================================ IGDA Newsletter - September 2008 ================================ ================= Table of Contents ================= 0: A Word From Jen MacLean 1: Global Game Jam 2: IGDA Leadership Forum Program Posted, Open for Registration 3: Event Action: Virtual Worlds, Finance, Leadership, Montreal 4: Columns Update 5: Chapter Meetings/Reports x: Logistical Bits & Unsubscribe Info ================= ========================== 0: A Word From Jen MacLean ========================== Dear Members and friends, In the August newsletter ( http://www.igda.org/newsroom/newsletter_0808.txt ), I criticized Mythic's credits policy specifically, and the industry in general, for not adopting inclusive credit standards. I'd like to set the record straight on a number of things that have happened over the past month. When the credits story first appeared, Mark Jacobs, the GM of Mythic, was in the middle of a series of interviews in New York. After an interview with N'Gai Croal of Newsweek and Level Up blog, Mark asked N'Gai for his thoughts on the subject. N'Gai suggested simply putting the full credits online. Mark is in the process of implementing N'Gai's suggestion, and in doing so, Mythic will move towards a greater level of credits inclusiveness. I've known Mark for more than 10 years now, and he's always been a strong proponent of the online games industry and an ethical businessman. Mark was honest about a difficult subject and immediately after the interviews ended, he began a process of formulating new credit policies. Unfortunately, when the previous newsletter was sent out, Mark, unbeknownst to the me, was quietly continuing to work on a new credit policy for the studio. Mark, I regret that my comments caused you personal and professional distress. The Mythic team is also taking the following steps to address credit policies: - In-game and manual credits will be reserved for the launch team. - Mythic will create an online database listing the name and title of everyone who contributed to a project, regardless of current employment status. Additionally, the studio will make best efforts to provide this information for its previous online games. - Mythic has committed to working with the IGDA, leading game industry history and credit sites and other interested parties to establish a credits feed, listing all contributors, to promote fair and accurate credit reporting across the industry. - Mark Jacobs will consult with the IGDA Credits Standard Committee to offer guidance on the issues and challenges posed specifically by MMOs. Fair and accurate credits and transparent standards for crediting remain a pervasive problem in the industry, and I applaud Mythic for taking steps to address this issue. I'm personally looking forward to Mark's involvement with the Credit Standards Committee, not only because of his depth of experience in online games, but because, more importantly, his personal commitment to fair and accurate credits sets an outstanding example for industry leadership. My newsletter intros usually end with a call to action, and this one is no exception. We must continue the dialogue on credits, and on other topics like quality of life, that have a direct impact on the lives of game developers. Get involved, discuss these issues with your peers, and please join me in recognizing Mythic's new crediting efforts. Once again, the IGDA's credit standards info is at: http://www.igda.org/credit/ - Jen MacLean Chairperson, IGDA VP Business Development, 38 Studios ********************************************************************** ** Ad: Register now for GameON: Finance 2.0, October 28-29, Toronto ** ********************************************************************** Worldwide Games Portfolio Planner for Xbox Live Arcade and author, David Edery will be a keynote speaker at GameON: Finance. GameON: Finance features case studies, panel discussions, networking breaks and facilitated one-on-one meetings between game developers, investors, and industry innovators. Discounted Start-Up Pass Available - Limited Quantity (This pass assists small games companies "on the rise" in gaining access to this unique event.) Registration for GameON: Finance is now open and IGDA members are eligible for discounts. http://www.gameonfinance.com/ ********************************************************************** ================== 1: Global Game Jam ================== Get ready for the Global Game Jam, a simultaneous event happening within the same 48 hours around the world. GGJ is the weekend of January 30 ­ February 1, 2009, so catch up on your sleep and mark your calendars that you are going to be at a local jam. The IGDA's Education SIG have managed to come up with over 25 different host sites throughout the world: Atlanta ­ Paris ­ Cape Town ­ NYC ­ Sydney ­ Orlando ­ Rio de Janeiro - LA ­ Copenhagen ­ Vancouver to name a few. We are currently looking for additional hosting sites. Check out the website for more information. Sign-up starts late October. http://www.globalgamejam.org/ We have asked some of the world's greatest developers to help us create the constraints and mechanics of the GGJ... Blow, Brathwaite, Church, Hecker, Lai, Schrieber, Sicart and Zimmerman. We will change one of the game constraints in each time zone, mixing things up for everyone. The Education SIG has developed this initiative and is meant as an opportunity to promote the mission of the IGDA, improving developer's careers through community, professional development and advocacy. Further, the SIG's mission also adds... to enhance the education of future and current game developers. Please join us in an event that fosters innovation and experimentation in a global experiment in