============================== IGDA Newsletter - January 2006 ============================== ================= Table of Contents ================= 0: A Word From Bob Bates 1: The IGDA @ GDC 2: Casual Games Quarterly: The Business Issue 3: AI Interface Standards Committee Call for Participants 4: GDC Scholarship Application Deadline (Feb 3)! 5: Columns Update 6: Chapter Meetings/Reports x: Logistical Bits & Unsubscribe Info ================= ======================== 0: A Word From Bob Bates ======================== Dear Members and friends, We keep hearing how fast our industry is growing, and this month I've bumped into several reminders that this is true. For example, we have received over 2000 nominations for the Game Developers Choice Awards, the most prestigious awards in the industry, because they are the only ones voted on by us, the people who actually make games. (FYI, voting for the finalists will begin soon, and the recipients will be announced at GDC in March.) Also, I'm amazed and delighted that we already have 1400 (!) new members who have signed up this month. Welcome! Meanwhile, people keep asking me just how many game developers are out there ­ and I have to say I have no idea. Console development teams are growing by leaps and bounds, and there is explosive growth in Mobile, Serious, Casual, and MMO games, not just in North America, but worldwide. Trying to keep track of it all is mind-boggling, but it's nice to see the number of developers growing, and to see our once-obscure profession become more established. Happy gaming! - Bob Bates Chairperson, IGDA *********************************************************************** ** Ad: Attend GDC:06, and Get a First-hand Glimpse of What's Next... ** *********************************************************************** From March 20-24, 2006, the Game Developers Conference will return to San Jose ­ the place where it developed into the annual networking and educational must-attend experience that it is today. The event will focus on next-gen game development, and how it will revolutionize every aspect of the gaming industry. From increased production complexity, team sizes, and budgets to new ways to reach the mass market, GDC:06 will answer the questions critical to the industry's success. Register online by February 15, 2006 and save up to 35% on GDC:06 Conference Passes: http://www.gdconf.com/register/ ******************************************** ================= 1: The IGDA @ GDC ================= Each year the IGDA works hard to maximize the GDC experience for our members and the game development community. Here's an outline of all the stuff the IGDA has cooking at this year's GDC. Game Developers Choice Awards ----------------------------- The IGDA will be presenting the recipients of 6th annual Choice Awards on Wednesday evening. Awards party to follow. http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/ IGDA Conference Track --------------------- The rant session is back, along with coverage of sex and violence, quality of life, workforce diversity, credit standards, academic bridge building, accessible game dev. Plus a batch of "group gatherings". http://www.igda.org/events/gdc_sessions.htm New Member Reception and Annual Meeting --------------------------------------- To be held at the Hyatt on Tuesday, March 21 from 6:30-8pm, this cocktail party style reception is to welcome new IGDA members - and longtimers alike. Formal annual meeting "business" will be kept to a minimum, allowing for members to interact with the IGDA Board of Directors and board nominees. IGDA Booth/Lounge, Ribbons, T-shirts, etc ----------------------------------------- As always, the IGDA will have a booth on the concourse level with a members-only lounge (with big comfy sofas). Thankfully, member ribbons are back this year, with each member receiving a ribbon for their badge upon check-in. Also, we'll be running a member drive with cool t-shirts as an incentive - more details on site... Chapter Leaders Workshop ------------------------ The IGDA will be hosting its first chapter coordinators workshop at GDC (Monday, March 20, from 1-6pm). This half-day workshop will enable coordinators to analyze the current health of their chapters, learn best practices for chapter development, and tackle specific concerns with IGDA management and fellow coordinators. For complete details and updates on the above IGDA activities, please jump online: http://www.igda.org/events/#gdc ============================================= 2: Casual Games Quarterly: The Business Issue ============================================= This issue of the Casual Games Quarterly focuses on the business of casual games. Macrovision's Jessica Tams gives us a preview of the forthcoming Casuality Europe conference next month in Amsterdam, IWin CEO CJ Wolf talks about the price-point testing that they have done with their recent releases, Popcap's James Gwertzman discusses the initiative to standardize sales reporting in the casual games market, and James C. Smith shares his collection of historical RealArcade data. http://www.igda.org/casual/quarterly/1_2/ **************************************************************** ** Ad: Women in Games International Announces Keynote Speaker ** **************************************************************** Keynote speaker Robin Harper, SVP of Community and Support for Linden Lab, presents "From the Virtual to the Real: How Second