International Game Developers Association

|| Game Writers SIG || Current Initiatives || Monthly Meeting Minutes ||

---

[edit] April 28, 2005

ed kuehnel: Hello!
Rhianna Pratchett: Hi Ed
ed kuehnel: Word up.
ed kuehnel: What's new?
Rhianna Pratchett: :) It seems a lot of the screen is rather unused... does the meeting all take place in this little box?
RDansky: I hope not...
ed kuehnel: Last time it didn't.
ed kuehnel: Hey Richard.
Rhianna Pratchett: Hi Rich
RDansky: "Sorry, the actors are using the main screen. Writers need to use the conference room in back"
RDansky: Hi, Rhianna, Ed.
RDansky: So how long do we give the stragglers before we just start making fun of them? :-)
Rhianna Pratchett: I don't think Chris is going to make it
RDansky: *nod* Saw the email this morning.
RDansky: Hi, Sande
ed kuehnel: I have four books of "snaps" here with me. I could start on people's mommas if you want me to.
Rhianna Pratchett: Hi Sande
ed kuehnel: Hey Sande.
Sande Chen: any way to go to voice? this text is really small.
Rhianna Pratchett: I don't have a mic
ed kuehnel: Me neither. Not at work anyhow.
RDansky: People here are used to me yelling at the screen, but if they hear me doing it without using extensive profanity, they might get weirded out :-)
Chris Bateman: Hi everyone. Dropping in - don't know if my connection will stay up or not. Normally Stephen disables the slide section of the screen and gives us the text for the full screen - but he's not here today, and it looks like he forgot to do it. I don't think there's anyway we, as guests, can reconfigure the layout.
Sande Chen: Yes, the slides is big and huge! and this chat area is small
RDansky: Hey, Chris. Guess we just have to type small, then.
Rhianna Pratchett: Hi Chris
Chris Bateman: Hi, as you can see, I fixed the network. :)
ed kuehnel: Greetings.
Rhianna Pratchett: yay :)
Sande Chen: do you people have headphones? if I talk, will it go thru?
ed kuehnel: I've got headphones. Try it.
Chris Bateman: Feel free to try speech. Stephen got it working - but he isn't a lowly guest like the rest of us. :)
RDansky: Hi, Piers, Loosh
Sande Chen: Hmmm
Chris Bateman: Do we have a chair?
Piers: hey all
Lucien_Soulban: Hi Rich... hi all
Sande Chen: OK. what's the agenda?
Jennifer Hepler: Hi.
Rhianna Pratchett: I think Chris has it
Rhianna Pratchett: Hi Jennifer
RDansky: Hi, Jen. Good to see you here.
Jennifer Hepler: Glad you could make it this time. :)
Rhianna Pratchett: who me?
Sande Chen: OK. Hi everybody
Lucien_Soulban: This is my first
Chris Bateman: I guess I'm default chair again, since no-one stepped up.
Chris Bateman: I'm going to kick off, since we're running slightly late. It's all 'Matters Arising' this time.
WendyDespain: go Chris
Rhianna Pratchett: I postedon the list i couldn;t make it quite a while before last meeting, but people forgot :(
Chris Bateman: 1st: I need to apologise for not relaying Rhianna's apologies for the last meeting. She did warn me she wasn't going to be there - but it was days before, and I forgot about it.
Rhianna Pratchett: so i wasn't being lazy, there were birthdays involved!#
Jennifer Hepler: I was talking to Rich, who had to duck out of the last meeting at the last minute.
Rhianna Pratchett: ah ok :)
Sande Chen: How was E3 by the way?
Chris Bateman: 2: Quarterly SIG report. This is Corey's baby, and he's sent his apologies for this meeting.
Steve Jacobs: hey, machine issues, sorry im late
Rhianna Pratchett: Great, but knackering
Lucien_Soulban: Sorry I missed it
Chris Bateman: Steve has arrived to save us from the tiny test. :)
RDansky: All hail Steve, conqueror of tiny windows!
Chris Bateman: 3: IGDA hosted mailing list. This is all done. Will disable the old list in a month, unless anyone has any objections? Speak now if you do!
