GWSIG Monthly Meeting Minutes/GWSIG Meeting7

International Game Developers Association

Coray Seifert: Hello?
Coray Seifert: Curses...
Beth Dillon: Well I'm here.
Beth Dillon: I'm rarely awake at this time in the morning anymore, heh heh.
Coray Seifert: Ahh hello
Beth Dillon: Heeeello.
Coray Seifert: Good morning I should say.
Beth Dillon: Heh, good morning.
Beth Dillon: Hmm new e-mails, meeting might be tomorrow. I definitely won't be around tomorrow.
Coray Seifert: Yeah I just noticed. I must learn to read emails properly ;)
Beth Dillon: Well I tried!
Beth Dillon: I won't be there tomorrow, so I'll catch up on notes.
Beth Dillon: Byyye bye!
Sande: Hmmm...
Sande: Is the meeting happening now?
Ahmad: Hey guys, first timer here
Steve Jacobs: greetings
Coray Seifert: Hello
Steve Jacobs: far as I know we're happening now
Steve Jacobs: or in 4 minutes :-)
Ed Kuehnel: On time!
Chris Bateman: Hello all!
Ahmad: Howdy
Chris Bateman: I'm a touch scattered at the moment, but I will try and get us onto the agenda as soon as possible. I'll start with the Apologies for Absence.
Sande: I'll be listening in as long as I can stay awake - it's midnight over here
Steve Jacobs: we'll try to keep it interesting :-)
James Swallow: hi y'all
Chris Bateman: Ben, Rhianna, Susan and Rich Dansky all send apologies.
Coray Seifert: I'm a bit scattered as well...running off to a meeting soon
Chris Bateman: Additionally, Andy Walsh has sent a message to the list saying he can't get into the meeting!
Coray Seifert: Yes, tonight I will be playing the role of Ben Serviss
Chris Bateman: I don't know what to suggest for Andy...
Ed Kuehnel: Must be something on his end.
Steve Jacobs: if he can hit a flash site he should be able to hit this
Steve Jacobs: I have had times when load is slow
Steve Jacobs: close broweser, reopen usually does it
Chris Bateman: Alright, I guess we should get to the agenda proper.
Ahmad: I'll try to get it working for him now
Chris Bateman: Matters Arising
Chris Bateman: A. Quarterly SIG Report (Coray Seifert)
Chris Bateman: Well, while we wait for Coray on that one... B. Writer's Book (Chris Bateman). As most of you know, this is *almost* signed - I'm waiting for an address from Rich Dansky, and then the contracts can be drawn up.
Chris Bateman: C. Censored Words List from Censorship Committee (Chris Bateman): Rich Dansky to take forward by approaching ESRB? - Rich isn't here, so this one can be skipped.
Chris Bateman: D. WGA update/E3 co-branded event with WGA (Rich Dansky) - again, no Rich. :)
Coray Seifert: oh sorry, I thought you were going to list everything out first...
Coray Seifert: The Quarterly is rolling along, with Ben getting ready to send it off to the kinkos folks...we just need to know how many copies we should get printed.
Coray Seifert: Ben's first guess was ~200, while I was thinking something significantly higher, as per the online games quarterly (which had about 1k for GDC). Perhaps something near 600?
WendyDespain: It would be nice to know how many registrations they're expecting
Steve Jacobs: can ask
Steve Jacobs: dunno if they'll tell
Coray Seifert: I would expect that they'd have it in a press release somewhere, although I haven't been able to find any figures
Chris Bateman: We can at least ask them for a suggested print run size - they may not release the registrations, but they should be able to provide a suggestion for order of magnitude. Shame Susan can't make it to this meeting... Are you happy to chase this up with Susan (or whoever is appropriate) Coray?
confused englishman: Hi! No Idea what was going on there, but Andy's finalllllly joined the party - thanks for the advice :0)
Steve Jacobs: Trade show organizsers rarely tell the truth, speaking as a former one :-)
WendyDespain: Yay! Hello Andy!
Steve Jacobs: SUsan usually says "Don't ask me, ask them "
Coray Seifert: Sure thing Chris
Steve Jacobs: will try to get reasonable # out of them
Chris Bateman: Okay, good. What's next...
