GWSIG Monthly Meeting Minutes/Meeting32

International Game Developers Association

(formatting to be fixed when I have a minute)

wendy despain: Hiya Tim Tim Langdell: Hi ! Wanderingscribe: Greetings all :0) Tim Langdell: Hey wendy despain: and this must be Andy :-) Wanderingscribe: How did you guess? :0) wendy despain: only the brits call themselves scribes wendy despain: and you're the one most likely to be creative with the username here :-) Wanderingscribe: lol, nah, I've seen some other interesting ones Tim Langdell: I'd better rename myself then as someat scribe too, enit Wanderingscribe: Who'd believe anyone was really called Tim Langdell for a start ;0P Wanderingscribe: How's life treating you Tim? Tim Langdell: not so bad ... yourself? Tim Langdell: i have a public lecture here in LA tomorrow that they said would be a "small" affair, now they tell me sign-ups are well over 200 :/ Tim Langdell: on the future of video game design Wanderingscribe: Hey, that's cool! :0) Tim Langdell: all i have to do now is start writing the speech Wanderingscribe: perhaps all the people who are coming are under 5 foot? Wanderingscribe: improvisation gives a speech that nice fresh feeling Tim Langdell: that's what I always say ... :D Wanderingscribe: Do we know if anyone else is coming? wendy despain: i thought Corvus was coming wendy despain: and maybe Beth Tim Langdell: ok ... Tim Langdell: by the way Andy, Wendy, I would still be interested on serving on the committee, if a place opens up Wanderingscribe: That'd be grand...where are we up to on our current committee membership? Wanderingscribe: Has anyone lapsed? wendy despain: hmm, that's a good question wendy despain: i'm not as good at taking attendance as Chris was Tim Langdell: heh ... i am listed as on the committee. i did ask last time, so maybe you added me Tim Langdell: Sande, Beth, Corey, Ben, Kimberly and me Wanderingscribe: I think that answers the question then :0) Tim Langdell: yes, thank you. I'm delighted to be on. Wanderingscribe: It's not looking like we'll get many more attendees, is there anything we need to deal with ? Can deal with and let's get underway? wendy despain: sorry, i'm tied up for another minute or two wendy despain: could someone ping the general mailing list to remind people and give them the url? Wanderingscribe: do you want to give us the script update steve? Wanderingscribe: I'd do that, but my emails generally take45-60mins to post for some reason Tim Langdell: I dont think Steve is here wendy despain: well, honestly, i don't think we should be in too big a hurry to start, since there are really only three of us :-) Tim Langdell: Agreed ... I am happy to wait to see who else might come Wanderingscribe: I'm happy to wait, but I need to disappear bang on 18,00 :0) Tim Langdell: viz 45mins or so ... me too Tim Langdell: I might disappear at half past the hour if no one else seems to be coming on ... hope that is OK wendy despain: well, do you have any issues, questions or concerns? Wanderingscribe: Only about the book I suppose, I've not received the proofs for the first one yet Wanderingscribe: Is the second one going ahead and if so, how's it looking? :0) wendy despain: I'm told they're hoping to send out proofs this week wendy despain: (of course, they told us this two weeks ago too_ wendy despain: hiya beth! Beth A. Dillon: Heeeello! wendy despain: I really can't complain about their delays though, since we had so many late writers wendy despain: I'm working on getting this url set up: http://www.igda.org/writing/books Beth A. Dillon: Oooo nice wendy despain: which will be used in the promotional materials for the book BenServiss: hey all! sorry about the lateness wendy despain: hey Ben, glad to have you Beth A. Dillon: (Same here.) Beth A. Dillon: Coughing up a lung, blegh. wendy despain: work on the genre book probably won't start again in earnest until after GDC Wanderingscribe: cool Wanderingscribe: Hi Ben and Beth wendy despain: I might start sending out reminders etc. before GDC so I can remember who I need to hassle while I'm there :-) Wanderingscribe: :0) Beth A. Dillon: Heh heh wendy despain: Tim, are you still going to be able to contribute to the genre book, or have you gotten too busy? wendy despain: and Beth, can you help us get the book reviewed on gamasutra/game career guide? Beth A. Dillon: Of course wendy despain: yay E.D. Bass: Hello Everyone wendy despain: It looks like we've got more of a full house now wendy despain: so I think I'll officially bang the gavel wendy despain: welcome to the SIG meeting everybody :-) wendy despain: the first item on our agenda is the IGDA party game Chris Keeling: Yay!  :-) wendy despain: Chris Keeling picked up the ball on this one and has run with it quite spectacularly :-) Chris Keeling: Thanks Wendy, it was really quite a group effort though Tim Langdell: sorry was afk for a moment -- yes can still do genre book and hi E.D. & Chris & Beth wendy despain: yeah, you definitely fielded a lot of input and recruited some good helpers wendy despain: tell us the current status Chris Keeling: Including Ben Serviss, who is also here - thanks Ben! The Late Corvus: sorry I'm late Tim Langdell: yes hi Ben! wendy despain (privately): hey Tim, have you turned in a first draft to your editor(s) yet? Beth A. Dillon: Heeeey! Chris Keeling: And Corvus Elrod, thanks you too! The Late Corvus: It was fun Tim Langdell (privately): I thought I had ... I'll check when i get back to my main desk The Late Corvus: If you need more, let me know Chris Keeling: Well, I have been away for the past three days, but Steve Jacobs has been playtesting the game wendy despain (privately): thanks :-) BenServiss: anytime Chris - it was pretty fun :) Chris Keeling: It looks good - there are some small edits to make (mostly for length) and I should have a near-final draft of cards out today or early tomorrow for final review EdFear: hello! apologies for lateness :) wendy despain: and we're sending to the printers on Friday, right? Tim Langdell (privately): Hi Ed Chris Keeling: Jason Della Rocca has been providing great feedback, and Wendy has been very helpful with the printing specs and providing graphics Tim Langdell (privately): ms Tim Langdell (privately): mt Tim Langdell: Hi Ed Chris Keeling: Assuming Jason approves the cards by Friday morning, you'll have them then Wanderingscribe: Good work Chris :0) wendy despain (privately): :-) The Late Corvus: Aweseom job pulling this all together, Chris Chris Keeling: Anytime - I can't wait to see the game "in play"  :-) wendy despain: Chris has done a great job. been very responsive to questions etc. The Late Corvus: Your guidance and communication with the writing volunteers was stellar wendy despain: and you'll be at the party to help, right Chris? Tim Langdell: Excellent, thanks Chris The Late Corvus: I can help at the partee too, if'n I'm needed Chris Keeling: Thanks, but like I said, it was veru iterative Chris Keeling: Yes, I will arrive in SF about three hours before the party starts, so I'll be there  :-) wendy despain: we may need to help pass out the cards. that part of the process needs to be run past Jason one more time :-) wendy despain: but it sounds like the game is well in hand wendy despain: so let's move on to the SIG quarterly, unless there are other questions about it Chris Keeling: Passing out cards and trading completed stories for drink tickets will probably take a few volunteers, yes Chris Keeling: Preferably sober volunteers... Beth A. Dillon 2: Heh heh heh EdFear: (that's me out) Beth A. Dillon 2: i.e. Wendy and I if I could make it. The Late Corvus: How about ones that can really hold their teqila? Tim Langdell: I can help too if you need it Chris Keeling: I don't drink  :-) The Late Corvus: or tequila even? wendy despain: you must be trusted with a fistfull of drink tickets :-) Chris Keeling: Wendy, want me to post a call on the mailing list to see about getting volunteers who will be at the party? Mykas0: Hi everyone Tim Langdell: Hi Mykas EdFear: hey Mykas :) Chris Keeling: Hey Mykas0! Another of our volunteer game writers!  :-) wendy despain: yeah, run it by Jason first though. he may already have some lined up Mykas0: just saw the mail now, am I late? Chris Keeling: Good point Wendy Steve Jacobs: ok, here briefly wendy despain: we're just getting started on the second agenda point, so you're not very late wendy despain: hiya steve

