International Game Developers Association
The
International Game Developers Association (IGDA) is a
non-profit organization designed to promote, and strengthen the
video game industry, and have computer games recognised as an art form. As part of promoting the industry, the IGDA presents the
Game Developers Choice Awards annually at the
Game Developers Conference.
The organization was formed as the
Computer Game Developers Association in the summer of 1994 by
Ernest W. Adams and used the CGDA name until
June 26,
2000.
Chapters are a way to connect game developers in local communities. Each holds regularly scheduled meetings, with discussions on current issues in the computer gaming industry and demos of the latest games.
Special Interest Groups, better known as
SIGs, get developers interested in a specific topic or discipline together. They currently include:
*
Alternate Reality Games SIG*
Artificial Intelligence SIG*
Game Accessibility SIG*
Human Resources SIG*
Indie SIG*
Intellectual Property Rights SIG*
Mobile SIG*
Online Games SIG*
Production SIG*
Quality Assurance SIG*
Students SIG*
Women in Game Development SIG*
Writing SIGCommittees are formed by the IGDA to conduct research into a subject, normally for a short period, leading to a single report. Some however are semi-permanent, with yearly reports. Some of these reports then lead to standards for gaming industry to follow.
*Business
*Credit Standards
*Quality of Life
The
Board of Directors is composed of seven members, five of which are elected and the other two are appointed. They control every aspect of the IGDA for the two years they are in power.
IGDA has been chaired by:
*Ernest W. Adams (
1995–
1997)
*
Noah Falstein (1997–
1999)
*Alex Jarett (1999–
2000)
*Matt Toschlog (2000–
2002)
*
Graeme Devine (2002–
2003)
*Kathy Schoback (2003–
2004)
*Jesse Schell (2004–
2006)
*
Brian Reynolds (2006–present)
*
IGDA*
IGDA Forums*
IGDA Chapter Index*
IGDA Wiki
