IGDA Benefits for Individualists
I often get asked by developers why they should join the IGDA, and my answer basically covers the points here:
http://www.igda.org/join/
Now here's the problem: The devs that ask me why they should pay $50/year to IGDA tend to be pretty focused on pragmatism. Altruism is a weak argument to them. So the community-based reasons fly out the window with these folks. They don't care much for legislation efforts, voting privileges, or news feeds. The forums are free to all, so there is no members-only benefit as far as this forum is concerned. In essence, I feel that I don't have much ammunition to go on when I'm trying to sell IGDA membership to these discerning hardasses.
So I'm starting this thread as a brainstorming session in the hopes of either
- Being notified of existing reasons to be an official IGDA member that will appeal to the "pragmatic individualist" who is not community oriented or altruistic in any way
- Coming up with some feasible ideas for IGDA central to implement that will appeal to folks who fall under the "pragmatic individualist" category
I just discovered some related threads that I'm sure somebody will eventually feel a duty to post, so I'll post them here first:
"Of what practical use is the IGDA to you as an individual?"
http://www.igda.org/Forums/showthread.php?threadid=17452
"Why did you join the IGDA?"
http://www.igda.org/Forums/showthread.php?threadid=21675
The reason I am not continuing the discussion in one of those other threads is because I'd like to keep this discussion focused on non-community oriented benefits that either already exist or could exist. In other words, I'm hoping that this thread is a start towards a solution that IGDA advocates can use to sell IGDA membership to hardcore skeptics.
We had a similar discussion at and after the IGDA Chapter Workshop during GDC this year.
The following is my take on selling IGDA memberships.
The value of membership is strong.
Show, don't tell. The value of membership should manifest in the actions of IGDA representatives, such as chapters. Chapters are on the front lines and they are often an individual's first and only contact with IGDA. As much as they are a collective of developers, they are representatives, marketing branches, and event organizers. Chapters wear many hats, but the one goal that all their objectives should be driven by is generating IGDA memberships. Chapter events should be of a quality that influences attendees to think, "I want to be part of this. This is exactly what I was looking for."
Chapters should be as welcoming as possible to their regional market because for an organization such as this more members make for a stronger community. It's a numbers game at this level. So, what is the value of membership? The fulfillment of needs to be a part of something bigger, and to do something for the greater good. Unfortunately, chapters are not formalized, so there is no strong, unified perception of IGDA. Every chapter is different. Every chapter offers different experiences. Some chapters are professionally managed. Some are simply run into the ground. It's up to individual members and chapters to create lasting value for IGDA.
The benefits of membership are weak.
Trinkets. Baubles. Toys. We can give away almost anything to entice people to join, but unless these giveaways are specific and targeted, and unless these giveaways support the efforts to create lasting value, these benefits of membership will be weak. We want loyal members, not mercenary members who join for the t-shirts.
What benefits does membership entail now?
- Voting Rights. These rights mean little to prospective members. We rarely, if ever, see the impact that a particular member makes on the board. Even if the role they play is significant, there is simply no public association of their achievements with them. There's no reason for prospective members to be concerned with voting rights because the advantage of voting rights isn't clear and appears to end at the ability to cast a ballot.
I'm also going to add a bit more to the "issues of the lack of benefits" that goes along with the issues that Kain brought up, and the issue that I have can be summed up in one word: location.
Black Lantern (my studio) is located in southwest Missouri and that makes us rather isolated in the industry. In fact, we're a few hours' drive from any other real studio, and the closest city that has an IGDA chapter is Chicago - easily half a day's drive from here.
Considering the power of the internet and the fact that, due to the internet, we are able to do business on a world-wide basis, it saddens me that IGDA still seems very local-focused. The web community seems to be more driven at communicating what each local branch is doing much more than bringing these groups along with all of us "lone wolves" into a place where we can all share together.
If you look at our name - "International Game Developers Association" - then by default our #1 goal should be the association of game developers on an international scale. We should be focusing first on bringing people together and then discussing the issues at hand.
I don't want to end local chapters - those are valuable. I just think that the IGDA as a whole will be worth more to the international community when it IS an international community instead of a bunch of segmented groups that occasionally hosts a conference that over 90% of game developers can't go to because we're too busy actually making games.
(Sorry, this started to turn into a rant a bit. I am just passionate about this subject.)
