2001 News Archive
> Chapter Update: New Jersey
[Dec 13 - IGDA News]After a brief hiatus, the IGDA's New Jersey Chapter is back. All local developers, newbies, and students are invited to the next meeting this Saturday, December 15. Details are available at the New Jersey Chapter homepage.
> id Software, HopeLab and MEG latest Studio Affiliates
[Dec 13 - IGDA News]The IGDA is happy to welome three very diverse developers to our community. id needs no introduction, HopeLab is doing some interesting children/academic work, and MEG is a young studio with offices in Seoul and LA. Check out the Studio Affiliation Program for full details.
> Monthly legal advice column by Jim Charne
[Dec 13 - IGDA News]Jim Charne (attorney at law and former president of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences) is now running a monthly column covering legal/contract questions in classic "Dear Abby" format. If you've got a legal question, pop over and ask Jim!
> Studio discount on SGI and Integraph hardware
[Dec 13 - IGDA News]XS International is providing discounts of 10% and 5% on SGI and Integraph (respectively) servers and workstations for IGDA Studio Affiliates. Check the Studio Affiliation Program for more info.
> Montreal Chapter enjoys Holiday festivities!
[Dec 13 - IGDA News]The IGDA's Montreal Chapter recently held its Holiday gathering, with over 120 local developers on hand to take part in the festivities. Of particular interest was the Xbox and PS2 consoles up for raffle. Check out the summary and pictures of the event.
> 20% member discount on OReilly & Associates books
[Dec 11 - IGDA News]This 20% member discount applies to all books ordered directly from O'Reilly, including the recently released title, "Physics for Game Developers". Members must log into the secure benefit codes page for purchasing info. This discount adds to our long list of publishers (Charles River Media, AK Peters, Academic Press, Morgan Kaufmann) who provide discounts to IGDA members!
> Milia discounts for IGDA members
[Dec 05 - IGDA News]Heading to Cannes for Milia was never so doable! All IGDA members are now eligible for a 30% discount on registration fees for the conference and exhibits. Furthermore, if you check into it, hotels/flights to Cannes are not too bad. The IGDA will be on hand as well to moderate the massively multiplayer games panel. For further details check the events page.
> Mentoring: A Good-Practice Checklist
[Dec 05 - IGDA News]A new article covering the topic of mentors - how to find one and set up guidelines - has been posted. Mentorship is certainly something we all need to look a little more seriously at (on both sides of the coin)...
> New UK Chapter and other chapter happenings
[Dec 03 - IGDA News]Another UK chapter has been established, this time in the North West (Manchester, Liverpool et al). Their first gathering is not for another while (something about collecting enough to sponsor the bar ;) In other chapter news, both the San Diego and Chicago chapters have posted reports of their recent gatherings (the first for San Diego).
> Awards advisory board set and new site is live
[Nov 29 - IGDA News]In our buildup to the 2002 Game Developer Choice Awards, we've announced our worldclass advisory board. We've also updated the Awards site with details for this year's event. Of course, nominations don't start until January...
> The IGDA will buy you an Xbox, GameCube or PlayStation 2!
[Nov 21 - IGDA News]The IGDA has implemented a Membership Referral Program to motivate existing members (who understand the value and importance of the IGDA) to bring their co-workers and friends into the IGDA community. While the top level reward is a next-gen console (for everyone/anyone who hits that points level), there are other cool rewards like snappy IGDA t-shirts, Amazon gift certificates and cool developer memorabilia (eg, a copy of Q3 Gold signed by John Carmack). Check out the details and start scoring points today!
> LA Chapter summary
[Nov 21 - IGDA News]The Los Angeles Chapter has posted a summary report and pictures from their inaugural meeting earlier this month. Turn out was strong at 150+ developers!
> Women in Game Development Committee coverage
[Nov 20 - IGDA News]The Oakland Tribune ran a piece covering the IGDA's Women in Game Development Committee and their efforts to attract more women to game development as a viable career, and to help those women who are already part of of the industry.
> Chapter Update: Paris
[Nov 19 - IGDA News]This month's Paris Chapter meeting began with a discussion of how to keep creativity alive amidst the pressure to produce financially succesful products. For the full story, view the meeting summary and pictures.
> Chapter updates galore - Montreal, Israel, LA & Orlando
[Nov 13 - IGDA News]A whole rash of IGDA chapters have been gathering over the past week or so. Orlando had almost 200 attendees for a panel discussion on the effects of Sept11. The Israel Chapter, albeit only a few strong, sat to discuss how to promote game dev in Israel. The Montreal Chapter rented an actual movie theatre to host 150+ attendees for formal presentations from SoftImage, Analog and Microids. And, finally, the LA Chapter had about 160 developers on hand for their innaugural meeting (still waiting for their report/pics). Check for a chapter near you to join the action!
