Online Games SIG/Charter

International Game Developers Association

In mid-2005, the Online Games SIG spun off a new Casual Games SIG. As a result, we are re-examining what the exact purpose of the reworked Online Games SIG should be. This page is for suggesting potential wording for a new Charter. If you have a comment, suggestion, or even want to rewrite it entirely, please join in to the discussion!

Contents 1 The (Tentative) Charter 2 Tangible SIG Goals 2.1 Membership / Outreach 2.2 Publications

The (Tentative) Charter

The Online Games SIG endeavors to gather and serve the community of online games developers. We consider online games to include any entertainment delivered via the network that utilizes the key features of the network, namely connectivity. This ranges from persistent world games, through short-session multi-player games, through to classic multi-player games played on the web.

Potential new version: DuninElonka 15:03, 19 Oct 2005 (EDT)

The Online Games SIG endeavors to gather and serve the community of online games developers. We consider online games to include any entertainment delivered via a network, which utilizes the key features of the network, namely connectivity. These games could be single-player or multiplayer, competitive or cooperative, persistent world or casual, with delivery platforms ranging from web browsers to home console systems with an internet connection, to wireless mobile devices.

[[User:WaltonGordon]I still have problems with saying we cover single player games that happen to use online delivery myself. To me online implies multplayer using the online medium.

DuninElonka 19:00, 19 Oct 2005 (EDT) By "delivery" do you mean download? Or actual gameplay? For example, I definitely see games like Bejeweled and troyis.com as "Online Games", even though they're single player.

I agree with Gordon on this. I think for our charter we should emphasize games that require/take advantage of the network for their gameplay. As such I would say that by and large Bejewelled would not fall under this category, but games like Runescape, and Puzzle Pirates! would, as would any other networked casual game. My latest revision is below. Should we separate out our charter into 2 elements, a Mission and a Definition? Right now it seems like our entire charter is devoted to defining what an online game is. Dubane 23:11, 23 Oct 2005 (EDT)

The Online Games SIG endeavors to gather and serve the community of online games developers. We consider online games to include any entertainment which utilizes the key features of the network, namely connectivity. These games could be single-player or multiplayer, competitive or cooperative, persistent world or casual, with delivery platforms ranging from web browsers to home console systems with an internet connection, to wireless mobile devices.

--James 01:36, 1 May 2006 (EDT) Based on a couple of ideas from Gordon on the forum:

The Online Games SIG endeavors to be a forum through which the community of online games developers can grow, learn and mature. Online Game in our context refers predominantly to games that utilize the key feature of the Internet, namely connectivity. In most cases, these games will be multiplayer, competitive or cooperative, persistent world or session based, but be defined by the following core elements: community, connectivity, interactivity between players, and ongoing revenue streams aside from the traditional box distribution." There seems to be some relationship between the 'Gameplay may change during online play' warning and our genre - i.e. the content can be defined by the players almost as much as the designers???

larryM: editing pass The Online Games SIG is a forum through which the community of online games developers can share, learn and advance their craft. The Online SIG predominantly addresses games that utilize the key feature of the Internet, namely connectivity. In most cases, these games will be multiplayer, competitive or cooperative, persistent world or session based. Online games contain some subset of these core elements: community, connectivity, frequent content updates from the studio or the audience, interactivity between players, persistence of user status or virtual possessions, and recurring revenue streams beyond the traditional box distribution."

--James 20:35, 5 May 2006 (EDT): editing pass The Online Games SIG is a forum through which the community of online games developers can share, learn, and advance their craft. The SIG predominantly addresses games that utilize the key feature of the Internet, namely connectivity. In most cases, these games will be multiplayer, competitive or cooperative, persistent world or session based. Online games contain all or some of these core elements: community, connectivity, frequent content updates from the studio or the audience, interactivity between players, persistence of user status or virtual possessions, and recurring revenue streams beyond traditional retail channel distribution."

Tangible SIG Goals

Membership / Outreach

Implement tiered member system of some sort to differentiate between a wider 'subscriber' type member who received newsletters and a 'full' member who gains the full benefits of involvement with our SIG

International Outreach - need to involve international IGDA chapters in our activities, promote the idea of OGSC in other territories, possibly invite non-US people to be on the committee (JH)

OGSIG Sponsorship / Bank Account / Budget - would like to see more specific channeling of sponsorship money as opposed to diverting funds from the IGDA. So sponsorship of the OGSIG is possible. JH to check with Jason Della Rocca.

Publications

Whitepaper

• Transfer previous Whitepaper to Wiki (Jay)
• Publish Whitepaper by Austin Game Show (?)

Quarterly

• Convert Quarterly to less content more often (ideally monthly mailout) (JH)
• All to brainstorm ideas / interviewees / articles for Quarterly / newsletters. Please use Online_Games_SIG/Quarterly to unload ideas or mail JH directly

Podcast

• Great idea / need to implement (Jonathan)

Wiki Initiative

• Not sure what this is (Elonka)

General

• Utilize content development to drive interest in the forums - can tie in discussions with podcasts / quarterly etc. And use forums to identify areas of interest for future podcasts / quarterly articles.