P.S. - Yes, you can pluralize "lone wolves" just like you can pluralize "lone rangers."
Let's focus on tangible deliverables.
Direction and goals is a huge topic, and there has been plenty of discussion on that topic in the two threads noted above. At least with tangibles, we can derive some very specific action points that are binary in whether they get done or not... or whether they exist or not.
One way to look at this topic is: "How would you sell IGDA membership to a person who likens themself to Wolverine?" They don't care about the community. They don't care about meeting other developers. They like having a job, and they feel self-sufficient when left to their own devices. Most developers I know are like this... typical INTJs.
Originally posted by Stom
... it saddens me that IGDA still seems very local-focused.
If you don't have a local chapter, start one. And if you do, strive for economic growth in the region. Increase the number of game developers in your city by a certain quantity, and then your county. By doing your part, you contribute to the international community.
Originally posted by Bystander
One way to look at this topic is: "How would you sell IGDA membership to a person who likens themself to Wolverine?" They don't care about the community. They don't care about meeting other developers. They like having a job, and they feel self-sufficient when left to their own devices. Most developers I know are like this... typical INTJs.
What is the value of getting involved with a nonprofit organization, as a volunteer or in a leadership capacity? What is the value of networking? What is the value of collaboration? I believe you can answer these questions. Harvard Business Review published two important articles in January that I strongly advise you read. They will help you answer the questions above, and they will probably help you in other areas, too.
I'd like to assert that the IGDA does have the potential to provide tangible value to those who do not value community or networking. To simply sign off on this effort as a lost cause might be selling ourselves short... in other words, lost opportunities.
I'll rephrase this in another way: "Can the IGDA offer its members something other than community and networking?". I hope this rephrasing is clear.
To bring this back on track, I'm a Gamasutra member because I like having a subscription to "Game Developer" magazine. This is an example of a tangible deliverable that is not a community or networking service.
Originally posted by Bystander
To simply sign off on this effort as a lost cause might be selling ourselves short... in other words, lost opportunities.
Originally posted by Bystander
To bring this back on track, I'm a Gamasutra member because I like having a subscription to "Game Developer" magazine.
Originally posted by Bystander
This is an example of a tangible deliverable that is not a community or networking service.
Originally posted by Ramsay
What's your background in sales? Any experience with lead qualification?
...
Instead of asking what IGDA can do to attract people who are not interested in community or networking, start asking why those people qualify to be members.
Thanks for enlightening me, Ramsay. I'm sorry to be so ignorant of sales. You totally called me out on that one. My background in sales is nil, as I am a game programmer by trade.
Anyway, thanks for setting me straight. I had no idea I was barking up the wrong tree with this ridiculous push to justify IGDA membership to the frequent skeptics I come across at our local IGDA meetings that I help organize for the chapter in Austin.
Ramsay, are you basically saying that people who are not interested in community or networking simply do not qualify to be members?
I think the A stands for Association. Association implies a collective effort, from which you get out as much as you put into. Defining "individualists" really doesn't seem like the sort that would gain from anything like this. If they're only in it for themselves, then you either have to change that way of thinking, maybe show them the benefits of contributing and reaping the benefits of their contribution to something larger than themselves, or don't expect their participation.
Why do you think "individualists" are like that? Is that how you think most game developers should be? Is it healthy for the industry or the craft? Is IGDA accurately representative of what game development is really all about, then? Does it need to change or adapt, to draw people in? And what is it about "individualists" that makes them appealing and seemingly worthy of consideration?
These seem more like valuable leads to follow up on and address.
Originally posted by Bystander
You totally called me out on that one.
Originally posted by Bystander
Ramsay, are you basically saying that people who are not interested in community or networking simply do not qualify to be members?
Giveaways, like financial incentivization, when used improperly can foster mercenary attitudes among the recipients. That is, their loyalty is about as strong as your capability to give them something. If someone comes along with a better deal, guess who gets the short end of the stick. The bottom line is that incentivizing membership with giveaways, the wrong giveaways, effectively cheapens the causes we're marketing.
PS. Please use my first name! That's why it's in my signature.
Well... this has been educational, to say the least. Morgan brings up a point of view that I am not accustomed to, but I can understand it. I understand the mindset of membership being considered a privilege. I'm a bit miffed that I started this thread asking about a specific topic only to be told that the topic is an invalid goal and that I should read some copies of the Harvard business review, because it will help me "in other areas, too".
