International Game Developers Association

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

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[edit] June 28, 2005

Chris Bateman: Ok, I make it time. Let's kick off. Any apologies?
Chris Bateman: I have apologies from Stephen - he can't make it today, alas.
Chris Bateman: And I may have to run out half way through the meeting. :)
Chris Bateman: Well we're very short of attendees, so this should go suprisingly quickly. :D
Chris Bateman: So Matters Arising...
Chris Bateman: A. Quarterly SIG Report (Coray Seifert) - he's not here.
Chris Bateman: B. Writer's Book (Steve Jacobs) - he's not here either. :)
WendyDespain: I have to leave in the middle of the meeting too - can someone grab the transcript for me?
Rhianna Pratchett: Hello!
Chris Bateman: But we have given an ultimatum to Wiley to make a decision within the next week or so - so we'll have a decision from them before the next meeting.
Sheri: ther'es more than one sheri? :)
Sheri: yeah women's dev has graner ray on it
Rhianna Pratchett: Is that a different book to your one Chris?
Chris Bateman: Sheri Pocilujko and Sheri Grainer Ray, yep. :)
Chris Bateman: Yes, our book is finished - it's out next month. :)
Chris Bateman: This is the writers book.
Rhianna Pratchett: No I meant the writers book the one we did chapter outlines for
Chris Bateman: Yes, that's the one. :)
Chris Bateman: Still in committee...
Chris Bateman: Moving on...
Chris Bateman: C. IGDA hosted mailing list (Chris Bateman/Piers Beckley)
Chris Bateman: This is all done now! We're now officially at writers@igda.org. Pats on the back all around.
Chris Bateman: D. Censored Words List from Censorship Committee (Chris Bateman).
Chris Bateman: Now I did speak to the guy about this... Let's see what he said. In the meantime:
Chris Bateman: E. WGA update (Rich Dansky)
CoraySeifert: Hi all
Sheri: now we can do A :>
CoraySeifert: hurrah!
Chris Bateman: Here's what Dan said:
dansky: Hi, Coray
Chris Bateman: "Hi Chris,I have seen such a list at a client's site, but whether it is the ESRB list or their private list I don't know. I don't have a copy, and it may be a proprietary list belonging to the client-- their own best practices data.Anyway, I emailed a contact at the ESRB to find out for you. Though the ESRB sometimes shares this kind of info only with ESA members. Also, note that the ESRB does not censor words, so there would be no list of censored words. They assign ratings and content descriptors based on the levels of profanity in a game-- some will get a Teen, some will trigger an M rating, etc. "
Chris Bateman: I'm still waiting to hear back on this, so I'll bounce this over to the next Matters Arising.
Chris Bateman: (Coray: feel free to dive in with A. whenever you like!)
Chris Bateman: Going back to the apologies... Wendy - has someone volunteered to post the minutes to the wiki in your absence?
CoraySeifert: O sure, well, I was just waiting for last minute feedback from anyone, and if there isn't any, I was going to open conversation up to the group for discussion of general topics for this and future quarterlies
WendyDespain: no - I've had no volunteers yet
CoraySeifert: So, I suppose my question would be to you folks just making sure that there aren't any changes/additions/requests for the format, which is pretty simple right now...anybody need the email I sent out a little while back resent?
Chris Bateman: Wendy: does Stephen usually email you the transcript?
Chris Bateman: Coray: I'm happy with the format you sent out, personally. If you haven't heard anything back, I assume you can go ahead.
WendyDespain: no - I do it myself. it's really quite easy. the chat room is set up so you can copy/paste from the main window - so I just copy it from here when the meeting is over, then paste it into the wiki and add linebreaks
CoraySeifert: Sounds good to me. I'll shoot out an email this afternoon.
CoraySeifert: On the topic of articles, could I ask for your advice on the Day in the Life feature?
CoraySeifert: I'm trying to select a group of writers from this pool and having a very tough time doing so...too many qualified candidates!!!
