IGDA - Toronto Chapter

IGDA TORONTO

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Welcome to the Toronto IGDA! If you make games for a living, this place is for you! Of course if you are not a pro but are really interested in making games professionally, you are more than welcome to participate. We typically meet the first Thursday of every month for a "social". These are unstructured gatherings usually at a pub downtown for people to mingle, talk about games and geek out. Every once in a while we put on events with guest lectures, panels and round tables. Currently we are working hard to have meetings that have more depth than just hanging out at a pub. We are experimenting with a new format we call "moderated discussions". These are meant to be casual discussions on a different topic each meeting and take place is a setting more conducive (than a noisy bar). Of course we know people really like the social networking stuff so we still plan to keep it in the format. We are also bringing in new people to help run the chapter on a day-to-day basis to help keep things truckin'.

Please contact josh AT darkmatterinc.com (or post on the forums) if you

have a topic you would like covered in a chapter meeting
would like to be a moderator/speaker at a Toronto IGDA meeting
would like to sponosor a Toronto IGDA event
would like to volunteer for the Toronto IGDA
know of any events that the local game developer community would benefit hearing about

If you wish to be included on the IGDA Toronto mailing list, email jason AT elecplay.com.

Next Meeting: Thursday, October 8th 2009

Format: moderated discussion

Topic: Running an Ontario game studio: From start-up to stability.

This business-focused discussion will provide attendees with an opportunity to talk about challenges faced by start-up game studios in Ontario, and strategies for overcoming these challenges. To kick things off, a group of panelists from Ontario-based game development start-ups will be asked to discuss their experiences getting their studios off the ground. Following this initial panel discussion, the moderator will open things up to the floor, welcoming participation and/or questions from the audience. Particular sub-topics on the agenda will include:

Obtaining start-up financing, establishing and maintaining positive cash-flow
Strategies used in planning for long-term success
Government support: What government programs and policies have proven to be helpful?

Panelists:

Josh Druckman (CEO at Dark Matter Entertainment, formerly VP Development at Digital Extremes)
Rich Hilmer (CTO at Dark Matter Entertainment, formerly President at Pseudo Interactive)
Julian Spillane (CEO at Frozen North Productions)
Ryan Creighton (CEO at Untold Entertainment)
Ryan MacLean (CEO at DrinkBox Studios)