Lucien_Soulban: Ahh... magic
Steve Jacobs: I got the Power!!
RDansky: No objections, but I think we should send out a few reminders to people on a weekly basis or so.
Steve Jacobs: If y'all want voice I'll turn it on and enable it
Chris Bateman: Reminders about what? The disabling of the old list? Piers - can you redirect any mail sent to the i-writing list to redirect to the new list?
Sande Chen: will you? I can't type well
ed kuehnel: I'm at work, so I'll probably need to type if that's okay.
Lucien_Soulban: Ditto
Rhianna Pratchett: I'll be typing too
Sande Chen: I'm using a voice recognition software. It is not too intelligent.
Piers: i'll need to check how, but i'm certain it's do-able
RDansky: Yup, about the list. As pointless as it might be, I don't want any "Hey, we didn't know" or "You didn't tell us!" agita. Yes, I'm paranoid, but I've been through list transitions before :-)
Piers: alternately we could set it to just bounce back a "you should be posting over here instead"
Chris Bateman: So far, the list transition has been very smooth. All the names from the old list were automatically subscribed to the new list. But I agree, we should be paranoid.
WendyDespain: amen brother
Steve Jacobs: sande click on the mike and camera button on bottom of camera and voice window
Chris Bateman: Piers - yes, a message redirecting attention would do the job fine.
Piers: 'k, i'll get that set up
Sande Chen: on don't see a miking camera but nyet?
Chris Bateman: Great - thanks.
Lucien_Soulban: Am I supposed to be seeing or hearing anything?
Chris Bateman: Moving on...
Chris Bateman: 4: Censored word list. Still no word on this. I'll bounce it to next month's matters arising.
Steve Jacobs: Window says camera and voice 4, button at bottom has camera and mike icon
Chris Bateman: 5: WGA Update. Rich, anything to report?
Lucien_Soulban: Not for me... I suffer : )
Lucien_Soulban: "I'll"
WendyDespain: wait wait
WendyDespain: who was it that was in charge of the censored word list?
Sande Chen: I say window that says camera and invoice form, cannot move screen down Tutsi I come button
RDansky: Email sent, no response. I'll be following up again a little more aggresively next week.
Chris Bateman: Wendy - I was supposed to be getting a censored word list off somebody on the censorship committee. But he hasn't responded to any of my emails since GDC.
Chris Bateman: It may be that I am not getting through to him, of course.
Chris Bateman: Rich - is that all you have to say this month on the WGA point?
Jennifer Hepler: What WGA point was that?
BenServiss: Morning everybody
RDansky: Mostly. Thanks to Jen, a few of us did touch base with more WGA folks at E3.
Jennifer Hepler: We had our
Chris Bateman: Jen - it's a general point... just an ongoing co-operation and discussion drive. But Rich said he's man the "project" from our side, and it got onto the agenda from somewhere.
Jennifer Hepler: New Media Caucus this past week, and I was able to tell everyone there about this list and that you guys are really the ones to talk to regarding writers and games.
Chris Bateman: Jen - thanks; that's great!
RDansky: Excellent - thanks, Jen
Jennifer Hepler: No prob. We had discussed last time trying to maybe co-sponsor a one-day conference. Is that something people are still interested in. With the WGA providing space and some cash and the SIG providing speakers who know what they're talking about?
Chris Bateman: Jen - that point is coming up on the matters arising, but we should feel free to discuss it now.
Lucien_Soulban: That sounds good, actually
Jennifer Hepler: That'd be great since I may have to duck out early (this is my normal commuting time).
WendyDespain: since travel is involved, it's kind of hard to justify a one-day conference. Is a two-day converence too ambitious?
Jennifer Hepler: Well, I was thinking that since everyone will be coming to LA anyway, why don't we try for a Monday or Tuesday before E3 thing?
RDansky: Either two-day or tacking it onto a larger show, like E3.
Lucien_Soulban: I guess it would depend on where we'd organize it
Chris Bateman: The powers in the background who may not be named would prefer the SIG to try running an event on their own, having become gunshy about co-operating with other organisations after splitting with a certain conference organiser. That said, I think the point still stands that the SIG lacks logistical capabilities, and a one off event would still be worth considering.
