Online Games SIG/Conference Calls/April 22, 2009

Notes from Conference Call 4/22/2009 4 p.m. EST

Third Wednesday of the month, May 20, 2009, 4 p.m. EST

Discussion of the 2008 hiatus of the IGDA Online Games SIG, why interest died off, and how to revitalize the group
Debate about what exactly an "online game" currently is: MMOs? Facebook games? Casual puzzle games? Online components of console games? Persistent worlds? Social games?
Should the "Online Games" SIG become simply an "MMO SIG"?
How to increase the profile of the SIG, and attract more volunteers. Post banner ads? Write blogs/white papers? Article on Gamasutra?
Creation of an aggregate blog feed, which collates multiple game-related blogs
Creation of a "call for topics" from other game developers? What kind of information would be most helpful?
- Information on startup costs
- Creating billing systems
- Building scalable games
- How to jumpstart new businesses
- Glossary of gamedev-related terms as they impact the online games space
- List of tools
- List of service providers
- How to buy ads
- How to measure ROI
- Writing a EULA
- Advertising for videogames
- Dealing with intellectual property issues. Handling subpoenas
Discussion of new IGDA guidelines for all SIGs
Upcoming conferences, and whether the SIG should have a presence there
Creating Online Games gatherings at conferences such as GDC and Austin Game Conference, possibly LOGIN
All members that showed up to this conference call, will be members of the next steering committee
Chairperson for 2009/2010 to be decided by steering committee.

Write up minutes, schedule next conference call (Elonka)
Add new names to the Steering Committee mailing list (Elonka)
Creating aggregated blog feed (Anthony Castoro and Steven Davis)
Call for Topics (Anthony, Steven)
Writing blog entries on topics of interest (Terri, pending permission from company)
Choose the 2009/2010 chairperson (Steering Committee)