[discussion about adding fiction/nonfiction or in-game/out-of-game designations to website]

wendy despain: i suspect one of the things we'll have the opportunity to do with the upcoming shifts in the larger IGDA organization is redesign our website wendy despain: insights like this are priceless for that kind of thing Chris Keeling: Good points Beth A. Dillon 2: Heeheehee wendy despain: also, just for the record, the book on professional techniques includes chapters on docs writing and strategy guides Mykas0: Well, I wouldn't mind helping with all that, if that's needed... wendy despain: it doesn't include a chapter about game reviews or game journalism wendy despain: partly because that's a big, big topic Chris Keeling: I can't wait to read it!  :) wendy despain: and a little controversial Beth A. Dillon 2: That's it's own separate book wendy despain: maybe our next, next book should tackle that :-) Beth A. Dillon 2: ITS Mykas0: But isn't writing a strategy guide really close to writing a review? I mean, they both require you to play the game, and writing on your experience Beth A. Dillon 2: My god Beth A. Dillon 2: I am sick Beth A. Dillon 2: Not really... Beth A. Dillon 2: Strategy guides can sometimes be paid for wendy despain: Beth, is the hint earlier that you're pregnant really true? or just a rumor? Chris Keeling: Strategy guides aren't critical, they are instructional Beth A. Dillon 2: It's real!!! Chris Keeling: gratz! wendy despain: yay! Mykas0: :O Beth A. Dillon 2: Yaaaay! Tim Langdell: grats 2! Mykas0: Congratulations! Mykas0: Is it a boy or a girl? wendy despain: you're the second in the group right now. Kim Sparks is due in a month and a half or something Beth A. Dillon 2: Who knows yet--four months along, ought to find out if we plan to. Beth A. Dillon 2: Yeah we've been talking! Beth A. Dillon 2: I'll be due around early July. wendy despain: I think you'll both make great moms Beth A. Dillon 2: Thus the pressure to get PhD classes done--but then it's stay at home writing time, hurrah! Mykas0: Wendy may be next, I guess... ;) wendy despain: and, heh, I suspect the bringing up of childbirth officially ends any real meeting going on ;-) Chris Keeling: and the bedtime stories those kids will get!  ;) Beth A. Dillon 2: lol No doubt wendy despain: aw, thanks Mykas wendy despain: i'd have to find a willing father, first. hee! Mykas0: LOL at the thought of WS writing stories for their kids... Beth A. Dillon 2: lol Beth A. Dillon 2: But yeah, with that in mind, if someone else wanted to run a newsletter for the mailing list... Beth A. Dillon 2: I know I can keep up the Quarterly, but since we're on the topic... Beth A. Dillon 2: I have a backlogged issue on Mobile game writing wendy despain: by all means Beth A. Dillon 2: Do we want to keep this issue or change it for the Austin GDC topic one? wendy despain: Amman has agreed to write up meeting summaries. he might be interested in shifting it to a real newsletter too wendy despain: well, technically the quarterly is supposed to be... well.. quarterly Beth A. Dillon 2: And if we do change the topic, I'll need some solid ideas. wendy despain: which means 4 issues per year wendy despain: so the Mobile issue could be put out for the spring Beth A. Dillon 2: Wow have we ever actually done that? wendy despain: I think one year we had 3 issues. Ben might remember. Beth A. Dillon 2: That's hilarious Beth A. Dillon 2: Okay let's assume four issues then and I'll ping at another meeting for future quarterly ideas. wendy despain: there are enough game-related conferences throughout the year, we should be able to get it distributed Beth A. Dillon 2: Yeah for sure wendy despain: right now the three we seem to attend most are GDC, Austin and FuturePlay Tim Langdell: There's DICE next week ... Beth A. Dillon 2: It seems wise to slot the issues towards what's happening at where we're distributing wendy despain: DICE is next week. why do they schedule these things so close together? Beth A. Dillon 2: I know there are the Mobile Summits too. Beth A. Dillon 2: Ha! Tim Langdell: DICE has always been at this time, they keep moving GDC back and back (used to be well into March) wendy despain: if anyone is going to DICE, and wants to distribute quarterlies, we can use the one we're also using for GDC Beth A. Dillon 2: So true Mykas0: but... aren't all those conferences in America? Tim Langdell: I will be at DICE and could perhaps hand some out wendy despain: oh wait Tim Langdell: Ha you wish .. .there are about a gazillion more Beth A. Dillon 2: Printing time? wendy despain: we may not have any printed in time for DICE since we've been focusing on GDC Tim Langdell: Hollywood and Games, EforAll, goodness knows what else wendy despain: there are international conferences too Tim Langdell: Yes stay focused on GDC is best i think wendy despain: apparently a GDC in paris, for instance Beth A. Dillon 2: I need a quarterly deadline schedule... Mykas0: I mean, we're part of the International "GDA", but I never saw people talking about the European events, for example Mykas0: not that Portuguese ones are any good... Tim Langdell: Talking of Portuguese I am on a panel about games at SXSW in Austin Tx in March, the chair is Portuguese ... Beth A. Dillon 2: UK stuff comes up more often wendy despain: again, it's a factor of who's volunteering. we have mostly volunteers from the US, with a group of Brits as well Beth A. Dillon 2: Wow remember that Australian group, Wendy? wendy despain: heh, yeah Beth A. Dillon 2: But yeah, if there's no volunteer follow-up, not much we can do Mykas0: I thought about creating a... what's the name, one of those regional things for Portugal, but it's an extremely bad idea... wendy despain: IGDA chapter Mykas0: yeah, that Beth A. Dillon 2: Except I can reach out for game interviews for the quarterly Tim Langdell: I would go for it Mykas, even if its just you and a couple of people going out for a meal occasionally wendy despain: if it makes you feel any better, my nearest local chapter is an 8-hour drive away Beth A. Dillon 2: Heehee wendy despain: ok, I have to go feed my cat. he's just not going to be ignored any longer. wendy despain: thanks for coming everyone. feel free to keep visiting. Tim Langdell: thanks wendy! Mykas0: just one more thing, should I mail the FAQ+ review idea to the list? Beth A. Dillon 2: Sure Mykas0: 'k Tim Langdell: Sure Beth A. Dillon 2: Okay off I go too, byyyye! Chris Keeling: Bye Wendy! Chris Keeling: Bye Beth! Tim Langdell: Bye! Mykas0: Bye! Evan Skolnick: bye all BenServiss: bye all! Chris Keeling: I guess it's about that time... later everyone Mykas0: I'm going to, I have a lobster waiting for me Chris Keeling: Ate' logo Mykas0 - Tchau!  :) Mykas0: LOL, how cute! :) Chris Keeling: ;-) Mykas0: seeya, everyone! Tim Langdell: Bye all!