GWSIG Monthly Meeting Minutes/Meeting25

International Game Developers Association

atemporaryswede: greetings all, quiet in here isn't it!
atemporaryswede: Doesn't look like we'll be quorate, but we can review the agenda
Steve Jacobs: howdy
SChen: how many do you need for a quorum?
atemporaryswede: Steve?
Steve Jacobs: yah??
atemporaryswede: I know Rich, J and Wendy can't make it
atemporaryswede: any idea what makes us quorate?
atemporaryswede: LOL
Steve Jacobs: hmmm, a fine question :-)
atemporaryswede: shall we talk things over and agree things anyway as we're here
Steve Jacobs: Yah and I'll try to look it up
atemporaryswede: and the official thing can only be called upon should people threaten to hang us from things
atemporaryswede: so no.1 books update
atemporaryswede: book update is...pending
Rhianna Pratchett: Hi guys
atemporaryswede: As far as I know wendy is still in negotiations with publishers
Kim: Hi.
atemporaryswede: hi Rhi!
atemporaryswede: anyone any other updates on the book?
SChen: Do you know if we should still send in Outlines by June 1?
Beth A. Dillon: I sent her my outline, they're due June 1 I believe.
Beth A. Dillon: Not sure how the others are going.
atemporaryswede: I've not even starter, or even know which book we're doing
atemporaryswede: I was awaiting an update
atemporaryswede: I'll miss the 1st if that is the date
Beth A. Dillon: Yeah
SChen: We were operating under the assumption that both books outlines were due
Rhianna Pratchett: I emailed wendy weeks ago asking about what I was doing and I never got a reply
atemporaryswede: I wasn't clear on that one
Beth A. Dillon: Maybe check the wiki?
Rhianna Pratchett: I wasn't listed for anything, neither was Andy
atemporaryswede: that was confusing too
Steve Jacobs: Quorum is at least half the committee, which must include at least one member of the exec.
Rhianna Pratchett: I did check the wiki, that's why I emailed her
SChen: There's two Wiki pages
SChen: one for each bk
atemporaryswede: that's us quorate then
Steve Jacobs: he Executive can make decisions on behalf of the Committee, but at least two members of the Executive are needed in order to do so.
atemporaryswede: that'd be me and thee then?
SChen: who would that be?
Steve Jacobs: yah
atemporaryswede: andy, wendy and steve
atemporaryswede: ohhh the power!
SChen: Hmmm
atemporaryswede: okay, we need to get an update on - WHICH book is being done, dates, publisher etc and send that out to the list of people signed up
atemporaryswede: hmmmm?
atemporaryswede: any thoughts?
Beth A. Dillon: Yeah
Steve Jacobs: Though if all of us here are committee members, we havce a quorum as well
atemporaryswede: yep
Rhianna Pratchett: I did volunteer for a few things - but nothing got put down on the list, I assume as wendy hasn't replied she's not interested in using me.
atemporaryswede: I think she is
atemporaryswede: but there is a bit of confusion and she's been away for a bit
Kim: I was going to volunteer to edit a chapter (or more if needed).
atemporaryswede: okay...let's say that the motion above is carried unless there are any objects, I'll contact wendy and we'll update you asap
Beth A. Dillon: Okay
atemporaryswede: Item numero 2
atemporaryswede: initiative update....pending...anyone any news on this?
atemporaryswede: we're operating as per previous rules...please feel free to keep discussing things
atemporaryswede: anyone any updates on the initiatives they are working on?
Beth A. Dillon: Still trying to find someone to take up the Edu initiative
Kim: I received the survey from Sande (and just replied to your e-mail about 15 minutes ago). :) I will compile a list of companies that we can send the survey to as well.
Steve Jacobs: Could be me since we're trying to do the shared library of scripts thing
SChen: sorry, afk, following the Wiki page for the books, I assumedif there was more than one name, it was a joint writing gig.
Kim: Regarding scripts, before I left Silicon Knights, I asked them for a copy of "Eternal Darkness" or another script. I didn't hear back, but I'll follow up with them to see if they could do that. No promises, though.
atemporaryswede: I'll step out of order and say that calls have gone out for volunteers over the last few weeks, but they were general ones and have resulted in the general reply of'yes we'd like IGDA to do a lot...but I can't spare the time to do anything' :0)
atemporaryswede: Sande, there's still confusion over that...that might be the case...but one update was that we were still pooling names
atemporaryswede: so am not sure
atemporaryswede: thanks Kim
Steve Jacobs: Will be getting on top of the edu thing now that most of us have finished the school year
SChen: OK. But Anne and I have already moved ahead and done work on the outlines...
atemporaryswede: anne?
