[PIGMI] From Concept to Pitch workshop next Friday

Tue Feb 28 17:59:33 PST 2012

I'm actually the opposite of Wez - I'd be most excited about learning how
to build the games as opposed to marketing them. Having said that I think
most people here don't really fit into the same 'noob trying to code'
category.

Speaking of workshop ideas - maybe topic-specifc workshops in general for
beginners to dive into things could be good - kind of like filling in
knowledge gaps. Eg marketing workshop, starting games programming workshop,
beginner design workshop, etc. Obviously this would be a big task to
organize, so maybe they could be kind of like mini events or bootcamps that
are run not at the same time, but a few months apart or so.

*Liza Shulyayeva*
http://liza.id.au

On Wed, Feb 29, 2012 at 9:50 AM, Wesley Lamont <pigmi at raez.net> wrote:

> I'm pretty keen on all of this. I might even attend the pitch preparation
> for XML even though I wouldn't be up for $1000 either. I don't have a
> multi-platform game idea but I'm sure I could knock up and flesh out an
> idea in an hour or so :)
>
> +1 to the down south plan
> +1 to local game dev fund raising etc
>
> The biggest appeal for me is a marketing workshop. Game development is
> fairly straightforward and most of the PIGMI crew are all versed in game
> creation but what is the critical step for indies is getting games
> profitable and that all revolves around Marketing and Advertising. The more
> help we have in that and the more success we have the better we will become.
>
> WEZ!
>
>
> On 29/02/2012, at 9:34 AM, Liza Shulyayeva wrote:
>
> +1 for several-day conference/workshop down South. In fact, + 9001.
>
>
> *Liza Shulyayeva*
> http://liza.id.au
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 29, 2012 at 9:03 AM, Nick Lowe <nick at onetwenty.org> wrote:
>
>> If people have moneys that they would like to contribute towards making
>> this happen, well - let's make it happen!
>>
>> Our fortnightly Let's Make Games Inc. workday is next Monday and our
>> quarterly committee meeting is on 1 April.
>>
>> During the workdays, I can work on a proposal for this sort of
>> larger-scale paid event and put it to the committee at the next meeting. If
>> there's a lot of support on PIGMI, we could run another Pozible drive
>> (similar to Kickstarter for those that missed our funding drive for last
>> years' end-of-year party) to pre-sell tickets.
>>
>> As alluded to in my response to Andy, I'm keen on a 3-5 day intensive
>> game development workshop in a resort down south (a typical conference
>> venue, with people booking team chalets). After Global Game Jam, I just got
>> the feeling that something a little longer (and slightly more relaxed)
>> could be very productive.
>>
>> Thoughts?
>>
>> - Nick
>>
>> On 29/02/2012, at 7:52 AM, Jon Hayward wrote:
>>
>> While XMediaLab was useful last year for networking, I have to agree with
>> Andy, having something a little more focused for ourselves would be
>> awesome.  And if not in person, teleconf would be cool.  Those with can
>> help support those without.
>>
>> And yes, this image summarises my opinion on the idea.
>>
>> <shutup.jpg>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 29, 2012 at 7:49 AM, Andy Hawkins <andyhawkins at ozemail.com.au
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> The beef I have with XML is the entry cost and the transmedia aspect of
>>> it.  Nick, Minh and Anthony - message to you; start our own version of
>>> this.  The entrants give these guys $1000 minimum to be a part of it.
>>>  Surely LMG can muster up some international mentors for less than that.
>>>  It costs too much to take the gamble.  If you pay the $1000 you are not
>>> guaranteed of a winning / money making project - I think LMG can change
>>> that around.   Let's call it the "Young Upstart" and local businesses can
>>> seed fund it - hell I'll chuck in for this.
>>>
>>> I think "Young Upstart" should fund pure games, pure films and hybrids.
>>>  Most importantly it should provide mentorship at a reasonable price that
>>> will take the entrants places and not leave them with empty pockets.
>>>
>>> Andy H.
>>>
>>>  This is conjecture, but I imagine that pure games projects would not be
>>>> competitive for the award. XMediaLab is focused on transmedia, and I would
>>>> expect that a pure games project (much like a pure film or pure web
>>>> project) would be disadvantaged in light of projects that integrate more
>>>> transmedia elements.
>>>>
>>>> So I suppose that XMediaLab is for two types of game developers.
>>>> Firstly, those building worlds around their games considering how to expand
>>>> their ideas across different media (e.g. game, comic, website, videos) and
>>>> seeking engagement with people in related fields. Secondly, those who are
