinators (especially Isabelle Marazzani) for their help.

First gathering - pictography

...all names start from left of the picture. Next time, I'll be sure to take more shots :)

Where did the fishy go: Francois Dominic Laramee (freelance designer), Jean-François William (Fauves/NAD), Sebastien Ebacher (Industry & Trade Ministry, Government of Quebec), Christine Hernandez (Alliance Numériqc)

...Luc caught sleeping: Isabelle Marazzani (NAD), 3 guys from Neurovolt, Luc Lavergne (Neurovolt), Jason Della Rocca (IGDA)

Benoit Miller (Matrox) seems to be really, really happy... Louis Lamarche (GameLoft) and Danny Oros (Matrox) in the background.

random crowd of developers by the bar

The only tie there: Martin Lizee (Digital Fiction) chats up another attandee

another random crowd of developers - what are they ALL looking at?


Sleeping, again: Francois Dominic Laramee (freelance designer), Luc Lavergne (Neurovolt)

entrance shot to the arcade/bar

These guys are up to something: Jean Laflamme (DTI-Infogrames), Nicolas Pajot (GameLoft), Danny Oros (Matrox), Louis Lamarche (GameLoft), Laurent Simon (HEC)

Free beer!: Martin Lavoie (Proksim), Nicolas Pajot (GameLoft), Ken Trueman (Proksim)