GWSIG Monthly Meeting Minutes/Meeting12

International Game Developers Association

Ed Kuehnel: hey all
Ed Kuehnel: I'll be a little touch and go, watching the kids today as usual.
Steve Jacobs: how annoying
Paul Marzagalli: Hi guys, I'll be ghosting this meeting for the most part. Just wanted to stop in and catch up with all the pre-GDC hype.
Paul Marzagalli: Coray, I have one question - how did the next issue come out?
Chris Bateman: Hi all. I guess we'll start in just a moment...
Steve Jacobs: Dunno why it got set to me needing to approve folk and can't change it now we've tarted
Steve Jacobs: sorry 'bout that
Paul Marzagalli: Steve is mad with power lust.
Steve Jacobs: oh yea, all day :-)
Steve Jacobs: Today the chat room tomorrow the wwwoooorrrlllddd!
Steve Jacobs: bwahahahaha
Chris Bateman: Alright, I make it 5 pm here. Let's get rolling.
Coray Seifert: Hey Paul, we actually found a professional newspaper layout editor to do it...so things worked out pretty nicely :D
Chris Bateman: Kicking off with Apologies for Absence.
Chris Bateman: I have an apology from Andy Walsh. Anyone heard anything from anyone else?
Steve Jacobs: nope
WendyDespain: Beth won't be here, but she's not on the committee
Chris Bateman: Sure.
Chris Bateman: On with the Matters Arising, then.
Chris Bateman: A. Quarterly SIG Report (Coray Seifert) also: Quarterly to be added to SIG webpage
Coray Seifert: the GDC quarterly?
Coray Seifert: that should be fine, just want to make sure we're talking about the right one
WendyDespain: I finally got the link up on the SIG webpage to the first quarterly
Chris Bateman: Well, I think this is just a chance for you to raise anything relevant about the quarterly. :)
WendyDespain: so when you're ready, it'll be quick for me to put up a link to the second one
Coray Seifert: ahh, ok
WendyDespain: Jason said he'd put it in the IGDA newsletter when the second one is available online
Coray Seifert: well, we should have a page-by-page version ready soon
Coray Seifert: perhaps even by today
Steve Jacobs: nice
Coray Seifert: i'll upload it to the CLE website and you guys can grab it from there
Chris Bateman: Cool. Anything else to add, or does that take care of it?
WendyDespain: just email me when it's ready
Coray Seifert: we may need some volunteers to help hand out copies at GDC, but i'll send an email out if that is the case
Ed Kuehnel: We could hand some out during Write Club, though turnout will likely be low. Ben, maybe you can bring some?
Steve Jacobs: Think we can ue IGDA booth as distribution point, leave stack there?
Steve Jacobs: How 'bout Charles river since they are our publisher so to speak?
Chris Bateman: The IGDA booth is a good central point, but we should stock them at the Write Club events, since they are SIG endorsed.
Coray Seifert: hmm, all good ideas
Chris Bateman: I don't think the CRM Booth is an ideal place to handout - the IGDA area is usually more central.
Steve Jacobs: Yea, I was thinking both
WendyDespain: i don't suppose we know if CRM will be promoting the book in any way?
Steve Jacobs: Lots of folks won't hit the IGDA booth that will make the rounds to see what books are out
Chris Bateman: Well I can ask Jenifer, but my instinct is that she won't have the authority to make a decision, and therefore it will prove difficult to get agreement out of them at such short notice.
Chris Bateman: I'll shoot off a quick email to ask, though.
Steve Jacobs: cool
Coray Seifert: yeah, can't hurt
WendyDespain: pitch it as a way to promote the book
Steve Jacobs: Is there a plug for the book in the quarterly
Steve Jacobs: ?/
BenServiss: hey there, sorry for the lateness
WendyDespain: hey Ben
Coray Seifert: yes, there is an exerpt from the book, actually
Chris Bateman: I've emailed Jenifer. I'll email the committee what she says in response.
Chris Bateman: And talking about the book...