Lucien_Soulban: What about GDC?
Sande Chen: where would conference be he held?
Chris Bateman: In terms of piggy-backing, I'd personally rather piggy back GDC than E3.
WendyDespain: oh, here was I all hopefull it could still happen this year. :-)
Jennifer Hepler: The WGA will be much less useful if the conference is anywhere except LA, unfortunately. We'd still be up for it, but we don't have access to free facilities and such then.
ed kuehnel: Here. here. People are more in a learning mode at GDC than E3
Lucien_Soulban: Better to plan for it
RDansky: I think doing something in collaboration with the WGA would potentially do a nice job of raising the SIG's profile. And if we piggy-back a show, we don't necessarily need to be part of the show as long as we're proximate.
Steve Jacobs: Wendy, probably too fast if it happened this year
WendyDespain: hope springs eternal
Steve Jacobs: Nice to have a room in the conf center instead of another hotel though
Chris Bateman: Wendy/Steve - I agree, next year is the earliest we could realistically achieve.
Chris Bateman: Jen - are free facilities the key reason why you'd prefer E3 to GDC?
Lucien_Soulban: I think the conference next year would be great considering how many paper and pen roleplaying writers are fleeing the gaming industry.
Jennifer Hepler: Basically. It's just generally much easier to make things happen at the WGA when talking about something local.
WendyDespain: we'd get more attendance from screenwriters if it were held in LA
Chris Bateman: Why is the WGA, which is a national organisation, local to LA?
Steve Jacobs: local being????
RDansky: Hollywood :-)
Chris Bateman: *light bulb* Ah, of course.
WendyDespain: it's a regional organization, really
Steve Jacobs: Lots of film, tv and "new media" writers in nyc too
WendyDespain: that would be WGAEast
WendyDespain: when people just talk about WGA they generally mean West
Jennifer Hepler: The WGA West is headquartered in LA, the new media writers on the east are still part of WGA West since East has no game writing that it covers.
WendyDespain: the dividing line is the Mississippi, but really California is where the WGAw is
Sande Chen: click on which button?
Steve Jacobs: Thanks for clarifyinh Jennifer
WendyDespain: the east/west politics are best left to another discussion :-)
Chris Bateman: Can I poll the committee on this GDC versus E3 piggy back option point? Can the SIG committee members present each state their view on this issue?
Jennifer Hepler: I think GDC does make more sense as a conference where people are up for learning, but I'm just saying as a practical matter it will be much easier to get people off their butts if it's an event in LA. :(
WendyDespain: I propose the SIG do its own mini-conference adjacent to GDC, standing on our own two feet, to show the invisible powers that be how independent we are. It can be small.
Sande Chen: what happened to AGC?
Chris Bateman: Sande - AGC is a seperate point - that's coming. :)
WendyDespain: _And_ that we work together with WGA for another mini-conference adjacent to E3, where we will get more attendence and exposure.
Sande Chen: well, if it were to decide which to piggy back -> GDC
WendyDespain: hell, we have a year - let's use it
Chris Bateman: Steve, Rhianna, Ed - any thoughts?
Sande Chen: because GDC is better environment for it
Sande Chen: more developers
Chris Bateman: (If you have nothing to say, a NC (no comment) is cool.)
Rhianna Pratchett: I think GDC would be best, at least for now
WendyDespain: it would get way more press at E3
RDansky: What level of support can we expect from the IGDA for this?
Piers: nc
ed kuehnel: Why don't we go with an independent effort at GDC and piggyback with the WGA at E3? Sounds like things will go more smoothly that way, we'll get things done.
Chris Bateman: Rich - I'm not certain. Checking my email logs...
Sande Chen: isn't there a branch of the WGA in San Francisco?
Steve Jacobs: gdc audience makes more sense
RDansky: Free meeting space in California - not necessarily something to sneeze at.
Jennifer Hepler: The NMC membership was up for doing something at GDC, so don't count us out if that's the way this goes. There's just not going to be as much help from the Guld in terms of securing facilities, etc..
