Quality of Life Summit: An IGDA Think-Tank
Tuesday, March 8th, 2005
Game Developers Conference
San Francisco, California
Last year's IGDA Quality of Life white paper documented the long hours and pressures exerted on developers and the toll that these problems take on people and companies. There has to be a better way. This Summit will explore the consequences of poor QoL and ways to improve. Content will focus on case studies of successfully implemented QoL practices and a discussion on how to overcome the issues preventing better QoL. Jump to the GDC site to register online.
Idea Takeaway:
Attendees will be inspired by the reality that it is possible to be successful in the games industry, while enjoying a high quality of life. In addition to inspiration, practical tips and case studies for achieving better quality of life will be gained by all.
Intended Audience and Prerequisites:
Developers, producers, managers, those in involved in the human resources process and anyone else who is interested in creating a more positive/productive working environment and better quality of life.
Schedule
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Time |
Session |
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10:00 am – 10:10 am |
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10:15 am – 11:00 am |
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11:00 am – 11:15 am |
Morning coffee break |
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11:15 am – 12:30 pm |
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12:30 pm – 2:00 pm |
Lunch break |
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2:00 pm – 3:00 pm |
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3:00 pm – 4:00 pm |
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4:00 pm – 4:15 pm |
Afternoon coffee break |
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4:15 pm – 6:00 pm |
Session Descriptions
Welcome/Introduction (10:00 am – 10:10 am)
Jason Della Rocca – Executive Director, IGDA
A quick welcome by the IGDA's Executive Director and brief introduction to the agenda and activities of the Think-Tank.
The State of Game Industry QoL (10:10 am – 11:00 am)
Tom Buscaglia – Attorney, T.H. Buscaglia & Associates
Francois Dominic Laramée – freelance developer, IGDA QoL Committee Chair
Clarinda Merripen – Director of Operations, Cyberlore Studios
Members of the IGDA's Quality of Life Committee will discuss the current state of working conditions within the game development industry, covering such issues as: Current/pending lawsuit activity; Globalization, workforce migration and outsource/offshoring trends; Labor shortages; Legal issues related to overtime pay (eg, FLSA); etc. These and related issues are having a profound impact on how we work in the game development industry and promise to continue to change the nature of the workplace for years to come.
Case Blasts: Problems>Solutions>Outcomes (11:15 am – 12:30 pm)
Representatives from a variety of development studios will present brief case studies. Each case will cover a quality of life related problem, the solution that was applied to overcome it and the resulting outcomes. Each case blast will be 5 minutes long and follow a strict presentation template in order to facilitate comparisons and to allow as many attendees to present as possible. The goal is to give everyone a better sense of the breadth of approaches studios are using to overcome quality of life related challenges.
Attendees who pre-register for the Summit will be sent details regarding these case blasts and the steps required to present one. Or, you can contact Jason Della Rocca for further details.
Keynote: Business Case for Improved Production Practices (2:00 pm – 3:00 pm) Best selling author and software industry leader Steve McConnell will explain the dollars and cents of production process improvement and maps out the need for improved software development practices in a way that is meaningful to managers and executives. The average software company spends 2-3 times as much on each project as best-in-class companies spend to deliver similar functionality. The average organization wastes 25% or more of its budget on projects that are ultimately cancelled. Technical staff members are all-too-aware of the need for improved practices. But how do you make the case to upper management? |
Sponsored by:
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Labor Relations 101 (3:00 pm – 4:00 pm)
Gina Neff – Assistant Professor, Department of Communication, University of California, San Diego
How can organizations and associations improve the quality of life across an industry? What are unions and how do they function? What are the alternatives for solving workforce problems? This session will examine cases of how other tech and creative industries have dealt with problems of workforce empowerment, including collective bargaining and other approaches to workforce problems. Along with presenting the pro and cons of unions, this session will present some of the new, innovative solutions to the problems of working in the new economy.
Towards a Sustainable Future: Panel & Discussion (4:15 pm – 6:00 pm)
Jason Della Rocca (moderator) – Executive Director, IGDA
Michel Allard – Vice President of Continuous Improvement, Ubisoft Montreal
Julian Eggebretch – President/Lead Producer, Factor 5
Joe Minton – President & CEO, Cyberlore Studios
David Perry – President, Shiny Entertainment
Rich Vogel – Executive Producer, Sony Online Entertainment
This panel of industry leaders will explore the potential for a sustainable future where passion is rewarded, instead of exploited. A future where projects are well scheduled, contracts offer a sustainable business model, and developers are treated as the true creative engines of the game industry. They will share their horror stories and their revelations, and provide insight on how they're working towards a future where the industry's workforce doesn't burnout and leave before they've done their best work. Specifically, the panel will discuss:
- Maturity of production practices
- Business climate and pressures
- Status and need for continuing education
- Current state of tools and technology
- History and roots of the industry
The panel will be a dynamic, lively and interactive debate and discussion amongst the moderator, panelists and attendees.
Registration
- Jump to the GDC site to register online.
- This event requires a VIP, Giga or Tutorials-Only pass in order to attend. See the Pass Options page for further information. Select "Quality of Life Summit" from the list of tutorials when you register.
- IGDA members receive a $50 discount on GDC registration.
Additional Notes
- All attendees will be supplied with an info pack containing materials relevant for the Think-Tank, and future reference.
- Please direct any questions or input to Jason Della Rocca, the IGDA's executive director.
- Please visit the IGDA's web site for further details on the IGDA's quality of life advocacy efforts.
- Schedule and speakers are subject to change without notice.