BenServiss: greetings from russia! sorry about the lateness, had to jump out of a meeting
atemporaryswede: cool
SChen: my writing partner
atemporaryswede: no problems and welcome
atemporaryswede: we'll sort it out...no need to panic, you could well be right :0)
Beth A. Dillon: Erik Pederson at ITT Tech volunteered for heading up the Edu initiative.
atemporaryswede: scriptwise, what is due to happen with them once they are gathered?
Beth A. Dillon: I also have a couple of volunteers from the Edu SIG.
Beth A. Dillon: (Sorry to bounce topics there.)
atemporaryswede: great...what are the aims of the EDU initiative
atemporaryswede: topics currently open - script gathering and the edu initiative
Beth A. Dillon: To promote game writing curriculum and program tracks in higher education.
atemporaryswede: grand
atemporaryswede: anyone anything further on Edu or script gathering...re:updating us, requests, bequests, complaints?
Kim: I've just started teaching Interactive Storytelling at the Art Institute of Toronto, and am going to ask them to use the SIG's book as the text book.
Beth A. Dillon: Ooo nice!
Steve Jacobs: Use it in my class as well :-)
Kim: Yeah, it covers everything we do in the course, so it's perfect.
atemporaryswede: great stuff, thanks and congrats Kim
Steve Jacobs (privately): :-)
Kim: Thanks.
atemporaryswede: okay...unless there are any further ? or comments on the above on to the....V YEAR PLAN
atemporaryswede: IGDA'S WRITING S.I.G PLANS for world domination
Steve Jacobs: yah
Steve Jacobs: Go swede go
atemporaryswede: I've started this, and sent a number of ? and discussion topics to the list and have been compiling the replies
Kim: Does it involve Kool-Aid of some sort? ;)
atemporaryswede: I'm open to all suggestions
Steve Jacobs: Wikitize the compilation???
atemporaryswede: though Kool-Aid might count us brits out...maybe we could substitute lucozade, what do you think rhi?
atemporaryswede: the short term plan involves me compiling the plan from these answers and then posting it on the wiki (see I do use it sometimes)
Beth A. Dillon: Wikify!
Steve Jacobs: Wikitize!!!
atemporaryswede: this will happen around the end of July...I hope
atemporaryswede: I can't do much more until then due to present commitments
atemporaryswede: any thoughts on what this should be are welcome in any form that doesn't involve personal pain (at least not pain to me)
atemporaryswede: any thoughts?
atemporaryswede: any? any at all?
Steve Jacobs: thoughts?? yah it's hard to know what form works best without knowing how much there is
Beth A. Dillon: Editing the wiki a little bit
Beth A. Dillon: They should just be quotes possibly? Thoughts?
Beth A. Dillon: There should be a separate "Results" page for each discussion
Steve Jacobs: Quotes could work, organized around list of points the plan is trying to address??
Beth A. Dillon: Yeah
atemporaryswede: It's a break down of aims and objectives under headings basically
Beth A. Dillon: That way you don't have to do too much editing
Beth A. Dillon: That works
atemporaryswede: simple and streamlined is good
atemporaryswede: for easy communication and because we don't have the number of volunteers needed to handle anything too complex
atemporaryswede: okay...if you do have any other thoughts...wishes to add to the plan in the meantime, please forward them on to me :0)
atemporaryswede: on to ...the survey
atemporaryswede: Sande?
atemporaryswede: while we wait for sande to gather her thoughts...anyone heard anything from the Dansk about the white paper?
Beth A. Dillon: Neh-ope
atemporaryswede: okay...sande question still open, on to...call for volunteers!
atemporaryswede: do we have any?
Beth A. Dillon: Ha
Beth A. Dillon: I have two for the Education Outreach, and Erik to head it up.
Beth A. Dillon: So that makes three.
atemporaryswede: that's excellent
Kim: I'm helping Sande with the survey. I'm working on a list of companies to send it to.
SChen: hello?
atemporaryswede: hi sande
SChen: what's up?
atemporaryswede: thanks Kim
Kim: I think one of my students might help as well.
atemporaryswede: you having communication problems sande?
SChen: Yes, I need committee members to start upon the solicitation letters
atemporaryswede: great stuff
atemporaryswede: any volunteers?
SChen: No one's working on it yet.
atemporaryswede: and remember to be careful how and where you solicit
SChen: that's why I wanted it to stay within the committee
atemporaryswede: is that one to add to the wiki?