> San Diego Chapter debuts on Nov15
[Nov 06 - IGDA News]The newly formed San Diego chapter of the IGDA will be having their first gathering on Thursday, the 15th of November. Check the SD Chapter page for details. Bring your Xbox ;-)
> Game Design SIG updated
[Nov 05 - IGDA News]Ed Bartlett, the lead designer from the Bitmap Brothers, has updated the Game Design SIG. He's listed some relevant resources, and started an articles section. The first article is on becoming a game designer. Also, the Game Design SIG's forum is one of the most active at the site... Check it out!
> 20% discount for E3 conference and workshop reg
[Oct 31 - IGDA News]E3 will be opening their conference and workshops pre-registration shortly... All IGDA members are eligible for a 20% discount on registration fees (you can save up to $85!)(note: this does not include lunch). Pre-reg runs from November to April, and the site will be updated with the speaker/program info shortly. Check out the Member Benefits page for further discount details.
> Member discount on audio content
[Oct 31 - IGDA News]Soundtrack Express is offering a 5% discount on their catalog of audio content. You can search, preview, find, and download the right music to score games from their extensive online music catalog. Check out the Member Benefits page for further info and ordering details.
> First Scandinavian chapter in Malmo, Sweden
[Oct 31 - IGDA News]The IGDA's first Scandinavian chapter has recently been established in Malmo, Sweden. Their first gathering is still being planned, and hopes are to hold it in late November or early December...
> Member discount on Intel Software Development Products
[Oct 31 - IGDA News]As part of Intel's commitment to the IGDA and our members, they are offering a 15% discount on the VTune Performance Analyzer and 25% discount on their various compiler products to all IGDA members! Check out the Member Benefits page for further info and ordering details.
> New IGDA chapter in Israel
[Oct 25 - IGDA News]Our latest chapter is in Israel. While not necessarily known as a hot-bed of game development, there is a focused group that will strive to grow the community and act as an information resources for those wanting to breaking. There first gathering is planning for November 8th. Check the Israel Chapter page for details...
> IGDA member profiles/interviews
[Oct 22 - IGDA News]We have set up a new member profile/interview section, and kicked things off with some IGDA early-birds: Trip Hawkins, Steve Meretzky and Gordon Walton. With the new profile section, we briefly profile individuals from our diverse pool of members to get a quick glimpse of who they are and their insights. We'll try to add a new profile every week or so...
> Big chapter action in Orlando and Chicago!
[Oct 18 - IGDA News]Both the Orlando and Chicago chapters have some big action going on next week (October 25th). The Orlando Chapter is hosting a panel to discuss how the game industry should react to the tragic events of recent history (panelists include Dave Arneson, the co-creator of D&D!). While the Chicago Chapter will be on hand for a Discreet party and the "Playing by the Rules: The Cultural Policy Challenges of Video Games" conference. Full details at the respective pages...
> Blizzard to christen the LA Chapter on Nov.8
[Oct 18 - IGDA News]Blizzard will be discussing WarCraft III with all developers on hand for the inaugural gathering of the IGDA's Los Angeles chapter, November 8th at the Art Institute of LA. Check the LA Chapter page for details, and be sure to get on the announcements mailing list...
> Streaming IGDA from SIGGRAPH
[Oct 18 - IGDA News]The camera crew from Digital Turf grabbed some footage of host Patrick Mauro barraging the IGDA's Jason Della Rocca, and other developers during SIGGRAPH this summer. Have a peek at the stream (56k or 1mbit).
> We have been slashdotted :)
[Oct 17 - IGDA News]In a fit of geekish pride, I can't help but report the fact that Harvey's piece on the future of game design has been slashdotted. While there are several good discussion threads, most of it covers the public perception of ION Storm ("didn't they suck and shut down?"), whether Warren Spector is truly a genius and other fun topics. Sorry for the vanity.
> Houston Chapter summary reports/pics
[Oct 15 - IGDA News]The Houston Chapter just sent word of a couple of summary reports from their latest chapter gathering, and a bunch of fun pics to go along with them. Jump to everything from the Houston home page...
> Biggest chapter event yet!
[Oct 10 - IGDA News]With well over 200 developers in attendance, the IGDA's Montreal Chapter had the biggest chapter gathering to date (the challenge to all other chapters has been set ;-) With several out of town guests - including the IGDA's very own chairman, Matt Toschlog - the local developers came out in droves to schmooze and enjoy the sponsored drinks, food and arcade games. Yeah!
> The future of game design...
