Greetings, IGDA and other members of the game industry,

Today is Giving Tuesday, a global generosity movement that unleashes the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. In the spirit of the season, we are introducing a new giftable membership type. If you know someone who would like to join the IGDA community, you can now give them a one-year Individual membership for $60 USD. Complete the purchase here and we’ll take care of the rest!

I would also like to give my thanks to all of who are part of our community and help us pursue our mission to support and empower game developers around the world. It the the efforts of our volunteers and board and the support of our members, partners, and affiliates that allows us to provide programs and support to uplift game developers everywhere. If you would like to join the IGDA Board of Directors to further help pursue this mission, applications are open now.

This month will be particularly challenging for developers who have time off for holidays but are unable to see their friends and family. We will be providing our support for all developers during this time with the IGDA Holiday Cheer Hackathon. Join us from December 18th – January 3rd to share our well wishes and traditions from all around the world.

This is a two week hackathon will provide support and community to all developers who may be unable to see their friends and family during this holiday season. We will host multiple social and educational events during this period, while everyone will be encouraged to work together on projects that will span from holiday cards and songs to stories and, of course, games!

This hackathon will also celebrate the diverse backgrounds, locations, and traditions of the IGDA membership, and it is currently supported by PlayEveryWare, HIVE – Turku Game Hub, Lucien Parsons, The GameHERs, and Unity.

Sponsorships for this event start at only $500 to encourage community support and participation, please review this deck if you are interested in providing your support to game developers during this challenging holiday season. If you would like to contribute to the Holiday Cheer Hackathon by giving a talk, organizing an event, or sharing your own holiday traditions, please let us know!

I hope you all have a wonderful month, whether or not you are celebrating, and a Happy New Year!

Seasons Greetings,

Renee Gittins
Executive Director, IGDA