GWSIG Monthly Meeting Minutes/Meeting11

International Game Developers Association

ThatAndybloke: hi coray
Steve Jacobs: Big C :-)
WendyDespain: hrm, i'm switching computers. not really here for a few.
Steve Jacobs: Hey Chris
ThatAndybloke: Hi Chris
Coray Seifert: I think Chris is Big C. C-Money or C-Note is fine by me ;)
Chris Bateman: Hi all! I guess we should get underway...
Chris Bateman: I'll dig out the agenda.
Chris Bateman: Firstly, Apologies. Both Ben and Rich Dansky send their apologies.
Steve Jacobs: saw
Chris Bateman: Don't know if anyone else sent them... Anyone know of any other apologies?
ThatAndybloke: which wendy is wendy, I'm confused
ThatAndybloke: Has Igda sponsored a trip to Korea for her as a thanks for all the work she does?
Chris Bateman: Ok, moving onto Matters Arising.
Wendy Despain: I may be in two places at once, but I haven't really been cloned yet. it's all virtual.
Chris Bateman: A. Quarterly SIG Report (Coray Seifert) also: Quarterly to be added to SIG webpage
ThatAndybloke: Just to avoid any confusion, this is me and not a body double
Wendy Despain: Good to know. We haven't seen you in so long we were a bit suspicious.
ThatAndybloke: LOL, I only missed one meeting!
Wendy Despain: The report not being up on the SIG webpage is all my fault
Wendy Despain: It's on my todo list, but there hasn't been enough hours in the day yet
ThatAndybloke: hence the cloning
Wendy Despain: indeed
Coray Seifert: Regarding the last quarterly, it's currently being hosted at http://www.creoludus.com/IGDA/gwsigQuarterlyQ405.pdf...if we want to host it on the sig site, that would be just dandy too
Coray Seifert: oops, thats:
Coray Seifert: http://www.creoludus.com/IGDA/gwsigQuarterlyQ405.pdf
Wendy Despain: I want to reorganize the site a bit
Chris Bateman: Anything
Coray Seifert: Sorry Chris, didn't mean to interrupt you there...i thought that was my cue
Chris Bateman: *whoops* Mistpyed there... Anything else to add about the report, Coray?
James Swallow: hey guys, sorry i'm late
Coray Seifert: righto...
Coray Seifert: we've secured a layout editor after our last one's defection, so that's running along nicely
Wendy Despain: Hi James
Coray Seifert: Rich just turned in his article, which is awesome
ThatAndybloke: hi james
Coray Seifert: and we're just looking to fill in one game in the interviewing schedule
Coray Seifert: it appears that Chris won't be able to do his interview, but we have a few candidates lined up...
Steve Jacobs: game???
Coray Seifert: game? what is wrong with me today?
Coray Seifert: game = slot
Coray Seifert: sorry, writing game pitches today
ThatAndybloke: if you get stuck (i.e. desperate!) I'd be happy to scribe
Chris Bateman: OK, sounds like that's all going rather smoothly! I'll move on... feel free to keep adding comments if there's more to say, though.
Chris Bateman: B. Writer's Book (Chris Bateman)
Coray Seifert: sounds good...if anyone is interested in being interviewed, or knows someone who would be, please have them email me at seifertc@gmail.com and cc ben at ben@creoludus.com
Coray Seifert: Thanks, me done now. *bows*
Chris Bateman: Well, the book draft is almost complete - I'm missing just one chapter now, I think. I'm expecting it before the end of the week. That leaves me four weeks to edit it all into a common format. I'm not planning on doing any serious content revisions prior to the publisher's internal review, as I have learned that such efforts are usually premature, but I will make changes during the editing to try and get everything in a similar form. I expect it will be gruelling and unpleasant.
Steve Jacobs: nice
Steve Jacobs: I haven't forgotten I owe you a reformat
Coray Seifert: I actually need to get you a revision too Chris, just waiting to clear a script sample with the writer
Coray Seifert: i'll have it to you by 5:</b>00 PM eastern today
Chris Bateman: Steve - I wouldn't worry at this point, unless you can do it prior to Monday.
