=============================== IGDA Newsletter - February 2005 =============================== ================= Table of Contents ================= 0: A Word From Jesse Schell 1: Choice Award nominees and Lifetime recipient announced 2: Quality of Life resources, anti-crunch article 3: 25 GDC Student Scholarships Awarded 4: IGDA at GDC 5: 2004 IGDA Annual Report 6: Columns Update 7: Chapter Meetings/Reports x: Logistical Bits & Subscription Info ================= =========================== 0: A Word From Jesse Schell =========================== Dear Members and friends, The Game Developers Conference is almost here ­ for those of you attending, don't forget to check out some of the many IGDA sessions that will be featured there. As a reflection of the IGDA's mission, these sessions will address important issues affecting the developer community today: quality of life, censorship, credit standards, diversity, etc. See the "IGDA at GDC" section below for complete details. There will also be an IGDA booth where you can stop by, kick up your feet on a comfy sofa and chat with us, and with other IGDA members. And, you can grab a member button/pin to display your proud membership in the IGDA. And of course, don't forget the bright lights of the Game Developers Choice Awards. I can't wait to shake Eugene Jarvis' hand and give him a big pat on the back... This will be the IGDA's best GDC yet ­ hope to see you there! - Jesse Schell Chairperson, IGDA Professor of Entertainment Technology, Carnegie Mellon University CEO, Schell Games ****************************** Ad: Game Developers Conference ****************************** March 7-11, San Francisco, California Thriving in today's interactive entertainment landscape requires developers to anticipate publisher needs and consumer desires to produce polished games with extremely high production quality. At GDC 2005, you will be equipped with practical tools to handle these and other obstacles along your road, and you will be exposed to future vision catalysts ­ empowering you to create tomorrow's game today. Bring your future vision into focus at GDC 2005. IGDA members save an additional $50. Use priority code: EIGDA05 when registering, and you will automatically be entered to win an iPod mini. http://www.gdconf.com/ ****************************** ========================================================= 1: Choice Award nominees and Lifetime recipient announced ========================================================= Lots of awards buzz as we approach GDC, where the Game Developers Choice Awards ceremony will be held. First up, the complete list of nominees: http://www.igda.org/awards/pr_2005_0214.htm Next up, legendary arcade game developer Eugene Jarvis was announced as the recipient for the award for Lifetime Achievement: http://www.igda.org/awards/pr_2005_0217.htm We hope to see everyone at the ceremony on March 10th: http://www.igda.org/awards/schedule.htm ================================================= 2: Quality of Life resources, anti-crunch article ================================================= In preparation for the IGDA's Quality of Life Summit at GDC, the QoL Committee has prepared an extensive list of QoL related resources (reports, gov sites, books, etc): http://www.igda.org/qol/resources.php Also, an article critical of crunch, titled "Why Crunch Mode Doesn't Work: 6 Lessons" has been posted: http://www.igda.org/articles/erobinson_crunch.php Those interested in discussing QoL related issues and challenges are encouraged to attend the Summit: http://www.igda.org/qol/summit.php ====================================== 3: 25 GDC Student Scholarships Awarded ====================================== The IGDA recently announced the recipients of the 5th annual GDC Student Scholarship Program. The 25 college students will receive conference passes to this year's GDC. The recipients represent a diverse range of disciplines and cultures, including recipients from Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. The list of recipients and full details on the Scholarship Program can be viewed online: http://www.igda.org/newsroom/press_021605.php http://www.igda.org/students/scholarships.php ************************** Ad: GameCamp! Scholarships ************************** GameCamp!, a college preparatory summer camp for students interested in careers in the video game development industry, is happy to announce a scholarship opportunity for students (13-17) to attend their flagship camp at Texas State University in San Marcos this summer. GameCamp! is a great opportunity for students to learn while having fun exploring high tech careers in video game development. http://www.gamecamp.org/ ************************** ============== 4: IGDA at 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. Quality of Life Summit http://www.igda.org/qol/summit.php Game Developers Choice Awards http://www.igda.org/awards/ IGDA Conference Track http://www.igda.org/events/gdc_sessions.htm Group Gatherings http://www.cmpevents.com/GD05/a.asp?option=C&V=1&SL=2&scFMTs=21 Annual Meeting http://www.gdconf.com/schedule/descriptions.htm For complete details on the above IGDA activities and info on the IGDA's booth and member benefits at GDC, please jump online: http://www.igda.org/events/#gdc ========================== 5: 2004 IGDA Annual Report ========================== The IGDA has published its 2004 Annual Report, detailing the progress of the association over the past year. Over 65k copies of the Report will be sent to IGDA members, included in the May issue of Game Developer magazine, and made available via events like GDC and E3. A PDF version of the Report is currently available for download from the IGDA website: http://www.igda.org/about/annual_report.php ================= 6: Columns Update ================= Monthly columns have been updated: Famous Last Words ----------------- "Focus on the Details in Start-Up" http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/lastwords_Feb05.php Culture Clash ------------- "No, Seriously - How the gaming press can redefine games" http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/clash_Feb05.php The Games Game -------------- "Making a Career Move..." http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/gamesgame_Feb05.php The Ivory Tower --------------- "E for Everyone ­ A Call for Interdisciplinary Studies" http://www.igda.org/columns/ivorytower/ivory_Jan05.php =========================== 7: Chapter Meetings/Reports =========================== Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings: http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php Lisbon Meeting, March > Almoco GameDev-PT 2005 http://www.gamedev-pt.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1723 Twin Cities Meeting, March > Teaching Journalism with Never Winter Nights http://igda.org/twincities Japan Meeting, February > 1st Asia Online Game Conference http://www.bbassociation.org/AOGC2005/ DC & Vicinity Meeting, February > IGDA/SIGGRAPH Mixer sponsored BethSoft and ATI http://www.igda.org/dc/meetings.htm New Jersey North Meeting, February > Demo Night 2 http://www.largeanimal.com/demo_night2.html Toronto Report, February > Panel Discussion--Establishing a Viable Game Company http://www.igda.org/toronto/020305.HTM Montreal Report, February > IP Rights and Wrongs: A look at creativity, innovation and original ideas http://www.igda.org/montreal/reports/summary_Feb05.htm Japan Report, February > "Game Tools & Middleware Forum Osaka Party" Photo Report http://www.igda.jp/modules/news/article.php?storyid=422 Colorado Report, February > Game Swap Meeting http://www.coloradogamedev.org/20050207.html Orange County Report, February > OC LAN event frags off http://www.igda.org/oc/ San Francisco Report, January > Marcus Barnes: Introducing COLLADA http://www.igda.org/sf Michigan South Report, January > GBA Development Postmortem and Quality of Life http://www.igda.org/smichigan/Reports/Jan05/index.html Seattle Report, January > Building with Source - Valve Software http://www.igda.org/seattle/reports/01_2005r.htm ================== x: Logistical Bits ================== Newsletter Subscription ----------------------- You can 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: - Course Technology - GameJobs.com - IBM - SN Systems - Sony Computer Entertainment America - Tira Wireless Without their support the IGDA simply would not survive - let alone thrive. Further details and a complete list of Partners are available online: http://www.igda.org/partners Contact Information ------------------- Please contact us if you have questions, comments or input: http://www.igda.org/contact.php RSS Feeds for IGDA News and Chapter Updates ------------------------------------------- The IGDA web site has RSS feeds for IGDA news (eg, org announcements, committee work) and chapter updates (eg, upcoming meetings, event reports). 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