============================ IGDA Newsletter - March 2006 ============================ ================= Table of Contents ================= 0: A Word From Bob Bates 1: Results of 6th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards 2: IGDA MVP Volunteer Awards 3: GDC Recap and Links, T-Shirt 4: Board of Director Nominees 5: IGDA 2005 Annual Report 6: Columns Update 7: Chapter Meetings/Reports x: Logistical Bits & Unsubscribe Info ================= ======================== 0: A Word From Bob Bates ======================== Dear Members and friends, Despite the fact that I am still "recovering", here are the six reasons why I love going to GDC: 1) The education. Experts in our field give hands-on talks about how they have solved (or failed to solve) the problems that we all grapple with every day. 2) The challenge. Every year those experts say there is something that can't be done, and it makes me want to get in there and prove them wrong. 3) The inspiration. You get to mingle with the great achievers in our industry, and I always walk away thinking, "Damn! Why can't I be more like them?" 4) The passion. It runs from top to bottom. We routinely see the icons of our industry -- people who have made their fortunes and never have to work again ­ speaking of the untold hours they spend deep in the guts of game development. Meanwhile the rest of us talk in the halls, attend the roundtables, and furiously scribble notes during the lectures, ever eager to find the nuggets of wisdom that will help us make better games. To speak of the passion of game developers has become a cliché. It's a cliché because it's real. 5) The openness. I love seeing the walls come down. The suits in our business think we are in competition. But we developers cheer to each others' success and actively help each other achieve it. We know that good games are good for all of us. 6) The people. Friends old and new. Quiet conversations in out-of-the-way nooks, and shouted greetings over horribly loud party music or the cacophony of the sardine-packed lobby bar. All of us game makers. All of us suffering the slings and arrows of our outrageous industry. And all of us insanely lucky to be here. Happy gaming! - Bob Bates Chairperson, IGDA *************************************************************************** ** Ad: Win prizes worth over $80,000! Enter the Intel Game Demo Contest! ** *************************************************************************** Your game demo could earn you serious cash, powerful PCs, software tools, and great exposure! Enter Intel's Game Demo Contest in these categories: - Best Threaded Game (parallel performance on multi-core platforms) - Best Game on the Go (unique features for laptop gaming) Winners will earn their share of prizes valued over $80,000. Just for entering you'll get free limited time licenses for powerful Intel Software development tools! Full details online: http://www.intel.com/go/gamecontest/ *************************************************************************** ====================================================== 1: Results of 6th annual Game Developers Choice Awards ====================================================== Congrats to all the recipients and nominees! The 6th annual Game Developers Choice Awards ceremony was a fun show and a great opportunity to recognize and reward the achievements of our peers. The results are: Best Game: Shadow of the Colossus (Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.) - Kenji Kaido, Yasuhide Kobayashi, Fumito Ueda Audio: Guitar Hero (Harmonix Music Systems / RedOctane) - Eric Brosius, Kasson Crooker Character Design: Shadow of the Colossus (Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.) - Atsuko Fukuyama, Hitoshi Niwa, Shunpei Suzuki, Fumito Ueda Game Design: Shadow of the Colossus (Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.) - Junichi Hosono, Fumito Ueda Technology: Nintendogs (Nintendo EAD / Nintendo) - Tsutomu Kaneshige Visual Arts: Shadow of the Colossus (Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.) - Koji Hasegawa, Masanori Kajita, Hironobu Nakano, Fumito Ueda Writing: Psychonauts (Double Fine Productions / Majesco Entertainment Company) - Tim Schafer, Erik Wolpaw New Studio: Double Fine Productions (Psychonauts) - Caroline Esmurdoc, Tim Schafer Innovation: Guitar Hero (Harmonix Music Systems / RedOctane) - Greg LoPiccolo, Ryan Lesser Nintendogs (Nintendo EAD / Nintendo) - Tsutomu Kaneshige, Hideki Konno, Shigeru Miyamoto, Kiyoshi Mizuki Shadow of the Colossus (Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.) - Junichi Hosono, Fumito Ueda