Wendy Despain: Can I ask who hasn't turned in their chapter? :-)
Steve Jacobs: I owe you and I can, so I will :-)
Chris Bateman: I'm going to have to reformat most of what's been submitted into a common format.
Chris Bateman: You can ask, Wendy, but I will politely not say. :)
Chris Bateman: I'm going to move on...
Chris Bateman: C. GDC Side Track for Game Writing (Steve Jacobs) also:</b> ESRB panel, also:</b> Jamil meeting (possibly Steve Jacobs, Chris Bateman, Rich Dansky, Andy Walsh, Susan O'Conner) [Is this still a live point?]
Wendy Despain: heh
Steve Jacobs: GDC meeting is scheduled for Monday afternoon at 4:</b>00
Wendy Despain: Well, since Andy won't be there we'll need someone else
Steve Jacobs: So far its me Susan and Mary
ThatAndybloke: Apologies for that, will be in studio chained to a cue button
Ed Kuehnel: hey all, sorry i missed it. on daddy duty today
Steve Jacobs: That can cover it if it needs to
Steve Jacobs: We don't need a horde to overwhelm him
Coray Seifert: I'd be happy to help too...should be free Monday...if we need people
Wendy Despain: I'm also curious about the ESRB panel - anybody know if it's for real?
Steve Jacobs: Ok Coray, you're in
Steve Jacobs: Would add well to the mix
Steve Jacobs: MEans I'm academic, Mary's Large Commercial Susan is free-lance and then there's you :-)
Coray Seifert: oh, if it makes any difference, I'll be Coray Seifert of THQ NYC by then
Steve Jacobs: cool
Coray Seifert: just thought i'd give the heads up
Coray Seifert: but in any case, that sounds good
Ed Kuehnel: Congrats Coray!
Wendy Despain: Do you still need a Guild rep?
ThatAndybloke: congrats to Coray!
Wendy Despain: and yeah - yay Coray!
James Swallow: nice on c-note
Chris Bateman: Congratulations Coray! You're going up in the world. :)
Steve Jacobs: Don't reallyt want one
Coray Seifert: Thanks all! :D
Steve Jacobs: :-)
Wendy Despain: heh, okay
Chris Bateman: Are we done on that point, Steve?
Steve Jacobs: Wanted andy for the UK Pov
Wendy Despain: I take it nobody knows anything about ESRB doing a panel about bad words
Steve Jacobs: I think so, we might want to think about what our agenda for that meeting is
Steve Jacobs: what we want to promote as part of this
Steve Jacobs: but that's another meeting and something we want to spend some real time on I think
Chris Bateman: OK
ThatAndybloke: Sorry Steve, hopefully working now will mean I can afford to come out later
Chris Bateman: D. Write Club (Ed Kuehnel)
Steve Jacobs: Not a problem dude
Wendy Despain: I think you could base it on the SIG's mission, though you may not want to do it blatantly
Steve Jacobs: you'll be working on itr anyway
ThatAndybloke: If you need anything in writing etc then let me know :0)
Ed Kuehnel: Looks like I've got Clint HOcking to be a celebrity judge for at least one of the tournaments
Steve Jacobs: Good ed
Coray Seifert: sweet!
Wendy Despain: nice
Wendy Despain: maybe he'll attract other big names
Ed Kuehnel: Also, I'm going to open up volunteering to the main list, as I haven't gotten much in the way of volunteers yet from the committee for various reasons: not attending, double booked, etc.
Ed Kuehnel: Unless maybe some of you have yet to come forward :)
Steve Jacobs: what do you need volunteers to do??
Wendy Despain: Hey Ed, I sure hope to be able to volunteer, but I haven't nailed down my plans yet
Chris Bateman: Ed: did you get my email in that regard?
Ed Kuehnel: Yes, Chris is booked. Coray is in for judging. Anyone else please email by the end of the month. THanks!
