About Us

The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) is the world’s largest nonprofit membership organization serving all individuals who create games.

We bring together developers at key industry conferences and in over 150 chapters and special interest groups (SIGs) to improve their lives and their craft. Whether you’re a student with a goal to become a game developer or a seasoned veteran; whether you’re based in the United States or any other country or region in the world; whether you’re an indie developer or in a AAA studio; whether your primary platform is a PC, console, mobile device, VR/AR, or a tabletop—we welcome you home to the IGDA!

Our Mission

Our mission is to support and empower game developers around the world in achieving fulfilling and sustainable careers.

mission

Who We Are

We are a global network of collaborative communities and individuals from all fields of game development, including programmers and producers, designers and artists, writers, business people, QA team members, localization experts, and everyone else who participates in the game development process.

Our mission is overseen by the IGDA Board of Directors, which consists of both elected and appointed members. The IGDA Executive Director and core staff are responsible for executing on the vision and directives of the Board and, together with our operational partners, are the force behind the day-to-day running of the IGDA.

The IGDA is an independent, nonprofit membership association and is recognized as a 501(c)(6) tax-exempt organization by the US Internal Revenue Service and as a mutual benefit nonprofit association under California state law.

IGDA Staff and Board of Directors

History

1994

Ernest Adams establishes the Computer Game Developers Association (CGDA), with the aim of creating a true professional association to give game developers a voice and a way to come together to advance the state of the art.

Jennifer Pahlka becomes the organization’s first executive director.

The Computer Game Developers Conference is sold to Miller Freeman (later CMP, then Think Services, and now UBM TechWeb).

1999

To better reflect its growing global scope and platform agnosticism, the CGDA is officially renamed the International Game Developers Association.

2000

Jason Della Rocca is named executive director.

2009

Joshua Caulfield is named executive director.

2010

Gordon Bellamy is named executive director.

2012

Kate Edwards is named executive director.

2014

In partnership with Western University (Ontario, Canada), M2 Research, Georgia Institute of Technology, and TÉLUQ University (Québec, Canada), the IGDA launches the first annual Developer Satisfaction Survey.

2016

The IGDA Career Center is launched.

2017

Jen MacLean is named executive director.

The IGDA relaunches with updated member benefits and a new mission statement: “IGDA supports and empowers game developers around the world in achieving fulfilling and sustainable careers.”

2019

Renee Gittins is named executive director.

The IGDA.org website is relaunched with an all-new design.

2022

Dr. Jakin Vela is named Executive Director.