CoraySeifert: Any suggestions?
Chris Bateman: Wendy: I can't really offer to help, as I'm not convinced I'll be here for the whole meeting. Is there anyone who will *definitely* be here the whole meeting who can at the very least copy all of the meeting text into a document to forward to me or Wendy?
Rhianna Pratchett: I should be able to do that
WendyDespain: i'd suggest talking to your editor - asking about the potential of it being a series of articles, and if that doesn't fly, get his opinion on what kinds of writers he wants Chris Bateman: Coray: select half the writers with big game credits, and half the writers with small game credits. Use a lottery system if you have to.
WendyDespain: thanks Rhianna!
CoraySeifert: Good suggestions both, thanks. Any others?
Rhianna Pratchett: No problem
Jennifer Hepler: Hey all. Just got to work and am signing in and trying to skim what I've missed.
Chris Bateman: (Is Rich still here? Or is he just an echo?)
Chris Bateman: The last point on MA...
Chris Bateman: E. ACG Game Writers thread (Susan O'Connor)
Chris Bateman: Obviously Susan isn't here. Anyone have anything to report on her behalf?
WendyDespain: she said on the wiki she could send an email report
dansky: I'm still here, though there are all these guys from Transylvania looking at me speculatively.
Jennifer Hepler: Just don't put any ketchup on your neck. You'll be fine. :)
Chris Bateman: Rich: Fair enough! Just wasn't ure if we should wait for you to say anything to any of the points in the field, so to speak.
Rhianna Pratchett: My boyfriend is from Transylvania... he has very good teeth!
WendyDespain: the only direct experience I have with romania is back in the good old days of MUDs they romanian players were real troublemakers
dansky: Nothing seems to demand my comment so far, but I appreciate the check-in
Chris Bateman: Well, unless anyone has anything else to add to the MA, we can move onto the agenda proper... Much faster, this time. :)
dansky: And everyone in Romania has been very nice so far, even the people who've told me they have absolutely no idea where my luggage is :-)
Chris Bateman: There are only two points on the Agenda, and they're basically related...
Chris Bateman: 1. GDC Side Track for Game Writing (Steve Jacobs)
Chris Bateman: 2. E3 co-branded event with WGA (Rich Dansky)
Chris Bateman: Now Stephen has said he wants to see how the discussion goes on the E3 event before pushing forward the GDC point, I think. But I may have got this back to front.
dansky: Jen's post earlier indicated that the WGA would be interested in supporting a GDC-time event
Jennifer Hepler: Yeah. The membership is interested in both conferences, and the Guild will be willing to offer some degree of financial/advertising support to either or both. The one advantage to E3 is that it's in LA, which means a large number of writers who would attend.
Jennifer Hepler: What is the plan for the side track at GDC -- I know submissions for panels open on July 6.
WendyDespain: the committee working on the doc for the E3 event has been using the wiki to develop it, but so far it's mostly been "Yeah, Rich good ideas!" I think mostly we need to work on session topics
dansky: I'd like to do one more polish on the wiki draft and then actively throw it to the list for brainstorming.
dansky: Also, I think I need to get the section where it says "We run around screaming" out of it, but that's just personal preference :-)
Rhianna Pratchett: I have some stuff to raise when it gets to the raising things point!
Chris Bateman: I think starting on the wiki then graduating to the list is a good way to approach it... The wiki only takes you so far, and if we have enough to provoke some discussion on the list that should help to move things forward.
Chris Bateman: Rhianna: you mean AOB? We'll get there sooner than usual, I should think, the way things are going.
Chris Bateman: I'm a bit worried that the E3 "sidebar" has got further than the GDC "sidebar", given that GDC comes first, but I guess it can't be helped.
Chris Bateman: Rich/Wendy: would you be ready to put what you have to the list before the next committee meeting? Or do you want another month?
