=============================== IGDA Newsletter - December 2005 =============================== ================= Table of Contents ================= 0: A Word From Bob Bates 1: New SIG: Alternate Reality Game Development 2: Article: Cutting Through the Red Tape - UK/Euro Gov Support 3: GDC Scholarship Program Now Accepting Applications 4: Columns Update 5: Chapter Meetings/Reports x: Logistical Bits & Unsubscribe Info ================= ======================== 0: A Word From Bob Bates ======================== Dear Members and friends, This newsletter brings to a close the 10th year anniversary of the IGDA, finding us with a community of over 100,000 members and registered users, and still growing. The New Year will find the organization becoming even stronger, as we put new programs in place that focus on building the professional careers of our members. We will also continue to serve and grow the community, to act as "The Voice of the Developer," and to be a force for positive change within the development community. May the New Year bring you all good projects to work on, good people to work with, and excellent rewards as the fruits of your labors. Best wishes, - Bob Bates Chairperson, IGDA *********************************************************************** ** Ad: Attend GDC:06, and Get a First-hand Glimpse of What's Next... ** *********************************************************************** From March 20-24, 2006, the Game Developers Conference will return to San Jose ­ the place where it developed into the annual networking and educational must-attend experience that it is today. The event will focus on next-gen game development, and how it will revolutionize every aspect of the gaming industry. From increased production complexity, team sizes, and budgets to new ways to reach the mass market, GDC:06 will answer the questions critical to the industry's success. Register online by February 15, 2006 and save up to 35% on GDC:06 Conference Passes: http://www.gdconf.com/register/ ******************************************** ============================================== 1: New SIG: Alternate Reality Game Development ============================================== Alternate Reality Games (ARGs), or Cross-Media Entertainment (CME), are where the game breaks out of being a dedicated application on your PC, and instead becomes a part of the world in which you live. This SIG has been founded to bring together those already designing, building, and running ARGs, in order to share knowledge, experience, and ideas for the future. We hope to spark renewed debate and experimentation on the uses and pros of ARGs, and to help developers new to the genre to develop good products first-time round. http://www.igda.org/arg/ ============================================================== 2: Article: Cutting Through the Red Tape - UK/Euro Gov Support ============================================================== As games development budgets grow exponentially, so developers are looking to non-traditional models to finance their ideas - from venture capitalists, to self-financing, from alternative distribution models, to government grants. This article looks at a range of government backed finance-based interventions to support the development and growth of the video game industry (primarily) in Europe, and investigates some of the priorities behind these interventions. If you are a developer this will give you a tour of potential support available to you. If you are looking to support the video games industry either locally, regionally, nationally or internationally, this article will give you an idea of why intervention is required to help the industry grow, and some success and failure stories. (This article is an extension of a 2005 GDC Europe lecture on the same topic.) http://www.igda.org/articles/tbarnes_govsupport.php *************************************************************** ** Ad: Women in Games International San Francisco Conference ** *************************************************************** Women in Games International-San Francisco, titled "Games for Women, Games by Women," is scheduled on Saturday, February 18 from 1pm to 7pm at the Fort Mason Conference Center in San Francisco. This conference provides useful information to new and veteran game developers, with topics including marketing to women and designing games that appeal to both genders. Round-table discussions with industry leaders from LucasArts, Ageia, Linden Lab, Stormfront and others will include: how to break in and advance your game industry career, mid-career strategies, achieving a work/life balance and resolving quality of life issues. The half-day conference includes an opening keynote address, a recruiter Q&A with resume and portfolio reviews, and a post-conference networking reception. Sponsors include Microsoft Game Studios, Game Developers Conference (GDC), IGDA, Mary-Margaret.com, Girls in Games, ThemePark Studios, WomenGamers.com and BusinessWire. Attendance is $45; $30 for students with ID. Space is limited; register online today at: http://www.womeningamesinternational.org/ *************************************************************** ===================================================== 3: GDC Scholarship Program Now Accepting Applications ===================================================== The IGDA has launched the 6th annual Student Scholarship Program. Twenty-five college students will be awarded complimentary full access passes to the 2006 Game Developers Conference. Students can now apply online. The deadline to enter is Friday, February 3, 2006. Recipients will be announced mid February. Applicants are required to be full-time college students (or equivalent) and IGDA student members for consideration. Scholarship applications will be judged by a panel of professional game developers. http://www.igda.org/scholarships/ ================= 4: Columns Update ================= Monthly columns have been updated: Famous Last Words ----------------- "Are Non-competes Enforceable?" http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/lastwords_Dec05.php Culture Clash ------------- "Made to be Played - Developers still need to play" http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/clash_Dec05.php The Games Game -------------- "Way In Over Your Head" http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/gamesgame_Dec05.php =========================== 5: Chapter Meetings/Reports =========================== Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings: http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php Denmark Friday, January 27 > Nordic Game Jam 2006 http://www.diginet.org/o.o.i.s/1021 Michigan South Monday, December 19 > IGDA Holiday Gathering http://www.igda.org/smichigan/ South Florida Monday, December 19 > JAMES GREEN - Working in the Industry Spotlight http://www.igda.org/miami/flyers/12-2005.jpg Hamburg Report, December 13 > Hamburg Chapter Meeting Report http://www.igda.org/hamburg/reports.htm Montreal Report, December 5 > The Zen of Games (aka panel on creative crisis) http://www.igda.org/montreal/reports/summary_Dec05.htm Silicon Valley Report, November 30 > Panel Discussion on Centralized Technology and its impact on Creativity http://www.siliconvalleyigda.org/Reports/chapter_report_nov_29_05.htm Melbourne Report, November 28 > IGDA Melbourne "Show and Tell" Night http://igda.ittworx.com/showandtell.aspx Paris Report, November 25 > Handheld Development Roundtable http://igda.paris.free.fr/paris/reports/reports_2005/chapter_report_nov05.htm Hyderabad Report, November 24 > IGDA Hyderabad Chapter, Launch Meeting http://www.igda.org/hyderabad/meetingreports.htm ================== x: Logistical Bits ================== Unsubscribe/Subscribe to Newsletter ----------------------------------- You can unsubscribe or update your newsletter subscription details via your MyProfile page: http://www.igda.org/membership/myprofile.php If you need help, contact us. 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: - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona - Charles River Media - Houston Community College - Southwest - IBM - INIS - Intel - James Murphy Consulting & Virtual Partners Training Center - Softimage 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 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 - -------