SChen: It's still under the old survey...
Steve Jacobs: is there a sample letter to employ??
Steve Jacobs: message should be consistent
SChen: dont' think so
atemporaryswede: so we need to action updating the wiki
SChen: well, it's a combo letter --- mind doing the survey, and oh yes, there's hiring hall too
atemporaryswede: and create a standard letter which we can farm out
atemporaryswede: so raising awareness of the SIG, the hiring hall and the survey...good move
atemporaryswede: have we access to official letterheads/funding for postage stationery etc?
Beth A. Dillon: Wiki overhaul!
SChen: Yes, that's what the letter has to accomplish
atemporaryswede: thanks for organising this sande
atemporaryswede: do we have funding?
atemporaryswede: and kim
atemporaryswede: and what is it you need volunteers to do?
SChen: 1) Letter
SChen: 2) first crack at compling a list
SChen: 3) adding survey questions... I'm getting feedback on the GB questionaire
atemporaryswede: Could you draft a starting letter, and a description of the tasks you need volunteers to do and update the wiki with it, or forward it on to our wikiupdaterer?
atemporaryswede: grand
SChen: 4) hiring hall info query
SChen: Probably don't have time to draft the starting letter... mainly inching my way with the game companies survey.
SChen: quite a lot to do concurrently
atemporaryswede: okay...beth, who updates the wiki?
Beth A. Dillon: I think each individual running each initiative should update their own page, because they know best.
atemporaryswede: can we get Sande's points added to the volunteer list and update the survey to current rather than old?
atemporaryswede: in which case...Sande/Kim would you be able to do the above?
SChen: I have a Wiki page already...
SChen: I stuck it on the Wiki
SChen: as a Things To Get Done list
SChen: so I think it's on there
Beth A. Dillon: So everything's updated?
SChen: Haven't looked at it lately... maybe it's not updated to current status
SChen: I"ll look for it
atemporaryswede: could you handle that...and we'll look at chasing people up once we have that central focus
atemporaryswede: otherwise we're low on volunteers
SChen: The needed steps are on there :)
Beth A. Dillon: I can't find it from the Surveys initiative, which is where it should be
Beth A. Dillon: http://www.igda.org/wiki/index.php/Game_Writers_SIG
atemporaryswede: anyone know anyone else we can strong arm?
SChen: http://www.igda.org/wiki/index.php/Game_Writers_SIG/Initiatives/Hiring_Hall
atemporaryswede: ahem I might politely ask to join the noble work of IGDA
Steve Jacobs: once I've caught up on the stuff above I'll draft a letter
Beth A. Dillon: We were talking about the Employers Survey
SChen: I'll update that page to more detail.
Beth A. Dillon: Oh I see the Hiring Hall and -that- survey are combined.
Beth A. Dillon: Okay so there's a survey for an initiative.
Beth A. Dillon: Maybe it would be a good idea to stick a link to the Hiring Hall Survey page on the Survey initiatives too, since it's a survey and all.
SChen: It 's not the same survey, just that we're contacting people at the same time for both.
Beth A. Dillon: Just crosslink.
Beth A. Dillon: I see
Beth A. Dillon: Okay yeah there needs to be a separate page for the other one.
Steve Jacobs: ok, so someone ping me with the appropriate links once all the updating is done and I'll generate the letter
Beth A. Dillon: Which right now is just the unedited old Employers Survey.
SChen: We had one?
SChen: a letter?
atemporaryswede: cool thanks Steve
atemporaryswede: we did...can we get it to Steve?
atemporaryswede: task list re:survey 1)find letter
atemporaryswede: anyone know what this was, who had it and where it went?
atemporaryswede: 2) sande to update the wiki (thanks)
atemporaryswede: 3) then we'll chase up volunteers to complete this noble work
atemporaryswede: shall we move on to game writing reviews?
Steve Jacobs: and/or writing game reviews??? :-)
atemporaryswede: anyone know anyone we could get to do this...could this be something we link to the education initiative...in return for our help with x...they help with y?
atemporaryswede: there's a set on the wiki...it was an initiative to promote games with good writing
atemporaryswede: to underline why writers are needed
atemporaryswede: or point out bad writing and say...eek!
atemporaryswede: at the last count, we'd comiled 2.5
atemporaryswede: I think we could have links to existing reviews as well as post our own...so if people read reviews regarding writing, we can link to them from that page?
atemporaryswede: might be easier to compile those as its asking for less work?
atemporaryswede: and we still keep calling for new reviews for our page too?
atemporaryswede: any thoughts?
atemporaryswede: obviously not currently an exciting initiative to those here present :0)
Steve Jacobs: there are a couple of game reviewer organizations out there
Steve Jacobs: Could partner with them to highlight their reviews that highlight writing
atemporaryswede: I think that's a good idea
atemporaryswede: anyone got journo contacts we could utilise?
