=========================== IGDA Newsletter - July 2004 =========================== =========================== Table of Contents =========================== 0: A Word From Jesse Schell 1: IGDA News - Lobbying Update: Washington-State Bill HB1009 - Lack of Quality of Life Ever Present... - Upcoming IGDA Event Participation - SIG Updates: QA, HR, AI, GA - Columns Update 2: Chapter Meetings/Reports 3: From the Wires - Dini slams industry's failure to champion development talent - Boy inspires cancer video game - Game for a Little Therapy? - Medical study links games to obesity - This is science? - Lawmakers take aim at virtual violence - Parents Set Rules, But Kids Still See TV Violence - FTC gives games industry mixed report card - Q&A: ESRB president Patricia Vance - Los Angeles To Impose Restrictions On Gaming Cybercafes - The Video Game Nudity Trend - 'Casual' video games are serious business - Indie Innovation? - E3 2004 Report: Booth Babe Dialogues - Why the Edinburgh International Games Festival is Unique - EFF Counts Nintendo as Enemy - Europe Reconsiders Software Patents - Global Software Piracy Study 4: Logistical Bits =========================== =========================== 0: A Word From Jesse Schell =========================== Dear Members and friends, Excellent freedom of speech news from the state of Washington this month! Kudos to all our local members who helped out... Also, there is some thought-provoking news about game developers suing for overwork. You can read the details below, but both of these topics tie into something I've been meaning to mention... Most IGDA members think of the IGDA as being primarily about community - chapter meetings, for example. And community is indeed half of our mission -- but many overlook the other half: advocacy. In other words, the IGDA works hard to address problems facing the community of developers, problems that no single individual or company could solve alone. Right now, the IGDA is working on several issues: censorship, business and legal affairs, credit and recognition, diversity, quality of life, and relations with academia. Want to help out with these things? Or, maybe you know some other relevant issue the IGDA should be working on? Crunch time is just around the corner, so jump to http://www.igda.org/advocacy/ to find out how the org is making a difference and where you can get involved. - Jesse Schell Chairperson, IGDA Professor of Entertainment Technology, Carnegie Mellon University CEO, Schell Games ===================================== AD: Austin Game Developers Conference ===================================== September 9-10, 2004, Austin, Texas It's time again for the coolest game conference of the year. Austin Game Developer's Conference expands to 7 tracks dedicated to multiplayer online games, mobile game development and console game development with more than 100 speakers. Detailed technical, design, service, production and business sessions. Network with industry veterans, friends and colleagues in a casual environment. Preview new technologies. Cool conference parties. Machinima Theater and more. All this and more for only $125 when you register before August 15, 2004. Price includes full access to the Mobile Game Conference and the Women's Game Conference. http://www.GameConference.com/ ===================================== ============ 1: IGDA News ============ Lobbying Update: Washington-State Bill HB1009 --------------------------------------------- On July 15th, 2004, the U.S. District Court in Seattle granted summary judgment to overturn Washington state bill 1009 which was set to regulate certain videogames, ruling the legislation unconstitutional. The decision once again affirms that video games are protected speech. HB 1009 would have banned minors from purchasing video games that depicted violence against law enforcement officers (claiming that the playing the games causes increased aggression and violence in children and young adults). The Court found that the "legislature's belief that video games cause violence, particularly violence against law enforcement officers, is not based on reasonable inferences drawn from substantial evidence." The IGDA was a joint-plaintiff, along with the ESA, IEMA and other industry organizations who contested HB 1009 as an attack on game creators' ability to express their ideas. For further details, news links, court rulings and statements: http://www.igda.org/censorship/lobbying.php#hb1009 Lack of Quality of Life Ever Present... --------------------------------------- On Monday, June 28th, a programmer in the video game industry sued media and telecom giant Vivendi Universal, claiming he and his colleagues were regularly forced to work extra hours and denied overtime pay. In recent months, several lawsuits have been filed in California by tech employees seeking to be classified as overtime-eligible and obtaining compensation for working more than 8 hours a day, or 40 hours a week. It is sad, but not surprising, to hear of a game industry lawsuit like this. Further, this is only one aspect of the often severe working conditions in our industry leading to early burnout, wasted resources and poor quality games. The IGDA's recent Quality of Life White Paper points to many productive ways that developers and publishers can improve conditions in their companies and potentially prevent such issues from arising to the level of litigation. http://www.igda.org/qol/whitepaper.php Related news links: "Programmer sues Vivendi games unit for overtime" http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5544585 "Developer working conditions hide a cancer in the games industry" http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=dev&aid=3721 Upcoming IGDA Event Participation --------------------------------- The IGDA will be participating the following upcoming events: - SIGGRAPH: We'll be hosting a "birds of a feather" gathering for all game developers at the show - Leipzig Games Convention: Board member Bob Bates and program director Jason Della Rocca will be lecturing in the developer program. - CEDEC: The IGDA's Japanese chapter will be hosting an Academic Day during the first day of the CESA Developers Conference. - Video Game Developers Summit: The IGDA's Chicago chapter is working with a local animation festival to host a local developers conference. Check online for details on these events and the IGDA's participation: http://www.igda.org/events/ SIG Updates: QA, HR, AI, GA --------------------------- The IGDA's Special Interest Groups have been keeping themselves busy over the past several months... - Quality Assurance: A new SIG to cover quality assurance and test has just been launched. They have a mailing list up and running and some big ideas for future projects... http://www.igda.org/qa/ - Game Accessibility: The GA-SIG has just released a comprehensive white paper exploring the design of games for players with disabilities. http://www.igda.org/accessibility/ - Human Resources: The HR-SIG released a summary report from their tutorial at the past GDC. http://www.igda.org/hr/ - Artificial Intelligence: The AI-SIG's standards committee continues to plug away on interface protocols, and has released their extensive yearly progress report. http://www.igda.org/ai/report-2004/report-2004.html Columns Update -------------- Monthly columns updated for this month: - The Ivory Tower: What scope is there for game researchers, developers and players to collaborate in making games? http://www.igda.org/columns/ivorytower/ - Famous Last Words: Insurance Requirements for Developers http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/ - Culture Clash: Half-Life, Too - Graphics have never been better. Or worse. http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/ - The Games Game: Jaded Expectations http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/ ====================================================== 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 ====================================================== =========================== 2: Chapter Meetings/Reports =========================== Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings: http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php Los Angeles Meeting, July > Game Mods Meeting http://www.igda.org/la/calendar.htm Frankfurt am Main Report, July > Character in Game Development http://www.igda.org/frankfurt/#reports Chicago Meeting, July > How to Write a Design Document http://www.igda.org/chicago/next.htm Israel Meeting, July > Chapter Casual Pub Meeting http://www.cfxweb.net/igda/meetings.php Brighton Meeting, July > Social gathering http://www.igda.org/brightonuk/ Japan Meeting, July > SIG-Online Game "The Case Study of Chinese Market" http://www.igda.jp/modules/news/article.php?storyid=218 Phoenix Report, July > Remote Team Management and Organised Rigging http://igda-phx.org/resources.php?id=17 Lyon Report, July > IP in a videogame production http://www.igda.org/lyon/ North Carolina Triangle Report, July > Impressive 3D Gaming on Elumens' VisionStation http://www.igda.org/nctriangle/meeting_jun04.htm Mexico City Report, July > Capitulos Estudiantiles http://www.igda.org/mexico Japan Report, June > SIG-Online Game 1st Meeting Report http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2004/06/19/103,1087654282,27665,0,0.html Seattle Report, June > Game Audio: Past, Present, and Future http://www.igda.org/seattle/reports/06_2004r.htm ================= 3: From the Wires ================= News stories and articles from around the web... Dini slams industry's failure to champion development talent http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=dev&aid=3752 Boy inspires cancer video game http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3839091.stm Game for a Little Therapy? http://tinyurl.com/4zpf2 Medical study links games to obesity http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/07/01/news_6101806.html This is science? http://tinyurl.com/2x3tt Lawmakers take aim at virtual violence http://tinyurl.com/6pnll Parents Set Rules, But Kids Still See TV Violence http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5601237 FTC gives games industry mixed report card http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/07/09/news_6102272.html Q&A: ESRB president Patricia Vance http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/07/09/news_6102312.html Los Angeles To Impose Restrictions On Gaming Cybercafes http://games.slashdot.org/games/04/07/08/2334249.shtml The Video Game Nudity Trend http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/lbbcolumns/2004/0521.asp 'Casual' video games are serious business http://tinyurl.com/5m8ys Indie Innovation? http://www.gametunnel.com/html/section-viewarticle-50.html E3 2004 Report: Booth Babe Dialogues http://www.gamecritics.com/feature/report/e3expo2004_babes/page01.php Why the Edinburgh International Games Festival is Unique http://biz.gamedaily.com/my_turn/ EFF Counts Nintendo as Enemy http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=3986 Europe Reconsiders Software Patents http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/blog.asp?blogID=1481&trk=nl Global Software Piracy Study http://www.bsa.org/globalstudy/ ================== 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: - Alias - Avid Alienbrain - Austin Community College 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 Membership --------------- 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. Join today: http://www.igda.org/join Contact Information ------------------- Please contact us if you have questions, comments or input. http://www.igda.org/contact.php ------- - end - -------