============================ IGDA Newsletter - April 2007 ============================ ================= Table of Contents ================= 0: A Word From Brian Reynolds 1: Member Vote: IGDA Board of Directors Election 2: GDC Student Scholar "Reports" 3: Event Action: Intel, WIGI, Vancouver, OGDC, Nordic, Develop 4: Columns Update 5: Chapter Meetings/Reports x: Logistical Bits & Unsubscribe Info ================= ************************************************************* ** Ad: Autodesk 3ds Max: The quickest route to stunning 3D ** ************************************************************* Autodesk® 3ds Max® software takes advantage of the latest technology advancements, such as 64-bit workstations, to help artists create stunning 3D in less time by minimizing the hurdles related to managing complex data and the challenge of scaling to bigger teams associated with next-generation production pipelines. Developed as a total animation package, designed to accelerate workflow, Autodesk 3ds Max is the leader in 3D animation for game development, design visualization, visual effects, and education. For more info: http://clk.atdmt.com/XDA/go/ame0060000011xda/direct/01/ ************************************************************* ============================= 0: A Word From Brian Reynolds ============================= Greetings fellow developers! It just doesn't feel like April this year, not only because it's darn cold here in Baltimore, but because there's that strange feeling of something missing in the industry: we're not crunching for E3! There were already signs at GDC this year that the industry is adjusting to the change ­ how many designers, producers, and tech leads had to skip sessions to meet with publishers? And of course we'll soon see how the new/smaller summer E3 turns out in Santa Monica, but meanwhile I'm sure in the next month we'll all be thinking about the good times and bad times we had together in a decade of May's. Just between you and me I'm not going to miss the crunching too much, nor the 120 decibel speakers, nor the hours of waiting in traffic. But I am going to miss the spectacle of getting the whole industry together in one place, and seeing most of the people I know in the industry (the other half that I don't see at GDC), and the chance to see and be inspired by what other creative people are up to. Wherever our industry goes over the next 10 years, it doesn't seem likely we'll be getting sixty thousand people together in one place for a while. So love it or hate it (or both), this is a great time to look back on a decade of E3's and how they changed us. Game on! - Brian Reynolds Chairperson, IGDA President, Big Huge Games *************************************** ** Ad: The Develop Conference & Expo ** *************************************** The Develop Conference & Expo in Brighton/UK, 24-26 July 2007, is where the European developer community will come together to learn from each other and share experiences, be inspired by world renowned experts, get up-to-date with the latest development tools and techniques, plus make new contacts and catch-up with old ones. And, IGDA members get a 10% registration discount! Find out more or register now at: http://www.developconference.com/ ************************************************ ================================================ 1: Member Vote: IGDA Board of Directors Election ================================================ The deadline for voting in the Board of Directors Election is Monday, April 30th. All members are urged to jump online and cast their ballot - we still need over 1000 votes to hit quorum. http://www.igda.org/board/elections.php Listed in alphabetical order, here are the candidates: - Bob Bates, Independent Game Developer - Chris Charla, Director of Business Development, Foundation 9 Entertainment - Dustin Clingman, President, Zeitgeist Games, Inc. - Jen MacLean - VP and GM, Games, Comcast Interactive Media - Jay Moore - Head of Special Ops, The Strategery Group - Eric Nofsinger - Chief Creative Officer / Studio Director, High Voltage Software - Brian Robbins - Executive Producer / Gaming Evangelist, Fuel Industries, Inc. - Coray Seifert - Associate Producer, THQ Inc. | Kaos Studios - Gustaf Stechmann - Creative Director, Bigpoint.com Each candidate has provided a brief statement of candidacy that can be viewed online: http://www.igda.org/board/elections.php ******************************************************** ** Ad: Video Game Voters Network - We Need Your Help! ** ******************************************************** Take action to stop legislative threats against the US video game industry by joining the Video Game Voters Network (VGVN), a coalition of voting-aged Americans who play computer and video games and who want to defend their choice of entertainment from unnecessary government regulation. We need your help to make our message heard loud and clear! Please take a minute to join this important grassroots movement to protect our computer and video games today. http://www.videogamevoters.org/ http://www.myspace.com/vgvn ******************************************************** ================================ 2: GDC Student Scholar "Reports" ================================ Each year, the IGDA awards 25 scholarships to send qualified students to the Game Developers Conference. Each scholarship recipient was asked to compile a brief report of their adventure to GDC, and describe their favorite sessions and advice for others heading to GDC for the first time. http://www.igda.org/scholarships/reports_gdc2007.php ============================================================== 3: Event Action: Intel, WIGI, Vancouver, OGDC, Nordic, Develop ============================================================== Member discounts at upcoming events and related event action include: - 2007 Intel Game Demo Contest running until August 15 - Women in Games International Conference in Savannah (April 26) - member discounts for Vancouver International Game Summit and Northwest Games Festival (May 3-5) - $50 member discount at Online Game Developers Conference in Seattle (May 10-11) - Nordic Game in Malmo, Sweden (May 15-16) - 10% member discount at Develop in Brighton (July 24-26) Full discount details and links available online: http://www.igda.org/events/ ================= 4: Columns Update ================= Monthly columns have been updated: Famous Last Words ----------------- "Little Things Mean a Lot" - On how best to read contracts http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/lastwords_Apr07.php Culture Clash ------------- "I'm Okay, You're... Kinda Mean - Playing the 'good guy'" - Looking at moral implications of player choice http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/clash_Apr07.php The Games Game -------------- "Top Ten Foolish, um, Advices" - Foolish advice in honor of April 1st http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/gamesgame_Apr07.php =========================== 5: Chapter Meetings/Reports =========================== Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings: http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php DC & Vicinity Friday, April 27 > Open House for a new meeting location at EA/Mythic http://www.igda.org/Forums/showthread.php?threadid=9077 Malaysia Friday, April 27 > IGDA Malaysia Flash Dev Meet http://www.igda.org.my/?p=48 Montreal Wednesday, April 25 > GameCafé: The Future of Work http://www.igda.org/montreal/archives/2007/04/april_25th_game_1.html North Carolina Triangle Tuesday, April 24 > "Breaking into the Game Industry" Panel http://www.igda.org/nctriangle New Jersey North Saturday, April 21 > Game Decon: Prey http://www.igda.org/Forums/showthread.php?threadid=26942 Austin Report, April 11 > How To Make Games Fun http://www.igda.org/austin/archives/2007/04/how_to_make_gam_1.html Perth Report, March 31 > March Meeting - GO3 http://www.igda.org/perth/event_07_03/07_03_Report.htm Malaysia Report, March 30 > Malaysia Chapter Social Meet-Up March 30th 2007 http://www.igda.org.my/?p=45 Hamburg Report, March 26 > Chapter Meeting Report http://www.igda.org/hamburg/reports.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: - Alchemic Dream - Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA) - Intel Corporation - Kingwood College - NBCC Miramich Campus - One Planet - University of Derby - University of Lincoln - Vivox 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). 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