Jennifer Hepler: I don't remember -- was the GDC sidebar an attempt to get a writing track into GDC proper or to do a side event parallel to it?
Chris Bateman: I believe it was a side event. I think we concluded we'd never win over GDC to a degree we'd be happy with.
Chris Bateman: As ever, I'm prepared to be wrong.
dansky: I'd be happy with getting the E3 stuff up and to the list in two weeks.
WendyDespain: i agree - i think we can do that
dansky: Let me get back from Romania, get some sleep, and get it ready. Shouldn't take too too long.
Jennifer Hepler: I know some of the writers in the caucus want to submit writing oriented events to GDC. I don't know if they're going to get very far, but if there is going to be a parallel writers' track, I agree, we need to work that out soonish.
Chris Bateman: OK, great. I think we can afford to wait until after the next committee meeting though, if anything comes to make it hard to keep to that schedule.
Chris Bateman: Well that probably covers all we can for now on those two points. If anyone has anything to add, type '!' and press return now... Otherwise, I'll move us onwards...
Chris Bateman: *sound of a tumbleweed blowing across the internet*
Chris Bateman: Ok, Any Other Business, then. Firstly, date of next meeting... Wednesday July 27th?
Rhianna Pratchett: sounds very far away but I think that's fine with me
Chris Bateman: It's a month away... that's how we've been doing it thus far.
Rhianna Pratchett: I know but a month away always seems a long tme, hell, next week seems a long time to me!
Chris Bateman: Lucky you! You must be young. :D
CoraySeifert: Sounds good to me
Sheri: good to me
Jennifer Hepler: I think that'll be fine.
CoraySeifert: Is this time ok for everyone? I feel bad suggesting the time move, but this is roughly 1e46 times easier for me.
dansky: It's all about you, isn't it, Coray?
dansky: *ducks*
CoraySeifert: Hey, I am a producer ;)
Sheri: who was it that producer is the one word oxymoron
Jennifer Hepler: I'll generally have to tune in for the second half if it's at this time. I can't leave for work much later than a quarter to nine.
Sheri: :)
CoraySeifert: lol
CoraySeifert: that is awesome
Chris Bateman: This time is slightly awkward for me - but I know an hour earlier didn't work out brilliantly for lots of people. It's always a certain degree of compromise...
Chris Bateman: Rhianna - what's your AOB?
CoraySeifert: Well, if it works out better for more people earlier, I can try to massage my schedule into place. Just let me know.
Rhianna Pratchett: ...er AOB?
Sheri: earlier bad..
Chris Bateman: AOB = Any Other Business. I can tell you're not an institutionalised committee attendee... :D
Rhianna Pratchett: lol sorry, yes
Chris Bateman: Coray: I think the time we have is the best compromise we have at the moment.
dansky: We're never going to make everyone happy, unfortunately. So let's continue at this time and see how the attendance stacks up compared to the other time, and in a few months make a call.
CoraySeifert: Sounds good to me.
Rhianna Pratchett: okay I thought maybe we could think about doing more with the Writers' Guild in the UK now they have given the okay for games writers, for starters I emailed one of the women back to find out what exactly the criteria was for joing and got an interesting email back. The info isn't on their website yet as far as I can see but, i thought maybe I should post on the IGDA forum with the email contents and post it to you guys and work with Andy to help organise more WG GB stuff
Chris Bateman: Yes, I think that first event was a great start, and it would be good to build closer ties with them.
Chris Bateman: The issue for most of us, as usual, is the fees associated with membership. I suggested to the WG people that it would be hard to convince game writers to join right now, because they've only just started paying attention to the games industry and don't have much to offer specific game writers.
Rhianna Pratchett: at the moment it's just £150
Rhianna Pratchett: at least that's what they charged me
Chris Bateman: £150 strikes me as a lot, personally. But I may be a tight wad when it comes to spending money on anything other than beer and travel. :)
WendyDespain: i think that's almost twice what the WGAwest is charging for the new media caucus
WendyDespain: depending on the exact exchange rate, of course
dansky: *checks his watch* I think I need to skeddadle, folks.
