Women In Games

Fall Newsletter: Call for Submissions

It's that time again!

The team at the IGDA WIGSIG have been hard at work preparing the next issue of the IGDA WIG SIG Newsletter but we need you!

If you would like to participate please contact us @ wigsignewsletter(at)igda.org.

Previous newsletters can be found here:

Please remember that we can't do it without you! We look forward to hearing from you and thank you to everyone for your continued support.

IndieCade 2009: the International Festival of Independent Games in Culver City, Oct 1-4

IndieCade tickets are for sale on Brown Paper Tickets or through the IndieCade website. (For group sales or other inquiries contact central(at)indiecade.com.)

IndieCade is the only event of its kind in the United States & the only festival of independent games open to the public.

The IndieCade 2009 International Festival of Independent games will bring together the most groundbreaking independent video games from around the world. Be the first to see the 30 finalists for IndieCade's annual juried competition, available for hands-on gameplay and meeting the gamemakers at three Culver City locations: the Wonderful World Art Gallery, the Culver Hotel, and the Gregg Fleishman Gallery. These festival venues are open from 10:00 - 7:00 daily.

A simultaneous conference at five other locations around downtown Culver City includes artist's talks, salon discussions, master classes, workshops, panels and keynotes. Contributors will include iconic game designer Will Wright, creator of the Sims and sore; Keita Takahashi, creator of Katamari Damacy and Noby Noby Boy; and Jenova Chen, creator of flOw and flower.

Spread the word to all of your friends to join us to launch IndieCade 2009! For more information about IndieCade festival and conference Oct 2-4 go to www.IndieCade.com.

IGDA Leadership Forum 2009 :: November 12 - 13, 2009

Join top leaders in the game development industry as they outline their personal framework for successfully advancing game production. The IGDA Leadership Forum program features an exiting lineup of highly respected speakers, like Noah Falstein, John Northan, Michael John, Michael Saladino, David Steele, Clinton Keith, Kane Minkus, Don Daglow, David Edery, and Heather Chandler—among other prominent insiders and is focused on advancing the state-of-the-art in game production and management.

Discounted rates are available for groups of three or more. For more information and a special discount code contact Joe Sapp: joda(at)igda(dot)org

Quality of Life Survey

We encourage you to take the new IGDA Quality of Life survey!

A few moments of your time will provide essential data on the current state of game developers. The IGDA's Quality of Life SIG will use this data to try to improve the game development experience industry-wide. All survey data will remain anonymous and used in aggregate. The IGDA's Quality of Life SIG studies these problems and will propose practical solutions in the next Quality of Life White Paper.

You can learn more about the IGDA Quality of Life SIG at: http://www.igda.org/qol/.

Casual Connect Leadership Development Forum :: July 20, 2009

Casual Connect Leadership Development Forum on July 20, preceding the annual Casual Connect in Seattle, July 21-23.

The Forum is generously offered by and in conjunction with the Casual Games Association, and is being presented by: Women in Games Vancouver, Women in Games International, and IGDA Women in Games.

Casual Connect Seattle is one of the premiere events for the casual games industry, with over 3,000 professionals attending Casual Games Association events each year. Casual Connect Seattle brings together the most talented and knowledgeable experts to broaden the casual games industry with the best of networking and learning.

If you would like to attend the Casual Connect Leadership Development Forum, it is free to attendees to Casual Connect and $25 for separate admission.

Women in Games U.K. @ DIGRA 2009 Call for Papers

In partnership with DIGRA 2009, Women in Games U.K. are honored to issue a general call for papers to be presented at this year's DIGRA event at Brunel University, London, September 1-4.

Currently in its fifth year, Women in Games U.K. is an annual conference with the distinct aim of highlighting the most recent, groundbreaking work in computer game research and development to both academic and industrial worlds. WiG has consistently addressed the empowerment and professional development of women working in, and researching into, games and the games industry. In 2009 with the objective of widening the audience and reach of the initiative WiG is running a series of activities in parallel with key games events, both academic and industry, to deliver focused work to the wider community.