Lifetime Achievement: Richard Garriott First Penguin: Will Crowther, Don Woods Maverick: Mike Dornbrook, Eran Egozy, Greg LoPiccolo, Alex Rigopulos Community Contribution: Chris Hecker For complete details, check out: http://gamechoiceawards.com/gdca_6th.htm http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/pr/pr_2006_0317.htm http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/pr/pr_2006_0309.htm *********************************************************** ** Ad: Join the New Video Game Voters Grassroots Network ** *********************************************************** Take action to stop legislative threats against the video game industry by joining the new Video Game Voters Network, a coalition of American adults who play computer and video games and who want to defend their choice of entertainment from unnecessary government regulation. Join this important grassroots movement today: http://www.videogamevoters.org/ *********************************************************** ============================ 2: IGDA MVP Volunteer Awards ============================ So much of the IGDA's success and progress is due to the support and involvement of countless volunteers from the community. Each year, the IGDA hosts a "VIP Luncheon" at GDC as a small gesture of thanks. Each year, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards are presented as a means to call out the extraordinary contributions of three volunteers. This year's recipients are: - Jim Charne: Author of "Famous Last Words" column for nearly 5 years, Contract Walk-Through project lead - Michelle Hinn: Game Accessibility SIG founder and chairperson - Brian Robbins: heavy involvement with various chapters, Online Games and Casual Games SIG leadership Jump online for more details: http://www.igda.org/community/volunteer_mvp.php ************************************************ ** Ad: Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3Expo) ** ************************************************ Conference Program May 9-11; Exposition May 10-12 One place. One entire industry waiting for you. One dynamic educational program that will guide you toward the most promising opportunities within the interactive entertainment industry today. It's the E3 2006 Conference Program. Industry executives and renowned creative talent will share their knowledge and views of the future, and supply you with tips and strategies to perfect your business plans and keep you one step ahead of the competition. Register now to take advantage of early bird prices. IGDA members enjoy a 20% discount until April 7, 2006. http://www.e3expo.com/ ************************************************ =============================== 3: GDC Recap and Links, T-Shirt =============================== Along with much of the development community, the IGDA is also recovering from a busy week at GDC. We are still in the process of compiling all the reports, slides, materials, etc, from our activities. In the meantime: - Jason Della Rocca's summary report and pictures: http://www.igda.org/blogs/realitypanic/archives/001191.html - Summary and bootleg vid of the Burn Baby Burn rant session: http://crystaltips.typepad.com/wonderland/2006/03/gdc_game_develo.html http://youtube.com/watch?v=PUjapr9ncYU&search=rant%20game - "Reports" on the IGDA annual meeting/reception and VIP luncheon: http://www.gamedev.net/columns/events/gdc2006/article.asp?id=132 http://www.gamedev.net/columns/events/gdc2006/article.asp?id=219 - Coverage of censorship debate with Assemblymember Leland Yee: http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/240110.html http://xbox.ign.com/articles/698/698251p1.html http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20060324/duffy_01.shtml http://www.gamespot.com/news/6146588.html http://www.gamesindustry.biz/news.php?aid=15626 - Complete news coverage of GDC:06: http://www.gamasutra.com/gdc2006/index.shtml http://www.gamedev.net/columns/events/gdc2006/ http://www.gamespot.com/pages/special_events/news.php?event=gdc2006 Finally, we've made available a new version of our "limited edition" GDC:06 t-shirt available from the IGDA CafePress storefront: http://www.cafepress.com/igda.52535752 *********************************************** ** Ad: Women in Games International - Dallas ** *********************************************** "Advancing Your Career in Game Development: The Women's Perspective" Saturday, April 22, 1pm to 7pm The Guildhall at SMU, Plano, TX WIGI Dallas includes panels, roundtable discussions and a post-conference networking reception. Keynote speaker Denise Fulton, Head of Studio for