============================ IGDA Newsletter - March 2008 ============================ ================= Table of Contents ================= 0: A Word From Jen MacLean 1: Board/Officer Results 2: SIG Quarterlies/Updates: AI, Casual, Writing 3: IGDA@GDC Recap 4: Interactive Audio Format Spec: Call for Feedback 5: Columns Update 6: Chapter Meetings/Reports x: Logistical Bits & Unsubscribe Info ================= ========================== 0: A Word From Jen MacLean ========================== Dear Members and friends, Spring is in the air (or at least we hope it is!), and it's time for a new IGDA year. As your new Chair, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support of the IGDA. The success of the organization depends entirely on your participation, and while we've shown phenomenal growth in the past few years and we have many great accomplishments to be proud of, we have much more to do to continue our mission of improving the lives of game developers and advancing the games industry. Many of these accomplishments are facilitated by the work of the IGDA board, and as I begin my term as Chair, I (and the rest of the IGDA) owe a big "thank you" to outgoing Chair Mitzi McGilvray and retiring board members John Feil and Brian Reynolds. I'd also like to welcome new board members Brenda Brathwaite, Mark DeLoura and Tim Train, and welcome back Tom Buscaglia, who was re-elected for another term. We have a great year planned for the IGDA membership, including our second Leadership Forum (with more information coming soon), and a new plan to better invest in the success of local chapters. One of the most important efforts of the board this year will be to provide more useful and more tangible member benefits; we want your decision to renew your membership to be ridiculously easy because of the value the IGDA delivers to you. And so I want to hear from you; what's important to you? What do you want from your IGDA? What member benefits bring the most value to you, and how can we be more relevant to your success as a game developer? Please dive into the IGDA Feedback forum to share your thoughts: http://www.igda.org/Forums/showthread.php?threadid=31361 Here's to a great year! - Jen MacLean Chairperson, IGDA VP Business Development, 38 Studios ****************************************** ** Ad: Games for Health Conference 2008 ** ****************************************** May 8-9, 2008, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland Join hundreds of funders, developers, researchers, and organizations using videogames and game technologies to improve health and healthcare. Topics to be covered include exergaming, training, messaging, health behavior change, medical informatics, therapy, and game development. Agenda includes exhibit rooms and pre-conference workshops. Register directly at: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaID=146432 Program + housing details available at: http://www.gamesforhealth.org/ ****************************************** ======================== 1: Board/Officer Results ======================== The IGDA welcomes Brenda Brathwaite, Mark DeLoura, and Tim Train as its newest Board members. The trio was elected, along with Tom Buscaglia, who returns for another term on the Board. Industry veteran Jennifer MacLean, Vice President, Business Development, 38 Studios was appointed as the new Chairperson. Bob Bates was appointed Secretary, and Tobi Saulnier will serve as Treasurer. "As the largest organization of game development professionals in the world, the IGDA advocates for a community of over 16,000 members on critical issues such as quality of life, career development and diversity," said MacLean. "As Chair of the Board of Directors, I'm tremendously excited about working with my fellow board members to create a lasting impact on the lives of game developers and to continue to grow the IGDA as a significant force in the ever evolving game industry." Press release: http://www.igda.org/newsroom/press_032008.php Details/bios on the full IGDA Board of Directors: http://www.igda.org/board/ ***************************************** ** Ad: IndieCade: Call for Submissions ** ***************************************** Independent game artists and designers from around the world are invited to submit interactive media of all types ­ from art to commercial, ARG to abstract, serious to shooter ­ for consideration. Work-in-progress is encouraged. A jury of industry leaders will select entries for top prizes and inclusion in international events. Submissions Deadline: April 11, 2008 at Midnight PT. IndieCade announced this open call for games submissions for its 2008 flagship international festival, July 10-13 in the Seattle-area and a half-dozen global exhibitions and showcases. For more information and to submit: http://www.IndieCade.com/ ***************************************** =============================================== 