Steve Jacobs: I'd suggest at dual approach
Sande Chen: Net share, of the conference will be in San Jose next year
Steve Jacobs: Full scale press at gdc
Lucien_Soulban: Problem with E3 is for those with companies attending the convention. We're often working up to the last day on making material presentable for show at E3. GDC might be easier.
ed kuehnel: I'm betting we can brainstorm some cool off-site things to do to attract people during GDC, even if it's small.
Chris Bateman: Here is what the IGDA central has to say: "Well, I think the better approach is to come up with what you actually want to do and achieve. Once the goals are set, then we can look at ways to execute.If we just need logistical manpower, there are an endless amount of consultants/firm that service association and do exactly. And, paying an event expert is probably no worse than splitting proceeds with the WGA/etc - and the SIG maintains complete control/IP, etc..."
WendyDespain: also, making friends with screeenwriters = a good thing
Steve Jacobs: 1 day meeting on educating WA members about game writing at e3
RDansky: The GDC audience makes more sense if we can get it - if we're opposite the show, we're in competition and we will lose.
Steve Jacobs: Different audiences, needs, etc
Rhianna Pratchett: Hmm well I don;t know about you guys but I doubt I could spare a whole day of E3 time
Rhianna Pratchett: but then I tend to be very active during the show
Lucien_Soulban: I'm not sure that making friends with screenwriters is a good thing, Wendy.
Chris Bateman: How about this. We plan both events. At GDC, we plan a side event for writing - we try and persuade IGDA central to help out setting this up. At E3, we do a co-branded event with WGA.
WendyDespain: at E3, though, we'd mostly just need SIG members to show up for one panel or presentation
Steve Jacobs: Yah, way I was going
Sande Chen: I generally do not go to E3 on last on less I have some kind of business
WendyDespain: Personally, I think gamewriters have enoughe enemies as it is.
Steve Jacobs: If the timing worked out we could use a one day or one sessioon event at e3
Sande Chen: But I'd always good to GDC
Steve Jacobs: to address an audience, excite them and feed them into the bigger picture at gdc
Lucien_Soulban: Yeah... I'm not sure if screenwriters aren't among those enemies
WendyDespain: which is why it would be good to turn those enemies into friends.
Lucien_Soulban: We're certainly competition
Lucien_Soulban: Guess I'm just paranoid
Sande Chen: More competition
Lucien_Soulban: You want more competition Sande?
WendyDespain: you get paid a hell of a lot more for a screenplay than for game work.
Sande Chen: I would say there is more competition for people's attention at E3. Also IRT did to Audio enter
Lucien_Soulban: True... but I've seen many a failed screenwriter come here for work because they think it's "easier"
ed kuehnel: If it's inevitable, better to be a guide to these people. Easier to keep track of them and raise your own profile at the same time. Have these people coming to you for advice, have publishers consulting you on who's good, who's not, etc.
WendyDespain: and people already see screenwriters as a viable option to gamewriters. we won't be adding them as new competitors, just training them so that people won't get frustrated about hiring writers.
Lucien_Soulban: Keep your enemies closer, eh? : )
Steve Jacobs: also providing them with a real education on what's involved might teach them it aint easier :-)
Sande Chen: I've seen a lot of screenwriters write books about interactive media.
Chris Bateman: It is inevitable that we will get more screenwriters in game. What we don't want, as Wendy intimates, is for the profile of game writing to be hurt by ill-informed dillitentes performing a bad job.
WendyDespain: well, look around at this list, Lucien - everyone here is more of a competitor to you than the screenwriters are. We're all trained for working interactively.
Jennifer Hepler: If you're worried about competition, then working together here doesn't make sense either. I've written movies, games, TV, comic books. As far as I'm concerned, writers are writers, and we can either see each other as competition, or as a community. It was when the screenwriters started working as a community that they made screenwriting as lucrative as it is.