[Oct 10 - IGDA News]Harvey Smith, lead designer at ION Storm Austin, whipped together an impressive keynote address on the future of game design for a recent game conference in Montreal. He goes into quite some detail regarding immersive simulations, emergent behavior and how to create a greater possibility space for player expression. And, he sneaks in some bits on Deus Ex 2... A must read!
> Six Tactics for Career Development
[Oct 01 - IGDA News]"Six Tactics for Career Development: Get Where You Want to Be" is a new feature posted to the IGDA article section. It details six different approaches to obtaining your ideal career by improving on your current situation.
> Welcome all Gamasutra discussion forum users!
[Oct 01 - IGDA News]As of today, Gamasutra will be shutting down their online discussion forums, and redirecting everyone to the IGDA's forums. Their motivation is mainly based on the fact that the IGDA is so strongly focused on community building. Be sure to register if you are not already an IGDA member or user.
> Slow Friday in Guildford: Chapter pub event success at fault...
[Sep 26 - IGDA News]Ben Board (of Dogfish Entertainment and Guildford Chapter coordinator) has posted a brief summary and pictography of last week's chapter gathering. All told, it was a great success!
> Game dev conference track set for Montreal
[Sep 25 - IGDA News]Held in Montreal, from the 3rd to the 5th of October, the MIM's game track features noted speakers (eg, Harvey Smith of ION Storm Austin and Greg Zeschuk of BioWare) with a focus on next generation design and profits. IGDA members get 50% off conference fees before September 30th, 25% afterwards. Login into the secure codes page to access the member discount code. Furthermore, the Montreal Chapter will be timing its event to accomodate the visiting speakers. Check the chapter page for details on this gathering.
> 10% member discount for mobile gaming conference in Spain
[Sep 20 - IGDA News]Mobile Gaming & Entertainment will be from the 19th to 20th of November in Barcelona, Spain. This event plans to bring more than 20 leading wireless operators, ISPs, broadcasters and content providers from throughout Europe to discuss and debate their experiences, strategies and revenue predictions for mobile gaming. All IGDA members receive a 10% discount on the registration fee (quote your member # when registering).
> Game developer salary survey
[Sep 17 - IGDA News]The Game Developer Salary Survey has just been posted to the IGDA site. The survey helps answer the eternal question: how much money should I be making as a game developer? This is the same piece that was first published in the July issue of Game Developer magazine, but now it is online and in handy pdf format.
> First South American chapter established in Brazil
[Sep 13 - IGDA News]The IGDA is happy to announce that the Brazil Chapter is our first in South America. Headed up by Jeferson Valadares of Jynx Playware, the chapter is meeting for the first time this Friday. Check the Brazil Chapter page for details.
> The IGDA reports on their visit to GDC Europe and ECTS
[Sep 12 - IGDA News]Check out the brief summary report on the IGDA's trip to GDC Europe and ECTS. Or, just skip the bla bla and enjoy the fun batch of pictures...
> 33% off Mobile Entertainment conference in Las Vegas
[Sep 11 - IGDA News]Held in Las Vegas from October 25 to 26, Mobile Entertainment will give you the opportunity to learn from the leaders designing mobile entertainment solutions. IGDA members save 33% on the regular cost of admission. Login into the secure codes page to access the member discount code.
> More book discounts: AP and MK
[Sep 10 - IGDA News]Now IGDA members can receive up to 40% off of Academic Press and Morgan Kaufmann books and publications. Some good examples include "3D Game Engine Design" and "Understanding Motion Capture for Computer Animation and Video Games". Check the Member Benefits page for details on ordering.
> Coding tips and tricks for all
[Sep 10 - IGDA News]The General Algorithms & Programming SIG has just been set up to share general algorithms and programming tips, and to get feedback on new techniques, or algorithms you want to implement and would like to get a broad opinion on the topic before undertaking the extensive task of writing the code. The SIG is being led by industry veteran, and code guru, Andi Smithers (The Collective).
> Mocap action in Chicago
[Sep 10 - IGDA News]The IGDA's Chicago Chapter were treated to a cool motion capture demonstration at their recent chapter gathering. Check out the summary and pics.
> Warm welcome to new Studio Affiliates
[Sep 10 - IGDA News]Valve, gameLab and Compulsive Development have all recently joined as Studio Affiliates. We are happy to have these studios supporting the IGDA and will be happy to see their team members getting involved with our endeavors. Demonstrate the same leadership and sign up your studio today!
> IGDA interview at Gamitopia
[Aug 29 - IGDA News]Shameless plug: Check out the interview Jason Della Rocca, the IGDA's program director, did over at Gamitopia (a cool new site, BTW)...
> Words of wisdom for newbies from pros
[Aug 27 - IGDA News]A "Words of Wisdom" series has been added to our Students & Newbies Outreach area. Industry veteran Barbara Walter is collecting advice and tips on getting into game development from industry professionals as part of her ongoing role as the IGDA's newbie forum moderator. Check out what the pros have to say!
