[IGDA_indies] more opinions on the value of the IGDA (esp. for indies)

[Jason Della Rocca]

Hi all,

Obviously, I am biased on this topic of discussion ;)

As Brandon noted, he and I have had extensive lively discussions on this... 
And, I do not mean to re-ignite those embers... But, I'd just like to make 
one point.

The IGDA has a very clear mission and mandate to build community and 
advocate on issues relevant to developers. The board is elected by the 
membership to guide the org to fulfill its mission. Developers join, in 
part, because they believe in this mission and value the work being done 
(or, in some cases, believe in the future potential of the org).

Those who do not believe in, or agree with, the IGDA's mission, don't have 
to join. We are not a union. IGDA membership is not mandatory.

It is unreasonable to ask the IGDA to cater to every idea, desire, whim of 
developers/members. The IGDA is a defined entity, it is not a clean slate 
or sand box that is up for definition.

(Do members of a non-profit cancer patient support society complain that 
the organization is not addressing the needs of AIDS patients, or should be 
doing more to feed the homeless?)

Whether or not one agrees that the work we do is valid/valuable is up to 
each developer to decide. And, despite our successes on the anti-censorship 
front, I'd like to think the IGDA is, and does, a lot more...

http://www.igda.org/advocacy/
http://www.igda.org/community/
http://www.igda.org/about/IGDA_2003_Annual_Report.pdf


We don't claim to be anything more than what we are.

Regards,
	Jason

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jason Della Rocca
Program Director
International Game Developers Association

t: +1-514-426-1162
f: +1-514-426-1201
Montreal, Canada
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.igda.org/blogs/realitypanic/

"Do or do not. There is no try."
- Yoda