Rhianna Pratchett: I'm not entirely convinced of the merit of screenwriters going into games myself, it can be pure vanity for the developers to say 'Hollywood script' etc, lots of times it doesn't work out and it takes away the importance of genuine games writers like us :) But like I said, that's just me
Steve Jacobs: Except the lowly academic, no competition there :-)
Sande Chen: I think where there's a problem is one screenwriters think that writing the interactive Script is the same as writing of a near Script.
Rhianna Pratchett: I think games writers need to become a stronger community before throwing open the door to screenwriters
Steve Jacobs: What if it worked this way....
Lucien_Soulban: But the irony is... we already represent such a diverse group as is
WendyDespain: i think screenwriters are already part of our community, and we gain nothing by excluding them.
Steve Jacobs: 1st, we run our own conf at gdc for a year
Chris Bateman: I personally don't believe we can afford to be worried about competition. The real problem is teams who aren't using game writers at all, and this is about 60-75% of game projects. The industry is nowhere near capacity, and most of these projects cannot afford the rates a screenwriter would charge anyway. There's a wide market, operating at different scales, and there is room for more writers.
RDansky: If we can work with the IGDA to make conditions for game writers better, I think it's a good thing. If we can educate the screenwriters who think they can just stroll in, it's a good thing. If we can maintain a friendly relationship with a group that has knowledge we can take advantage of, instead of forcing some sort of competition, then that's a good thing.
Steve Jacobs: after 1st conf we do short session at e3 feeding interested parties to our second conf
WendyDespain: all the screenwriters I've personally met would be an asset to the community, and are good at working together. I think they unintentionally hurt the gamewriting cause, and if they learned more about it they would stop hurting us.
ed kuehnel: Screenwriters can help us too.
RDansky: Obviously, there's concerns to face in bringing the two groups together. I brought a bunch of them up at the gathering at GDC. But the positives outweigh the negatives.
Steve Jacobs: builds in some time for lag, growth, waters testing with wga etc
Sande Chen: I think we need to establish ourselves as a legitimate group of workers in the game industry.
Sande Chen: And not let people in game industry think that they must go and hire a Hollywood script writer.
Lucien_Soulban: Agreed Sande
Rhianna Pratchett: agreed
Sande Chen: And I would say it is more lucrative for people to be and still spend TV then to be games because the pay rates are low for writers in the game industry when compared to the film industry
CoraySeifert: hi all...apologies for the lateness
WendyDespain: people will go hire a hollywood script writer, no matter what we do
Chris Bateman: OK. This "sidebar" has gone on long enough. There are a lot of good points being raised, but they don't necessarily take us forward. Can I suggest forming two Select Committees to form a one page proposal for both events - a side track at GDC, and a WGA co-branded event at E3?
Lucien_Soulban: Hey Coray
Steve Jacobs: yah
WendyDespain: I'd second that motion, Chris
RDansky: Good call, Chris. Seconded.
ed kuehnel: I'll volunteer for the side track at GDC proposal.
Sande Chen: Yea
BenServiss: Mornin C
RDansky: Jen, would you be willing to work with me on the E3 one?
Steve Jacobs: Will also help with GDC event if help is needed
Chris Bateman: Can we get three names for each?
WendyDespain: I'll help with the E3 paper
Chris Bateman: GDC - Ed, Steve + ??
Sande Chen: I'll help with the D.C.
Jennifer Hepler: Jennifer Hepler (private to Lucien_Soulban): I'm already working on putting something together about the cosponsored event, but I'd love to work with someone who knows more about what it takes to get something going at E3.
Chris Bateman: E3 - Rich, Jen, Wendy??
Steve Jacobs: Can put me on both chris
Jennifer Hepler: Sorry. Trying to keep straight who I'm posting to :)\
RDansky: We understand. Lucien's conversations is irresistable :-)
Chris Bateman: np, Jen. It gets complicated real fast. :)
Steve Jacobs: Have a couple months free til sept
Chris Bateman: Can we have one more volunteer for the GDC proposal?
WendyDespain: yay, Steve gets all the work!
Steve Jacobs: only til sept :-)
Sande Chen: of I volunteer for GDC
Chris Bateman: OK, great.
Sande Chen: Will we in addition also try to put in session proposals?