Wendy Despain: it sounds like you've got it all under control Ed
Chris Bateman: Ed - if you *do* need me, I need to know for which slot et al so I don't book anything else at the same time. I don't think I got any email back from you about it.
Steve Jacobs: Ed, lemme know what you need and when and I'll see if I can help
Ed Kuehnel: Ah, okay. I'll resend the days and times of the two tournaments. If you guys can show up for even one, it would be very helpful, as we'll want a strong SIG presence there especially form the committee
Chris Bateman: If possible, I'd like to get out of the Wednesday one because of the Ron Moore keynote, but needs must and all that...
Chris Bateman: Anyway, this sounds like stuff to follow up post meeting.
Steve Jacobs: yah
Chris Bateman: E. Writers Meal at GDC (Wendy Despain)
Chris Bateman: Wendy - the writer's gathering is in the afternoon of the Wendesday.
Steve Jacobs: now we're talking !! :-)
Chris Bateman: But I have a nasty feeling that there's something else going on that evening... Anyone got a GDC schedule on hand?
Steve Jacobs: crawl I think
Steve Jacobs: Could do it after that
Wendy Despain: sure, get everyone real drunk before we even get together
Coray Seifert: sweet! then we can sing the eagles fight song again!
Coray Seifert: sorry, tangent...
Chris Bateman: Wendy - what do you need to arrange the Writer's Meal?
Wendy Despain: the gdc website doesn't seem to do a good job of displaying the schedule
Coray Seifert: yeah, seriously...trying to track one down in the office now
Chris Bateman: Chances are if its an evening event it's something special like the awards...
Wendy Despain: I'd like a)an aproximate count of how many to expect b) an agreed-on time and meeting place
Steve Jacobs: I could easily miss the awards
Chris Bateman: Found it! It's the Developer's Choice Awards. Would we prefer not to go head-to-head with that? (Personally I don't care)
Steve Jacobs: Do you guys go??
Coray Seifert: akk, i have to attend (up for IGF award)
Steve Jacobs: good excuse
Wendy Despain: what time are the awards?
Chris Bateman: They start at 6:30 pm.
Chris Bateman: They go on interminably. :)
Steve Jacobs: Tuesday night???
Chris Bateman: Regarding approximate numbers, we never know until the day. What I suggest is booking for a party of twenty and warning them that you won't know the actual size of the party until the day itself. Hopefully wherever we book will be flexible. :)
Ed Kuehnel: I won't be going to the awards either.
Ed Kuehnel: But I'm in for the dinner.
Chris Bateman: Ideally, it has to be after the Writers Group Gathering so we can let people who attend that know when it is.
Chris Bateman: Coray - are the IGF awards at the front or the back end of the awards?
Wendy Despain: and the group gathering is wednesday?
Coray Seifert: front end, but there's usually a reception and such that it's rude not to attend :</b> (
Coray Seifert: afterwards, that is
Coray Seifert: Would a late dinner be amenable to folks? Perhaps after the GDCAs?
Chris Bateman: Yes, 2:30 pm Wednesday is the group gathering.
Chris Bateman: I thought the awards usually go on for hours and hours...?
Steve Jacobs: could be
Coray Seifert: hmmm...good point
Chris Bateman: Although I have dodged them every year, despite Jason's insistence that I should go. :)
Wendy Despain: what about Thursday?
Chris Bateman: I was about to ask if anyone knows what's going on Thursday night (as there's bound to be something!)
Chris Bateman: Anyone know?
Coray Seifert: looks like Suite Night (7:00 - 9:00) and the GANG awards
Wendy Despain: And Coray, if Austin was any measure, I imagine the group will be out drinking somewhere Wednesday night
Coray Seifert: http://www.gdconf.com/networking/index.htm
Steve Jacobs: I'll be back in ROchester seeing The Lion King with my kids, does that count??? :-)
Wendy Despain: okay, what about an early dinner - say 5pm on Wednesday?
Steve Jacobs: That could work too :-)
Chris Bateman: I have a meeting at 5:30 pm that day... I might be able to reschedule it if that's the best option, though.