Chris Bateman: E. GDC Side Track for Game Writing (Steve Jacobs) - Steve, this presumably is on hold?
confused englishman: Thanks Wendy :0)
Steve Jacobs: I've got a chat with Jamil on for next Tuesday
WendyDespain: from my experience at the event last year, I think 600 would be plenty
Ed Kuehnel: Has anyone heard back from the GDC regarding proposals?
Steve Jacobs: essentially we'll first be adressing if there's anything they'd like us to do for this coming show int erm
Chris Bateman: No, Ed. I haven't - and I'm suprised, as they usually reject my main proposal by now. :)
Steve Jacobs: s of individual sessions
Steve Jacobs: ie filling holes that didn't get filled by normal submission process
Steve Jacobs: then we'll move forward in the 2nd half of the chat to looking toward 2007
Ed Kuehnel: Coray, you might want to email the docs to a Kinko's in Austin and have them print it there.
Steve Jacobs: writing may be one of the 2 main themes of the 2007 conf
Chris Bateman: Okay, so this is broadly proceeding apace and there's nothing specifically new to report.
Steve Jacobs: yah
WendyDespain: what kind of input do you need from us before your conversation with Jamil?
Sande: shoot, earthquake
confused englishman: We could try tackling it from the British end - getting something into GDCE is something we've talked about so if we could get a foot in there it might help...
WendyDespain: Sande has the most interesting technical difficulties...
Steve Jacobs: what you might want to see happen at gdc beyond just "more sessions"
Steve Jacobs: :-)
Sande: and just survived a typhoon ;)
Coray Seifert: Ed, that's the plan...I believe we're having them sent directly to the conference organizers from there
Steve Jacobs: We're really getting, at least at last talk, a big thumbs up for 2007, no resistence more like encouragement
WendyDespain: I'd like to see some specific efforts at streamlining the process of hiring writers - so writers don't feel all alone in the dark and game companies don't know where to begin looking for them
Steve Jacobs: ok
Chris Bateman: It's all sounding broadly positive right now. I'm inclined to put this point to one side for now, as there's a lot of Austin business to get to in the agenda proper...
Steve Jacobs: fair enough
Chris Bateman: F. Future co-operation with WG UK (Rhianna Pratchett/Andy Walsh)
Steve Jacobs: if folks have ideas for gdc, send me an e-mail direct before tuesday
confused englishman: We had a meeting the other week and came up with a numbe of ways to raise the profile of writers
confused englishman: The first 'easy' one is to get everyone to register their credits (and encourage others to do the same) on imdb.com and mobygames.com (thanks to all those who have already
confused englishman: This way writing credits get seen rather remaining anonymous as they do now
confused englishman: We're also collecting quotes from developers, publishers and reviewers (various magazines) to get voices from inside the industry to say why people should hire writers
Chris Bateman: Did you discuss any specifics for co-operating with the Writer's Guild UK, or just general plans of action for raising the profile of game writers?
confused englishman: The Guild is looking at another event with BAFTA next year and has promised to look at including games writing on its website, to address its database of writers and to include games writers in this review
Chris Bateman: OK, good.
confused englishman: We're also hoping to raise the profile of writers within the guild as well by getting writers to register games credits in guild communications that list all other works, and that's us done unless there's any feedback :0)
Chris Bateman: I didn't see any 'xxx is typing' messages, so I guess there's no feedback. Good to hear that we are able to push our relationship with the WG UK forward - thanks Andy!
Chris Bateman: OK, onto the agenda proper. Firstly...
Chris Bateman: 1. Blogroll for the SIG webpages. This has been done - thanks Wendy!
Sande: do I e-mail Wendy if I want to include mine or just edit Wiki?
WendyDespain: sure thing
Coray Seifert: ...and there's my call...i'm off folks...thanks for chatting and apologies for the early departure!
WendyDespain: either way
Chris Bateman: See you Coray!
confused englishman: see you Coray!
Coray Seifert: cheers all!
James Swallow: c-ya
Chris Bateman: Yeah, I think if its on the Wiki there's an express mandate there to edit it yourself - provided you have the skills and psychic energy to do so. :)
Ahmad: *waves*
WendyDespain: it might get added a little sooner if you email me
Sande: np
WendyDespain: any other concerns about the blogroll?
