============================= IGDA Newsletter - August 2002 ============================= ============================= 0.0 A Word From Graeme Devine 1 IGDA News 1.1 Game Developer Salary Survey 1.2 AI Interface Standards Committee Formed 1.3 GDC Europe Fast Approaching 1.4 GDCE Student Sponsorship Recipients Announced 1.5 SIGGRAPH 2002 Report 1.6 Chapter Updates & News 1.7 New Site Content: Column Updates, Royalties Article 2 From the Wire - Game Career Guide - Child Media Violence Consumption - Game Studies Journal Volume 2 Online - Games Research from Banc of America - Alpha-Blended Brain Waves - Donahue Hard on Games - and Dr. Henry Jenkins... - Archbishop Speaks Against Games; Zombies Succumb - PS Mod Chips OKed in Australia - Digital Filmmakers Using Game Technology - Henry Jenkins on the Art Form of Games - ABC on Violence and More Gore on the Way... - Ion Storm on Campus 3 Events, Benefits & Services Update 3.1 Updated Member Benefits 3.2 Upcoming Events 4 Logistical Bits 4.1 Thanks to our Sponsors and Partners! 4.2 IGDA Registration 4.3 Contact Information ======================================== ============================= 0.0 A Word From Graeme Devine ============================= Dear IGDA Members and friends, Quakecon is upon me this week and about 10,000 fans are descending upon Mesquite, Texas to compete and get a look at DOOM 3. There's nothing like seeing a dedicated community to remind you that what you make has an impact. Lots of good IGDA stuff going on too! We've posted the developer salary survey to the IGDA website, an extremely interesting read. Details on GDC Europe (wish I was going!) and news on the local chapters! So scroll on down! I normally hear from a bunch of you right after this newsletter "hits the street", and that is always welcome. The IGDA is here to represent and serve your voice, so your feedback and input is appreciated. Until next time! Graeme Devine Chairperson, IGDA ================ 1 Community News ================ 1.1 Game Developer Salary Survey -------------------------------- The 2nd Annual Game Developer Salary Survey is now available for download. The past year has brought a lot of changes to the game industry and the economy. See how you're doing compared to the 2524 game developers represented in this year's salary survey. http://www.igda.org/salary.htm 1.2 AI Interface Standards Committee Formed ------------------------------------------- The new AI Interface Standards Committee is a joint effort of game AI developers, academics, middleware representatives and other relevant experts. The Committee will develop interface standards in such areas as pathfinding, steering, decision trees, finite state machines, rule-based systems, goal-oriented action planning and world interfacing. Check the Committee's page for further details. http://www.igda.org/About/Press/press_081302.htm http://www.igda.org/Committees/ai.htm 1.3 GDC Europe Fast Approaching -------------------------------- GDC Europe is fast approaching (August 27th to be exact). The IGDA will be hosting an Academic Day to further developer-academic relations and look into such topics as curriculum, games and learning, and research initiatives. The IGDA will also be involved in several "classic" sessions on business topics, etc. Finally, don't forget that all IGDA members receive a 10% discount when registering. All info is online: http://www.igda.org/Endeavors/Events/events.htm#gdce http://www.gdc-europe.com/ 1.4 GDCE Student Sponsorship Recipients Announced ------------------------------------------------- Twenty-five college students will attend the Game Developers Conference Europe free of charge, as recipients of the IGDA's GDCE Student Sponsorship. Sponsorships were awarded to students representing a diverse range of disciplines, courtesy of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Argonaut Games. http://www.igda.org/sponsorships.htm 1.5 SIGGRAPH 2002 Report ------------------------ A brief summary report and pictures from the IGDA's recent visit to SIGGRAPH is online. For the academics out there, be sure to download the updated version of the Curriculum Framework, presented during the conference. http://www.igda.org/Endeavors/Events/events_siggraph2002.htm http://www.igda.org/academia.htm 1.6 Chapter Updates & News -------------------------- Many IGDA chapters have had meetings in the past month or so, with several providing great summary reports: - Colorado had a bunch of mini-discussions on AI, online games, etc: http://www.coloradogamedev.org/20020805.html - Chicago had a nice summer gathering: http://www.igda.org/Chapters/chicago/chicago_summary_Jul02.htm - Isreal talked about AI and E3: http://www.igda.org/Chapters/israel/report4.htm - The North West UK Chapter hosted a big bash in Manchester: http://www.igda.org/Chapters/northwestuk.htm - New chapter in Lyon, France: http://www.igda.org/Chapters/lyon.htm - New chapter in Scotland: http://www.igda.org/Chapters/scotland.htm - New chapter in Vienna, Austria: http://www.igda.org/Chapters/vienna.htm - New chapter in Argentina: http://www.igda.org/Chapters/argentina.htm Many chapters (Atlanta, Boston, Switzerland, and others) will meet in coming weeks. Check the Chapter Calendar for dates