Coray Seifert: That sounds cool to me, although that coincides with booth crawl, which a few folks might want to attend (my goal is to stay sober until the risk for walking on a stage has passed, so i'm not one of em)
Chris Bateman: Ack. Why is this so tricky! :)
Chris Bateman: Let's have it Thursday. I don't even know what Suite Night and the GANG awards is. :)
Coray Seifert: I'm going to be a nerd and propose Friday, since I have nothing going on
Coray Seifert: haha that works
Wendy Despain: well, here's a question - if we have a "group gather" do we also need a formal group dinner?
Steve Jacobs: GANG is Audio
Chris Bateman: Well Friday would be great, except most people leave before Friday. :)
Chris Bateman: Wendy:</b> the meal was the best thing about last year! I don't want to do without it! An hour of Group Gathering isn't quite the same as getting together with everyone in a more informal atmostphere.
Steve Jacobs: What happened at austin was that the board and friends ate together for dinner and that might work together with a gathering after the idga booth thing
Coray Seifert: akk, meeting! gotta run!
Steve Jacobs: gotta fly
Steve Jacobs: later
Coray Seifert: i trust you all will make excellent decisions
Chris Bateman: We'll do our best! See you guys later!
ThatAndybloke: why not have two meals?
James Swallow: c-ya guys
Coray Seifert: bye bye!
ThatAndybloke: Austin had about 15
Ed Kuehnel: Byae all
Wendy Despain: well, that's what I'm thinking - maybe we just make the meals informal, every night
ThatAndybloke: bye james
ThatAndybloke: by steve
James Swallow: i'm not leaving!
ThatAndybloke: bye coray
ThatAndybloke: hi james
James Swallow: unless i'm being shunned...
James Swallow: bwah
ThatAndybloke: some people pay for that
Chris Bateman: Now that's a novel idea... We can have whomever is available each night go for a meal. Seems a pain to organise. We'd need someone available each night who can act as a nucleus, I suppose. What do people think? Genius or insanity?
Wendy Despain: what? kick someone out who has the potential of doing some work? we'd never do that
Wendy Despain: I think it worked out very well at Austin and seems to have been popular
Chris Bateman: OK. So we'd have a standing arrangement every night that all available writers will meet at the IGDA booth, and then go for a meal/drink somewhere.
Wendy Despain: exactly
Chris Bateman: Thus allowing you to dodge organising anything. :-D
Chris Bateman: The perfect crime. :)
Chris Bateman: Any thoughts from what's left of the floor?
Wendy Despain: I think we're starting to recognize each other enough that we could do it
Wendy Despain: although it might not hurt to have t-shirts or pins or something identifying us
Chris Bateman: Well it's about getting the new folks to recongise us too - we could get some new blood in from this, after all.
Wendy Despain: "As me about the IGDA Writing SIG!"
ThatAndybloke: You've made me hungry, I can tell you that
Wendy Despain: er
Wendy Despain: "Ask me
ThatAndybloke: I'm Igda, fly me?
Chris Bateman: Well we seem to have reached a broad agreement on this one. Any last minute objections?
Wendy Despain: you said you would be glued to a cue button
Wendy Despain: sounds like concensus to me, Chris
Chris Bateman: OK, that's all the Matters Arising. Onto the Agenda.
Chris Bateman: 1. WGGB (Andy Walsh)
ThatAndybloke: Oh, eek
Chris Bateman: If you want to bounce this to the next agenda, I have no problems with doing that. :)
ThatAndybloke: Right, there was a meeting of WGGB's new media council of expertise
ThatAndybloke: Read me, James and Rhianna, who got together over a few beers to strart drawing up an informal set of guidelines to be used by writers and employers in the UK
ThatAndybloke: a draft of these will be circulated in the near future
ThatAndybloke: We'll also be coordinating with the AGW and the WGA to bring together a harmonised apporach where and when possible.