Chris Bateman: Alright. Let's close down this point for now. Rich and Steve, as the Executive SIG officers, if you can have proposals ready by the week of the next committee meeting, that would be great.
Steve Jacobs: Ok, proposals for e3 and gdc?
Chris Bateman: Make a note of the volunteers you're working with, and make sure you get their email addresses if you don't already have them. :)
Jennifer Hepler: So it's me, Wendy and Rich for E3?
WendyDespain: and steve
RDansky: If you're good with it.
Chris Bateman: Yes, although Steve is willing to contribute to that as well.
Jennifer Hepler: Cool.
Chris Bateman: OK. Let's go back to point 2 now that Corey is here... Quarterly SIG report.
Steve Jacobs: Makes sense to have one person with an eye on both, as there'll be some overlap in content
Chris Bateman: Coray - anything to report?
Chris Bateman: Steve - yes, I agree.
WendyDespain: you are, quite possibly, the best. Steve.
CoraySeifert: sorry, bopping between uploading things...
CoraySeifert: I just need to write up a proposal for the "Day in the Life of a Game Writer" article and we should be ready to go
Chris Bateman: Coray - if this isn't a good time, we can bump it to the next meeting.
CoraySeifert: nah it's fine...
CoraySeifert: not too much to report, and im content to lurk and read over the log at lunch
Chris Bateman: OK.
Chris Bateman: 6. IMDB credits. Ed?
WendyDespain: is the day in the life part of the quarterly sig report?
CoraySeifert: woops!
CoraySeifert: wrong topic :D
CoraySeifert: in terms of the SIG, Ben and I are currently working on another project together which is a bit heavy right now...
CoraySeifert: but we should be able to take some time and organize that in the very near future
ed kuehnel: IMDB credits: The IMDB is crediting writers the way I want them to. If you look up "Ed Kuehnel" and click on Leisure Suit Larry, you'll see me and Matt Entin highlighted up top in bold as "co-writers"
CoraySeifert: wow, my brain isn't working...that last sentence should have started "In terms of the quarterly..."
Chris Bateman: Great. Is this as a result of your discussions with them?
Jennifer Hepler: With lightning around your names and little bells and whistles going off?
Chris Bateman: Coray - the point will come up again next meeting, so feel free to let it slide for now.
ed kuehnel: Sort of. It's something they do anyways, but I wasn't sure they were doing for game credits. Writer's credits have to be submitted by users however, so I'm going to contiue to submit people's names. Keep them coming if you want me to update your work on IMDB.
Chris Bateman: Great - thanks for doing this, Ed. It all helps.
Chris Bateman: 7. ACG Game Writers thread. No-one owns this agenda point. Anyone want to take custody of this point?
Sande Chen: I think that Susan Mary O'Connor was the person who is may main contact person
Lucien_Soulban: Wow... thanks Ed.
WendyDespain: yeah, I thought Susan was point on this too, but I guess she's not here today
Chris Bateman: Sande - do you want to ghost for Susan?
Sande Chen: The last thing she posted to be mailing list, was it a positive?
Chris Bateman: Is there anything actually to report?
ed kuehnel: BRB. Bathroom break.
Steve Jacobs: book proposal continues to move through Wiley
Steve Jacobs: Updates there as they happen
WendyDespain: On May 24 she said, "the AGC organizers aredefinitely interested. In fact, I¹m meeting with the organizers Friday totalk turkey. Wahoo! I¹ll know more on Friday, and I¹ll be sure to update thegroup. "
Sande Chen: Yes I can. But I would not know when he sang because I am not in contact with Susan.
Jennifer Hepler: I thought the last thing said was that the conference wanted a guarentee of attendence and Susan suggested aiming for a year from October instead of this October.
Sande Chen: Perhaps we should give her some questions.
Chris Bateman: It does sound like this isn't ready to go forward at this time. We could use one person at our end who is our liason with AGC, just for clarity though.
Sande Chen: I would not know what they mean by guarantee of attendance. Since the same MMORPGs people will be going.
WendyDespain: Susan is really doing a great job liasing with them
ed kuehnel: back.
Steve Jacobs: We should be thinking of these things in terms of a continum of time and content as well
Chris Bateman: Is Susan in the SIG then? I must be confused.
