================================ IGDA Newsletter - September 2007 ================================ ================= Table of Contents ================= 0: A Word From Mitzi McGilvray 1: IGDA Game Crediting Guide: Call for Feedback 2: Leadership Forum Filling Up... 3: Localization SIG: Announcement and Call for Participation 4: E for All ­ Complimentary Invitation to IGDA Members 5: Event Action: Virtual Worlds, E for All, Leadership, FuturePlay 6: Columns Update 7: Chapter Meetings/Reports x: Logistical Bits & Unsubscribe Info ================= ============================== 0: A Word From Mitzi McGilvray ============================== Dear Members and friends, The IGDA's Board of Directors continues to take steps to make our activities more transparent. Just this past month, we have reached out to our community of volunteers and members at large to fill key roles in a variety of Board committees. This includes the following appointments: - Finance: Chacko Sonny (Savage Entertainment), Steven Sardegna (Foundation 9) - Programs & Membership: Brian Robbins (Fuel Industries), Sheri Pocilujko, Raphael van Lierop (3D Realms), Carrie Fowler (EA), Nick Smolney (Crisp Wireless) - Policy & Advocacy: Dustin Clingman (Zeitgeist Games), David Thomas (Buzzcut), Daniel Greenberg, Matthew Ford (Digital Cream) Additionally, we will be reaching out to the SIG and chapter leaders to vet some of our ideas to better serve all of you. Of course, there are many other ways you can get involved and take on leadership roles: 1 - Check with your local chapter about helping to organize meetings 2 - Get involved with your favorite SIGs, and contribute to white papers and projects 3 - Run for the Board! The next call for nominations will happen in early 2008... It is truly a wonder to see everyone getting involved in leading the IGDA forward. - Mitzi McGilvray Chairperson, IGDA VP Casual Games, TikGames ************************************************************** ** Ad: Virtual Worlds Fall Conference ­ October 10-11, 2007 ** ************************************************************** Virtual Worlds Fall Conference takes place at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, California. The conference program includes five tracks featuring over 70 industry leaders presenting the latest techniques and best practices. Anthony Zuiker, Creator and Executive Producer of the award winning CSI: Crime Scene Investigation franchise will deliver the opening keynote of the two-day conference. Come find out about the future of media and entertainment, explore business opportunities with top companies and network with colleagues. IGDA members receive a 15% registration discount. Registration information and conference details are available at: http://www.VirtualWorldsFall.com/ ************************************************************** =============================================== 1: IGDA Game Crediting Guide: Call for Feedback =============================================== Getting credit for your hard work in the game industry has always been a difficult struggle. Whether you're a contractor doing pick-up work, put some time on a game before you left a company, or did the duties of several different positions during development, getting accurate credit for your contributions has always been an arduous task for both the employee and the management responsible for creating that credits list. The IGDA's Credit Standards Committee is looking to help create a standardized ruleset to help companies and their employees solve these problems, and they're looking for your feedback. They've come up with the first pass at a ruleset to help companies determine who should get put in the credits on the games they make. The Committee feels that they've done a good job being as fair to both employer and employee as possible, but we'd like to see what you think. Go on over to the credit standards wiki page to check it out: http://www.igda.org/wiki/IGDA_Credits_and_Awards_Committee And, feel free to comment on the ruleset in the forums: http://www.igda.org/Forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=197 ================================= 2: Leadership Forum Filling Up... ================================= With just over a month to go, the IGDA's Leadership Forum is filling up fast. Only ~50 seats are available, and we don't expect them to last long. The Leadership Forum is a uniquely focused event, covering not just production nuts and bolts, but also the more intangible aspects of leadership (eg, team morale, communication skills, company culture, etc). To get a sense of who is already going to be there, check out: http://www.igda.org/leadership/?p=28 For complete event and program details, and to register, jump to: http://www.igda.org/leadership/ ============================================================ 3: Localization SIG: Announcement and Call for Participation ============================================================ The IGDA is currently forming a new SIG focused on game localization. The Localization SIG is being established to better serve the needs of the rapidly growing number of game localization professionals. The primary goal is to act as a focal point for these individuals