ThatAndybloke: We're also in the early planning stages of a new event like 2005's BAFTA one, so at some point we'll be looking for speakers and atendees
ThatAndybloke: Finalllly, the WGGB website was totalled by a technical hitch, the good news is that when it reappears it will have a section for games writers on it as well as film, theatre, tv etc.
Wendy Despain: heh
Chris Bateman: Cool. All sounds very positive.
Chris Bateman: I can't help but notice that the WGGB's New Media COE is 100% SIGgy. :)
ThatAndybloke: The first steps to recognising games credits as allowing accees to full Guild membershp ahve also been taken
ThatAndybloke: You've even been to the pub where we do our plotting :0)
Chris Bateman: I feel honoured. :)
Chris Bateman: Anything else to add?
ThatAndybloke: and that's it in a nutshell
Chris Bateman: OK, cool. Very concise!
Chris Bateman: 2. Game Marketing Conference (Wendy Despain)
Wendy Despain: we'll begin taking over the world by starting in London
ThatAndybloke: any input/comments welcomed and I'll circulate the guidelines if anyone wants to comment on them
Wendy Despain: circulating guidelines is good
Wendy Despain: As for the Game Marketing Conference, I was disapointed at the lack of enthusiasm or excitement when it was brought up on the mailing list
ThatAndybloke: ps I made the coe title up, it's not official
Wendy Despain: i think we need to take our message to the marketers as well as the developers
Wendy Despain: but i guess no one is planning to attend the marketing conference?
Wendy Despain: i mean, no one from the sig
ThatAndybloke: No, sorry :0(
Wendy Despain: hrm
Wendy Despain: i wonder if Sande would be interested in doing a talk there
ThatAndybloke: maybe it's something to focus on in advance for next year?
Wendy Despain: or maybe we'll ne
Wendy Despain: yeah
Wendy Despain: that
Wendy Despain: Developers this year, Marketers in 2007
Chris Bateman: I think the trouble with marketing conferences is that they have a certain feel to them which is very hard for an 'outsider' to penetrate. I agree that it's worth taking our message to the marketers - but I'm not certain how we would do it.
ThatAndybloke: good marketing?
ThatAndybloke: would a list of review quotes help with that?
Chris Bateman: Ha ha! Nice. :)
Wendy Despain: hmm, i've done marketing in the past. They don't scare me.
ThatAndybloke: seriously though, that is becoming a marketing point and a number of pr people use qoutes and names in marketing material
Wendy Despain: I'd love to go speek at this conference if someone else would pay for it
ThatAndybloke: plus many of them are fed up of pushing naff quality stuff, so they are sometimes people who push for professional writers to be on the team
Wendy Despain: but as you said - maybe next year
Chris Bateman: Well I don't want to discourage us from taking action if it's reasonable to do so now.
Wendy Despain: and marketing sometimes has more pull on publishers than developers do
Chris Bateman: But perhaps we do need some more resources before we can make a move. It's a possible initiative to pursue, certainly - as gathering positive reviews which reference story could be a valuable resource full stop.
Wendy Despain: well, I'm not seeing much enthusiasm for it
Chris Bateman: Well to be fair there's only three other people here, Wendy. :)
Wendy Despain: i meant the conference :-)
Wendy Despain: well, on the mailing list as well
Chris Bateman: Oh right. I just don't think we're even remotely ready to begin an assault on marketing.
Chris Bateman: Fortifications first, invasions later. :)
Wendy Despain: okay, i'll stick it in my pocket for next year
ThatAndybloke: Is there a longterm list, maybe it could go on there, so it's...you beat me to it :0)
Chris Bateman: Are you at GDC this year?
Wendy Despain: I'm hoping to be at GDC this year
Wendy Despain: but i don't have the funds yet
Chris Bateman: 'Hoping'... That usually means 'No, but I don't know it yet.'
Wendy Despain: one of my gigs just got its deadlines juggled :-)
Chris Bateman: OK, fair enough. Do you want me to bounce this to the next agenda for when we have more people in attendence?
