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.

Register now at http://seattle.casualconnect.org/registration.html.

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

courtesy of Rayna Anderson, Gameloft - Montreal

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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 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

courtesy of Rayna Anderson, Gameloft - Montreal

A special 'Women in Games' panel featuring panelists from Electronic Arts, Deep Fried Entertainment, Hydrogen Whiskey Studios and Hothead Games will coincide that day with the launch of the inaugural Women in Games $30,000 scholarship to Vancouver Film School's Game Design program. Other scholarship opportunities will be announced at the Sunday Open House.

And throughout the day, visitors will be able to experience the acclaimed one-year VFS Game Design program firsthand – test-driving student- and alumni-created games, and enjoying sample classes like Level Design and Storytelling taught by expert VFS instructors.

The Open House is expected to fill to capacity again in 2009, so those interested are strongly encouraged to register soon. Event details and registration are available at www.gamedesignexpo.com.

The Global Game Jam (GGJ) is the first of its kind experiment: a game Jam that takes place in the same 48 hours all over the world! The Global Game Jam will start at 5 pm Friday, January 30, 2009 through 5 pm Sunday, February 1, 2009, (all times local). GGJ will take place in 13 different time zones in 46 different locations around the globe. All participants in the Global Game Jam will be constrained by the same rules and limitations, with each time zone having one distinct constraint. It is about making games and the GGJ creates a unique idea space open for innovation and ideas. The theme and constraints for participants in the Global Game Jam will be announced at 5 pm on Friday, January 30, 2009 in your time zone. Kyle Gabler, Indie Developer of World of Goo will be keynoting the event. This event is produced by Susan Gold, Chair for the IGDA Education SIG.

courtesy of Rayna Anderson, Gameloft - Montreal

The chair was first created by Electronic Arts in 2004, as part of their gift to the School of Cinematic Arts. Bing Gordon was the first holder of the chair, and helped to establish the curriculum for the program in Interactive Entertainment as well as teaching and mentoring.

Passing the endowed chair is an honor meant to recognize the work that Tracy has done to help establish the Game Innovation lab and the Interactive Entertainment program as a premier place to study game design. As the chair holder, Tracy will keep working to grow the program and the field of game studies, as well as continuing her work in the Game Innovation Lab. Tracy is a long-term member of IGDA Women in Games.