A Focus on Quality
by Jason Della Rocca (June 2004)
Arguably one of the Montreal chapter's best gatherings to date, the June meeting welcomed 220+ into a room that only seats ~170. Customarily a slow month for chapter activity (given the impending summer weather and vacations), the combination of addressing a serious issue like quality of life and hearing the inside scoop on EA's new Montreal studio was too much to resist.
Francois Dominic Laramee, the chair of the IGDA's Quality of Life Committee gave a quick run down of the key findings from the recently released Quality of Life white paper. While somewhat depressing to hear about all the crap will deal with, Francois Dominic did provide many pointers on how to make things better... It was clear that much of the audience is dealing with various QoL issues and it was reassuring for many to know they were not alone...
Alain Tascan, the general manager of EA's new Montreal studio, seemed visibly moved by the QoL discussion and took the liberty to comment before he got into his formal presentation (reassuring us that they do not have showers at the new studio)... Alain did an excellent job of giving the audience a glimpse at why EA has been so successful, along with a sense of where EA Montreal fits into the overall picture. Alain has to been commended for being open with the audience, and for only sneaking in one corporate sales slide ;)
Once the presentations were done, members were treated to a raffle for some game dev books supplied by Charles River Media, many copies of EA games that Alain generously offered to the chapter, and three smoking ATI X800 graphics cards with Ubisoft game bundles. After all the goodies were handed out, everyone went to the nearby bar for the usual networking and socializing.
Big thanks to our sponsors
And, of course, thanks to our volunteers who helped out: Isabelle Marazzani (NAD), and the others...
June Gathering Pictorial
...here are just a few shots I took during the June gathering of the Montreal Chapter. (all persons are identified from left to right)
A packed house. We thought the weather was going to be nicer...
Alain Tascan (EA) discussing the "edge" the Montreal studio will bring to EA's global strategy.
Agnes So (ATI) and Frederick Brassard (Ubisoft) hoarding the drink tickets.
Ann DeMarle (Champlain College) up from Vermont, chats with Clint Hocking (Ubisoft), one of the advisors on her new game dev degree.
Alain Tascan (EA) chats with members after his presentation.
Mike Drummelsmith (Quazal) eating the last cookie. Shawn LeBlanc (Ubisoft) is not amused.
The bustling Montreal game dev community!
Good times: Eric Martel (Ubisoft), Elspeth Tory (Microids), Stepahnie Marchand (DC Studios), Jean-Noe Morissette (DC Studios) and Dominic Filion (DC Studios)
I see you: Zooming into the audience shot from above, we see that Mike Drummelsmith (Quazal) has a nice gesture to share...