12/1/11:
Tis the season for giving, now you can give your friends and colleagues the gift of a fabulous holiday party by helping out your favorite non-profit game industry orgs! We need volunteers to help out for shifts between 2pm & 11pm.
All you have to do is send an email before this Friday at noon to brandii@igda.org [subject (no quotes): "Holiday Party Volunteer"].
Thank you all and get ready to have a blast!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Gaming LA - Holiday Happiness
11/23/11 Edition
It's Thanksgiving week, and you can give thanks for the fun packed weekend coming-up with a guest speaker and the IGDA-LA charity party!
It's Thanksgiving week, and you can give thanks for the fun packed weekend coming-up with a guest speaker and the IGDA-LA charity party!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Business of pLAy - Creating Quality Quickly with Creativity
11/18/11 Edition:
(This is the second post in a small series addressing the issue of quality in license titles.)
When a team is presented a "just throw something together" attitude, it sets negative expectations for everyone. It may seem impossible to get people excited over a game about a car wash; but if you approach such projects as a challenge and an opportunity you can create something innovative that is fun and engaging!
(This is the second post in a small series addressing the issue of quality in license titles.)
When a team is presented a "just throw something together" attitude, it sets negative expectations for everyone. It may seem impossible to get people excited over a game about a car wash; but if you approach such projects as a challenge and an opportunity you can create something innovative that is fun and engaging!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Business of pLAy: Does Lowering Quality Raise Your Company Profile?
The Binary (11/11/11) Edition:
Many studios pay the bills by taking on non-Triple-A license projects. Some studios focus exclusively on these types of projects; others use these to fund internal "pet" (original IP) projects. Unfortuantely, some of these are projects these companies are less-than-thrilled to take on. This makes companies less willing to commit time & resources to complete these projects. That, in turn, leads to a sharp decline in quality. This begs the question: should a company always spend the time and energy required to make top-quality products or is it ok for a company to have a portfolio filled with quickly made, mediocre games?
Many studios pay the bills by taking on non-Triple-A license projects. Some studios focus exclusively on these types of projects; others use these to fund internal "pet" (original IP) projects. Unfortuantely, some of these are projects these companies are less-than-thrilled to take on. This makes companies less willing to commit time & resources to complete these projects. That, in turn, leads to a sharp decline in quality. This begs the question: should a company always spend the time and energy required to make top-quality products or is it ok for a company to have a portfolio filled with quickly made, mediocre games?
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Gaming LA - Breaking Records & Stereotypes
Nov 9th Edition:
Gamers break an unfortunate new TV record, holiday party time is here, and the IGDA needs your help to measure diversity in the industry!
Gamers break an unfortunate new TV record, holiday party time is here, and the IGDA needs your help to measure diversity in the industry!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Gaming LA: Liking Beer
11/2/2011 Edition:
In this edition of Gaming LA - Join OC developers for some beer; the IGDA FB page hits a major milestone!
In this edition of Gaming LA - Join OC developers for some beer; the IGDA FB page hits a major milestone!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Gaming LA: Fabulous Forum + Hack Halloween
10/26/2011
The IGDA-LA blog is back on track this week with an all-new Gaming LA!
This week, learn from industry leaders and get game-y with your Halloween costume!
The IGDA-LA blog is back on track this week with an all-new Gaming LA!
This week, learn from industry leaders and get game-y with your Halloween costume!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Level-Up Your Career: 15 Tips to Keep Your Job (or Get Promoted!)
Monday, 10/24/2011 Edition:
We have an enormous amount of turnover in our incredibly fast-paced industry. A lot of first time first timers are really surprised that they don’t have any guidance or explicit tasks when they start working at a game company and wind-up leaving their jobs without much to show for it.
Here’s a list of 15 tips to help you avoid being at the top of the next layoff list. (I’m going to avoid obvious tips like - do your job well, don’t steal, don’t be rude, don’t come to work drunk/high, etc.)
Who knows, with these tips you may even be promoted!
We have an enormous amount of turnover in our incredibly fast-paced industry. A lot of first time first timers are really surprised that they don’t have any guidance or explicit tasks when they start working at a game company and wind-up leaving their jobs without much to show for it.
Here’s a list of 15 tips to help you avoid being at the top of the next layoff list. (I’m going to avoid obvious tips like - do your job well, don’t steal, don’t be rude, don’t come to work drunk/high, etc.)
Who knows, with these tips you may even be promoted!
Monday, October 24, 2011
The Business of pLAy: The Bad Manager's Guide to Driving a Project into the Ground
The Friday 10/21/2011 Edition of "Business of pLAy":
In celebration of the IGDA Leadership Forum, which focuses on improving production and leadership skills in the game industry, we present a 2-part special to teach better management through ironic humor: The Bad Manager's Guide.
In celebration of the IGDA Leadership Forum, which focuses on improving production and leadership skills in the game industry, we present a 2-part special to teach better management through ironic humor: The Bad Manager's Guide.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Edition Delay Announcement
The next edition of "Business of Play" will be delayed until Saturday, Oct 22nd. Sorry for the inconvenience.
[Update: Ok, I underestimated how sick I was. The post is now going up Sunday night/Monday morning.]
[Update: Ok, I underestimated how sick I was. The post is now going up Sunday night/Monday morning.]
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Gaming LA: Party in Gamer Gear!
10/19/2011 Edition:
Join the IGDA-LA for the Leadership Forum party, check out the Writers Guild, and wear your best gamer gear while you rub-elbows with Hollywood Celebrities in Downtown LA!
Join the IGDA-LA for the Leadership Forum party, check out the Writers Guild, and wear your best gamer gear while you rub-elbows with Hollywood Celebrities in Downtown LA!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Level-Up Your Career: 20 Things to do Between Jobs
Level-Up Your Career, 10/17/11 Edition:
Turnover is a persistent fact in our industry under normal circumstances, but in this economy...
Here is a quick list of 20 tips for things you can do when you are between jobs in the games industry. (Are you transitioning between college and the industry? I’ve put an *asterisk next to tips that will help you, too!)
Turnover is a persistent fact in our industry under normal circumstances, but in this economy...
Here is a quick list of 20 tips for things you can do when you are between jobs in the games industry. (Are you transitioning between college and the industry? I’ve put an *asterisk next to tips that will help you, too!)
Friday, October 14, 2011
Business of pLAy, 10/14/11 Edition: Upgrade Your Business at the Leadership Forum
How can the IGDA Leadership Forum help your business? By offering access to top experts who will cover a wide range of topics: productivity, leadership management, communication, marketing, studio growth - and much more!
Take a look at what some of the speakers have planned and judge for yourself:
Take a look at what some of the speakers have planned and judge for yourself:
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Gaming LA, 10/12/11 Edition: Drink Up!
In this edition: Join a great social party this week at GameDevDrink, get into the Leadership Forum for free as a volunteer, and celebrate as we congratulate all the IndieCade winners!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Level-Up Your Career, 10/10/11 Edition: Score BIG on Your Job Review
Annual or end-of-project job reviews can be nightmarish. You can think you are doing great and then be blindsided by a less-than-stellar review. Fortunately, there are a couple of easy steps you can take to uncover "trouble spots" before your raise in on the line!
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