Chris Bateman: It's all good as far as I'm concerned.
Chris Bateman: Now we get to back to back Austin stuff...
Chris Bateman: 2. What's left to be done for Austin (Stephen Jacobs): Finalizing handout, content, format
Steve Jacobs: howdy
Ed Kuehnel: Steve, I'm going to volunteer for the booth this afternoon. Will shoot you an email.
Steve Jacobs: ok we've got about 1/2 the booth sloots filled
Steve Jacobs: thanks ed
Chris Bateman: Might as well run the next agenda point in parallel, I guess...
Chris Bateman: 3. Austin: Booth scheduling (still some holes) (Stephen Jacobs)
WendyDespain: did you get my email about booth slots?
Steve Jacobs: nope
Steve Jacobs: or maybe yes, hold on
Steve Jacobs: nope :-)
WendyDespain: hmm
Steve Jacobs: I just e-mailed chris a document 15 minutes ago that's a slightly categorized collection of the top 10 list suggestions
WendyDespain: well, I volunteered for the 11-12 slot on friday
Steve Jacobs: ok thx
WendyDespain: i see Chris took that one tho
Steve Jacobs: he also volunteered to do another slot so ill juggle and get back 2 u both
WendyDespain: I also said I'd go to the booth any time I got bored in a session :-)
Steve Jacobs: :-)
Sande: I might do that too
Tim Langdell: ha! finally got in .. hello all
Steve Jacobs: we need to finalize handout content and format Ie poster too or not
confused englishman: Hi Tim!
Chris Bateman: Steve: what does this depend upon?
Steve Jacobs: $ mostly
Steve Jacobs: It seems that we all think a handout is good and that a poster would give some visual presence to our booth
Chris Bateman: Where are we getting cash from? Has anyone spoken to Jason?
Steve Jacobs: gotta nail down costs and I've dropped the ball there, but part of it depends on the content so its a chicken and egg thing
confused englishman: Jame and Rhianna are kindly heading up the quotes search, they might have some to feed into proceedings
Tim Langdell: (who r u, 'confused englishman"? I thought that was my title :-)
Chris Bateman: Let's assume we are doing a poster and a handout. Assume we will make the handout numbers = to whatever Coray decides to print.
Chris Bateman: Then we can go after the cash, and scale back if the money isn't there.
Steve Jacobs: yah, sounds like a plan
Tim Langdell: WGA/E3 mention by Chris -- can you tell me what this means? I am Vice Chair at WGAw and we are planning both a GDC presence and E3 presence
Steve Jacobs: again, locking in the content would help
James Swallow: re quote search - I've contacted the eds at Highbury press...no word back yet, though.
confused englishman: Thanks James :0)
Ed Kuehnel: Chris, if you'd like me to finalize the Top 10 list using what Stephen compiled in the style you want send it over, else if you want to take care of it yourself or send it to someone else I have no problems with that either.
Steve Jacobs: I beleive that richard D may be sending some red storm swag to give away at the booth, anyone else able to do so?
Chris Bateman: Tim - it's an ongoing thing whereby we might be doing an event at E3 in association with the WGA. Rich has been handling it - although I don't know what the situation is, as I believe Rich hasn't spoken to anyone from the WGA in a while now.
Ed Kuehnel: I'll bring some stuff from High Voltage.
Steve Jacobs: thx ed
Tim Langdell: Just to let you (and via you Rich) know, I'll be your contact at the WGA from here on for at least the time being.
Chris Bateman: Ed - I certainly don't want to have to deal with it myself. :) Are there some issues that need resolving?
Ed Kuehnel: Though I warn you our t-shirts this year have a unicornon them.
Steve Jacobs: I'll bear up with the shame :-)
Chris Bateman: Tim - okay, that's good to know. I guess we'll get back to the whole E3 issue with more gusto after the dust settles from Austin.
Sande: I like unicorns
Ed Kuehnel: I think I just need Stephens research. If I understand correctly he took what I wrote and everyone else suggested and put it all in one doc?