Steve Jacobs: yah
Steve Jacobs: can add this one to my list
atemporaryswede: or any sites we should contact?
Steve Jacobs: will contact the 2 orgs
Steve Jacobs: know one well
atemporaryswede: thanks sir Jacobs...the quest is thine
atemporaryswede: unless there are any objections?
Steve Jacobs: have contacts in the other one
Beth A. Dillon: Heehee
Steve Jacobs: does bring up another question
Steve Jacobs: from time to time we've briefly mentioned adding those who write upon games to our rolls
atemporaryswede: a membership drive?
Steve Jacobs: If not en masse, at least some who write on games for non-hard core audiences
Beth A. Dillon: I think a lot of us double as journalists, even if only for financial reasons. Ha ha.
Steve Jacobs: not sure if its a broadening of our scope, a membership drive or another igda sig
atemporaryswede: I think a membership drive is a good idea for any organisation
atemporaryswede: we need a broader audience and membership
Beth A. Dillon: Although I'm personally event coverage only, there is an Association of Game Journalists out there.
atemporaryswede: I think a membership drive is needed
Beth A. Dillon: We could try doing something with them
Steve Jacobs: there are a couple of associations, that's who I'll be talking to about the previous topics
Beth A. Dillon: Cool
atemporaryswede: +ve contact with games journalishs is a good thing
Steve Jacobs: I'm asking because when I talk to them I could bring this up as well
atemporaryswede: that'd be great
Beth A. Dillon: Sounds good
atemporaryswede: Rhi, Jim and myself will be pushing IGDA and WGGB at Develop
atemporaryswede: well...we'll mention them and say they're good like
atemporaryswede: well I will
Beth A. Dillon: I'm just keeping up stuff like getting Write Club at conferences, etc.
atemporaryswede: games journalish? is that a drunk one?
Steve Jacobs: ok will move forward on both fronts
Beth A. Dillon: Although having others take the lead on those.
Beth A. Dillon: I think in-person presense is big too.
SChen: So I'm talking to Dansky about something that might be the next evolution of Write Club
atemporaryswede: I'll add the recruitment drive to the five year plan
atemporaryswede: great stuff...can you reveal any details Sande
atemporaryswede: or is it currently hush hush in development?
SChen: still working out the kinks
SChen: logistics
SChen: and I'd put it on backburner for the while, so I'd have to e-mail him again
atemporaryswede: castaway with games writers?
atemporaryswede: Big Scribbler?
SChen: You'd like it :)
Beth A. Dillon: Ha
atemporaryswede: I believe this brings us to Any other Business
atemporaryswede: any other business?
atemporaryswede: steve? beth? anyone? how do we post this hour of debate as minutes?
Beth A. Dillon: Hrm
Beth A. Dillon: Wendy always puts it up through the wiki
atemporaryswede: wikitastic
Beth A. Dillon: I'll launchify it
atemporaryswede: Grand and with that...I...BANG...bring down the gavel and end proceedings...thanks for coming everyone and for all your thoughts :0)
atemporaryswede: long live the sigification!
Beth A. Dillon: Heehee
Beth A. Dillon: Oh yeah, next meeting?
Steve Jacobs: next meeting??
atemporaryswede: I think we need to review that and send out reminders in advance :0)
Beth A. Dillon: Okay
atemporaryswede: I vote for a wednesday
Kim: June 27th?
atemporaryswede: as most people seem to assume meetings are on wednesdays
SChen: I usually can't make Weds
atemporaryswede: I can't amke the 27th...it's the IGDA london chapter meeting and I need to go along and wear my colours
atemporaryswede: shall we try THurs 28th then?
SChen: Sure
Kim: That should be okay - still waiting on my teaching schedule.
Steve Jacobs: Think it's ok for me, will double check and respond in the next day or so
atemporaryswede: hee...oh the anticipation, hey Kim? Great stuff :0)
Kim: Hopefully it's not a morning class. :)
atemporaryswede: okay let's make that our working date and try and meet up then...subject to mass abscene...abse...abcesses
atemporaryswede: missings abs
atemporaryswede: have a great one all