IGDA Twin Cities

International Game Developers Association

The Twin Cities IGDA chapter is currently reorganizing after ten months of inactivity. The IGDATC Google Group is the central place for this chapter's discussion, but the wiki is being revamped too.

[edit] Sponsors

Thanks go to Puny Entertainment for food and the Minnesota School of Business for space!

[edit] About

Twin Cities Chapter IGDA Meetings are held the first Thursday of every month at 6:00pm. These meetings are free and open to all interested game developers, practicing or aspiring. Each meeting is focused around a particular game development topic via an informal presentation and/or guided discussion. These meetings are a terrific place to network and connect with like-minded locals. They are all about building relationships, sharing experiences, bouncing ideas, and learning to have more fun.

Join the IGDA TC Google group to receive updates (there is an option for a 1 per day email digest.)

[edit] Next meeting - Thu Aug 7th - Member Project Night (take 2)

Bring anything: current or past projects, personal or work, finished games, prototypes, mods, 3D models, audio, board games, concept art, or just pitch your great idea if you're looking for some feedback. It's totally informal - talk for as little or (almost) as much as you like. I'd especially like to encourage artists to present, since I think we'll have a good programmer turnout.

To help me estimate time, drop a note in the IGDATC discussion list (the same old one, the lists haven't been split yet) and mention what you'd like to cover. If you forget, show up anyway, we'll deal. There will be projectors that can handle VGA, component up to 720p, composite and a tripod+camera to get any handheld stuff up on the big screen. (This is for you, iPhone guys.) And if you're able, bring your dev or art/content creation tools. There is sure to be questions on your process.

Location: MSB room 452, 6-8pm. Pizza and drinks provided.

[edit] Locations

[edit] Actual meetings

Minnesota School of Business, Richfield
1401 West 76th Street
Richfield, MN 55423
(at the intersection of 76th St South and I-35W)
map
NOTE: the 76th street bridge that goes over I-35W right in front of the school will be closed as of 4/28.
If you're coming south on I-35W and usually get off at 76th street, you will not be able to just hop over to MSB. Instead, go east on 494, get off on Lyndale, then head north over 494 and turn left at 76th St.

[edit] Virtual convergence

IGDATC Google Group

[edit] Upcoming meetings

Sept 2nd - TBD

[edit] Past events

[edit] 2008

July 20th: Cookout canceled due to low RSVP

June 5th: Canceled due to severe weather

May 1st: Indie and DS development - Ken Patterson, Matt Heinzen and Don Patterson - Big John Games

April 3rd: IMGDC Recap - roundtable session.

March 6th: Commercial Flash Games - Seth Walker and Alexis Mason - Ham in the Fridge

February 7th: Camera-Controlled Motion Games - Yuichiro Tanabe, Cory Petosky, and Pete Border - Puny Entertainment

January 3rd: Video and Traditional Board Games - Martin Grider and Darrell Hardy

[edit] 2007

December 6th: Holiday Social at Puny

November 1st: Microsoft XNA Introduction and Hands-On - Zach Wendt

[edit] 2006

December 13th: Wii Demo Spotlighting ExciteTruck - Chad Jasper

October 11th: Organizational Meeting - Gary

August: No August Meeting

June 14th: The Fun Factor, Machine Learning, and Gameplay Metrics - Ben Geisler

April 12th: GDC 2006 Wrap & TikiWiki Introduction - GDC2006 Attendees

February 8th: Education and Games Panel http://igda.org/twincities/images/igdarss.gif RSS - http://igda.org/twincities/images/igdam3u.gif Stream - http://igda.org/twincities/images/igdazip.gif Mp3 Zip

[edit] 2005

December 14th: Digital Game Distribution - Wes Pederson

October 12th: Tablet Development, and MN Game Jam 1 Games - Gary Dahl

August 10th: Sound Effect Basics for Games - Damian Kastbauer http://www.waste.org/lostchocolatelab/IGDA/LCLPDF.gif Summary - http://www.waste.org/lostchocolatelab/IGDA/LCLPDF.gif Slides

June 15th: Flash Game Development - Andreas Heim

April 13th: GDC and MN Game Jam 0 Wrap-Up - Group

March 9th: Teaching Journalism with Never Winter Nights - Matt Taylor

February 9th: Dynamic Simulation at Pixar Animation Studios - David Baraff

[edit] 2004

November 11th: Game Maker - Gary Dahl

October 12th: The Video Game Revolution - PBS

September 14th: Scrolling Game Development Kit - Benjamin Marty

August 10th: Blender - Kent Mein, Joshua Seaver

July 13th: Pen&Paper vs Computer Game Design - Christopher Weiss

[edit] Call for Topics

Is there a topic you'd like to see featured at an upcoming meeting? We're always looking for new ideas. So whether it's something you'd like to speak about, or hear another professional present, send your suggestions to [1].