> CyberArts X conference and party (50% member discount)
[Aug 22 - IGDA News]CyberArts International is having it's 10-year Anniversary in connection with the 20th Anniversary of Ylem (Artists Using Science & Technology). This 2-day conference at San Francisco's Exploratorium is an incredible gathering of global leaders in art, technology, software and creativity. IGDA member receive a 50% discount when registering for the conference and/or the party (please quote your IGDA number).
> Quick SIGGRAPH trip summary
[Aug 22 - IGDA News]Check out the quick run down of the IGDA's visit to SIGGRAPH, the panel we hosted and all the cool stuff seen. Fun pictures included...
> London Chapter Update
[Aug 16 - IGDA News]The London Chapter's next meeting is next Wednesday, August 22 (18.30 PM) at The Old Crown (33 New Oxford Street). Simon Robinson, from Genie, and Geraint Bungay, from BT Openworld, will discuss the future of Online Games over Narrowband, Broadband and Mobile Phones. Bring your business card for a chance to win a broadband connection and a Genie goodie bag.
> 20% discount on C/C++ Users and Windows Developers back-issue CD-ROMs
[Aug 16 - IGDA News]Another great member benefit, now you can get years worth of C/C++ Users Journal and Windows Developers Journal on their back-issue CD-ROMs at a 20% discount. Check the member benefits page for details.
> Post Mortem (Boston Chapter) Update
[Aug 10 - IGDA News]Post Mortem, the Boston Chapter of the IGDA, will meet Tuesday, August 14 at 7:00 PM. Don't miss it! Visit the chapter forum for meeting details.
> 20% off A. K. Peters books for IGDA members
[Aug 08 - IGDA News]A. K. Peters has graciously offered a 20% discount on their books for all IGDA members. This includes such greats as Moller & Haines' "Real-Time Rendering", as well as the Journal of Graphics Tools. Please quote your IGDA member number when ordering.
> DemoScene fusing real-time technology and creativity
[Aug 08 - IGDA News]As big fans of the DemoScene and proponents of the benefits of Scene culture, the IGDA is excited about working with the DemoScene Outreach Group to set up the IGDA's DemoScene SIG. From studios hunting for prospective talent, to newbies learning the ropes of code/art, the DemoScene has a lot to offer the game development industry. Check out the links and awesome demos.
> 30% off all Gamasutra store purchases
[Aug 03 - IGDA News]Starting immediately, all purchases in the Gamasutra Online Store will be discounted by 30% for IGDA members. Featured items include the Game Developer Magazine back issue CD-ROMs, the GDC proceedings and swag-like Gama merchandise (shirts, caps, etc). Just plug your member number where prompted on the order form, and you'll get the discount. Further details can be found at the Member Benefits page.
> Insert Coin premiere issue preview
[Aug 03 - IGDA News]Insert Coin is the soon to be launched trade mag for the Nordic countries. We have a sneak preview of the "IGDA Action" article - an ongoing series covering the activities of the IGDA and our Nordic chapters.
> Gamasutra Postmortem Analysis
[Aug 03 - IGDA News]IGDA member Simon Larsen started a recent forum thread to announce and discuss the work he had done on analyzing 22 Postmortem articles from Gamasutra.com. While the piece does provide some insight into recurring themes, Simon has yet to post his full thesis...
> Alias|Wavefront supports the dev community
[Aug 03 - IGDA News]The IGDA is excited to announce that Alias|Wavefront is our newest sponsor. Their commitment and support of the game development community is uncomprising and their sponsorship of the IGDA proves this even more so. Their support provides invaluable resources to fund our various programs and endeavors.
> Guildford latest IGDA chapter
[Aug 03 - IGDA News]The thriving community of game developers in the Guildford area (and their infamous GGDev mailing list) have become the official IGDA Guildford chapter. Big thanks go out to develop magazine for planting the seed from their recent piece on the Guildford dev community.
> Bonjour Paris!
[Aug 03 - IGDA News]Bienvenue aux développeurs parisiens et français! We are excited to announce the start of the Paris Chapter, headed up by Philippe Aubessard (formerly of Cryo). Their first meeting is planned for early September. Stay posted at the Paris Chapter page or their discussion forum.
> Next Generation Mobile Content Strategies conference and workshop
[Aug 02 - IGDA News]The Next Generation Mobile Content Strategies conference and workshop will be from September 11th to the 13th in London. This conference and half day workshop will focus on generating revenue and creating innovative content for 2.5G and beyond. All IGDA members are eligible for a 10% discount on registration fees (please fax back the registration form and quote your IGDA number and "ref Nathalie Day").
