Positive Impact SIG

International Game Developers Association

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Come and Join us at GDC 2009!

Contents 1 SIG topic 2 Reason/need for SIG 3 Goal/mission 4 Sample projects/initiatives 5 Who would likely be involved? 6 Individuals interested in participating in the SIG

SIG topic

• Creation of a ‘Positive Impact’ SIG for the game developing community.

Reason/need for SIG

The Games Industry has matured and increasing numbers of Game Developers are no longer satisfied with creating games that merely thrill. They want the product of their work hours to result in positive changes in the real world. This IGDA SIG would provide a central location for all such developers to connect, share and learn.

This concern is a constant informal thread of conversation among rank and file developers, and has been clearly expressed by industry luminaries such Richard Hilleman (Chief Creative Officer at EA) at the 'Meaningful Play' conference, and at the MIGS 2008 opening keynote by Warren Spector (Vice President and Creative Director of Disney-Junction Point Studios).

Feeling this need deeply themselves, Thomas Anderson and Genevieve Lord thought that they could 'Positively Impact' the game developer community by jointly chairing an IGDA SIG. Co-Chairing would allow both of them to cover for each other when they would be too busy and would also complement each others' strengths.

Goal/mission

To encourage reflection, sharing and discussion among members of the gaming industry on ways to create and promote games that entertain while also having positive social aspects .

Sample projects/initiatives

Panel at the Montreal International Game Summit (November 2008)

Moderator: Thomas Anderson

Participants: Jason Della Rocca, Vander Caballero (EA), Chris Crowell (A2M), Clint Hocking (Ubisoft), Alex Hutchinson (Maxis\EA)

Subjects covered in general:

• How do “I” create a game that is meaningful to “you”?
• New mechanics needed for verbs that are social
• New input methods needed for more meaningful interaction
• Games reflecting real world situations political, environmental, etc…
• Getting meaningful games approved by “the man”
• Making games non gamers want to play

Panel at GDC (Spring 2009) -Jason said it would be a roundtable discussion Participants: To be defined Other activities

• Promote online discussions and debates
• Inform on related conferences & events
• Provide links to related sites, articles and discussions on that subject.
• Allow people with similar interests to connect
• Encourage publication of articles on that subject
• Encourage people to nominate games that they find socially meaningful while fun?
• Be on the look-out for opportunities to promote this concept (in conferences or game-related events)
• Encourage developers to include background research in their making-of
• Ask developers and volunteers to contribute to a wiki on games,about the aspects of games which they see as being meaningful so that others who are interested in exploring those games as well
• Difference between providing meaning without being preachy
• and others

Panel at GDC (Spring 2009) Stretching Beyond Entertainment: The Role of Games in Personal and Social Change

Participants: Rusel DeMaria (Author/Analyst, DeMaria Studio), Will Wright (Chief Designer, Maxis), Lorne Lanning (President, Oddworld Inhabitants), Peter Molyneux (Head of Studio, Lionhead Studios), Bing Gordon (Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers), Ed Fries (CEO, FigurePrints)

• An all-star panel to look to the future of games
• We look at whether game designers and publishers have any responsibility to promote content that has a positive impact.
• Explore what it takes to create games that inspire and teach, while still entertaining millions of players.
• Is this sort of social responsibility necessary, appropriate or even desirable in the world of commercial games.
• We will look for different points of view, creative suggestions and solutions, and a lively discussion.

Stretching Beyond Entertainment: A Follow-Up Roundtable

Participants: Rusel DeMaria (Author/Analyst, DeMaria Studio), Genevieve Lord (Montreal Branch Director, Champlain College of Vermont)

• This follow-up roundtable lets all interested parties explore the ideas of social responsibility, ethics and potential positive impact in games.
• All points of view are welcome.
• Participants should leave the discussion with a much better understanding of the various points of view shared by their fellow developers on possible roles of developers and games in the social fabric of our lives.

Who would likely be involved?

• This SIG is primarily created by and for game developers, but other individuals interested in this topic will be welcome.

Individuals interested in participating in the SIG

• Thomas J. Anderson (A2M, Montreal)
• Geneviève Lord (Champlain College of Vermont, Montreal campus)
• Chris 'Wombat' Crowell (A2M, Montreal)
• Joel Pelletier (Champlain College of Vermont)
• Vander Caballero (EA, Montreal
• Alex Hutchinson (EA, Montreal)
• Rusel DeMaria (Independent Game Writer/Consultant, Oregon USA)
• Robin Alter
• Josh Larson (Intuition Games)
• Suzanne Seggerman (Co-Founder and President of G4C)
• Reid Kimball (Buzz Monkey Software)
• Ulrich Tausend (Remote Control Productions)