Chris Bateman: B. Writer's Book (Chris Bateman)
Chris Bateman: Remember last meeting when I said "I'm not planning to do much editing at this stage..." Well, I score big on the Famous Last Words with that one! As it happened, I had to do a truckload of editing just to get everyone into a common format, and also because it rapidly became apparent that there is no second stage of editing to come - so this was the one and only chance to get the copy in line.
Steve Jacobs: ouch
Ed Kuehnel: Hats off for that.
Coray Seifert: cheers to Chris!
Chris Bateman: Anyway, despite some loss of hair, I did get it done, and everyone involved should have received a copy of the manuscript to review. It would be exceptionally handy if everyone could read at least one chapter and feedback, because we are the only people providing peer review for this (which is also not what I was expecting)!
BenServiss: (I just caught up with the chat, and yes we will have a bunch of Quarterlies at the IGDA booth- resume regularly scheduled conversation :P)
Steve Jacobs: printing some now :-)
Chris Bateman: I'm reasonably pleased with the way it came out, but I would feel more confident if there was anyone who had read it cover to cover and could comment on general points such as the sequence, structure etc. Sande is supposed to be doing it, but with the short deadline there's only so much that can be achieved.
WendyDespain: it might not hurt to send the manuscript to the editors as well as the writers
Chris Bateman: Yes, I would have done this if I had a list of the editor's email addresses somewhere useful. :(
WendyDespain: what's the deadline for reviewing?
Steve Jacobs: I'm planning (famous last words) to blow through the first 6 with an eye to overlap and contradictions, since it seems they'd be the ones most fipe for it
Chris Bateman: But looking at the list it's only Beth, Wendy, Ben and Ahmad who are editors and not writers.
Chris Bateman: Thanks Steve - if you have time for that, it would be extremely helpful. Editing has inevitably left me caught up in minutae such as the common glossary, so extra eyes would be extremely useful.
Steve Jacobs: If I can do that much without shooting myself in the next 3 days, that is . Gues there's a use for a 6 hour plane ride :-)
WendyDespain: don't shoot yourself, Steve. We need you to go to the meeting with Jamil :-)
Steve Jacobs: Of course any contradictions will be resolved in my favor, since I'm always right :-)
Chris Bateman: Wendy: the deadline for me to recieve edits is (insanely) Friday 24th March i.e. the last day of GDC.
Chris Bateman: Because I have to submit a final manuscript by the last day of March.
Steve Jacobs: Good, I'll just give you all my markedup hardcopy on Wednesday :-)
Chris Bateman: However, I'm secretly willing to accept feedback from people that come slightly after this date, as long as I know about it.
WendyDespain: yes, you may be returning to britain with several hardcopy manuscripts, heh
Chris Bateman: Except I'm not returning to the UK until April 14th, so I'll actually be doing all the editing on my laptop.
Chris Bateman: I hope it's up to the task!
BenServiss: Yow, that is quite insane
WendyDespain: Chris, our very own crazy man. I guess every village needs one.
Chris Bateman: For the most part, I'm *not* after minor copy edits, as the CRM copyeditor will catch those. What I really want is a high level assessment of how the content sits together. Structure, sequence, how the common language of the glossary works and so forth.
Chris Bateman: Minor edits will just take too long to implement. Although anything where clarity is lacking is more important, as the copyeditor will read as a tropism, with no knowledge of the content.
Chris Bateman: Anyway, I've said all I need to for now. If you have any spare time, please have a read of the manuscript! Thank you!
Chris Bateman: Moving on...
Chris Bateman: C. GDC Side Track for Game Writing (Steve Jacobs) also: ESRB panel, also:</b> Jamil meeting (possibly Steve Jacobs, Chris Bateman, Rich Dansky, Andy Walsh, Susan O'Conner)
Steve Jacobs: Ok
WendyDespain: Andy Walsh can be removed from that list
Steve Jacobs: The cast of character is now, I think, Sande Ben and Susan
Steve Jacobs: You in Ben???
Steve Jacobs: man, my keyboard needs help
WendyDespain: Chris and Rich aren't going?
Steve Jacobs: With any of y'all invited to a pre-mmeting Sunday afternoon
Chris Bateman: [Coray: does the quarterly need keeping on the matters arising?] [Steve: does this GDC side track expire after GDC, or does it want to stay on the MA?]