Wendy Despain: no, you can take it off the agenda
Wendy Despain: i've got it out of my system
Chris Bateman: OK. Do bring it up again, though, as it is worth some action at some point.
Wendy Despain: sure
Chris Bateman: However, in the meantime... that puts the agenda at a close and brings us to....
Chris Bateman: Any Other Business
Chris Bateman: First up in AOB, as ever. Next meeting?
ThatAndybloke: I think we should ahve one
Chris Bateman: Following the current utterly erratic pattern, it would fall on Thursday March 2nd. That would be better for me than March 9th, certainly.
Chris Bateman: Would the three remaining people care to offer an opinion?
Wendy Despain: heh, i was just going to say that March 9 is better than March 2 for me
James Swallow: either one works for me
Wendy Despain: but my plans on March 2 aren't fixed yet, so i'll make it if i can
Chris Bateman: Well I'm in London then (9th). We could take it back one week to Thursday 23rd of February instead if that's better.
ThatAndybloke: I'm working on a theatre project with munchkins both days, so if I make either, it'll be at the end of the meeting, but probable means I'll be a no show, I'm afraid
Chris Bateman: Of course, that's only two weeks time.
Wendy Despain: what about closer to GDC?
ThatAndybloke: 23rd I'm teaching teachers how to teach munchkins. Fancy a pint on the 23rd?
Chris Bateman: Thursday 16th March - one week prior to GDC.
James Swallow: i can't make the 23rd either
ThatAndybloke: the 9th I meant
Chris Bateman: Who can make the 16th?
Wendy Despain: i can make the 16th
James Swallow: 16th works for me too
ThatAndybloke: that depends on my adhesion to the cue button, sorry arggh!
ThatAndybloke: If I escape I'll be here!
Chris Bateman: Alright. Let's pencil this in for the 16th of March for now, then.
Wendy Despain: so you're basically booked up every Thursday evening in March
ThatAndybloke: depending on jiggling
Chris Bateman: Any other AOB?
ThatAndybloke: yes
ThatAndybloke: Are you up for a pint when you're in london?
ThatAndybloke: We can gather the WGGB Idga SOE
Chris Bateman: Yes, in principle. But it's going to be hard to work out when. Would you be willing to get together at lunch instead of in the evening? My evening on Wednesday 8th is booked up, but my Thursday is currently free-ish.
James Swallow: aren't we talking about the 9th?
ThatAndybloke: I might be working during the day
ThatAndybloke: I think so
ThatAndybloke: In fact I am working during the day on the 8th and 9th so it'd have to be evening
James Swallow: the evening of the 9th works fine for me
ThatAndybloke: wendy?
ThatAndybloke: care to join us?
Chris Bateman: The trouble is I'm not definitely staying in London on the evening of the 9th.
ThatAndybloke: Even with this invitation to a social soiree of unparalleled delights?
Wendy Despain: you can all pitch in and pay my way there :-)
Chris Bateman: I'll have to check the trains and get back to you. I'll email you two + Rhianna once my schedule firms up a little. It depends upon about six different people, so it's slightly outside of my control.
ThatAndybloke: no probs. any other any other business?
James Swallow: wendy - we could teleconference...
James Swallow: yeah, one AOB thingy
Chris Bateman: Damn. Just when I thought we were free. :)
James Swallow: just a thought - is anyone going to the Develop conference in Brighton on the 12-13th July?
Wendy Despain: sure, you guys give me a call and put me on speakerphone. i'll happily attend.
ThatAndybloke: LOL
ThatAndybloke: Hadn't registered that, is it any good?
Chris Bateman: I hadn't given it any thought, Jim. To be honest, I'll probably only go if I'm invited to talk, as it's a bit far from Manchester otherwise.
James Swallow: i don't know anything about it, but it might be worth a look-see, maybe put some feelers out to the organisers
ThatAndybloke: h'okay :0)
Chris Bateman: Alright, well this meeting is already a *shameful* seven minutes overrun (gasp!), so I guess all that remains is to thank everyone for coming, and to declare this meeting closed. *sound of virtual gavel*