============================ IGDA Newsletter - March 2004 ============================ ============================= Table of Contents ============================= 0: A Word From Kathy Schoback 1: IGDA News - IGDA at the GDC - 25 GDC Student Scholarships Awarded - 2003 IGDA Annual Report - Online Games SIG to Present at the Games & Mobile Forum - Columns Update 2: Chapter Updates 3: From the Wires - Tara Reid and the Future of Game Development - Stars Seek More Control Over Video Games - Smaller Video Game Publishers Under Pressure - The Business of Computer and Video Games 2004 - Game Matters: Sequel-itis - Electronic Arts and the Growing Trends of the Gaming Industry - Fund4Games - A New Funding Model for Development? - Serious Government Backing for UK Games Industry - Girl Gamers Strike at the Boys - Women in Games Conference - Atari Meets Chomsky - Video Game to Help Flood Planners - Dare to be Digital contest - Form, Culture, and Video Game Criticism - Violent Video Game Players Mysteriously Avoid Killing Selves, Others - Player, Attack Thyself - Videogames Do Cause Violence in Kids, Elsevier Says - Controversial Manhunt Game Rated 'R' in Ontario - Whiplash Causes UK Controversy On Animal Testing - Greek Internet Cafe Owners Protest Draconian Gaming Prohibition - Konami Establishes Alliance with Waseda University - Shedding the Stigma: Yes, that's a Ph.D in Game Theory Hanging on the Wall - When Space Invaders Ruled Earth 4: Logistical Bits ============================= ============================= 0: A Word From Kathy Schoback ============================= Dear Members and friends, It's time to stand up for excellence in the game industry - excellence in the face of unbelievable obstacles. It's time to pat each other on the back for a job well done and recognize that we are all the talent, and the stars, that drive a global entertainment industry. It's almost time to attend the IGDA's Game Developers Choice Awards ceremony. Why? Here are over forty reasons: http://www.igda.org/awards/nominations.htm See you there! Kathy Schoback Chairperson, IGDA Director of Product Operations, Eidos ============================ Ad: Metrowerks/Sony Ericsson ============================ See what the future of game development has in store with Metrowerks and Sony Ericsson at GDC 2004. Game development technology changes rapidly and Metrowerks stays on top of the curve. Metrowerks offers the broadest suite of development options with CodeWarrior technology for PlayStation 2, NINTENDO GAMECUBE, Game Boy Advance and wireless devices. Visit booth #628 for hands-on demonstrations and presentations on CodeWarrior tools and technology. Also, be sure to schedule a personal meeting with Metrowerks technical and/or business representatives by emailing games@metrowerks.com. Visit the web for more information on our presentations: http://www.metrowerks.com/4/GDC/presentations Sony Ericsson will present some hot news and cool devices for wireless games developers. As device capability has improved, gaming content has evolved dramatically whilst gamers have become more sophisticated and demanding. Come and listen to the latest on Java game development for a chance to win one of Sony Ericsson's very first gaming phones. Also, as a wireless games developer, you need to stay ahead of the game. Sony Ericsson will be selling their P900, one of the hottest smartphones around, at a heavily discounted rate of $595. This device can only be purchased at booth #628 at GDC. See you there! http://developer.sonyericsson.com/site/global/newsandevents/eventscal/p_eventsgdc2004.jsp ============== ============ 1: IGDA News ============ IGDA at the GDC --------------- As a quick reminder, here's all the IGDA action taking place at the Game Developers Conference this month... Developer Business Summit: A neutral forum for industry leaders to discuss business issues. http://www.gdconf.com/conference/thinktank.htm IGDA Track: A full track of content dedicated to issues the IGDA is dealing with, such as: credit standards, violence, gender diversity, quality of life, education, and research collaboration. http://www.igda.org/events/gdc_sessions.htm Game Developers Choice Awards: A chance to celebrate your peers and their achievements. A must attend event! http://www.igda.org/awards IGDA Annual Meeting: The board presents the progress of the past year and fields questions. Board hopefuls present their case for election. http://www.gdconf.com/events/#igda Also, IGDA members enjoy onsite benefits such as express on-site registration, advance entry to the Choice Awards ceremony, access to the members' lounge at the IGDA booth, and get to sport a hip member ribbon. If you are not already an IGDA member, sign up before GDC so you can enjoy these onsite perks: http://www.igda.org/join/ 25 GDC Student Scholarships Awarded ----------------------------------- The IGDA recently announced the recipients of the 4th 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_030804.php http://www.igda.org/students/scholarships.php 2003 IGDA Annual Report ----------------------- The IGDA has published its 2003 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 (~1mb) of the Report is available to download from the IGDA website: http://www.igda.org/about/IGDA_2003_Annual_Report.pdf