2: SIG Quarterlies/Updates: AI, Casual, Writing =============================================== Various IGDA special interest groups have recently posted their dedicated newsletters/updates. Check them out: - AI SIG: Game AI Newsletter - Feb-08: http://five.pairlist.net/pipermail/gameai_news/2008/000005.html - Casual Games SIG: Casual Games Quarterly - Spring 08: http://www.igda.org/wiki/Casual_Games_SIG#IGDA_Casual_Games_Quarterly - Writing SIG: Game Writers Quarterly - Spring 08: http://www.quantumcontent.com/projects/gwsig/gwsigquarterly-2-08.pdf ================= 3: IGDA@GDC Recap ================= Here's a bunch of recap/summary detail from the IGDA's various GDC related efforts: - IGDA Members-Only Party photos: http://www.igda.org/gdc08/rsvp_gdcparty_08.php - IGDA Education Summit slides and materials: http://www.igda.org/wiki/Game_Education_SIG#GDC_2008 - IGDA Government + Associations Summit slides and materials: http://www.igda.org/gas/#output - GDC Student Scholar Reports: http://www.igda.org/scholarships/reports_gdc2008.php - The Katamari at the IGDA booth was quite popular... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDnMIj-fmy0 http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/seen-gdc-the-igda-katamari-ball-of-junk/ http://blogs.ign.com/DugBuzz/2008/02/21/81431/ - Susan Gold, Mike McShaffry, Wade Tinney recognized as MVPs for their volunteer contributions to the IGDA: http://www.igda.org/community/volunteer_mvp.php - Jason Della Rocca, IGDA executive director, posted a GDC summary and photos to his personal blog: http://www.realitypanic.com/archives/354 =================================================== 4: Interactive Audio Format Spec: Call for Feedback =================================================== For audio professionals in the IGDA, the Interactive Audio Special Interest Group (IASIG) has offered an invitation for you to take part in the public review of their new Interactive XMF file format specification (iXMF). The iXMF file format is designed to improve open cross-platform audio development and has taken several years to get to this stage. IGDA members are encouraged to provide feedback to the IASIG to help them complete the iXMF specification this year. For more about the iXMF file format and the review/feedback process, visit: http://www.iasig.org/ ================= 5: Columns Update ================= Monthly columns have been updated: Famous Last Words ----------------- "Making the Deal with Your Agent - Part I" - At look at relationships with game agents http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/lastwords_Mar08.php Culture Clash ------------- "I'm with Stupid - Gayms mayk u dum" - Are games making us smarter or dumber? http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/clash_Mar08.php The Games Game -------------- "Stay Focused on A to Get to B" - On the need to stay focused on the end goal... http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/gamesgame_Mar08.php =========================== 6: Chapter Meetings/Reports =========================== Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings: http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php Portland Thursday, April 10 > April Meeting http://www.pagdig.org/?p=59 Philadelphia Tuesday, April 8 > April Meeting - Della Rocca, Seifert, and Elrod? OH MY! http://www.igda.org/philly/archives/2008/03/next_meeting_ap.html Pittsburgh Saturday, March 29 > 2008 Game Olympics - Get Your Team Together! http://www.igda.org/pittsburgh/archives/2008/03/are_you_ready_f.html Salt Lake City Report, March 11 > GDC 2008 Share Session http://www.igda.org/slc/mar08mr.htm Malaysia Report, March 4 > IGDA Informal Meet 29th Feb 2008 Report http://www.igda.org.my/?p=138 Philadelphia Report, February 27 > Philly Game Jam demos rule the night at February meeting http://www.igda.org/philly/archives/2008/03/february_2008_m_1.html Denmark Report, February > Nordic Game Jam 2008 http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3572/nordic_game_jam_2008_134_game_.php ================== x: Logistical Bits ================== Unsubscribe/Subscribe to Newsletter ----------------------------------- To unsubscribe simply send an email with the subject "unsubscribe" to igda@igda.org. Or, you can update your newsletter subscription details via your MyProfile page: http://www.igda.org/membership/myprofile.php 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: - DeVry University - IGN Entertainment - ModCenter.com - SN Systems - University of Derby - University of Lincoln 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 19 Mantua Road Mount Royal, New Jersey USA 08061 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). Those using RSS readers can point to: IGDA News: http://www.igda.org/igda_news_rss.php IGDA Chapter Updates: http://www.igda.org/igda_chapters_rss.php ------- - end - ------m