Jennifer Hepler: Enjoy Romania!
Chris Bateman: No problem, Rich. We're basically done now anyway. Thanks for coming!
dansky: My pleasure. Catch you later, folks.
CoraySeifert: see ya!
Sheri: later
Chris Bateman: I'm going to have to go in a few minutes too...
Rhianna Pratchett: Is the WGA's fees, at least for joining, about $2500?
Chris Bateman: Rhianna: do you have something specific in mind for a next step with the WG UK?
Jennifer Hepler: For regular membership it's $2500. For caucus membership (which is basically the same, but you can't vote in Guild elections), it's $75.
Jennifer Hepler: Compared to what I had to swallow coming off of TV, it's a great deal...
Chris Bateman: I have to say, if WG UK was £35, I'd probably join without much thought.
WendyDespain: i wish they'd started it two years ago :-)
Rhianna Pratchett: wow they charge a lot to vote... I have a feeling the guild has a £90 membership too
Rhianna Pratchett: Well i thought first of all I'd post what the guild had to say to the list and put a post on the IGDA sorum, and chat to andy and others at the Guild about what more we can do, the next event etc
Jennifer Hepler: I think the idea is that if you're joining in an established field, you're paying for all the benefits (minimums and residuals and such) that the Guild already won. If you're joining in New Media, you're going to be part of the fight to win that sort of thing, so they're not charging you in advance.
Chris Bateman: Jen - if you haven't already done so, can you talk to the people at Writers Guild UK. They're just starting out, and they'd really appreciate hearing what you guys have done so far, since you're further down the line, so to speak.
Jennifer Hepler: Yeah. Is Andy Walsh the one to speak to, or is there someone else that you guys have been in touch with?
Chris Bateman: Andy seems like a good point of contact.
Chris Bateman: There's also Naomi.
Jennifer Hepler: Is Naomi on the mailing list? I don't remember that name.
Chris Bateman: Naomi MacDonald. Naomi@writersguild.org.uk
WendyDespain: i've emailed with her before
Jennifer Hepler: Sounds good. I'd love to hear what sort of events they're doing and what the reception is in the UK.
Chris Bateman: She seems to be a key admin figure. She's refunding my travel costs for speaking at this event in London, so she's quite central, but primarily involved in events.
Chris Bateman: Anyway, I have to vanish too - thanks for coming everyone!
Rhianna Pratchett: Naomi is the one I talked to
CoraySeifert: Talk to you soon Chris
Rhianna Pratchett: cya chris
Jennifer Hepler: Great. I'll make sure we get in touch with her. That's been on our agenda, too, to have some communication there.
Jennifer Hepler: Thanks, Chris.
WendyDespain: as it turns out, my conflicting meeting got cancelled, so I can do the transcript/minutes
Rhianna Pratchett: well I know Andy quite well and I've met naomi a few times so i'd like to work with them to do more events and get a proper criteria up on their website, although thing more about how they can address games writers specifically
Sheri: later!
Rhianna Pratchett: okay Wendy
Jennifer Hepler: I think the survey the WGGB is doing looks very interesting. I'd love to hear what kind of response they're getting.
Rhianna Pratchett: well can look into that
Rhianna Pratchett: I can look into that
Jennifer Hepler: Very cool.
Jennifer Hepler: I should actually get some work done, now, because my game has been not working while I've been chatting with y'all, and I need to go shake it until I find out why :)
Jennifer Hepler: Talk to everyone next month, if not sooner.
Rhianna Pratchett: Bye jen
CoraySeifert: I'm off as well...see you all soon!
WendyDespain: i guess that's the end of the meeting
WendyDespain: thanks for coming everybody
Rhianna Pratchett: Cya guys
Sheri: *wave*