Chris Bateman: I don't arrive until Wednesday.
Chris Bateman: Tuesday evening, rather.
WendyDespain: and what day is the meeting?
Steve Jacobs: Chris I think the GDDC thing stays
Chris Bateman: k
BenServiss: Right, I'm on board
Steve Jacobs: ok here's the short of it
Steve Jacobs: SUnday afternoon (me sande and Ben) and evening (me and Susan) prep a bit for Monday's meeting at 4:00 with Jamil
Steve Jacobs: THis is an initial meeting how GDC and the SIG might work together if one of the conferences "Focuses" next year is Writing
Steve Jacobs: We' previously given him a massive shopping list of possible tutorials, WS, etc
Steve Jacobs: so he knows we're happy to help there
Steve Jacobs: we'll also discuss how we might help with promotion, etc
Steve Jacobs: My sense is that he doesn't want to officially hand over conference content for groups to program
Steve Jacobs: but that we might work together to determine critical areas of focus for presentations etc
Coray Seifert: [I'm also in for the Sunday brainstorming session]
Steve Jacobs: which would then put us a step-ahead in submitting our "independent" proposals for sessions next year
Ed Kuehnel: Guys, my 10 month old is just now waking up, I'll try to check in, but I'm going to have to be away for a bit. If I miss Write Club I'll send everyone an email update later.
Steve Jacobs: ensureing that we and GDC get content covered that we want covered with out them formally handing us the keys
Steve Jacobs: cool coray
Chris Bateman: Ed:</b> Okay. Write Club was next on the agenda; throw it in when you get a chance!
WendyDespain: thanks Ed, I've got a few questions about it :-)
Ed Kuehnel: false alarm! I'm here.
WendyDespain: tricky infants :-)
Steve Jacobs: THis meeting is to be somewhat high level, a kind of getting to know you /10,ooo feeet above chat
Steve Jacobs: specifics would ensue after this conf is over
Chris Bateman: Steve:</b> the existence of the meeting at all is a positive step.
Steve Jacobs: Anyway, that's my sense of it
Chris Bateman: It does sound as if there's nothing left to do in terms of prep; we just need to wait and see how it pans out.
Steve Jacobs: I've formally asked all participants in this meeting to focus on SIG participation. Almost everyone of us going has ties to at least one other conference
Steve Jacobs: We'll see how it goes :-)
Chris Bateman: Cool. If there's nothing else on that one, that brings us to...
Chris Bateman: D. Write Club (Ed Kuehnel)
Ed Kuehnel: Sorry for the delay in getting info to you volunteers. Coming soon, I promise.
Ed Kuehnel: A brief overview: We will quickly pare down any large turnouts (unlikely) to a manageable number via a round or two of instant death elimnation.
Ed Kuehnel: Afterwards, our manageable number 10-12, will undertake a series of writing exercises, and judges will score each one on a point scale.
BenServiss: Hmm, looks like Rich is having compu-tor problems getting in to the meeting
Ed Kuehnel: The winner gets a trophy and bragging rights. I'm still trying to nail down Clint Hocking to appear at one session, and one of the Psychonauts writers for the other.
Steve Jacobs: Huh, not seeing a pop-up from richard
WendyDespain: do we have a trophy?
Ed Kuehnel: I'll email the writing tasks Matt and I came up with to the committee after this meeting.
Steve Jacobs: Wish I knew how to undo this blocker
Ed Kuehnel: It'll be a crappy plastic one, but yes, we'll have trophies.
Steve Jacobs: I'll try again
Chris Bateman: Fantastic. Trophies are always cool, even when cheap and plastic. :)
WendyDespain: go Ed
Chris Bateman: It sounds like it's all in hand. Is there anything specific to go over now?
WendyDespain: sounds like you're all organized
Ed Kuehnel: Er...yeah. Totally.
Ed Kuehnel: Being laid off I have much less time than when I was working :)
Chris Bateman: Compensation! :)
Steve Jacobs: ask rich to try again
Chris Bateman: Ok, moving on.