RDansky: Whoops, had to walk away from the desk for a second.
WendyDespain: yes, Susan is in the SIG and has been posting to the mailing list :-)
Sande Chen: Well, I could try to contact Chris Sherman directly since he is a person totally in charge.
Chris Bateman: Oh, this is Susan O'Conner. Sorry, mental misfire there.
Chris Bateman: OK, well we should try and get Susan at the next committee meeting.
Sande Chen: But it is hard when there are two people not on the same page to contact the same organization.
Steve Jacobs: is AGC before or after E3? what are the differences in audinces between gdc, agc and E3, etc
Sande Chen: If we can make the current AGC it would be this October
RDansky: I had some pretty long discussions with Susan at E3 about AGC. They can be summed up as yes, they're interested and time is really short - are we better off rushing for this year or taking our time to do something better prepared for next year.
WendyDespain: She's been doing a great job, I think adding someone else would just confuse matters. We'll strongarm her into attending this meeting next time or providing a report.
Chris Bateman: We have 7 minutes yet. We're done with the Matters Arising, and there is no Agenda, so on to the AOB. First point - next SIG committee meeting. Any objections to Thursday June 30th?
Steve Jacobs: should be ok at my end for meeting time
ed kuehnel: nope
Chris Bateman: (I'm correcting the agenda to show Susan as owner of the AGC point - so I don't make the same mistake next time).
Jennifer Hepler: Looks okay for me.
RDansky: Looks good for me
Lucien_Soulban: I may not be able to attend, but I'll try
Piers: works here
WendyDespain: it's a little iffy for me, but still within the realm of possibility.
Chris Bateman: OK. I'll put it on the next agenda.
Chris Bateman: So, finally, Any Other Business to bring up?
Rhianna Pratchett: i answered those questions for that student by the way Chris, the one you mentioned on the list.
ed kuehnel: I'd like to try and get the Spike TV and G4 awards shows to have a "Best Writing" category.
Steve Jacobs: sounds good ed
Chris Bateman: Rhianna - thanks.
ed kuehnel: It's probably a hard sell, as game writers aren't very "sexy" (present company excluded). But what the hell. Can't hurt to try.
Lucien_Soulban: Something to potentially consider. Roleplaying games for Paper and Pen are taking heavy hits and writers are feeling like rats on a sinking ship. I've been directing some to the SIG groups on IDGA and to Gamasutra. I wouldn't mind advice to help more along (not now but later in emails)
Chris Bateman: Ed - I agree, it doesn't hurt to approach these people for discussion at least.
Lucien_Soulban: fleeing I meant
Sande Chen: but there are sexy character as!
Lucien_Soulban: Not feeling
Chris Bateman: OK, Lucien. We are the de facto refuge for hobby game people anyway. Rich and I both started out there. :)
Jennifer Hepler: And me!
Lucien_Soulban: : )
ed kuehnel: I do one PR professional in the games biz who I know has worked with Spike TV in the past. I'll give it a shot.
Lucien_Soulban: Me too... 12 long years on the frontlines
Chris Bateman: The money has certainly shifted over the last 20 years. :)
Lucien_Soulban: And not for the better
Chris Bateman: Ed - does the IMDB point need to remain in Matters Arising for now?
Jennifer Hepler: Yeah, now that we're going to E3 instead of Hollywood stuff, we're finding a lot more people we used to know...
ed kuehnel: No.
Chris Bateman: OK, thanks.
Lucien_Soulban: Okay, thanks all... I gotta head out for a team lunch
Chris Bateman: Alright, thanks for coming everyone. I'm going to close the meeting now, but everyone should feel free to hang on and chat if they like. Thanks to you all for coming!
Steve Jacobs: must fly as well
Jennifer Hepler: Thanks for hosting, Steve.
Rhianna Pratchett: Cya guys
ed kuehnel: thanks all. I'm at work so I better get back to it.
Steve Jacobs: this will stay open for a while even if I leave, so have fun
Steve Jacobs: ...poof
Lucien_Soulban: Bye all
Piers: seeya