Midway-Austin, presents "The Best Defense: Why Gender Doesn't Matter (As Much As You Might Think)." Other speakers represent Sony Online Entertainment, Microsoft Game Studios, Aspyr, Ensemble Studios, Cartoon Network and more. Register online for $45: http://www.womeningamesinternational.org/ *********************************************** ============================= 4: Board of Director Nominees ============================= We have thirteen (!) brave people who have stepped forward as nominees for the four seats available on the IGDA's Board of Directors (listed in alphabetical order): - Michael Capps, Epic Games - Dustin Clingman, Zeitgeist Games - Christopher Crowell, Ubisoft Montreal - Rodney Gibbs, Amaze Entertainment - Austin - Michelle Hinn, University of Illinois - Joe Kreiner, Logitech - Gaurav Mathur, Factor 5 - Mitzi McGilvray, TikGames - Marc Mencher, GameRecruiter.com - Clarinda Merripen, Cryptic Studios - Tobi Saulnier, 1st Playable Productions - Coray Seifert, THQ Inc. | Kaos Studios - Mark Warner, Nexus Entertainment Voting ballots will be sent to all IGDA members of record on April 3rd. Each candidate has provided a brief statement of candidacy, which can be viewed online: http://www.igda.org/board/elections.php ========================== 5: IGDA 2005 Annual Report ========================== In addition to summary comments from Board chair Bob Bates, the Annual Report covers our financial results, highlights accomplishments from 2005 and thanks those who have made it all possible. (FYI, the Board decided to save some trees this year and present the report in web-format only.) http://www.igda.org/about/annual_report_05.php ================= 6: Columns Update ================= Monthly columns have been updated: Famous Last Words ----------------- "How Much Effort is Best?" - A look at the legal meaning of 'best efforts' in a dev contract and how it may mean a lot more than most think... http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/lastwords_Mar06.php Culture Clash ------------- "You Don't Know, Jack - Thanks for all you do" - An open letter to anti-game crusader Jack Thompson, thanking him for all the 'good' he does for the game industry... http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/clash_Mar06.php The Games Game -------------- "Planning for a Successful GDC" - Great info for pre-GDC planning and event/conference advice in general... http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/gamesgame_Mar06.php =========================== 7: Chapter Meetings/Reports =========================== Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings: http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php Brighton Tuesday, April 11 > Social - 7pm on Lord Nelson Pub http://www.igda.org/brightonuk Michigan South Sunday, April 9 > GDC2006 Wrap Up and Made in Michigan Game Demos http://www.igda.org/smichigan/ Midlands UK Thursday, April 6 > Spring Meeting Date & Venue announced http://www.igda.org/midlands/reports/meet9a.htm Guildford Wednesday, April 5 > Introducing the PS3... http://www.igda.org/guildford/nextevent.htm Singapore Friday, March 31 > Networking session http://www.igda.org/Forums/showthread.php?threadid=21076 Orlando Thursday, March 30 > Presenting EA Executive Producer Jon Dean! http://www.igda.org/orlando Vienna Thursday, March 30 > Punch’n ‘Crunch, Sproing http://www.igdavienna.org/?p=36 Melbourne Report, March 16 > Report: March 8 Social and Planning Meeting http://www.igda.org/melbourne/ Hamburg Report, March 16 > Hamburg Chapter Meeting Report http://www.igda.org/hamburg/reports.htm New Jersey North Report, March 11 > GDC is coming! Conference prep in a procedurally generated world. http://blender.rutgers.edu/~njigda/meetings/2006/200603.php Hamar Report, March 8 > Hamar (Norway) Report from meeting 23 February 2006 http://www.spillutviklere.org/ Colorado Report, March 6 > Goovies Movie Game http://coloradogamedev.org/ Berne Report, March 2 > 2nd Berne Chapter Meeting on Mobile Game Development http://www.igda.org/berne/archives/2006/03/woah_woah_what.html Montreal Report, March 1 > Pseudo discusses design of Full Auto for Xbox 360 http://www.igda.org/montreal/reports/summary_Mar06.htm ================== 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: - GameJobs.com - GarageGames.com - Hybrid Graphics - Mary-Margaret.com - Microsoft Research - Phenomblue - SN Systems - The Guildhall at SMU - Tira Wireless - University of Derby 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, etc) and chapter updates (eg, upcoming meetings, event reports). 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