Chris Bateman: E. Writers Meal(s) at GDC (General Reminder). This is just a reminder that every day at GDC, writers will gather at the IGDA booth at 6:30 pm (close of buisness) and go for a meal somewhere. I should be able to make Thursday's.
Steve Jacobs: Monday and Tuesday as well??
Chris Bateman: *shrugs* Don't know Steve. What do you think?
Steve Jacobs: I could do at least one or both
WendyDespain: Monday and Tuesday as well
Steve Jacobs: Wednesday is booked and Thursday am I'm gone
WendyDespain: Beth and I like to eat dinner in large groups :-)
Rhianna Pratchett: Sorry I'm late, was seeing to a sick boyfriend!
Chris Bateman: Oh, I forgot to say that I am hoping to join everyone on Wednesday as well - but I have an interview until 7:15 pm on Wednesday. So I need someone to txt me where everyone goes to on Wednesday so I can catch up with you later.
WendyDespain: We'll meet up Monday and Tuesday probably at the Information booth?
WendyDespain: someone said that's a central-ish place available when the floor isn't open
Steve Jacobs: Sure Wendy
BenServiss: I should be able to make a few nights, possibly Monday, Tuesday n Thurs
BenServiss: Depending on how the will of the conference gods shakes down :P
WendyDespain: Welcome Rhianna :-)
Chris Bateman: Hi Rhianna! Didn't notice you pop in there! :D
Rhianna Pratchett: I should be able to read my chapter and the one before it fine for the 24th Chris
Chris Bateman: Thanks Rhianna - that'll be helpful.
WendyDespain: do we need to put together a contact list for the SIG while at GDC?
Steve Jacobs: Might not hurt
Rhianna Pratchett: Sorry, he's being all manish about it... so obviously it's Black Death... nto flu
Rhianna Pratchett: not
BenServiss: Yeah, good call
Steve Jacobs: Send an e-mail out and let people opt in??
WendyDespain: if anybody wants to be on it - email me your contact info
Steve Jacobs: ah, great minds... :-)
WendyDespain: yeah, i'll email the list too
Steve Jacobs: Even if one is mannish :-)
Chris Bateman: Yeah, that's sensible.
Chris Bateman: That should make life much easier if we can have a common set of contacts.
WendyDespain: then i'll collect them all and put them into a list and email that out to everyone
Rhianna Pratchett: Did you manaage to find your lost Mr Boon Chris?
Chris Bateman: Rhianna: yes, eventually. I'll tell you about it some time. :)
Rhianna Pratchett: ahh good... Rich sent an email saying he can't connect btw
Steve Jacobs: ok ask him to give it one last shot as I've tweaked something in the SW
Chris Bateman: OK. Well we're done with Matters Arising. One agenda point today...
Chris Bateman: Job listings in the quarterly? (Wendy Despain)
BenServiss: For employers or employees?
WendyDespain: well, mostly I wanted to open up the question
WendyDespain: I've had several people ask me about how their company would go about notifying the SIG of open positions for writers
BenServiss: That's a good idea, could be a great way to use the quarterly for writers to communicate with developers
Steve Jacobs: MIght make more sense on the www site or Wiki, unless they're coming open just as we go to press
WendyDespain: and we don't really have a policy for that
Coray Seifert: yeah, the quarterly is kinda tight on space too...
WendyDespain: well, Bioware seems to have a constant need for writers
BenServiss: Sounds like the best route would be to a sidebar in teh quarterly directing people to a job board on the igda/writing page
Rhianna Pratchett: Yes but only if they move to Canada :)
WendyDespain: the thing about puting it in the quarterly - they might be willing to pay actual money for that, and that would help with costs of printing
Steve Jacobs: The queen is still on the Money Rhianna :-)
Coray Seifert: plus, we do the layout of the quarterly one month, and those jobs might be filled the next...but if the SIG wants to do it, we can make it happen! :D
Chris Bateman: I fear the quarterly is too infrequently updated for job listings.
