Press "Memo": Credit standards for the game industry

Sent: November 5th, 2007

The recent controversy around the credits of Manhunt 2 serve as a significant example of why crediting standards are needed in the game industry. FYI: http://news.google.com/news?q=rockstar+vienna+credits+manhunt+2

Accurate, complete, and fair credits are essential to ongoing employment, professional development, and artistic fulfillment for all developers. Further, having accurate credits helps employers make informed hiring decisions.

The IGDA is pushing for an industry-wide adoption of professional standards in game credits. To achieve this, the IGDA has a Credit Standards Committee with the goal of establishing generally accepted guidelines that all studios and publishers can use.

A public "beta" of the IGDA Credit Standards Guide is online and was posted for feedback to IGDA members back in September: http://www.igda.org/wiki/IGDA_Credits_and_Awards_Committee

This Guide covers minimum professional standards to ensure accuracy and fairness in the crediting process, even for developers who no longer work for the company when a title ships.

John Feil, the chair of the Credit Standards Committee, will be hosting a roundtable session during the 2008 Game Developers Conference:

"The IGDA Credits Movement: The Revolution Is Already Here" https://www.cmpevents.com/GD08/a.asp?option=C&V=11&SessID=6412