Life created an online world and community that strongly appeals to women, and how the virtual world has changed the real life of women participants." Women in Games International-San Francisco, titled "Games for Women, Games by Women," is Saturday, February 18 at the Fort Mason Conference Center. The half-day conference includes panels, round-table discussions, recruiter Q&A, resume and portfolio reviews, and a post-conference networking reception. Topics include mid-career strategies and resolving quality of life issues. Attendance is $45; register online: http://www.womeningamesinternational.org/ **************************************************************** ========================================================= 3: AI Interface Standards Committee Call for Participants ========================================================= The IGDA's Artificial Intelligence Interface Standards Committee (AIISC) is looking to replace some positions that have become vacant over time. Head over to the following web page for the call for applications (open until February 20, 2006): http://www.igda.org/ai/call-for-applications.htm ================================================ 4: GDC Scholarship Application Deadline (Feb 3)! ================================================ The application deadline for the IGDA's 6th annual Student Scholarship Program is Friday, February 3rd. Twenty-five college students will be awarded complimentary full access passes to the 2006 Game Developers Conference. Students can now apply online. Scholarship recipients will be paired with professional developers to serve as mentors during the conference. Additionally, scholars will go on an exclusive site visit to EA's Redwood Shores studio campus. Applicants are required to be full-time college students (or equivalent) and IGDA student members for consideration. Scholarship applications will be judged by a panel of professional game developers. Recipients will be announced mid February. http://www.igda.org/scholarships/ ********************************* ** Ad: Video Games Live at GDC ** ********************************* Friday, March 24th, 2006 at 8:00pm, San Jose Civic Auditorium Video Games Live™ is an immersive concert event featuring music from the biggest video games of all time. At the GDC production, the renowned Symphony Silicon Valley and its full chorus will be accompanied by exclusive video footage and music arrangements, lasers, synchronized lighting, solo performers, electronic percussionists, live action and unique interactive segments to create an explosive one-of-a-kind entertainment experience. Check the site for further details and ticketing info: http://www.videogameslive.com/ ********************************* ================= 5: Columns Update ================= Monthly columns have been updated: Famous Last Words ----------------- "Will Code For Royalties" http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/lastwords_Jan06.php Culture Clash ------------- "The War of Art: For the last time, yes ­ they are" http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/clash_Jan06.php The Games Game -------------- "Another Round of Core Answers" http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/gamesgame_Jan06.php =========================== 6: Chapter Meetings/Reports =========================== Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings: http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php Columbus Saturday, February 25 > Guest Speaker Howard Dortch of HyperKat Games http://www.igda.org/columbus/ Hamar Thursday, February 23 > "Real money trade of virtual assets" http://www.igda.org/hamar London Wednesday, February 22 > "Developing for PlayStation3" by SCEE's George Bain http://www.igda.org/london/next/ Brighton Thursday, February 9 > "Emerging Issues in Game Design" with Ernest Adams http://www.igda.org/brightonuk New York City Thursday, February 2 > Gamoids Booze n Schmooze http://www.igda.org/nyc/ Albany Tuesday, January 31 > Making QA Better, Stronger, and Faster Through Automation http://www.igda.org/albany/archives/2006/01/meeting_announc_3.html#more Birmingham Tuesday, January 31 > Gear Up for New Year! http://www.igda.org/birmingham/ Denmark Friday, January 27 > Nordic Game Jam 2006 http://www.diginet.org/o.o.i.s/1021 Houston Thursday, January 26 > "Creating Blockbuster Worlds" with Jeff Gomez http://www.polygonists.org/ Israel Report, January 23 > How Israeli game companies can reach the global market http://www.igda.org/israel/report9.htm Montreal Report, January 12 > Ladies Night in Montreal http://www.igda.org/montreal/reports/summary_Jan06.htm DC & Vicinity Report, January 12 > Meeting Report up in Newsletters Section! http://www.igda.org/dc Berlin Report, January 11 > The third meeting http://igda.org/berlin Paris Report, January 5 > Handheld Development Roundtable Part II http://igda.paris.free.fr/paris/reports/reports_2005/chapter_report_dec05.htm San Francisco Report, January 3 > Worlds Are Colliding! The Convergence of Film & Games http://www.igda.org/sf ================== 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: - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona - GarageGames.com, Inc. - Houston Community College - Southwest - IBM - INIS - Intel - Mary-Margaret.com, Inc. - Phenomblue - Softimage Without their support the IGDA simply would not survive - let alone thrive. 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