and details: http://www.igda.org/Chapters/chapters_calendar.htm 1.7 New Site Content: column updates, Royalties Article ------------------------------------------------------------- - New "Miller Time" game dev column: on the growing phenomenon of game and movie cross-licensing: http://www.igda.org/Columns/millertime.htm - New "Famous Last Words" legal column: on getting credit for work on a game: http://www.igda.org/Services/Legal/lastwords/lastwords.htm - New Article: Jim Charne suggests a "time & materials" approach for development deals instead of the "advance & royalty" model: http://www.igda.org/Endeavors/Articles/jcharne_royalties.htm =============================== ADVERTISEMENT: Develop Magazine =============================== Develop is the magazine for every one of Europe's game programmers, artists, audio specialists, designers, producers - in fact, anyone involved in making games. As well as a great read, it's the best way to reach the European community, whether you're selling middleware, services or even just looking for new staff. =============================== =============== 2 From the Wire =============== Game Career Guide http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=419 Child Media Violence Consumption http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=418 Game Studies Journal Volume 2 Online http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=415 Games Research from Banc of America http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=413 Alpha-Blended Brain Waves http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=411 Donahue Hard on Games - and Dr. Henry Jenkins... http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=410 Archbishop Speaks Against Games; Zombies Succumb http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=409 PS Mod Chips OKed in Australia http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=408 Digital Filmmakers Using Game Technology http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=407 Henry Jenkins on the Art Form of Games http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=406 ABC on Violence and More Gore on the Way... http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=404 Ion Storm on Campus http://www.igda.org/About/Press/news_item.php?nid=403 ==================================== 3 Events, Benefits & Services Update ==================================== 3.1 Updated Member Benefits --------------------------- - IGDA Membership Card All new and renewing IGDA members will now receive a membership card. Expect to receive your membership card within a month after joining or renewing. The card represents your involvement in the community, and will be put to use at events like GDC and local chapter meetings. View a sample online: http://www.igda.org/images/card.jpg 3.2 Upcoming Events ------------------- Game Development Workshop http://www.eltlabs.org/workshop/index.htm 22-24 August, Austin, TX Game Developers Conference Europe (10% member discount) http://www.gdc-europe.com/ 27-29 August, London, UK ECTS http://www.ects.com/ 29-31 August, London, UK COSIGN 2002 http://www.kinonet.com/conferences/cosign2002/ 2-4 September, Augsburg, Germany Interact http://www.interact2002.com.au/ 2-15 September, Australia CEDEC http://www.cesa.or.jp/ 11-12 September, Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Game Show http://www.cesa.or.jp/english/index.html 20-22 September, Tokyo, Japan Mobile Commerce World Europe http://www.mobilecommerceworld.com/mcw_euro2002/ 24-26 September, London, UK International Conference on Virtual Systems & Multimedia http://www.vsmm.org/2002/ 25-27 September, Gyeongju, Korea Lulu Tech Circus http://www.techcircus.com/ 27-29 September, Raleigh, NC ACM Collaborative Virtual Environments http://www.cve2002.org/Intro.html 30 Sep - 2 Oct, Bonn, Germany ================= 4 Logistical Bits ================= 4.1 Thanks to our Sponsors and Partners! ---------------------------------------- The IGDA extends its sincerest thanks to all our sponsors and partners! Without their support, and the continued backing from the developer community, the IGDA simply would not survive - let alone thrive. Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP Alias|Wavefront Gamasutra.com Gama Network GameDev.Net Game Developer magazine Game Developers Conference GIGnews.com Intrinsic Graphics Jostick101.org Mary-Margaret.com Microsoft Research Get more info online: http://www.igda.org/About/Sponsors/sponsors.htm http://www.igda.org/About/Alliances/alliances.htm 4.2 IGDA Registration --------------------- Your support is critical to the success of the IGDA, and our industry. Our membership is made up of programmers, designers, artists, producers and many other development professionals who see the importance of working together to advance games and game development as a craft. 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? Join today! http://www.igda.org/Membership/membership.htm Or refer a friend to win prizes: http://www.igda.org/Membership/Referrals/referrals.htm 4.3 Contact Information ----------------------- Contact our membership coordinator if you have questions, comments or input. Liz Wakefield IGDA membership coordinator liz@igda.org