> IGDA/Gamastra.com August Studio Promo!!!
[Aug 01 - IGDA News]We've hooked up with Gamasutra.com to provide new Studio Affiliates with a whack of freebies and discounts on the various Gamasutra.com services. For a low annual fee, you can sign up your development studio in the IGDA's Studio Affiliation Program and immediately benefit from our August promotions: one free Standard Job Listing (value of $300) and one free Standard Project Listing (value of $150). Check the Promo page for full details.
> Fun in the sun for South Florida Chapter
[Jul 30 - IGDA News]The Miami/South Florida Chapter had another great gathering, as reported by the chapter coordinator Tom Buscaglia. The night started with presentations at Florida Atlantic University's Center for Electronic Communication and ended off at a local pub for socializing.
> gamesbiz.net sponsors the IGDA
[Jul 28 - IGDA News]The sharp-as-nails legal and business experts from gamesbiz.net have signed on to sponsor the IGDA. Yeah! Their support of the association will provide invaluable funds to drive our various programs and endeavors. What's more, they are also offering up discounts on their services to our Studio Affiliates.
> The IGDA welcomes the Austin Game Developers to the family
[Jul 27 - IGDA News]It is with great pleasure to announce that the Austin Game Developers group has been "resurrected" and has become the official IGDA Austin Chapter. Things are still in the formative stages, and everyone is more than welcome to get involved. Check the Austin Chapter page and discussion forum for further details.
> 70% discount on Windows Developers Journal!
[Jul 26 - IGDA News]Another day, another IGDA benefit: IGDA members now qualify for a 70% discount on a yearly subscription to Windows Developer's Journal, the independent choice for Windows programming. Order online and enter your IGDA member number to receive your discount.
> 33% discount on C/C++ Users Journal!
[Jul 26 - IGDA News]Another great IGDA benefit, especially for all our coders and techies: IGDA members now qualify for a 33% discount on a yearly subscription to C/C++ Users Journal, providing advanced solutions to programmers. Order online and enter your IGDA member number to receive your discount.
> GameDev.net establishes alliance with the IGDA
[Jul 25 - IGDA News]Dave Astle, the executive producer of GameDev.net could not have said it better "...Like GameDev.net, the IGDA is committed to fostering a community of game developers working together to make an incredible industry even better...". To kick things off we are offering a 25% discount to all GameDev.net members!
> Denmark Chapter Meeting
[Jul 23 - IGDA News]The Denmark Chapter will meet Thursday, August 2nd in Copenhagen. Visit the Denmark Chapter Forum for the meeting location and agenda, and to join the mailing list.
> IGF submission deadline fast approaching - 50% IGDA member discount!
[Jul 23 - IGDA News]As a proud supporter of the Independent Games Festival, the IGDA is happy to announce that members get a 50% discount on the submission fee! On that note, be sure to check the IGF key dates, as the deadline of September 1st is fast approaching.
> Houston Chapter Meets
[Jul 20 - IGDA News]The Houston Chapter of the IGDA will meet next Thursday, July 26 at the Richmond Arms starting at 7:00 PM. IGDA members, developers and all interested parties are encouraged to attend.
> uDevGame 2001 - Macintosh Game Programming Contest Opens
[Jul 17 - IGDA News]iDevGames is proud to announce the official opening of uDevGame 2001, a new Macintosh game creation competition. Simply write a game that runs on an Apple Macintosh computer and you could win one of many fabulous prizes. The competition closes on September 16th 2001.
More information about the competition and how to enter can be found at the uDevGame 2001 homepage.
> New York "Gamoids" Meeting
[Jul 17 - IGDA News]The IGDA's New York City Chapter, the Gamoids, is meeting on Tuesday, July 31 at Bar Code in Times Square. The first 50 people to show get a ticket for a free drink and a $20 card to be used with Bar Code's arcade games. Details at the Gamoids forum.
> Orlando Chapter News
[Jul 13 - IGDA News]Developers in and around Orlando plan to meet on Thursday, July 26. More information can be found in the Orlando Chapter forum.
> 20% member discount on Charles River Media books!!!
[Jul 13 - IGDA News]The folks at Charles River Media have generously offered a 20% discount for all IGDA members on their great books. This discount applies to any books purchased via the Charles River Media online store - including the classic Game Programming Gems. To receive the discount, you must quote your IGDA member number in the "notes" field. This adds to our growing list of member benefits.
> Chicago Chapter Launch
[Jul 12 - IGDA News]The IGDA's Chicago Chapter will meet for the first time the evening of Tuesday, July 24. All are welcome to attend, share food & drink, talk and get acquainted. Check out the Chicago Chapter Forum for details.
