=============================== IGDA Newsletter - November 2003 =============================== ============================= 0: A Word From Kathy Schoback 1: IGDA News - Level Up: Academic Conference Summary Report/Pictures - IP Rights Committee Releases Comprehensive White Paper - IGDA Sessions at 2004 GDC - Columns Update 2: Chapter Updates... 3: From the Wires - Video Games Will Calm Your Fears - Why Girls and Games are a Good Mix - Of Lab Mice and Men - Games at Work May be Good for You - Gaming's Global Hot Spots - Level Up Report - Copyright Access Exemption Granted for Obsolete Videogames - Copyright Confusion Clarified - Quality Assurance in the Games Industry - Families sue over GTAIII-inspired Shooting - Industry Raises $850,000 for Children - Academics can be Fun and Games - Laying Down the Virtual Law - "Death to the Interactive Bourgeoisie!" Who Said That? - The Wall Street Journal: "Videogame Reviews are Stuck in the Pac-Man Era" - Gaming middleman Throws in the Towel - China Welcomes Anti-Piracy Organization - Developing a Relationship Between the Academy and the Computer Game Industry 4: Logistical Bits ============================= ============================= 0: A Word From Kathy Schoback ============================= Dear Members and friends, Furthering the discussion of the IGDA's focus, the board has developed the following criteria for "advocacy" activities: The IGDA addresses issues that... 1) exceed the scope of any one developer or company's ability to resolve; 2) require a dialogue with others; 3) affect the worldwide game development community; 4) benefit the development community as a whole, rather than any single individual or company directly; 5) are neutral toward any particular skill, product, or method of game development. These criteria are designed to help the board, committee chairs and volunteers shape current and future activities - and ensure that we're staying "on focus." As always, feedback welcome at: http://www.igda.org/Forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=166 We wish you much luck during the holiday shipping season! Warm regards - Kathy Schoback Chairperson, IGDA Director of Product Operations, Eidos ============ 1: IGDA News ============ Level Up: Academic Conference Summary Report/Pictures ----------------------------------------------------- The Digital Games Research Association held their inaugural conference, titled "Level Up" early November in the Netherlands. The IGDA was on hand as the voice of the game development community, providing insight on the challenges of creating games. A brief event report and pictures: http://www.igda.org/blogs/realitypanic/archives/000058.html http://www.gamesconference.org/2003/index.php?Program IP Rights Committee Releases Comprehensive White Paper ------------------------------------------------------ The IP Rights White Paper is a comprehensive analysis of key forms of IPR, legal definitions, with information on how global intellectual property rights relate to games and the game development community. Topics covered in the White Paper include the history of IP Rights; forms of IP protection; overview of IP in video games; practical applications; and three opinion essays from leading game industry thinkers. Written by the IP Rights Committee, consisting of forty members including game developers, musicians, journalists, CTOs, CEOs, open-source evangelists, students, academics and lawyers from North America, Europe and Asia. http://www.igda.org/biz/ipr_paper.php http://www.igda.org/newsroom/press_101503.php IGDA Sessions at 2004 GDC ------------------------- Once again, the IGDA has a full roster of sessions and activities planned for the Game Developers Conference. As a reflection of the IGDA's mission to build community and address issues, the sessions in the IGDA track address the most relevant topics affecting developers today: publisher relations; quality of life; censorship and regulation; etc. The IGDA track offers a means for you to get involved. Nearly all sessions are directly linked to committee work and outreach efforts. Attendees will come away from the IGDA sessions empowered to make a difference within the game development community. Relevant links: IGDA Track http://www.igda.org/events/gdc_sessions.htm Developer Business Summit: An IGDA Think-Tank http://www.gdconf.com/conference/thinktank.htm Serious Games Summit http://www.gdconf.com/conference/seriousgames.htm Game Developers Choice Awards http://www.igda.org/awards IGDA Annual Meeting http://www.gdconf.com/events/#igda Columns Update -------------- Monthly columns updated for November: - The Ivory Tower: Ideological Videogames: Press Left Button to Dissent http://www.igda.org/columns/ivorytower/ - Famous Last Words: The Value of Game Music http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/ - Culture Clash: We Know Drama - Better Characters Produce Better Narrative http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/ - The Games Game: We All Have Great Ideas http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/ ================== 2: Chapter Updates ================== Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings: http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php Manila Meeting, November > First Philippine PC Game Launch http://www.igda.org/manila Tokyo Meeting, November > Finland Japan Games Seminar http://www.finland.or.jp/tekes/games-seminar-e.html Pittsburgh Meeting, November > Old School Night http://www.igda.org/pittsburgh/email5.htm Israel Report, December > Mobile Game Development Seminar Report http://www.igda.org/israel/report8.htm San Francisco Report, November > Online Games Panel http://www.igda.org/sanfran/bayarea_summary_Nov03.htm Colorado Report, November > Developing Games in Shockwave 3D http://www.coloradogamedev.org/20031103.html Montreal Report, October > Locked in Lively Debate http://www.igda.org/montreal/reports/summary_Oct03.htm ================= 3: From the Wires ================= Video Games Will Calm your Fears http://www.wired.com/news/games/0,2101,60881,00.html Why Girls and Games are a Good Mix http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3248461.stm Of Lab Mice and Men http://www.homelanfed.com/index.php?id=18058 Games at Work May be Good for You http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3247595.stm Gaming's Global Hot Spots http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.12/start.html?pg=10 Level Up Report http://www.buzzcut.com/article.php?story=20031114033154461 Copyright Access Exemption Granted for Obsolete Videogames http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=2290 Copyright Confusion Clarified http://www.gamespot.com/all/news/news_6078006.html Quality Assurance in the Games Industry http://www.ntsc-uk.com/feature.php?fea=QualityAssurance Families Sue Over GTAIII-inspired Shooting http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/grandtheftauto3/news_6077161.html Industry Raises $850,000 for Children http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=2266 Academics Can Be Fun and Games http://www.wired.com/news/games/0,2101,61162-2,00.html?tw=wn_story_page_next1 Laying Down the Virtual Law http://www.wired.com/news/games/0,2101,61188-2,00.html?tw=wn_story_page_next1 "Death to the Interactive Bourgeoisie!" Who Said That? http://www.gamespot.com/features/6080520/p-3.html The Wall Street Journal: "Videogame Reviews are Stuck in the Pac-Man Era" http://www.gamespot.com/features/6080520/p-2.html Gaming Middleman Throws in the Towel http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/7235594.htm China Welcomes Anti-Piracy Organization http://www.polygonmag.com/news/index.php?id=965 Developing a Relationship Between the Academy and the Computer Game Industry http://www.reconstruction.ws/PReviews/revGameSummit.htm ================== 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: - New Horizons Computer Learning Center - Shorecliff Communications LLC 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 get need help, contact us at info@igda.org. IGDA Registration ----------------- 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. What are you waiting for? Join today. http://www.igda.org/join Contact Information ------------------- Do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions, comments or input. http://www.igda.org/contact.php