========================== IGDA Newsletter - May 2004 ========================== =========================== Table of Contents =========================== 0: A Word From Jesse Schell 1: IGDA News - New Board Members and Officers - Credit Standards: Call for Contributors - Post-E3 IGDA Coverage - Quality of Life White Paper - Columns Update 2: Chapter Updates 3: From the Wires - Journal of Game Development Call for Papers - Whither Game Research - Princeton Video Game Conference - Action Morphs Into Art - Manhattan Gets Pac-Man Fever - Surgeons Who Play Video Games Err Less - When Two Tribes Go to War: A History of Video Game Controversy - June is "Entertainment Ratings & Labeling Awareness Month" - Ninja Gaiden Censored for European Release - Japan Adding Content Ratings to Games - Just How Important are Mature Games to the Industry? - The Reality of Video Games - When Game Development Fails - The Return of Innovation? - FBI Launches Massive Anti-piracy Raids - Samus' Suit Was Made by Men - Game for Sex Vol. 1: A Retrospective on Sex in Videogames - Can Games Address Serious Social Issues? - The Politics of the Video Game - Experimental Politics 4: Logistical Bits =========================== =========================== 0: A Word From Jesse Schell =========================== Dear Members and friends, Testing, testing - is this thing on? Oh, okay. A big hello from your new IGDA Chairperson! This is going to be an exciting year for the IGDA - it's already off to a great start, with all that's been happening... One example is the IGDA's Quality of Life white paper. Games should be fun to work on - when they aren't, something is seriously wrong. This paper looks at the quality of life problems from all angles, and recommends some excellent solutions. I honestly think this is a must-read for everyone in the industry. To help add to the fun factor, the IGDA held its first "members only" party at E3 - it was such a blast, we plan to make this a new E3 tradition! Wait - was that Gallagher? At a more operational level, we welcomed in new board members Bob Bates and Brian Reynolds. These two industry veterans are both already digging in on IGDA work and initiatives - welcome, guys! And, at the same time, new IGDA officers have been appointed. I passed the IGDA seal to Brian, our new Secretary; Mitzi McGilvray continues in her role as Treasurer, and Kathy Schoback is now the vaunted Chairperson Emeritus. Congratulations, all. That's just a sample, and there's a bunch more stuff coming - wait'll you see! The one thing we can guarantee is that it will all center on the twin IGDA themes of community and advocacy. As always, if you have suggestions about how the board can better serve you, please speak up! Jesse Schell Chairperson, IGDA Professor of Entertainment Technology, Carnegie Mellon University ====================================================== Ad: SIGGRAPH 2004 Advanced Content for Game Developers ====================================================== SIGGRAPH 2004, August 8-12 in Los Angeles is an intense week of cutting-edge research, new techniques, surprising technologies, and the tools you need to succeed in the extremely competitive gaming industry. Designers, artists, animators, and programmers will discover advanced content that isn't available anywhere else as well as an Exhibition that will empower every game development pro. Relevant content will be included in 45 SIGGRAPH 2004 Courses, Papers, Panels, Exhibitor Tech Talks, and Special Sessions. New for SIGGAPH 2004, one day passes are available. http://www.siggraph.org/s2004/games ====================================================== ============ 1: IGDA News ============ New Board Members and Officers ------------------------------ The new members of the Board of Directors are Bob Bates (independent developer) and Brian Reynolds (president of Big Huge Games). They were elected to the open board seats by the membership. The new board term began on May 1, 2004. New officers chosen by the board are Chairperson: Jesse Schell; Secretary: Brian Reynolds; and Treasurer: Mitzi McGilvray. http://www.igda.org/newsroom/press_052404.php http://www.igda.org/board/ Credit Standards: Call for Contributors --------------------------------------- The IGDA's Credit Standards Committee is looking for professional developers interested in serving on the Committee and contributing to its credit standardization project. Developers from all aspects of game development, production, publishing and administration who are interested are urged to contact the Committee at credits@igda.org for more information. Further details on the Credit Standards Committee and the IGDA's credit and recognition advocacy efforts can be found online: http://www.igda.org/credit/ http://www.igda.org/committees/credits.php Post-E3 IGDA Coverage --------------------- The IGDA hosted its first ever members-only party at