> SF bay area - Final Fantasy movie outing
[Jul 11 - IGDA News]IGDA members, friends and non-members are invited to see "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" this Saturday night, along with fellow developers in the SF Bay Area Chapter. Since many in the game development community are already planning to see Final Fantasy on opening weekend, we figured why not do it together and meet for drinks afterward! Buy your tickets early, as this will likely be a sellout.
> Opportunities to Study Gaming in Higher Education
[Jul 11 - IGDA News]Joystick101.org has completed its series on opportunities for studying gaming in higher education. Part III: Education and Cultural Studies is now online. Also check out Part I: Computer Science programs and Part II: New Media Programs.
> July Newsletter
[Jul 09 - IGDA News]The IGDA's July Newsletter is online. This month's newsletter focuses on the recent expansion of IGDA programs, including new SIGs, Chapters and Studio Affiliates.
> First Bay Area meeting is a tremendous success!
[Jul 03 - IGDA News]Peter Leahy of Totally Games (and chapter coordinator) whipped up an excellent report summarizing the first gathering of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter. With a design lecture from Will Wright, and over 125 developers in attendance, the gathering was a smashing success.
> Welcome to Totally Games
[Jul 02 - IGDA News]The IGDA would like to extend a warm welcome to Totally Games (of X-Wing fame), as our latest Studio Affilate. "The gang at Totally Games and I are excited about where the IGDA is headed and to be a part of the movement focused on improving the lives and craft of game developers around the globe." - Lawrence Holland, Creative Director, Totally Games.
> Heating up in Miami
[Jul 02 - IGDA News]The Miami/South Florida Chapter had their first gathering last Wednesday. Chapter coordinator Tom Buscaglia whipped up a nice summary report (with pics) so we can all see the fun they had!
> Chapter action in Montreal
[Jun 29 - IGDA News]The Montreal Chapter had another great gathering, with 60 developers skipping the start of the Montreal Jazz Fest to share beers with their peers, and listen to a postmortem of The 4th Coming, and the AI revolution from BioGraphics Technologies.
> Real pain! Tekken Torture Tournament
[Jun 29 - IGDA News]Putting a whole new spin on the violence in games issue, a French site has recently reported on a Tekken tournment in LA, where players are hooked up to electric shock devices, and get zapped as their fighter's health diminishes. Check out the story from Multimedium (in French), or jump to the tournament site directly (lots of pics). Pretty freaky!
> Chapter Meetings Calendar
[Jun 27 - IGDA News]It's now easier to find IGDA game developer gatherings in your town - just check the new Chapter Meetings Calendar.
The South Florida group is meeting tonight. Tomorrow night, there are meetings in Orlando, San Francisco, and Montreal.
> Business & Legal SIG established
[Jun 20 - IGDA News]For all you biz types (or more importantly, the non-biz types) out there, we just set up the Business & Legal Special Interest Group. This SIG will provide practical advice and resources on the business and legal aspects of game development. And, the forums are moderated by real biz and legal pros!
> IGDA Newsletter, June 2001
[Jun 18 - IGDA News]Read the June IGDA Newsletter. Highlights include Montreal and SF bay area chapter updates, announcement of new Game Design SIG, industry-specific news and discount offers for studio affiliates.
> Seattle Chapter to present an inside look at robot soccer
[Jun 15 - IGDA News]The Seattle Chapter (Sputnik) and the IEEE Computer Society Seattle Section are pleased to present an inside look at robot soccer. Peter Stone will speak at the August 2nd gathering. Dr. Stone works in the Artificial Intelligence Research Department of AT&T Labs. He is the author of Layered Learning in Multiagent Systems: A Winning Approach to Robot Soccer. His design led CMU to win the 1999 robot simulation soccer championship in Stockholm with a cumulative score of 110-0!
> IGDA board members announced!
[May 11 - IGDA News]The IGDA is excited to announce that the two newly elected members to the board of directors are Robert Huebner, technical director at Nihilistic Software and Graeme Devine, designer/project manager at id Software. Furthermore, our new officers were elected by the board, with returning members Matt Toschlog (president, Outrage Entertainment), Warren Spector (studio director, ION Storm Austin) and Julian Eggebrecht (president, Factor 5) taking on the roles of chairman, secretary and treasurer, respectively. Check the press release for details.
> Action in Amsterdam
[May 11 - IGDA News]The Amsterdam Chapter got a nice article about them at the Radio Netherlands Wereldomroep site. Check out the story!
> May newsletter out
[May 11 - IGDA News]Just a quick FYI that the IGDA Newsletter for May has been posted.
> E3 workshop on design docs
[May 10 - IGDA News]The IGDA's Jason Della Rocca will be hosting a workshop as part of E3's conference program: Taking the First Step: A Design Doc Tutorial on Wednesday, May 16 at 9:00-12:00. The all-star line up of panelists includes: Warren Spector of ION Storm; James Ohlen of BioWare; Peter Molyneux of Lionhead Studios; Kent Quirk of Cognitoy; Demis Hassabis of Elixir Studios. Get all the details at the E3 site.
> Join the women_dev mailing list
[Apr 17 - IGDA News]The recently established Women in Game Development Committee have launched their women_dev mailing list. The purpose of the list is to provide an open forum for discussion of issues surrounding women's participation in the industry, including education, mentorship, corporate successes and failures, career networking, and equity. We welcome everyone who is interested in these issues to participate in this list, regardless of gender or games industry affiliation.
> April newsletter out
[Apr 04 - IGDA News]Just a quick FYI that the IGDA Newsletter for April has been posted.
> Election materials arriving...
[Apr 03 - IGDA News]Election materials for the IGDA's 2001 Board of Directors election should appear in your mailbox any day now. Please take a close look at the candidates hoping to set the IGDA's direction in the years to come. Return your ballot by mail or fax to 415-947-6090 before the April 15 deadline. A duplicate ballot can be printed out and returned in the same way.
> Nathan wins big at GDC
[Mar 29 - IGDA News]The winner of the IGDA's Golden Tee Golf fundraising challenge is Nathan Bishop, from Discreet, San Francisco. Nathan earned the lowest golf score (negative five) over a three-day period during GDC last week. As a reward for his Golden Tee Golf prowess, he received a fully loaded AMD Athlon 1.1 GHz processor system (lucky guy!). A big thanks to Incredible Technologies and AMD for making the IGDA's Golden Tee Golf challenge possible.
> Awards recipients listed
[Mar 27 - IGDA News]The Game Developers Choice Awards site has been updated with a listing of the recipients and the latest PR. Congratulations to all!
> Another year, another awesome GDC!
[Mar 27 - IGDA News]Big thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success for the IGDA and its members.
> Board candidates announced
[Mar 14 - IGDA News]All the nominations are in, and we are proud to announce the twelve candidates for this years board of director elections.. Be sure to read their statements, and catch them at the IGDA's Annual Meeting during GDC. Refer back to the nomination info if needed.
> March newsletter posted
[Mar 07 - IGDA News]The IGDA Newsletter for March has gone up.
> Alan Yu talks Awards
[Mar 07 - IGDA News]Alan Yu, the director of the GDC, recently sat down with X-Treme Gaming Radio to do a series of interviews. The Game Developers Choice Awards is predominantly covered, among other topics.
> Annual Meeting at GDC
[Mar 05 - IGDA News]The IGDA's Annual Meeting will be held during the GDC. We encourage all members (and nonmembers) who are at GDC to attend. We will report on the past year, lay out some plans for the future, have a Q&A period and introduce the candidates for the board of directors. Check the GDC site for further details.
> Run for the IGDA board of directors
[Feb 24 - IGDA News]The IGDA's executive director, Jennifer Pahlka, today announced that there are two seats on the board of directors that are up for grabs. If you are interested in running for a seat on the board please read up on the election details. The nomination deadline is March 9th.
> Awards finalists announced
[Feb 22 - IGDA News]The finalists for the Game Developers Choice Awards have been announced! Woohoo! Run to see if you made the list...
> Scholarship winners
[Feb 16 - IGDA News]The winners of the IGDA's GDC 2001 Student Scholarship have been announced! Twenty-five game development students from around the world will receive a free Classic Pass to attend the Game Developers Conference in March. The complete list of winners is posted on the Scholarship's homepage.
> Member ballots on the way...
[Feb 14 - IGDA News]All IGDA members should be on the lookout for their IGDA member ballot covering various constitutional changes - ballots are currently in transit and should be arriving via snail-mail to your mailbox before the end of the week. We need your vote! Please take a minute to vote and return the ballot.
> February newsletter
[Feb 08 - IGDA News]The IGDA Newsletter for February has been posted.
> Last chance to nominate for Awards
[Feb 07 - IGDA News]This is your last chance! The nominations stage of the Game Developers Choice Awards ends this Friday (Feb. 9). Be sure to make your nominations before it is too late.
> IGDA sessions at GDC
[Feb 06 - IGDA News]The GDC site has been updated with a full listing of the sessions that will be presented by the IGDA. Be sure to stop by and contribute to roundtables and working groups hosted by the likes of Warren Spector, Henry Jenkins, Steve Meretzky, Richard Hilleman, Sheri Graner Ray, Daniel Greenberg and many others!
