Positive impact

To encourage reflection, sharing and discussion among members of the gaming industry on ways to create and promote games that entertain while also having positive social aspects .

Reason/need for SIG

The Games Industry has matured and increasing numbers of Game Developers are no longer satisfied with creating games that merely thrill. They want the product of their work hours to result in positive changes in the real world. This IGDA SIG would provide a central location for all such developers to connect, share and learn.

This concern is a constant informal thread of conversation among rank and file developers, and has been clearly expressed by industry luminaries such Richard Hilleman (Chief Creative Officer at EA) at the 'Meaningful Play' conference, and at the MIGS 2008 opening keynote by Warren Spector (Vice President and Creative Director of Disney-Junction Point Studios).

Feeling this need deeply themselves, Thomas Anderson and Genevieve Lord thought that they could 'Positively Impact' the game developer community by jointly chairing an IGDA SIG. Co-Chairing would allow both of them to cover for each other when they would be too busy and would also complement each others' strengths.

• Thomas J. Anderson (A2M, Montreal)
• Geneviève Lord (Champlain College of Vermont, Montreal campus)
• Chris 'Wombat' Crowell (A2M, Montreal)
• Joel Pelletier (Champlain College of Vermont)
• Vander Caballero (EA, Montreal
• Alex Hutchinson (EA, Montreal)
• Rusel DeMaria (Independent Game Writer/Consultant, Oregon USA)
• Robin Alter (CTO and Co-Founder at Kreeda Games India)
• Josh Larson (Intuition Games)
• Suzanne Seggerman (Co-Founder and President of G4C)
• Reid Kimball (Buzz Monkey Software)