in order to build a stronger community, draw together best practices and processes, and emphasize the requisite international dimension of game content development. Led by chair Tom Edwards and co-vice-chairs Heather Chandler and Miguel Bernal, the newly forming SIG is actively seeking members to participate and potentially contribute to future SIG initiatives. Participation is open to anyone actively involved and/or interested in game localization, including those involved with production, content management, design, writing, text/audio translation, global business management, global marketing and all other aspects of international adaptation. Please visit the SIG's wiki page for more information about how to get involved: http://www.igda.org/wiki/Localization_SIG ======================================================= 4: E for All ­ Complimentary Invitation to IGDA Members ======================================================= For those interested in the E for All Expo, IGDA members are eligible for complementary pass to the inaugural year of this special event, October 18-21, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Members who register online by October 12 are eligible for a free pass. To take advantage of this offer, enter your IGDA membership number in the "Guest Pass" field on the registration page: https://register.rcsreg.com/regos-1.0/eforall2007/ga/ In addition to seeing the games and innovations of the 60+ exhibiting companies (including Nintendo, EA, Konami, Namco, 2K, etc), there are several programs that members may be particularly interested in exploring: - The IGDA Accessibility SIG will be there, demoing some of the games, accessories and mods that enable people with disabilities to enjoy games - GDC's Game Career Seminar, for sharpening your career skills ($50 upgrade needed) - Into the Pixel ­ the video game art exhibition - Indiecade will be showcasing independent games - Business Zone offer a quiet environment for private meetings - Video Games Live Concert For more about E for All, visit: http://www.EforAllExpo.com/ ================================================================== 5: Event Action: Virtual Worlds, E for All, Leadership, FuturePlay ================================================================== Member discounts at upcoming events and related event action include: - 15% member discount for Virtual Worlds Fall Conference in San Jose (October 10-11) - free pass (see above) to E for All Export in Los Angeles (October 18-21) - 15% member discount for Virtual Worlds Forum in London (October 24-25) - $45 member discount for IGDA Leadership Forum in San Francisco (November 8-9) - $50 member discount for FuturePlay in Toronto (November 15-17) Full discount details and links available online: http://www.igda.org/events/ ================= 6: Columns Update ================= Monthly columns have been updated: Famous Last Words ----------------- "All That ... and the Kitchen Sink, Too" - Unpacking the grant of rights clause http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/lastwords_Sep07.php Culture Clash ------------- "Cogito, Ergo Ludo - Fun with meaning" - Exploring BioShock and meaning in games http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/clash_Sep07.php The Games Game -------------- "The Online Education Option" - Quick eval of online schooling http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/gamesgame_Sep07.php =========================== 7: Chapter Meetings/Reports =========================== Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings: http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php Manila Saturday, September 29 > GCA Postmortem, DLSU -GDS meetup http://www.igda.org/manila Japan Friday, September 28 > CEDEC Developers Conference http://cedec.cesa.or.jp/ Silicon Valley Wednesday, September 26 > Pizza Social! http://www.siliconvalleyigda.org/ Salt Lake City Report, September 11 > Typical Project Lifecycle - Panel Event http://www.igda.org/slc/ Montreal Report, September 11 > In a State of Bioshock http://www.igda.org/montreal/archives/2007/08/september_11th.html Finland Report, September 11 > Launched of presentation series with September Gathering http://igda.fi/?p=104 Austin Report, September 5 > Guitar Hero II Showdown at Creekside Lounge http://www.igda.org/austin/archives/2007/08/guitar_hero_ii_1.html Finland Report, September 3 > 2007-2008 Season Started With A Bang - 125 Showed Up http://www.igda.jp/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1208 ================== x: Logistical Bits ================== Unsubscribe/Subscribe to Newsletter ----------------------------------- To unsubscribe simply send an email with the subject "unsubscribe" to igda@igda.org. Or, you can update your newsletter subscription details via your MyProfile page: http://www.igda.org/membership/myprofile.php 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: - AMD - Austin Community College - Columbia College Chicago - Interactive Studio Management - New Horizons CLC - San Diego Continuing Education - Savannah College of Art and Design Without their support the IGDA simply would not survive - let alone thrive. 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