Coray Seifert: good point Wendy
Rhianna Pratchett: True, and everyone love Canadians ;)
Chris Bateman: Of course, if people are willing to pay to list jobs in the quartlery, that could be useful. :</b>)
BenServiss: The best route sounds like a redirect from the quarterly to an online hub
Steve Jacobs: Perhaps sponsored by Bioware :-)
Steve Jacobs: WHo always needs writers
WendyDespain: if everyone is generally sort of positive about this, I'll bring it up with Jason to see if IGDA has any concerns
BenServiss: Hmm, now that's an idea!
Rhianna Pratchett: The www site seems the best idea... but perhaps both the site and the quarterly?
Chris Bateman: Wendy:</b> are you webmistress still?
BenServiss: Just as long as we don't end up publishing the Bioware/Pandemic/Elevation Partners Game Writers Quarterly Newsletter & Job Festival
Steve Jacobs: "Looking for a job and want to move to Canada, go to bioware.com!!! Otherwise, please visit the sig website " :-)
WendyDespain: Yes, I'm webmistress still
Chris Bateman: k
Coray Seifert: brought to you by THQ
Coray Seifert: ...and Kaos studios...and Creo Ludus Entertainment...and... ;)
BenServiss: Corporate sponsorship-the way of the future!
Chris Bateman: Are you happy to maintain a job listing section? Would the wiki be a better choice, given the open moderation.
Paul Marzagalli: Hi all, I have to head out. Great checking in and hearing what's going on. I look forward to perusing the minutes later on. Just to echo my messageboard sentiments of yesterday, safe travels and good times for everyone GDC-bound. Have fun and good luck with all IGDA activities.
Steve Jacobs: HHHHmmmm perhaps I can collect $ and get my students tattoed all at the same time....
Chris Bateman: Thanks Paul!
WendyDespain: i could probably maintain ajob listing section. the wiki doesn't get enough traffic.
Coray Seifert: perhaps the forum?
Coray Seifert: see you soon paul
BenServiss: Thanks Paul, see ya later
Steve Jacobs: Thx Paul, sorry we'll miss ya
BenServiss: The web page would look a lot more professional
Paul Marzagalli: Don't worry, you'll have me to kick around in Austin again soon enough. Ok, I'm out! Happy trails!
Chris Bateman: I'm just concerned at the amount of time that might be required to maintain job listings. But to be fair, we have no idea of the volume of listings at this time.
WendyDespain: if people were paying for listings, I'd definitely keep up on it. It's amazing what a little money will do for my motivation. :-)(even if it's just going to cause i believe in and not directly to me)
Steve Jacobs: What's the IGDA policy, or is there one?
WendyDespain: I seem to remember that IGDA had some concerns about job listings
BenServiss: That's the tricky part, the IGDA doesn't want to be associated with stealing employees
BenServiss: although a good amount of game writers work contract to contract, so there might not be an issue
Chris Bateman: Yes. There may be an issue there. I should probably discuss this with Jason.
Chris Bateman: Let me check in with Jason on the topic, get an official IGDA party line, then we can discuss this further at the next meeting.
WendyDespain: ok
Chris Bateman: OK. That brings us to AOB (any other business)
Chris Bateman: First up, as ever: next meeting date?
WendyDespain: mid-April?
BenServiss: Looks like the 13th or 20th, if we want to keep the Thursday tradition
Chris Bateman: How about April 20th?
Steve Jacobs: checking...
Chris Bateman: (I'm still in the US on the 13th, and fly out the day after, so not ideal for me)
WendyDespain: i'm fine with the 20th
Steve Jacobs: 20th is good
Chris Bateman: Any problems for the 20th?
BenServiss: 20th = groovy
Chris Bateman: OK. 20th April it is.
Chris Bateman: Any Other Any Other Business?
WendyDespain: hmm
Steve Jacobs: Who's moderating the general writers list? I just sent mail with a pdf attached so it'll be awaiting your approval :-)
Chris Bateman: Wendy and I moderate, I think. She usually beats me to it though. :</b>)
Steve Jacobs: Ok crowd, I'm off to a faculty meeting. See you next week.
Steve Jacobs: ...poof
WendyDespain: got it
Chris Bateman: *waves*
BenServiss: Bye Steve
Chris Bateman: Sounds like there's no AOB, in which case I declare this meeting closed. *sound of gavel* smoke em if you got 'em.