creativity. ***************************************************************************** ** Ad: Enter the Focal Press "Up All Night Making Sweet Game Art" Contest! ** ***************************************************************************** Register online at http://www.focalpress.com/upallnightcontest.aspx to win a fun prize pack valued at over $140. It features two of our best-selling game art books, an assortment of caffeinated candies to keep your energy at its peak, and a cool work shirt so you'll stay looking sharp. And don't forget to check Focal Press web site for video tutorials, chapter samples, and podcasts or sign up to have the latest tips and discounts delivered straight to your inbox: http://www.focalpress.com ***************************************************************************** ============================================================== 2: IGDA Leadership Forum Program Posted, Open for Registration ============================================================== The IGDA, in coordination with the Production SIG, is hosting the second annual IGDA Leadership Forum (November 13-14, San Francisco). This event will focus on advancing the state of the art in game production and management. The IGDA Leadership Forum is intended for all those who serve in a leadership role in the game development industry and are seeking to become better leaders, create successful games, and learn from other working professionals in the game industry. The first IGDA Leadership Forum was a smashing success with top rated sessions and 300+ delegates from over 15 countries. The 2008 IGDA Leadership Forum has EXPANDED its session offering to encompass a broad range of leadership topics, including personal leadership, project leadership and management leadership. The sessions will run in parallel tracks and will consist of a mix of lectures, panels, and interactive workshop sessions. Baseball all-star Curt Schilling (38 Studios) and Mark Cerny (Cerny Games) will open each day with a keynote. Other production/leadership gurus speaking include Mike Capps (Epic Games), David Edery (Xbox Live Arcade), Mat Hart (Ninja Theory), Richard Hilleman (EA), Clinton Keith, David Mann (Foundation 9), Trent Oster (BioWare Corp.), Michael Saladino (Pandemic Studios), Tim Train (Big Huge Games) - among many others. Full program and speaker details are at: http://www.igda.org/leadership/?page_id=3 For registration details: http://www.igda.org/leadership/?page_id=4 (FYI, last year's conference sold out. There are only 500 seats or so to fill, and we expect them to fill up again...) ============================================================== 3: Event Action: Virtual Worlds, Finance, Leadership, Montreal ============================================================== Member discounts at upcoming events and related event action include: - 15% member discount for Virtual Worlds Forum Europe in London, UK (6-8 October) - 20% member discount for GameON: Finance 2.0 in Toronto, Canada (28-29 October) - $45 member discount for IGDA Leadership Forum in San Francisco (13-14 November) - $40 member discount for Montreal International Game Summit (18-19 November) Full discount details and links available online: http://www.igda.org/events/ Also, check out the trip "report"/photos from the executive director's recent trips to SIGGRAPH and PAX: - Penny Arcade Expo: http://www.realitypanic.com/archives/372 - Sandbox Symposium and SIGGRAPH: http://www.realitypanic.com/archives/370 ================= 4: Columns Update ================= Monthly columns have been updated: Famous Last Words ----------------- "Standard Contracts" - Can one size really fit all? http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/lastwords_Sep08.php Culture Clash ------------- "The Great Escape - To some, it's more than a pastime" - Losing ourselves in the joys of games http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/clash_Sep08.php The Games Game -------------- "Idea Guy" - How some ideas can backfire http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/gamesgame_Sep08.php =========================== 5: Chapter Meetings/Reports =========================== Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings: http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php Silicon Valley Wednesday, October 22 > Chapter Meeting Pizza Social Night http://www.siliconvalleyigda.org/meetings/ Japan Friday, October 10 > SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT 2008 (SOWN 2008) at Tokyo Game Show http://tgs.cesa.or.jp/sown/en/ Albuquerque Tuesday, October 7 > "Dream Build Play" http://groups.google.com/group/riogrande-igda/web/oct2008event?hl=en Ottawa Wednesday, October 1 > Ottawa Game Industry Unites! http://www.igda.org/ottawa/index_files/Page592.htm Silicon Valley Wednesday, September 24 > SVIGDA Game Demo Night http://www.siliconvalleyigda.org/demo-nights/ Albuquerque Report, September 14 > September Rio Grande IGDA Meeting http://www.igda.org/albuquerque/events.html Montreal Report, September 11 > Prince of Persia Team Leads Discussion http://www.igda.org/montreal/archives/2008/09/something_in_th.html Japan Report, August 29 > How general society think CERO Rating System http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1217733_1124.html ================== 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: - Algoma University - Alliance NumeriQC - AMD - Autodesk Media and Entertainment - Columbia College Chicago - Image Metrics - Interactive Studio Management - Madison Media Institute - Savannah College of Art and Design - Scaleform Corporation - Texas Film Commission - Tipperary Institute 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 19 Mantua Road Mount Royal, New Jersey USA 08061 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 - ------m