Honestly, my own reasons for membership with the IGDA are unclear to me, as I can actually continue doing everything that I am doing now without paying that membership fee. I happen to care about community, so I do my own part for the community... independently of my membership status with the IGDA. I mainly pay for IGDA membership to set an example for others who participate in the Austin chapter... my paid membership with the IGDA is effectively a cheerleader++ modifier and not much else.
Sigh. Anyway, I'm coming from a skeptic's point of view because I relate to the many developers I come across who tell me that they don't see the point of IGDA membership. These are developers that go to local meetings and enjoy networking as much as the next person. They're not exactly recluses, but they get their community needs met without an IGDA membership. So I don't know what to tell these folks when they are as ignorant of the Harvard Business Review as I am. Some of these folks are studios heads that are trying to justify a studio membership with the IGDA. I point these studios heads to the link, and they come back with questions along the lines of the original topic of this thread?
Anyway, I guess this discussion is reaching a conclusion. That conclusion is that I shouldn't bother trying to sell IGDA to people who aren't in it for the community.
Originally posted by Bystander
Anyway, I guess this discussion is reaching a conclusion. That conclusion is that I shouldn't bother trying to sell IGDA to people who aren't in it for the community.
Or, you could sell community. 
We offer community for free.
However, there are many people who are interested in community who aren't sold on the idea of the IGDA. I helped our local chapter for a few years without being a member.
As a chapter coordinator, I can clearly see the benefit of being associated with the IGDA. We don't have to incorporate or become formally organized because we are under the umbrella of the overall parent organization. This is very nice.
As an individual, I'm not sure if I see the correlation between my work for the community and my status as an IGDA member.
Originally posted by Bystander
We offer community for free.
Not to everyone. And the ones who can get it to free don't have to do anything in particular except work in games. Which as we've already established, includes a lot of people who don't think they're getting any value in something afforded to them, for free.
Originally posted by Bystander
... that I should read some copies of the Harvard business review, because it will help me "in other areas, too".
One of the articles I recommended defines, categorizes, and discusses the various forms of networking. Most people think that networking is all about a business card exchange. They're wrong. This article pulls apart and presents the subject of networking in such a way that allows you to clearly see the benefits of networking and thus eases your efforts toward selling the idea of networking.
The other article I recommended discusses the role and experiences of new managers. The people who are new managers, which does not necessarily mean entry-level, are an attractive audience for community and networking initiatives. They are the people who need community and networking the most, whether they realize it or not. I recommended this article as a matter of researching a chapter's target audience.
Originally posted by Bystander
Some of these folks are studios heads that are trying to justify a studio membership with the IGDA.
Originally posted by Ramsay
I was just trying to help, and it's a stupid, stupid assumption to think otherwise.
Nice.
Originally posted by Bystander
Nice.
Morgan, I was debating with myself on whether I should respond to your recent comments. We're going to have to agree to disagree on our views about the values that developers see in the IGDA. For the record, I did not enjoy this discussion with you... mainly because you have been abrasive and condescending to me all throughout this topic without actually contributing any answers to the original question.
What's your background in sales? Any experience with lead qualification? Just wondering.
...
PS. Please use my first name! That's why it's in my signature.
...
I recommended you read two articles for the purposes of this discussion. There is really, really good information in those articles! If you're not interested in learning more about my point of view, don't wrongly assume that I'm lecturing from a pedestal. I was just trying to help, and it's a stupid, stupid assumption to think otherwise.
...
I enjoyed your contributive, albeit brief, comments.
As one of the chapter coordinators for the Austin chapter as well as a card-carrying member of the IGDA, I do believe in the IGDA, and I'm not in this for the free T-shirt. I started this thread as a means of trying to solve a problem perceived by developers in the Austin area who do not share the same feelings about the IGDA as myself. We both know that this is a common issue, and instead of participating in answering the question, you basically say that this is the wrong problem to solve all while tooting your marketing horn at my ignorance of the true solution about branding and the IGDA as a mass movement for the good of the community. We're doing the community part, here in Austin. My original question was meant to address the often neglected part of the "IGDA Product" in the hopes of expanding IGDA membership here in Austin.
