Colorado Game Developers

SITE MAP

Home

About Our Meetings

Colorado Companies

Links/Resources

Directions

Meeting Archive

How to Get Involved



COMMUNICATE

Join Meeting Announcement
E-Mail List

Join Discussion
E-Mail List

Post on IGDA Sponsered Forum

Contact Chapter Head

Meeting wrap-up April 1, 2002

Post Game Developer's Conference Debriefing and Schwag
Compiled by Karl Fasick and Brian Robbins

This month's meeting had nearly 40 people in attendance, 7 or 8 of which had been to the Game Developer's Conference in March. Unfortunately the Art Institute did not have classes so the building closed at 8:00 PM, leaving us with a very short 1 hour initial meeting. Several of us did head over to the Funky Buddha afterwards for a more informal gathering.

In general, everyone thought that the expo was smaller this year, and there was definitely much less Swag for us to bring back. We weren't quite sure if the actual conference attendance was up or down however because there were many more sessions at any given time than there had been in past years.

We also decided on a topic for next month's meeting which will be Demo Reels. Keith Ho, and Mike Boyle from VR1 will bring their reels which got them their jobs at VR1, and anyone else is invited to bring theirs, completed or not, for show and critique.

Meeting Notes:

Scott Martins (Worlds Apart) will be doing a demo of the monsters game soon.

Gary Rosenzweig (CleverMedia) on the Conference:

  • About the same number of attendees, but more sessions and smaller expo (less exhibitors) than last year.
  • Expo, job fair, eating area in one area.
  • Fewer promoters but same number of attendees.
  • Massive multiplayer games are very common.
  • Web based games taken seriously. Electronic Arts and Microsoft have online web based games.
  • Gary's session was well attended.
  • Start thinking about next year's GDC right now and get there!

    • Brian Robbins (CleverMedia)

  • running for IGDA Board of Directors - Join and vote!
  • Hosted web based games roundtables. - Web based games taking hold. People are seeing them as real games.
  • Interesting talks he attended were part of the IGDA tract - Will Wright (Maxis), Todd Hollinshead (id), and other movers and shakers attending and taking part in the Developer Activism session.
  • We'll be trying to get more publicity through the IGDA for Colorado Game Developers

    • Bruce Mitchener (Worlds Apart)

  • Doesn't recommend the Sushi place next to Gordon Biersch.
  • Destination games in Austin.
  • Mentioned Richard Garriot & Tabula Rasa

    John Tornlund (Blown Apart)

  • 3D graphics and network games.
  • He is working on two games. Forming new company to release games.
  • Putting on 2 big gaming events in 2 weeks one of which is RAMCON.

    • Denise Berg (GW Hannaway and Associates) in Boulder

  • distributor for many products like Maya and 3dMax.
  • She also offered their office as a possible meeting location

    • Christopher Williamson (DreamQuest software) - IGF Finalist

  • Independant Games Festival is all small developers.
  • Got to get business done as opposed to other IGF entrants surrounded by kids

    • Swag Time We distributed swag to everyone there, and most of it was immediately taken!

    Building closed early so we had a short meeting.

    Web hosting generously provided by Worlds Apart