Steve Jacobs: ayuh
Steve Jacobs: also kind of shuffled it by theme a bit
Tim Langdell: after Austin -- yep. The WGA involvement is about to change very dramatically with our being voted in a couple weeks ago
Steve Jacobs: tim are you coming to Austin?
WendyDespain: voted in?
Tim Langdell: I am trying to attend Austin ... stay tuned!
Ed Kuehnel: Or Stephen you can send that to me directly if you'd like and I'll do another draft.
Steve Jacobs: will send it to you ed
WendyDespain: also, I'll be happy to help edit the reasons doc
Steve Jacobs: then it goes to you both :-)
Tim Langdell: Two excellent game writers with hollywood writing backgrounds got voted in as co-chair, and I got voted in as vice-chair, of the New Media Caucus. We now run the games side of WGAw and have an agressive agenda
WendyDespain: another pair of eyes etc
Chris Bateman: I can vouch for Wendy's clarity in editing.
Ed Kuehnel: being pulled away by my vP.
Steve Jacobs: later ed
Chris Bateman: Bye Ed - we can settle this over email.
Chris Bateman: Steve - have we dealt with all of the issues relating to the Austin agenda points above?
Steve Jacobs: Another note for consideration in our booth...
WendyDespain: can you tell us about your agressive agenda?
Steve Jacobs: Tim is running an academic gamers association, or at least trying to get it off the ground
Sande: IAGER
Steve Jacobs: We can't distribute wga materials in our booth but likely could distributer that group's, iager, materials if its ok with the sig
WendyDespain: i'm ok with iager materials
Tim Langdell: Wendy - agenda still being formed, but to include a much more active role in promoting professional writers to the games industry and encouraging all game writers to join the WGA ... far more active in working synergisitically with groups (hopefully this SIG!), giving public talks, etc. New website about to go up to promote professional game writers, and more
Chris Bateman: I don't know what it is exactly, but I have no objections to distributing other people's materials if it's in line with our own goals (or at least, not against them!)
Steve Jacobs: depends on what tim has :-)\
WendyDespain: thanks Tim - sounds great
Sande: why can't dist wga new media caucus materials?
Tim Langdell: IAGER- good point! Steve you and I will be able to focus (with others) on taking IAGER to the next level post-Austin. Will see what iager materials can be available for Austin though
Steve Jacobs: Because WGA is well funded enough to buy their own booth if they want to be promoted at the show
Sande: ah
confused englishman: I ditto Tim's moves for the UK. We started off at a good pace, but are moving a little slower now. Let me know if there's anything I can do to support the WGA's plans Tim
Tim Langdell: WGA has NO funding -- I know that is hard to believe (I was staggered to discover that). I am working with the new co-chairs to get us funding as this is clearly needed
Steve Jacobs: IGDA doesn't have a war chest the size of WGA's and can't afford a booth so we're not taking money away from austin
Tim Langdell: So, given no funding could you distribute any WGAw materials at Austin .... ?
Chris Bateman: Tim - how can an organisation with membership dues have no funding? Do you mean the new media caucus has no funding?
Steve Jacobs: dunno. Will ask
Chris Bateman: Might as well throw in the last agenda point, since it's already a free for all. :)
Chris Bateman: 4. Austin: Other ideas??? (Stephen Jacobs): Screenwriter outreach opportunity, Phone Call with GDC on 10/11, input from the group before I talk with Jamil
Tim Langdell: yes, I mean the New Media Caucus. There are several sources of funding we will now go after to fund WGAw Game Writers presence at GDC, E3 etc, but too short notice for Austin. We only just got voted in
Steve Jacobs: ok
confused englishman: WGGB isn't rich either, the subs come in but there's a MASSIVE amount of work to do supporting writers involved in legal disputes, fighting and lobbying changes in the law, attending things etc swallows a lot of money quickly!
Steve Jacobs: Outreach point
Sande: do we have a sign for the Writing SIG?
Steve Jacobs: I'm on an e-mail list for screenwriters
Steve Jacobs: standard sign should come with booth
Tim Langdell: Steve - which list for screenwriters out of interest?