> Chapter action in Monteral and Amsterdam
[Jan 30 - IGDA News]The IGDA is pleased to report that two chapters, Montreal and Amsterdam, had extremely successful first-time gatherings. In both cities, developer turnout was far greater than expected. Read the summaries and check out the pictures for both the Montreal, and Amsterdam chapters!.
> Violence Committee interview at Daily Radar
[Jan 29 - IGDA News]Daily Radar recently conducted an interview with Jason Della Rocca, the IGDA's program director, to discuss the IGDA's Violence Committee. They cover the reasoning behind starting the Committee, the goals, critics and the future. Check out the interview.
> Interview at eUniverse Live
[Jan 24 - IGDA News]Jump to eUniverse Live to listen to their interview with Jason Della Rocca, the IGDA's program director. They cover the basics of the association and how newbies can get involved and chat about the GDC Student Scholarships...
> First Montreal chapter gathering on Jan 25th
[Jan 23 - IGDA News]The IGDA's Montreal Chapter will host its first meeting this Thursday, January 25th. Be part of the fun, starting at 7:00 pm at the Cinema Quartier Latin.
> First chapter gathering for Baton Rouge
[Jan 23 - IGDA News]The IGDA's Baton Rouge Chapter will host its first meeting this Friday, January 26th. Stop by the East Campus Apartments Activity Center on the Louisiana State University campus at 7:00 PM to join the fun!
> New SIG: Remote/External Development
[Jan 22 - IGDA News]A new SIG is born! The Remote/External Development SIG has been established to act as a discussion forum where parties can freely discuss the pros and cons of external and remote development.
> Metrowerks sponsors the IGDA!
[Jan 22 - IGDA News]The IGDA is happy to announce that Metrowerks is our latest sponsor! Big round of applause for their continued support of the game development industry.
> Scholarship application period closed
[Jan 16 - IGDA News]The application phase of the GDC 2001 Student Scholarship program has drawn to a close. Eighty student members of the IGDA applied for the scholarship and no further applications will be accepted. The IGDA board will now judge the applications and announce 25 winners at the end of the month. Thank you and good luck to all who applied!
> Online Games Committee gets ball rolling...
[Jan 15 - IGDA News]The Online Games Committee has recently been established. The purpose of the Online Games Committee is to document, publish and present an annual white paper on key trends, business models and technologies in online gaming. The Committee is in its formative stages - those interested in contributing should jump to the Committee's dedicated section.
> New chapter in Huntsville
[Jan 12 - IGDA News]A new IGDA chapter is forming in Huntsville, Alabama, coordinated by Randy Shepherd of Werd Interactive. The first meeting will be held next Thursday, January 18th. All developers in the area are welcome to attend! Get the details at the Huntsville, AL Chapter page.
> January newsletter online
[Jan 10 - IGDA News]The IGDA Newsletter for January has been posted.
> The IGDA presents the first annual Game Developers Choice Awards
[Jan 10 - IGDA News]The IGDA is proud to announce that it will be presenting the first annual Game Developers Choice Awards at this year's GDC. These Awards are developer driven, and allow developers to recognize and reward each other. Nominations are in progress, so make haste to the Game Developers Choice Awards site.
> IGDA establishes Violence in Games Committee
[Jan 08 - IGDA News]The IGDA has recently established a Violence Committee to look into the issue of violence in games and the marketing of such content to children with tangible outcomes in mind. Jump to the Violence Committee's section for more info, and have a look at the press release covering the recent developer summit. Feel free to comment/post in the Violence Committee's public forum.
> Discount for Mobile Games Convention
[Jan 03 - IGDA News]The IGDA has scored yet another event discount! IGDA members are entitled to a 15% discount off conference fees for the Mobile Games Convention. Held from March 12-13, in London, the First International Mobile Games Convention guarantees two days of in-depth presentations affording authoritative, expert advice. Grab their brochure (PDF) or jump their site for info.
> Discount for Interactive TV & Mobiles Games event
[Jan 03 - IGDA News]IGDA members can take advantage of another upcoming event discount. IGDA members are eligible for a 20% discount when registering for the Interactive TV & Mobile Games conference. From February 19-21 in London, the second annual Interactive TV Games conference follows last year's highly successful industry event. Jump to their site for further info and to register.
> Discount for Game Technology Seminars!
[Jan 03 - IGDA News]To start off the new year with a bang, all IGDA members will receive a $50 discount when registering for the Game Technology Seminars. From January 30th to February 2nd, the Game Technology Seminars are full, intensively paced days of nonstop learning. The seminar is split between Graphics and Physics tracks. All info pertaining to the seminar and the IGDA discount can be found at the Game Technology Seminars home page.
> Happy New Year!!!
[Jan 01 - IGDA News]The IGDA would like to extend a Happy New Year to all the developers out there, and the best of wishes (and luck) for 2001!