Submission deadline: Thursday, April 30, 2009
http://digra.newport.ac.uk/openconf.php

Women Take Over PC Gaming

According to the latest Nielsen data, 29% of American PC gamers are women age 25-54, which far outnumbers the men in the same age bracket. They collected data with usage-tracking software with 184,000 survey participants. They also learned that women over 55 play PC games longer than younger men and women. According to their results, the Solitare game bundled with Windows is the most played PC game.

courtesy of Rayna Anderson, Gameloft - Montreal

Learning and Entertainment Evolution Forum, June 18-19

How do your games affect users? Are you developing serious games for learning and performance?

Attend the Learning and Entertainment Evolution Forum (LEEF) on Games and Simulations for Performance on June 18-19 in Harrisburg PA and connect with other developers, advanced technology designers, and learning professionals. This diverse group will work together through interactive sessions and activities to identify creative new ways that game developers can contribute to emerging applications for learning and performance management.

Learn more at www.leef2009.net.

IndieCade Deadline Approaching

The deadline for IndieCade: The International Festival of Independent Games 09, presented in part by the IGDA Indie SIG is quickly approaching.

IndieCade invites independent game artists and designers from around the world to submit interactive media of all types – from art to commercial, ARG to abstract, mind-bending to mobile, serious to shooter – for consideration. Work-in-progress is encouraged.

All entrants are eligible, by jury/curatorial selection, for inclusion at all of the 2009 IndieCade international exhibitions, including among others E3 and Siggraph. 25 finalist games are selected, by an internationally renowned jury, as the centerpiece of the IndieCade 2009 Festival. These games are eligible for the top prizes and awards of 2009.

Gamemakers and their teams are supplied with passes to all the events they are selected and all related IndieCade social events. It is IndieCade's ultimate goal to bring the eye of the public and industry to your games.

You can learn more at http://www.indiecade.com/index.php?/events/submissions/. Submissions are due by midnight PST on April 30. Finalists will be contacted by August 15, 2009.

Call for Contributors

The next issue of the Women in Games quarterly newsletter is now in development. If you'd like to contribute your editorial prowess to our next issue, please contact wigsignewsletter @ igda.org for more information. Deadline for contributions are May 15.

In case you missed the it, the first edition is available online!

GDC a Success

GDC 2009 was a huge success! Here's a recap of this year's IGDA Women in Games sessions.

Wednesday, March 25 :: IGDA Women in Games roundtable meeting
We met with members of our new advisory board as we discussed SIG goals and plans for 2009 and 2010. More than 40 SIG members attended and contributed to a new hit list of objectives. More details soon!

Thursday, March 26 :: IGDA Women in Games social gathering
WIG SIG colleagues and IGDA members mixed and mingled at the IGDA booth, located on Floor 1 of the West Hall. It was the largest of all the IGDA social gatherings at GDC this year, to the point that we extended well outside the booth area! We had snacks and drinks, giveaways and our first-ever Knit-A-Thon!

Friday, March 27 :: IGDA Women in Games panel
Phaedra Boinodiris of WomenGamers.com worked hard to assemble a world-class panel who were geared up to talk about big ideas, and it paid off! Along with Phaedra, Noah Falstein, Tracy Fullerton, Diane Pozefsky and Merrilea Mayo were incredible speakers and the audience was focused. We had 80 attendees with insightful questions, and nearly half were men! Overall reaction was extremely positive.

Photos
See photos from this year's GDC in the new IGDA WIG SIG Flickr group. Snap a pic from the conference? Feel free to add it to the mix.

SOE's G.I.R.L. Scholarship Now Accepting Applicants

Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 G.I.R.L. Scholarship to help educate and recruit more women into the field of video game production and design. Sponsored by Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) a global leader in online gaming, and administered by Scholarship Americav, a leading non-profit educational support program, applications are available at https://www.scholarshipamerica.org/gamersinreallife and more details, including official rules for entry are available online at http://www.station.sony.com/girl.