Steve Jacobs: contacted them about pushing austing
Steve Jacobs: minute tim
Steve Jacobs: got invited to write a piece for their list either covering the show and/or introducing them to the game writing biz
Steve Jacobs: and the sig
Steve Jacobs: most of them are new or young in industry as its mainly a matchmaking service
Steve Jacobs: but it has an e-mail list of 80,000 subscribed
Sande: it's called minute?
Steve Jacobs: Should I pursue this or is it too much
Chris Bateman: I think that was short for 'just a minute'
Steve Jacobs: no need to look up name wanted to get discussion going first
Chris Bateman: I'm not sure what we would do if we were suddenly approached by even 1% of that mailing list.
Tim Langdell: hope you might say what List is Steve? Be interested to join it ...
Steve Jacobs: one second on the name tim need to look it up
Tim Langdell: k
Steve Jacobs: managing conversations here and an 8 and 10 yr old at home
Steve Jacobs: too much multitasking
Steve Jacobs: :-)
WendyDespain: hmm
WendyDespain: my first impulse is that pushing the austin conference would be good, but even that might be over their heads if they're newbies
WendyDespain: definitely push some of the articles on our website though
WendyDespain: like the whitepaper
Sande: Think Writer's Conference is trying to connect to newbs as well
Steve Jacobs: would be post show anyway at this point
Tim Langdell: i think going after newbs is a good idea ...
Chris Bateman: Is it worth bouncing this point (the outreach point) to the next agenda, as time is getting short and we still need to schedule the next meeting?
Ed Kuehnel: Back, sorry.
Steve Jacobs: http://www.inktip.com/
Steve Jacobs: happy to push it off to next time
Sande: We'd have to wonder how we would be able to deal with an influx of queries.
WendyDespain: I think the danger of 800 people joining our mailing list is that it turns more chatty than work-related. if that happens, a new mailing list can be created that is more work-focused.
Chris Bateman: OK, I've put this onto the next agenda for discussion.
Chris Bateman: Assuming it's okay to move to Any Other Business, we have the usual problem of when the next committee meeting is to be. Steve - are we about to be threatened by your change of schedule?
Steve Jacobs: SInce we've moved to 1st week of month instead of last, nov this time is still good
Steve Jacobs: We'll need to switch in Decemder, maybe
Chris Bateman: Okay, so next date would be...
Chris Bateman: Wednesday 2nd November?
Chris Bateman: Is this okay with everyone?
Ed Kuehnel: yes.
James Swallow: fine with me
Steve Jacobs: works
WendyDespain: I'm good with it
Chris Bateman: Okay, next meeting scheduled.... Any other AOB?
Steve Jacobs: nope
Steve Jacobs: tim, sent you some times
Steve Jacobs: wendy and ed will send doc to you now
Chris Bateman: Alright, meeting adjourned. Thanks everyone, and smoke 'em if you got 'em etc.
Tim Langdell: k - thanks Steve!
Ed Kuehnel: Sounds good. See you later.
Sande: bye
Tim Langdell: bye all
confused englishman: Have fun all!
Ahmad: cool later guys
James Swallow: cya
WendyDespain: thanks
Chris Bateman: Steve - anything get lost in the shuffle up there we need to talk about? The cross talk got a bit much at one point!
Steve Jacobs: yeah :-)
Steve Jacobs: I think we're ok
Steve Jacobs: I need to get some costs together once I've got the list from wendy and ed
Steve Jacobs: I need to find #s for coray for printing for the show
Steve Jacobs: and I need to get a few more booth times from folks and schedule a preshow meeting with those who will be going
Chris Bateman: Right, okay. You sound like you're on top of things. :)
WendyDespain: yeah, steve rocks
Chris Bateman: Do you want me to approach Jason (Della Rocca) about funding for the SIG presence in Austin?
Steve Jacobs: trying :-)
WendyDespain: jason's been very busy lately
Steve Jacobs: yah, once we know what it'll cost
Chris Bateman: He's *always* busy!
Chris Bateman: It won't hurt to warn him we want a bit of money.
Steve Jacobs: can point out we've got volunteers, got the booth comped and just need some printing and shipping covered
Steve Jacobs: and that we can distribute his stuff in our booth
Chris Bateman: Yeah, will do.
Chris Bateman: Alright, I'm going to attempt to find my work valve and decompress... Speak to you soon!