>>>> open to working with people in other fields who would like to integrate
>>>> games into their transmedia plans (many practitioners are keen on this, but
>>>> lack knowledge of games).
>>>>
>>>> There's a general underappreciation for how good game design (and
>>>> implementation) can contribute greatly to the success of transmedia
>>>> projects. I feel that "interactive media" without (game) mechanics is like
>>>> film without story: The final product ends up missing a vital component and
>>>> comes across as rather empty. So I think that there is a lot of value that
>>>> can come from local game developers being involved in the workshop next
>>>> week and in XMediaLab projects.
>>>>
>>>> That being said, it's not just about what game developers can
>>>> contribute, but also what we they can get out of it. I don't want people to
>>>> feel that they have to be disingenuous (by attaching an 'arts practitioner'
>>>> or 'digital content producer' to their project) in order to meet the
>>>> requirements for an award. However, I feel that it's prudent to be open to
>>>> working with suitable people (hopefully also local game developers!) if an
>>>> opportunity arises and they add real value.
>>>>
>>>> - Nick
>>>>
>>>> On 28/02/2012, at 8:57 PM, Saxon wrote:
>>>>
>>>>  Hi Nick,
>>>>>
>>>>> Do you know whether 'pure' games projects are eligible for the award
>>>>> this year? Last year we were disqualified from being considered for the
>>>>> award because it was funded by the DCA and required an 'arts practitioner'
>>>>> on the team (and we chose not to add one just to make us eligible for the
>>>>> award).
>>>>>
>>>>> It looks like this year they have two different awards - one funded by
>>>>> DCA which requires an 'arts practitioner' and one funded by ScreenWest
>>>>> which requires a 'digital content producer'.
>>>>>
>>>>> Given ScreenWest's aversion to games, I'm wondering whether they are
>>>>> leaving themselves open to games, or keeping some kind of loophole so they
>>>>> can keep games shut out :)
>>>>>
>>>>> That said, I think the value of XML is in the lab itself rather than
>>>>> the award (which was why we chose not to add a person to our team just to
>>>>> make us eligible in the first place). Plus, I think the two projects that
>>>>> received the awards last year were more deserving than our project anyway :)
>>>>>
>>>>> cya,
>>>>> Saxon
>>>>>
>>>>> ------------------------------**--------------------
>>>>> From: "Nick Lowe"<nick at onetwenty.org>
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 1:25 PM
>>>>> To:<pigmi at pigmi.org>
>>>>> Subject: [PIGMI] From Concept to Pitch workshop next Friday
>>>>>
>>>>>  Hi *,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> XMediaLab (XML) will be returning to Perth this year, and ScreenWest
>>>>>> are running another pre-XML "From Concept to Pitch" workshop next Friday.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The basic idea behind the workshop is to help teams prepare
>>>>>> submissions for XML. Teams are assigned mentors for the day, and the
>>>>>> workshop process is meant to help rapidly refine ideas (and inform teams of
>>>>>> grant requirements). It's free to sign-up and lunch and refreshments are
>>>>>> provided on the day.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I wanted to let local game developers know that I'm going to be a
>>>>>> mentor on the day, and also encourage people to sign up to the workshop and
>>>>>> submit projects to XML. It's free to submit projects, and compelling
>>>>>> projects may be able to attract scholarships to attend XML. Personally, I
>>>>>> got a lot out of the experience (and follow-up) last year, and there is
>>>>>> substantial interest in games development from practitioners in related
>>>>>> industries.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> At the end of XML, two projects will be awarded $20k grants for
>>>>>> further development. Personally, I would like to see both of the winning
>>>>>> projects be games (wholly or in part, or at least involving local game
>>>>>> developers). So I encourage local game developers with ideas to bring them
>>>>>> forward and have a go. The more the local game development community makes
>>>>>> its presence felt, the harder it is for funding bodies to disregard us.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> More information: http://screenwest.com.au/**
>>>>>> index.cfm?objectID=99D7273D-**CB70-1600-756FEBB1F82127CF<http://screenwest.com.au/index.cfm?objectID=99D7273D-CB70-1600-756FEBB1F82127CF>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Feel free to send me questions by replying to this thread. :)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> - Nick
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>>>>>>
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