Join us for “Building the Talent Pipeline” at Microsoft on 12/1

Talent is the essential ingredient to success in game development.  The MIT Enterprise Forum’s New England Games SIG provides a look at the state of collaboration between industry and academia with this panel discussion.

How can we build a stronger pipeline of talent and what more can be done to improve the number and quality of graduates from schools in the region? This panel of game industry veterans and academic leaders will discuss this topic, as well as provide an overview of the Massachusetts Digital Game Institute’s (MassDigi) outreach from K-12 to colleges/ universities across the Commonwealth and MassDigi’s industry focused programs. In addition, colleges from around the region will provide an overview of their video game programs.

Moderated by Robert Ferrari of Bare Tree Media, the panel will include Tim Loew ofBeckerCollege, Phillip Tan of the MIT Gambit Game Lab, Monty Sharma of MassDigi, Terrence Masson of Northeastern, Mark Claypool of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Mary Jane Begin of the Rhode Island School of Design.

6:00pm – 7:00pm: Networking & Light Appetizers, Refreshments

7:00pm – 8:15pm: Panel

8:15pm – 9:00pm: Post-Panel Networking

Come early or stay late to enjoy light appetizers/ drinks and to network with your peers. The event will be held on December 1, 2011 from 6pm – 9pm at the Microsoft NERD Center (One Memorial Drive, Cambridge).

Registration is required! Please register here: http://videogametalent.eventbrite.com/

 

Join us for a “Reducing Risk in the Games Biz” panel on 11/1!

Join the New England Games SIG for our next event on November 1st! All of the details follow:

Reducing Risk in the Games Business

Video game related consumer spending is estimated to reach $112 billion by 2015 (Gartner). This is a high reward for the key “players” involved in the industry. But, with these rewards come high risks. Our industry is full of them! With the market changing faster than ever, leaders need to make sound decisions.

But, how do you manage that risk and even reduce it? This panel of game industry veterans will discuss their approach to business strategy and explain what is different about how they are doing business to help manage risk.

Moderated by Walter Somol, Director of Tech Community Outreach at Microsoft New England Research & Development Center, the panel will include Scott Triola, Founder & Principal of 5X5 Advisors and former COO of Blue Fang Games; Dave McCool, President & CEO of Muzzy Lane Software; Nabeel Hyatt, General Manager of Zynga Boston; and other industry executives.

6:00pm – 7:00pm: Networking & Light Appetizers, Refreshments

7:00pm – 8:15pm: Panel

8:15pm – 9:00pm: Post-Panel Networking

Come early or stay late to enjoy light appetizers/ drinks and to network with your peers. The event will be held on November 1, 2011 from 6pm – 9pm at the Microsoft NERD Center (One Memorial Drive, Cambridge).

Registration is required! Please register here: http://reducingriskingames.eventbrite.com/

 

Upcoming Events

School is back in session and the NE Games SIG is in the process of planning our fall/winter events. We’d like you to save the following dates for two of our upcoming events:

November 1st – Reducing Risk in Game Development

December 1st – Jobs in the Game Industry / Game Education

Stay tuned for more details soon!

In addition, MIT is hosting the 5th annual “Futures of Entertainment” conference November 11th – 12th. More details about this event can be found here:  http://bit.ly/n6BTAg  And registration is available here: http://foe5.eventbrite.com/

 

 

4/26: Getting in the Game, The Massachusetts Digital Games Institute

Check out this upcoming (4/26) event at Becker College focused on the local game industry!

Digital games are playing a remarkable role in changing global economies, societies and behaviors. By coordinating efforts and aligning people, resources and ideas, Massachusetts can stake a claim to an important share of the growing opportunities within the ascendant digital games industry.

Please join Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray and Becker College President Robert E. Johnson, Ph.D. for a special event on April 26^th at 3:30 p.m. in Worcester announcing the Commonwealth’s official designation of the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute.

In addition to the announcement, you will:

•Learn details about the plan for the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDiGI)

•Meet game design students and faculty from across the state

•Network with academic, public sector and games industry leaders

•Play games and more!

All are welcome! Refreshments and light snacks will be available. Please visit http://massdigi.eventbrite.com to register.  For more information, please call me at (508) 373-9460.

 

Zynga Acquires Waltham-based Floodgate Entertainment

Zynga today announced that it has acquired Waltham-based Floodgate Entertainment, a long-time developer of games across PC, mobile, casual and social platforms.  The Floodgate team, including founder Paul Neurath, will join Zynga Boston, created when Zynga acquired Nabeel Hyatt‘s Conduit Labs.  Check out the coverage in Inside Social Games and Games.com.

 

Boston.com Poll: Do You Support Tax Credits for Video Game Companies?

Boston.com has posted a poll on their site related to the recent legislation filed by Representative Vincent Pedone surrounding local video game companies. Check it out and vote HERE!

 

Mass. plan seeks tax credits for video game makers

The Associated Press reports that Massachusetts video game companies could receive tax credits and other incentives under legislation that seeks to strengthen the state’s foothold in an industry that’s sustained strong growth in a weak economy.   The legislation is expected to be filed on January 21.  You can read the full article in the Boston Herald.

Be sure to attend the NE Games SIG event on Tuesday, January 25, which will feature a panel consisting of the sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Vincent Pedone, as well as Eric Nakajima from the state’s office of economic development, Dr. Ian Davis from Rockstar New England, and Ken Surdan from Turbine, and will be moderated by Rodney Brown of Mass High Tech.  For details and to register click here.

 

Chronicle Covers the New England Game Industry

Boston WCVB TV Channel 5′s Chronicle program covers the New England Game Industry.  View the segment here.

 

Harmonix sold off by Viacom

GameSpot reports that Cambridge-based Harmonix, developer of Rock Band and Dance Central, has been sold to a NYC-based investment firm.

 

Mass. to form Video Game Institute at Becker; Game Industry Legislation to be filed

Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray last night announced the establishment of the Massachusetts Video Game Institute, which will be housed at Becker College. The announcement was made at Becker’s MASS Impact 2.0 event at the college’s Southborough campus.  Also during the event, state Rep. Vincent A. Pedone, D-Worcester, said that he would file a bill that provides incentives for the growth and retention of the Massachusetts video game industry. The proposed bill Pedone said he would file is based closely on the working plan that was developed out of the first Becker event in its MASS Impact series held in October. NE Games SIG founder and chair Mike Cavaretta of Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton and steering committee member Adam Mersky of Turbine were heavily involved in drafting the working plan. Read more about the designation and proposed bill in Mass High Tech and the Worcester Telegram and Gazette.