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

[Jon Bonnell]

Jason,

> Sorry for the aggressive tone.

Frankly, I'd say you've been rather controlled and hardly aggressive based
on the two sets of comments you are responding to.

> Who's fault is that? The IGDA provides basic infrastructure for SIGs
> (and chapters), but it is up to the developers to actually do the action.

I'd only add a little more information on how to get involved and evoke
change beyond just participating in the forums might be a start.  Let the
membership know how they can effect change and make the organization better
instead of sitting around and waiting for something to happen to them.  

I've been a member now for 6-7 months and I haven't seen any information on
that.  Then, truly, it is the member's problem for not getting involved; not
making things better.

I have relished the contacts I've made and the information I've gleaned as
well as the local support of my local chapter, but for the membership to
truly advance change they need to know how to do that at the organizational
level.

Jon Bonnell
President, Infinite Spectrum Productions
http://www.infspec.com


-----Original Message-----
From: indies-bounces at igda.org [mailto:indies-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of
Jason Della Rocca
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 7:12 PM
To: Indie SIG mailing list
Subject: Re: [IGDA_indies] more opinions on the value of the
IGDA(esp.forindies)


>is all talk, no action.

Who's fault is that? The IGDA provides basic infrastructure for SIGs (and 
chapters), but it is up to the developers to actually do the action.

As Brandon noted, it is all about harnessing volunteer energy. If there is 
no action, it is because no one here is taking any action.

To be fair, there are a few who are starting to rebuild the web site and 
are looking at some new SIG projects, etc.


>Who cares? I mean, really, where has all this organization gotten anyone?

To be clear, the role of a non-profit organization like the IGDA is to 
benefit the community as a whole, and not directly any one member of the 
community. For example, one role of the IGDA is to help students become 
more employable by the industry right out of school by working with 
universities on curriculum and degree programs. We do not actually help the 
student get the job directly. This also has an effect on the quality of 
workers in the industry, and potential quality of games made.

In terms of specifics, here are some other examples:

- the IGDA has participated in several court cases to defend games as an 
artistic/expressive medium and save them from being censored/regulated by 
the government (ie, the legal defense fund Brandon refers to)
http://www.igda.org/censorship/lobbying.php

- we send 25 university students to GDC each year on scholarships
http://www.igda.org/scholarships/

- we wrote a guide on how to best submit games to publishers
http://www.igda.org/biz/submission_guide.php

- we wrote a curriculum framework that has been used by nearly every 
college and university in the world to set up game degrees and courses
http://www.igda.org/academia/curriculum_framework.php

- we present the Game Developers Choice Awards, the most respected and 
credible industry awards
http://www.igda.org/awards/

- we released a "quality of life" white paper that has shed much 
attention/light on the topic of developer work/life balance issues
http://www.igda.org/qol/whitepaper.php

- every month, dozens of IGDA chapters from around the word host meetings, 
allowing developers to connect, share ideas and grow their personal networks
http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php

- we hosted a developer members-only party at E3
http://www.igda.org/events/rsvp_e3party.php



Seems like a lot more than just blah blah talk to me ;)

Have these things helped you personally? I don't know. Has this helped 
better/grow the industry and community as a whole? I certainly like to 
think so.

Can the IGDA do more? Yes! Can we do things better? Yes! We don't have all 
the answers...

Sorry for the aggressive tone.

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

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