» IGDA

By at .

Game Jam Sprouts out of Too Many Games Expo in Philly

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Dave Voyles in Features | Leave a comment

Philadelphia’s Too Many Games Expo, held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center about 30 minutes outside of the city’s limits, encompassed everything from a flea market for retro and rare games to an indie showcase for budding game developers. This year however, the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) incorporated a game jam within the event, where small teams had 48 hours to build the most creative work they could using a pre-defined theme.

This year’s theme was a picture of a down-ridden merry-go-round covered in rust and lost among a landscape of overgrown foliage. Upon exploring the two humid and sweaty rooms of developers teeming with creativity, I stepped over an individual passed out on the floor and covered in a sleeping bag before making my way over to team Gamma Gods. Comprised of programmers Alex Pizzini and Jason Morano in addition to artist Yanni Hajioannou, these recent Wilmington University graduates were already 24 hours underway before I came across them.

Read more

PAX 2011: 0 to Indie in 5 Easy Steps

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Dave Voyles in Features | Leave a comment

The barrier to entry for independent game development is often cited as being extremely low, but with the ease of entry also comes the ability to fail just as easily. On a Saturday afternoon at PAX‘s Wolfman theater, Fire Chief of Fire Hose Games, Eitan Glinert, hosted a panel of budding independent game developers. Throughout the duration of this 60 minute meeting, panelists cited examples of some of the best and worst practices in the business.

The Vertical Slice

The panel opened with Jake Kazdal, who works as Art Director for Haunted Temple Studios (Skulls of the Shogun), stating the concept of the vertical slice. Never underestimate how important it is to have one solid piece of work to demo to a publisher or an audience. “Define the game with one initial kernel,” was Kazdal’s opening statement. Rather than have a series of incomplete thoughts, utilize one clearly defined product which will represent a solid portion of the rest of the title, specifically something that will inform viewers of what to expect in the finished product.

Read more

IGDA announces its 2011 events & activities

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Dave Voyles in News, PC News, XBLIG News | Leave a comment

Considering that a large percentage of our readership consists of individuals looking to get their start within the gaming industry or those currently making their mark within the industry, we believe it’s necessary to highlight one of the industry’s brightest organizations for connecting like-minded individuals. The International Game Developers Association is a non-profit organization, and serves our community of game developers. Their goal is to bring together developers at conferences, in local chapters and in special interest groups to improve both the process and life of a developer. Membership is comprised of  industry amateurs and veterans from high level studio executives, top-tier publishers, all the way down to indie developers, and students. Don’t be intimidated though – it’s open to everyone.

The IGDA makes their mark at nearly every major industry event each year, and things are looking just as well at the moment. Here are a few of the upcoming highlights:

E3 – June – Los Angeles, USA
· IGDA Party
· IGDA Executive Lunch for Publishers and Developers

GDC Europe – August – Cologne, Germany
· Professional and Student Mixer
· VIP Lunch

PAX Prime – August – Seattle, USA
· Professional and Student Mixer

GDC Online – October – Austin, USA
· Professional and Student Mixer

For those of you looking to meet up with other IGDA members in your local area – fear not; there are chapters dedicated to major cities throughout the world. I mean if Hyderabad has one, I’m sure you can find a chapter in your area as well. Individuals interested in finding a way to connect with others in a similar field are in luck as well; Special Interest Groups cover a variety of disciplines within game development. They cover a breadth of topics, including ARGs, Game Design, Level Design, Production, Women, Students, and Writing.

You don’t need to be rich to be a member either – they range from $25 – $50, and $600 for a lifetime membership. Studios have the opportunity to collectively join as well. If you ever plan on attending the Game Developers Conference, you might as well sign up as it removes $75 from the cost of the show.  As many indie developer well know, health insurance for yourself or your  family is commonly an issue too. Aside from the gaming connections, IGDA memberships offers other perks as well, including access to discounted healthcare to most US members.

If you’re a developer and already a member, let us know about your experience with the IGDA, we’d love to hear!

Source: Igda.org