Online Games SIG to Present at the Games & Mobile Forum ------------------------------------------------------- The IGDA's Online Games SIG will be participating in the upcoming Games & Mobile Forum (April 15th in NYC) with white paper presentations on mobile and downloadable games and a keynote presentation by SIG chair John Welch (AtomShockwave Corp). More details available online: http://www.igda.org/online/ http://www.gamesandmobile.com/ Columns Update -------------- Monthly columns updated for March: - The Ivory Tower: Ebony and Ivory - Experience from Joint Projects Between Game Developers and Researchers http://www.igda.org/columns/ivorytower/ - Famous Last Words: Why Contracts Are Important http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/ - Culture Clash: Men are from Zebes, Women are from Hillys - Building Gender Sensitivity into Game Design http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/ - The Games Game: Trust Your Feelings, Luke http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/ ================== 2: Chapter Updates ================== Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings: http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php Brighton Meeting, March > Social on March 17th http://www.igda.org/brightonuk/ Vienna Meeting, March > Next Chapter meeting announced http://www.igda.org/vienna/vienna_meeting_03_2004.htm San Diego Meeting, March > Revival meeting: "RPG Design and MMO Development" http://www.igda.org/sandiego/flash_site.html Oslo Meeting, March > Second meeting in 2004 http://www.igda.org/oslo/events.htm Beijing Meeting, March > Seminar: An Introduction to Conceptual Design http://www.igda.org/beijing/#next Orange County Report, March > Havok hits Orange County with 3DConnexion close behind http://www.igda.org/oc/Feb2004.htm New Jersey North Report, March > A Meeting to Remember http://blender.rutgers.edu/~njigda/meeting_200402.shtml ================= 3: From the Wires ================= News stories and articles from around the web... Tara Reid and the Future of Game Development http://www.gamespy.com/articles/march04/dice/rubin/ Stars Seek More Control over Video Games http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4223361 Smaller Video Game Publishers Under Pressure http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=4409905 The Business of Computer and Video Games 2004 http://www.dfcint.com/game_article/feb04article.html Game Matters: Sequel-itis http://dukenukem.typepad.com/game_matters/2004/02/sequelitis_is_i.html Electronic Arts and the Growing Trends of the Gaming Industry http://www.gamemethod.com/archive/366.php Fund4Games - A New Funding Model for Development? http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=dev&aid=2988 Serious Government Backing for UK Games Industry http://www.indiemagazine.co.uk/cgi-bin/news.cgi?id=2342§ion=1 Girl Gamers Strike at the Boys http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3496963.stm Women in Games Conference http://www.womeningames.com/ Atari Meets Chomsky http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~undergnd/issues/23/06/comments.shtml Video Game to Help Flood Planners http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3500747.stm Dare to be Digital Contest http://www.daretobedigital.com/ Form, Culture, and Video Game Criticism http://grandtextauto.gatech.edu/archives/000263.html Violent Video Game Players Mysteriously Avoid Killing Selves, Others http://www.ncac.org/cen_news/cn92videogame.htm Player, Attack Thyself http://slate.msn.com/id/2096112 Videogames Do Cause Violence in Kids, Elsevier Says http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/2004/02/videogames_do_c.html Controversial Manhunt Game Rated 'R' in Ontario http://games.slashdot.org/games/04/03/04/0046237.shtml Whiplash Causes UK Controversy on Animal Testing http://games.slashdot.org/games/04/02/17/2134259.shtml Greek Internet Cafe Owners Protest Draconian Gaming Prohibition http://tinyurl.com/ywqov Konami Establishes Alliance with Waseda University http://www.1up.com/article2/0,4364,1525215,00.asp Shedding the Stigma: Yes, That's a Ph.D in Game Theory Hanging on the Wall http://www.detnews.com/2004/technology/0402/14/technology-63790.htm When Space Invaders Ruled Earth http://www.wired.com/news/games/0,2101,62563,00.html ================== 4: Logistical Bits ================== 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: - Charles River Media - Discreet - Hybrid Graphics - GameJOBS.com - GameRecruiter.com - Hybrid Graphics - Mary-Margaret.com - nVidia - SN Systems 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 Newsletter Subscription ----------------------- You can update your subscription details via your MyProfile page: http://www.igda.org/membership/myprofile.php If you need help, contact us at info@igda.org. IGDA Registration ----------------- Your support is critical to the success of the IGDA, and our industry. There are dozens of reasons to join the IGDA, ranging from personal career advancement to more lofty industry-wide goals. What are you waiting for? Join today. http://www.igda.org/join Contact Information ------------------- Please contact us if you have questions, comments or input. http://www.igda.org/contact.php ------- - end - -------