E3. With over 300 members stopping in to enjoy a drink and conversation, it was a big success. Check out the details and some pictures: http://www.igda.org/events/rsvp_e3party.php Also, the IGDA's program director, Jason Della Rocca has put together a personal summary and picture log of his visit to E3: http://www.igda.org/blogs/realitypanic/archives/000092.html Quality of Life White Paper --------------------------- The 90-page "Quality of Life in the Game Industry: Challenges and Best Practices" white paper was prepared by the IGDA's Quality of Life Committee, representing a wide range of game development professions and companies. The white paper discusses the problems and consequences developers face when trying to maintain a career in the industry and the solutions for establishing a better work/life balance. Further, the IGDA white paper explains how studios can adopt best practices to help alleviate some of the stress and allow for a more balanced life. http://www.igda.org/qol/whitepaper.php Columns Update -------------- Monthly columns updated for May: - The Ivory Tower: The Two Cultures, Maybe Three http://www.igda.org/columns/ivorytower/ - Famous Last Words: Dire Consequences for Developer Breach http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/ - Culture Clash: Paradox City - Balancing Emotion and Logic http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/ - The Games Game: Levelheaded Education http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/ ================== 2: Chapter Updates ================== Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings: http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php San Diego Meeting, May > Alias, Qualcomm and Sammy's Darkwatch preview http://www.igda.org/sandiego/flash_site.html Chicago Meeting, May > Audio For Games Panel http://www.igda.org/chicago/next.htm San Francisco Report, May > Thomas Engel on Light Scattering http://www.igda.org/sanfran/bayarea_summary_Apr04.htm Lyon Report, May > Chapter activities & goals discussion results http://www.igda.org/lyon/200405.htm Colorado Report, May > Networking Shmoozer Meeting Summary http://www.coloradogamedev.org/20040503.html Karachi Report, May > First meeting report. http://www.igda.org/karachi/04.04.01.htm North Carolina Triangle Report, April > GBA Contest at NCSU http://www.igda.org/nctriangle/ ================= 3: From the Wires ================= News stories and articles from around the web... Journal of Game Development Call for Papers http://jogd.com/callforpapers.html Whither Game Research http://grandtextauto.gatech.edu/archives/000299.html Princeton Video Game Conference http://www.buzzcut.com/article.php?story=20040309220912691 Action Morphs Into Art http://tinyurl.com/3ar3o Manhattan Gets Pac-Man Fever http://www.wired.com/news/games/0,2101,63400,00.html Surgeons Who Play Video Games Err Less http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Living/ap20040406_2079.html When Two Tribes Go to War: A History of Video Game Controversy http://www.gamespot.com/features/6090892/index.html June is "Entertainment Ratings & Labeling Awareness Month" http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=25703 Ninja Gaiden Censored for European Release http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=pub&aid=3328 Japan Adding Content Ratings to Games http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/04/15/news_6093645.html Just How Important are Mature Games to the Industry? http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=pub&aid=3139 The Reality of Video Games http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/news/headlines/2004futurentertainconf_videogames.shtml When Game Development Fails http://pc.boomtown.net/en_uk/articles/art.view.php?id=4752 The Return of Innovation? http://money.cnn.com/2004/04/23/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/index.htm FBI Launches Massive Anti-piracy raids http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/04/22/news_6094352.html Samus' Suit was Made by Men http://www.gamespot.com/features/6093308/p-2.html Game for Sex Vol. 1: A Retrospective on Sex in Videogames http://www.gamecritics.com/feature/report/gameforsexvol1/page01.php Can Games Address Serious Social Issues? http://www.avault.com/articles/getarticle.asp?name=socialissues The Politics of the Video Game http://www.reason.com/0404/fe.kp.free.shtml Experimental Politics http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/2004/04/experimental_po.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: - Kaydara - Metrowerks - Microsoft Research - Secret Level - Seneca College Animation Arts Centre - Softimage - Sony Computer Entertainment America - Web Technology Corp. - Xbox 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. 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? 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