Originally posted by Bystander
For the record, I did not enjoy this discussion with you... mainly because you have been abrasive and condescending to me all throughout this topic without actually contributing any answers to the original question.
Originally posted by Bystander
We both know that this is a common issue, and instead of participating in answering the question, you basically say that this is the wrong problem to solve all while tooting your marketing horn at my ignorance of the true solution about branding and the IGDA as a mass movement for the good of the community.
Originally posted by Ramsay
I'm sorry that you had a bad experience, but I'm not responsible for your opinions. Your view of my participation in this discussion does not reflect reality. I suggest that you refrain from making assumptions about people based on how you read and interpret plain text.
Morgan, are you aware of the Robert W. Lucky's Reflections piece in last month's Spectrum?
Originally posted by Paul Sinnett
Morgan, are you aware of the Robert W. Lucky's Reflections piece in last month's Spectrum?
Originally posted by Ramsay
I'm not a member of IEEE.
And I'm not a member of Harvard Business Online. Do you see the problem?
Originally posted by Paul Sinnett
And I'm not a member of Harvard Business Online. Do you see the problem?
Moreover, you don't have to read the articles I mentioned to understand the basic effects of incentivization. (In fact, those articles will not even rub shoulders with that subject.) Ever given a dog a treat for doing a trick? Ever regularly provided donuts to employees in the morning and then suddenly ceased doing so? Tangible incentives become expectations, and those expectations are not conducive to the community and networking value of IGDA membership. The value of IGDA, however, goes beyond community and networking, as indicated by its mission and goals. The core problem with IGDA's membership marketing efforts is that the significance and relevance of the mission and goals of IGDA and its chapters to individuals has not been established and emphasized. Additional tangible incentives are not solutions. At this point, they're red herrings.
Originally posted by Ramsay
you don't have to read the articles I mentioned to understand the basic effects of incentivization. (In fact, those articles will not even rub shoulders with that subject.)
So why post them at all except to ask an "are you aware...?" question. This is, I think, the point of Bystander's "stupid" assumption as well as the article in IEEE.
I do admire your tenacity in sticking to the subject but I think you've already lost your audience by this point. You might have recovered if you'd simply apologised (even if you didn't think it was your fault) rather than throwing around accusations of stupidity.
Originally posted by Paul Sinnett
... rather than throwing around accusations of stupidity.
I was just trying to help, and it's a stupid, stupid assumption to think otherwise.
I'm not interested in debating this particular "issue" any further. If you would like to return to discussing the topic as originally presented and not the people involved in the discussion, you are invited to do so at your leisure.
Originally posted by Ramsay
It is a stupid assumption to think I'm not trying to help. I do not intend to apologize for calling out stupid interpretations of my posting of links to what I see as information that is useful and pertinent to this discussion.
Amazing! Simply amazing!
For what it's worth, thanks Paul, but I do not believe we are intelligent enough to get the point across to Morgan.
Morgan, you do realize that you killed this topic, don't you? Never mind. I will go ahead and preemptively state that my own stupidity killed this topic. I'm sorry I was too stupid for you, Mr. Ramsay.
Originally posted by Ramsay
It is a stupid assumption to think I'm not trying to help.[/B]
I thought you were being an arrogant know-it-all jerk, myself. Still do.
Originally posted by Bystander
Morgan, you do realize that you killed this topic, don't you? Never mind. I will go ahead and preemptively state that my own stupidity killed this topic. I'm sorry I was too stupid for you, Mr. Ramsay.
I believe you have made very excellent points concerning tangible deliverables though. I think that topic deserves more attention after we have improved the ability of the parent organization and chapters to market the value of the association. The value of the association can be determined in part by discovering why current members originally joined. I learned from Jason Della Rocca and Rudy Geronimo at the IGDA Chapter Formalization Workshop at this past GDC that there are three major draws to membership: a) community, b) networking, and c) t-shirts.
- The real community value is limited to what chapters can provide, but the initial community value is presented in the form of peer pressure: "join us because more than 10,000 others have joined." It's a weak proposition that can only be strengthened by chapters. The parent organization can help people connect with the people in their chapters through social networking applications, but ultimately, chapters are individually responsible for the real community value provided to members.
So to get this thread started, here are some existing reasons for the individualistic pragmatist:
Here are some feasible ideas: