=========================== IGDA Newsletter - July 2005 =========================== ================= Table of Contents ================= 0: A Word From Bob Bates 1: Casual Games SIG announced, whitepaper + quarterly launched 2: Report/Resource Updates: AI, gov support, QoL, DiGRA, Mobile paper 3: Event Updates: SIGGRAPH Next-Gen Series, GDC Europe plans 4: Member Email Forwarding System - in beta 5: Columns Update 6: Chapter Meetings/Reports x: Logistical Bits & Unsubscribe Info ================= ======================== 0: A Word From Bob Bates ======================== Dear Members and friends, Of what practical use is the IGDA to you as an individual? Sure, we do a decent job being the "voice of the developer" to lawmakers and the media. Our chapter meetings help game-makers develop a better sense of community. Our SIGs and committees deliver important white papers that help guide the industry to better policies and procedures. These are worthwhile activities that benefit the development community as a whole. But how does being a member of the IGDA help you do your job better? How can the IGDA give you a better understanding of your opportunities within the industry? How can we help you make better games? And how can we help your career? As the new chairperson of the organization, these are questions I have asked our executive staff and Board of Directors to work on. We will continue to pursue our twin goals of community and advocacy. But in the weeks and months to come you will see new programs geared towards helping the professional and career development of our members. So if you have a suggestion about how the IGDA can be more relevant to your life/career, please pop into the forums and get involved in the discussion: http://www.igda.org/Forums/showthread.php?threadid=17452 Happy gaming! - Bob Bates Chairperson, IGDA ************************************************************* ** Ad: Connected, Community-Based and 3D Mobile Games 2005 ** ************************************************************* - Creating profitable strategies for the hottest new games - 31st August, The Waldorf Hilton, London Major European show bringing together the industry leaders to discuss and debate how to extend current partnerships and form pioneering alliances to catapult these new game types into profit. The unique event format makes networking, lively discussion and benchmarking guaranteed. For more info: http://www.osneymedia.co.uk/tracker/osneytracker.asp?magazineid=1281 Or, email paul_osmond@osneymedia.co.uk (ref 814IGDA) ************************************************************* ============================================================== 1: Casual Games SIG announced, whitepaper + quarterly launched ============================================================== The newly established Casual Games SIG has just released the 2005 Casual Games White Paper (2MB, 125 page pdf). The White Paper is the work of over 30 volunteers in the casual games space, including contributors from: AOL, TryMedia, Skunk Studios, Large Animal, Pogo, Shockwave, Garage Games and many others. One of the most interesting sections for developers may be the Games to Market section which asks the same questions of 18 different publishers and gets answers about a variety of topics including commission breakdown and how to contact each company. The Casual Games Quarterly e-zine summer issue focusing on technology is also available online. http://www.igda.org/casual/ ******************************************** ** Ad: Austin Game Developer's Conference ** ******************************************** Join us in Austin, TX from October 26 to 28 for four fantastic game developer events: Austin Game Developer's Conference http://www.GameConference.com Mobile Game Conference http://www.MobileGameConference.com Women's Game Conference http://www.WomensGameConference.com Game Writers Conference http://www.GameWritersConference.com Register for one and attend all four events. $50 early bird discount ends August 12. http://www.GameConference.com/register/ ******************************************** ===================================================================== 2: Report/Resource Updates: AI, gov support, QoL, DiGRA, Mobile paper ===================================================================== Various and sundry report/resource updates from around the IGDA... - AI Interface Standards Committee 2005 Report http://www.igda.org/ai/report-2005/report-2005.html - Governmental Support/Resource List http://www.igda.org/wiki/index.php/Governmental_Support - Quality of Life Summit session videos http://www.igda.org/qol/vids.php - DiGRA and Vidfest trip summary and photos http://www.igda.org/blogs/realitypanic/archives/000300.html - 2005 Mobile Games White Paper http://www.igda.org/online/papers.php ============================================================ 3: Event Updates: SIGGRAPH Next-Gen Series, GDC Europe plans ============================================================ The IGDA will be participating these upcoming events: SIGGRAPH 2005 ------------- The IGDA will be hosting a birds of a feather session titled "Next-Gen Game Development Series" on Tuesday, August 2nd from 3:30- to 5:30 pm (in room 511C of the LACC). Speakers will include Tom Sloper, Bob Rafei and Dan Arey of Naughty Dog, Richard Taylor and Matt Britton of EA, and Doug McNabb of Rainbow Studios. They will present on impending trends, challenges, and opportunities in game art, design, programming, and business. Details are online: http://www.igda.org/Forums/showthread.php?postid=119193#post119193 GDC Europe ---------- The IGDA will be participating at GDC Europe with a panel on Quality of Life and a lecture on government economic support: Towards a Sustainable Future: Studio Heads Discuss Quality of Life http://www.cmpevents.com/GDCeu05/a.asp?option=C&V=11&SessID=752 Cutting the Red Tape: Governmental Support of the Games Business http://www.cmpevents.com/GDCeu05/a.asp?option=C&V=11&SessID=769 There will also be a chapter coordinators luncheon - please contact Rudy (rudy -@- igda.org) for details. Finally, the IGDA will be hosting a members-only social event on Thursday night (September 1st) in coordination with the London chapter. More details to come... Further, IGDA members get a 10% discount on GDC Europe registration (see ad below), and a discounted rate to attend the Develop Industry Excellence Awards: http://www.developmag.com/awards.php ******************************************************************** ** Ad: IGDA Members Receive 10% Discount on all GDC Europe Passes ** ******************************************************************** 30 August to 1 September 2005 Cafe Royal, London, UK The fifth annual Game Developers Conference Europe provides the European game development community an essential forum in which to learn, network, and focus on the future of next-generation interactive entertainment. Don't miss the leading European game development event ­ register now! Register by August 3, 2005 to secure an additional 30% savings on all conference passes! To activate your IGDA discount, please use priority code TFENXX. (Please note, IGDA membership will be verified.) http://www.gdceurope.com/ ******************************************** =========================================== 4: Member Email Forwarding System - in beta =========================================== A new membership feature, now all IGDA members can set up an email forwarding alias on the member.igda.org domain. For example john.smith @ member.igda.org can be set to forward to john @ smith.com. Members can log into their MyProfile page to set up an alias and forward-to address: http://www.igda.org/membership/myprofile.php The alias is member-updated on the fly and can be easily used to stay in touch with peers between career moves, or look slightly more official than ninjacoder@hotmail on a CV, etc. The system is still in beta, so please contact us if you run into any problems or odd behavior. ================= 5: Columns Update ================= Monthly columns have been updated: Famous Last Words ----------------- "A View To A Kill: When Convenience Becomes Cause" http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/lastwords_Jul05.php Culture Clash ------------- "Eyes Wide Shut: Why games are devolving" http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/clash_Jul05.php The Games Game -------------- "The Sky is Falling" http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/gamesgame_Jul05.php ********************************************** ** Ad: SIGGRAPH 2005: The Smart place to be ** ********************************************** You'll find all the data, techniques, people, and inspiration you need for another successful year of research, development, production, and creativity. SIGGRAPH 2005 Keynote Address from world-renowned director, producer and screenwriter George Lucas. More than 300 presentations on leading edge technologies and techniques. An Exhibition with the largest international display of next-generation tools required for achievement in computer graphics and interactive techniques. Five days only, 31 July-4 August 2005 in Los Angeles. Visit: http://www.siggraph.org/s2005 ********************************************** =========================== 6: Chapter Meetings/Reports =========================== Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings: http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php North Carolina Triangle Tuesday, August 9 > NDL & Gamebryo 2.0 - MetalWars Demo http://www.igda.org/nctriangle/ Mexico City Saturday, July 30 > Social Meeting http://www.igda.org/mexico Phoenix Saturday, July 30 > Chapter Meeting for 2005 July http://igda-phx.org/calendar.php?id=57 Frankfurt am Main Report, July 21 > July Chapter Meeting Summary Report and Resources http://igda.dimajix.net/index.php?id=2 Toronto Report, July 12 > Indie Game Showcase http://www.igda.org/toronto/toronto_summary_june2.htm Colorado Report, July 11 > General Networking and Discussion http://coloradogamedev.org/ New Jersey North Report, June 30 > NJ Dev Conference, Procedural Content and Team Cheers http://blender.rutgers.edu/~njigda/meetings/2005/200506.php London Report, June 29 > Crisis in Creativity? Heavenly Sword & Ernest Adams http://www.igda.org/london/meetingreports/200506/ Malaysia Report, June 28 > Malaysian Chapter June 2005 Meeting Report http://www.igda.org/malaysia/ Hamburg Report, June 23 > IGDA Hamburg Chapter Meeting 23-June-2005 http://www.igda.org/hamburg/reports.htm North Carolina Triangle Report, June 22 > Epic demo yields largest turnout ever for NC chapter http://www.igda.org/nctriangle/ ================== x: Logistical Bits ================== Unsubscribe/Subscribe to Newsletter ----------------------------------- You can unsubscribe or update your newsletter subscription details via your MyProfile page: http://www.igda.org/membership/myprofile.php If you need help, contact us. Thanks to our Partners ---------------------- The IGDA extends its sincerest thanks to all our Partners! Especially those who just joined us, or recently renewed their commitment to support the game development community: - Algoma University College - Austin Community College - Autodesk Media and Entertainment - Digital River, Inc. - NVIDIA Corporation - Savannah College of Art and Design - Suffolk College - Xbox Without their support the IGDA simply would not survive - let alone thrive. Further details and a complete list of Partners are available online: http://www.igda.org/partners Contact Information ------------------- Please contact us if you have questions, comments or input: http://www.igda.org/contact.php RSS Feeds for IGDA News and Chapter Updates ------------------------------------------- The IGDA web site has RSS feeds for IGDA news (eg, org announcements, committee work, etc) and chapter updates (eg, upcoming meetings, event reports). Those using RSS readers can point to: IGDA News: http://www.igda.org/igda_news_rss.php IGDA Chapter Updates: http://www.igda.org/igda_chapters_rss.php ------- - end - -------