Last year's scholarship winner was WIG SIG listserv member Julia Brasil. For 2009, the scholarship winner has the option of working at SOE San Diego on the forthcoming MMO, Free Realms.

Applications are due by April 29, 2009.

GDC Women in Games Events Update

Catch up with the Women in Games SIG at GDC this year at one of these exciting sessions.

IGDA Women in Games Roundtable :: Wednesday, March 25, 4-5 PM

Meet members of our new advisory board, as we discuss SIG goals and plans for 2009 and 2010. All SIG members are welcome to attend and contribute.

Learn More

IGDA Women in Games Social Gathering :: Thursday, March 26, 1:30-2:30 PM

Join up with other SIG colleagues to mix and mingle at the IGDA booth, located on Floor 1 of the West Hall. Enjoy snacks and drinks, giveaways, and our first-ever Knit-a-Thon!

What is the Women in Games Knit-a-Thon?

The first-ever WIG Knit-a-Thon is an open opportunity for knitters and those who crochet to come and teach anyone who wishes to learn as well as to knit/crochet squares for blankets that will be given to homeless shelters. Men and women from all levels of expertise are welcome! Bring your materials and join fellow knitters and crocheters for a good cause.

Learn More

IGDA Women in Games Panel :: Friday, March 27, 12-1 PM

Play Games to Work Smarter: Why it is More Critical than Ever that Women Play and Develop Games

This panel will discuss how the gaming paradigm is being adopted by businesses today, why it is more critical than ever that women are involved in this new emerging market, and how women can uniquely contribute to this new innovative way of affecting global change.

Learn More

MicroSoft Women in Gaming Awards Luncheon :: Wednesday, March 25

The first-ever WOMEN IN GAMING AWARDS LUNCHEON is presented by Microsoft Game Studios Women In Gaming, the IGDA Women in Games SIG and Women In Games International (WIGI). The luncheon will take place during the week of GDC 2009 on Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 in San Francisco, California.

The Women In Gaming (WIG) Awards are to recognize women who have played a significant role in a successful games across all platforms. The winner for each category will be selected by a judging panel comprised of 5 senior game professionals selected by IGDA Women in Games SIG and Women In Games International. The award categories include Top Female in Art, Engineering, Design & Production.

In order to successfully facilitate a first-time event, the nomination process was closed, and the event is invitation-only. By producing a well-managed awards process in 2009, Microsoft Women in Gaming looks forward to opening up the nomination process and attendance opportunity to a much broader audience in 2010.

IGDA Women in Games at GDC

Catch up with the Women in Games SIG at GDC this year at one of three exciting sessions.

IGDA Women in Games Roundtable :: Wednesday, March 25, 4-5 PM

Meet members of our new advisory board, as we discuss SIG goals and plans for 2009 and 2010. All SIG members are welcome to attend and contribute.

Learn More

IGDA Women in Games Social Gathering :: Thursday, March 26, 1:30-2:30 PM

Join up with other SIG colleagues to mix and mingle at the IGDA booth, located on Floor 1 of the West Hall. Enjoy snacks and drinks, giveaways, and our first-ever Knit-a-Thon!

What is the Women in Games Knit-a-Thon?

The first-ever WIG Knit-a-Thon is an open opportunity for knitters and those who crochet to come and teach anyone who wishes to learn as well as to knit/crochet squares for blankets that will be given to homeless shelters. Men and women from all levels of expertise are welcome! Bring your materials and join fellow knitters and crocheters for a good cause.

Learn More

IGDA Women in Games Panel :: Friday, March 27, 12-1 PM

Play Games to Work Smarter: Why it is More Critical than Ever that Women Play and Develop Games

Learn More

Microsoft Marketing to Women the Old-fashioned Way

Remember Tupperware parties? In its day it was an ingenious way to introduce women to a new product that they might otherwise be hesitant to purchase. By having someone demonstrate its use and demystify it, it became a must-have in every household. Microsoft is hoping to attract women to their Xbox 360s the same way, by hosting a house party.

courtesy of Rayna Anderson, Gameloft - Montreal