=========================== IGDA Newsletter - June 2005 =========================== ================= Table of Contents ================= 0: A Word From Jesse Schell 1: Quality of Life Summit Session Videos Now Online 2: Promising Students to be Awarded with GDC Europe Scholarships 3: 2005 Mobile Games White Paper Hot off the Press 4: Member Offers: Euro Industry Report, Difficult Questions Book 5: Columns Update 6: Chapter Meetings/Reports x: Logistical Bits & Subscription Info ================= =========================== 0: A Word From Jesse Schell =========================== Dear Members and friends, I have felt quite privileged to spend the last year as IGDA Chairperson ­ it has given me a chance to learn more about the ins and outs of the organization, and to meet with more members than ever. I am glad to say that the experience has made me all the more proud to be a game developer, and proud to be a part of the IGDA. I've never, anywhere, seen a community so driven and passionate about creating incredible things, while simultaneously being so sharing and open. For my final act as chair, I would like to thank you all for supporting the IGDA through this transitional year. The IGDA is nothing without its members and supporters, and I have every confidence that in the coming years, you will be quite surprised at the new ways the IGDA gives back to the members that have given it so much. And with that said, I will pass the baton to our newly appointed chair: Bob Bates! With Bob's vast experience, endless patience, and atomic-powered enthusiasm, the IGDA is in excellent hands. Let me also congratulate our other elected officers: Secretary Mitzi McGilvray and Treasurer (and former chair) Kathy Schoback. Finally, please welcome our newest board member, Tom Buscaglia. See the press release for more details: http://www.igda.org/newsroom/press_062205.php While this is my last intro letter, you aren't rid of me yet. I am pleased to say I'll be staying on the board for the coming year as "Chair Emeritus" to help ensure a smooth transition, so feel free to drop me a line. And have a great summer! - Jesse Schell Chairperson Emeritus, IGDA Asst. Professor of Entertainment Technology, Carnegie Mellon University CEO, Schell Games ************************************************************************** ** Ad: GDC Europe Announces Premier Keynote Lineup, 10% Member Discount ** ************************************************************************** The 5th Annual GDC Europe has announced both the keynote and conference line up for the 30 August to 1 September, 2005 event in London, UK. Industry veteran and Sony executive Phil Harrison and Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi will deliver keynote addresses on 31 August and 1 September respectively. IGDA members receive a 10% discount on conference pass pricing. Early registration rates expire 3 August. Be sure to use priority code PIENXX to activate your discount. IGDA membership will be verified. Register today at: http://www.gdceurope.com/ ************************************************************************** =================================================== 1: Quality of Life Summit Session Videos Now Online =================================================== To share the valuable knowledge that was generated during its Quality of Life Summit, the IGDA has made available recorded videos from the entire event. Additional Summit materials, including conference proceedings, slides, papers and reports, are also available free of charge. The Summit, held at GDC, was the first of its kind to address the work environment and related issues for game development professionals. Experts discussed factors effecting poor working conditions, labor relations theories, legal issues surrounding overtime and case studies on how to overcome the hurdles preventing a better work atmosphere. QoL Summit Videos: http://www.igda.org/qol/vids.php QoL Summit Materials (ie, slides, reports, etc): http://www.igda.org/qol/events.php ***************************************** ** Ad: Upcoming Game Initiative Events ** ***************************************** CASUAL GAMES CONFERENCE July 19-20, 2005 - Seattle, Washington http://www.CasualGamesConference.com Insights to the business opportunities and design considerations required for Developers, Publishers and Distributors to succeed in this rapidly-expanding game industry segment. Sponsored in part by MSN Games. ADVERTISING IN GAMES WEST July 28, 2005 - San Francisco, California http://www.advertisingingames.com/west Understand the opportunities and pitfalls the driving forces that are shaping the market. For game developers and publishers. Meet with ad agencies and technology companies. Sponsored in part by MSN Games. ***************************************************** ================================================================ 2: Promising Students to be Awarded with GDC Europe Scholarships ================================================================ The IGDA will award qualified university students the chance to attend this year's Game Developers Conference Europe (GDCE). The scholarship will provide students with full access to all sessions, roundtables and keynotes at GDCE, offering a unique opportunity to meet with professionals and learn valuable industry skills. The deadline to enter is Wednesday, July 20, 2005. Recipients will be announced by August 3rd. Applicants are required to be full-time university students (or in an equivalent educational program) and IGDA student members for consideration. Complete information on the scholarship program and requirements are online: http://www.igda.org/scholarships Information on the 2005 GDC Europe can be found at: http://www.gdceurope.com/ ********************************************** ** Ad: SIGGRAPH 2005: The Smart place to be ** ********************************************** You'll find all the data, techniques, people, and inspiration you need for another successful year of research, development, production, and creativity. SIGGRAPH 2005 Keynote Address from world-renowned director, producer and screenwriter George Lucas. More than 300 presentations on leading edge technologies and techniques. An Exhibition with the largest international display of next-generation tools required for achievement in computer graphics and interactive techniques. Five days only, 31 July-4 August 2005 in Los Angeles. Visit: http://www.siggraph.org/s2005 ********************************************** ================================================== 3: 2005 Mobile Games White Paper Hot off the Press ================================================== The IGDA's Online Games SIG has recently published the "2005 Mobile Games White Paper", freely available in PDF format from the SIG site: http://www.igda.org/online/papers.php Prepared by industry volunteers, the 54 page report covers all aspects of the mobile game space, including the market and technology of mobile games, as well as insights on how to develop mobile games and start a new studio. ================================================================ 4: Member Offers: Euro Industry Report, Difficult Questions Book ================================================================ The following offers are being provided to IGDA members: Report: European Interactive Games ­ The 2005 State of the Industry ------------------------------------------------------------------- This Screen Digest report is a key source of data on the structure and dynamics of the games industry in Europe and contains a thorough analysis of the changing factors affecting the key players throughout the games value chain. IGDA members are being offered a 20% discount. For more details, contact Jonathan Fletcher (+44 207 424 2820 or jonathan.fletcher@screendigest.com). http://tinyurl.com/dqt6a Book: Difficult Questions about Videogames ------------------------------------------ Difficult Questions About Videogames is a unique and vital book on the state of contemporary thinking and opinion on this most pervasive, important and misunderstood of popular cultural forms. PublicBeta, an organization dedicated to videogame culture, are giving away this book for FREE for a short time. http://tinyurl.com/9rj7m ************************************************ ** Ad: Video Games Live at the Hollywood Bowl ** ************************************************ Video Games Live is the first major U.S. video game music concert tour. Think music concert, theatrical stage show, and interactive video game all wrapped into one! Video Games Live will feature the best music and video clips from the most popular games from the beginning of video gaming to the present: Mario, Zelda, Halo, Metal Gear Solid, Warcraft, Myst, Final Fantasy, etc... The first show will be held on July 6th at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California. http://videogameslive.com/ ************************************************ ================= 5: Columns Update ================= Monthly columns have been updated: Famous Last Words ----------------- "By Any Other Name..." http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/lastwords_Jun05.php Culture Clash ------------- "W00T, Suxx0rz - The consequences of consequence-free communication" http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/clash_Jun05.php The Games Game -------------- "Focus on the Job at Hand" http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/gamesgame_Jun05.php =========================== 6: Chapter Meetings/Reports =========================== Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings: http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php Colorado Monday, July 11 > General discussion and networking meeting http://coloradogamedev.org/ Dallas Thursday, June 30 > Mobile Gaming: Status, Challenges and Opportunities http://www.dallasigda.org/ London Wednesday, June 29 > Meeting - Crises in Creativity? http://www.igda.org/london/next/ Brighton Monday, June 27 > Social http://www.igda.org/brightonuk Malaysia Saturday, June 25 > Malaysian Chapter June Meeting Announcement http://www.igda.org/malaysia/ Hamburg Thursday, June 23 > Inaugural Hamburg Chapter Meeting http://www.igda.org/hamburg Vienna Thursday, June 23 > June Chapter meeting http://www.igda.org/vienna/vienna_meeting_06_2005.htm Israel Wednesday, June 22 > IGDA Israel Social Meeting http://www.cfxweb.net/igda/meetings.php Atlanta Report, June 15 > June Chapter Meeting Summary http://www.igda.org/atlanta Montreal Report, June 15 > Next-Gen Buzz or Bust? http://www.igda.org/montreal/reports/summary_Jun05.htm New Jersey North Report, June 11 > May Meeting Report http://blender.rutgers.edu/~njigda/meetings/2005/200505.php Guildford Report, June 8 > Max 7.5 presentation and the challenges facing next-gen AI http://www.igda.org/guildford/080605event.htm Colorado Report, June 6 > E3 Slideshow and Miner Madness http://coloradogamedev.org/meetings.php?20050606 ================== x: Logistical Bits ================== Newsletter Subscription ----------------------- You can 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: - Algoma University College - Austin Community College - Autodesk Media and Entertainment - Digital River, Inc. - GameJobs.com - ionForge - Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency - Mary-Margaret.com - Microsoft Research - NVIDIA Corporation - Suffolk College - University of Derby - 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 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 - -------