I’ve got two announcements to make: one event (tomorrow) and one call to democratic action (today). I’ll start with democracy.
The deadline for the 2007 IGDA Board of Directors Election is TODAY (Monday, April 30th). To reach a quorum we still need over 800 votes, so it is critical that you vote.
This link will take you to the login for the secure voting ballot:
https://www.igda.org/login.php?pid=election
Make your voice heard by selecting leaders to govern the IGDA for the next three years. IGDA voting is done on an "approval" basis. Vote for as MANY, as FEW, ALL or NONE of the candidates as you like. The four candidates with the most overall votes will be elected to the board.
The following nine candidates are running for the Board. Please take a moment to review their statements of candidacy, via the below link, before voting:
- Bob Bates, Independent Game Developer
- Chris Charla, Director of Business Development, Foundation 9 Entertainment
- Dustin Clingman, President, Zeitgeist Games, Inc.
- Jen MacLean - VP and GM, Games, Comcast Interactive Media
- Jay Moore - Head of Special Ops, The Strategery Group
- Eric Nofsinger - Chief Creative Officer / Studio Director, High Voltage Software
- Brian Robbins - Executive Producer / Gaming Evangelist, Fuel Industries,
Inc.
- Coray Seifert - Associate Producer, THQ Inc. | Kaos Studios
- Gustaf Stechmann - Creative Director, Bigpoint.com
http://www.igda.org/board/elections.php
Note that IGDA NYC chapter member Brian Robbins is up for election, as is fellow tri-stater Coray Seifert, from IGDA New Jersey. You can vote to support multiple candidates, so at the very least, show these two gents some love. Just think, this may be a unique opportunity for New York to act as a swing state!
Next up, a gaming related event that’s happening TOMORROW, Tuesday, May 1st:
Join us for the The CUNY Institute for Software Design and Development (CISDD) forum on Gaming in New York City! The event will be at the City University Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue, in the Science Center (room 4102) on Tuesday, May 1 from 3pm-6pm. You will need ID to get into the building, so please arrive accordingly.
Using an NSF grant, CISDD is looking to open new avenues of communication with the growing gaming industry, including identifying research opportunities for our faculty and venues for our Computer Science graduates. This is a great opportunity to see what various types of gaming companies do and what's new.
According to the Entertainment Software Association, computer and video game software sales in the U.S. grew 6 percent in 2006. At $7.4 billion, that’s almost triple what they were in 1996. Given the size of the industry, it’s obvious that games are becoming increasingly pervasive across all segments of society, cutting across the lines of age and gender. And this pervasiveness is only likely to spread given continued advances in technology and the increasing sophistication of the home computer, the significance of which cannot be underestimated.
Join us and be part of the conversation of how to help the local gaming industry expand and how New York City can capture an overall greater portion of the economic pie the gaming industry offers.
Questions, email vdawson@gc.cuny.edu or call (212) 652-2865! Space is limited!
Guest Companies include:
www.gamelab.com" \o "blocked::www.gamelab.com
gameLab (www.gamelab.com) is a game development company that specializes in singleplayer and multiplayer online games, designing for a variety platforms on and off the computer. Their specialty is inventing new ways for people to play, integrating hip graphics, sound and content into approachable and addictive gameplay.
Kaos Studios (www.kaosstudios.com) combines epic, story-driven campaigns with innovative multiplayer gameplay to create the most compelling next-gen games on the market. Its roots stem from independent modders to the pinnacle of AAA game development, with a strong commitment to gameplay community feedback and the highest possible levels of quality in order to create great games.
Kuma Games (www.kumagames.com) is the industry leader in the new market for Episodic Video Games -- rich, 3D, immersive game experiences delivered to PCs and consoles in weekly episodes. Typically distributed as free, advertising-sponsored video game “shows”, Kuma has created the game industry’s answer to broadcast TV-style entertainment. These episodic games are a thoroughly unique user experience and present distinct marketing advantages for content owners, distributors and advertisers.
Large Animal (www.largeanimal.com) develops web-based promotional games, mobile games, and downloadable (PC and Mac) games. Large Animal’s AlphaQUEUE was a finalist in the 2004 Independent Games Festival (IGF), and RocketBowl was a 2005 IGF winner. Recent titles include Jackpot Match-Up, LEGO Bricktopia, and Snapshot Adventures: Secret of Bird Island.
Long Tail Studios (www.longtailstudios.com) is an innovative developer of games and entertainment for mobile phones. Long Tail is committed to developing character driven games and content. Through publishing partnerships with Gameloft and Advanced Mobile Applications, Longtail's products are available on leading wireless carriers worldwide.
Powerhead Games (www.powerheadgames.com) is an independent video game developer with lifetime sales of over one million games worldwide. Powerhead games is a licensed developer for Nintendo Gamecube, Gameboy Advance, Nintendo DS and XBOX 360.
