IGDA Winnipeg - May Newsletter - 1.1 List of Announcements: 1. Nasa is coming to Winnipeg and you're invited! 2. Ryan FitzGerald Selected for NSI Game Writing Workshop. 3. Pro Gaming League Event Coming to Winnipeg 4. Show off your Games at the Pro Gaming League Event 5. Videogames Live Reminder - Don't forget your Tickets! 6. Job Opportunity - DBA Database Administrator 1. Nasa is coming to Winnipeg, and you're invited!
You are invited to register to join us on Thursday, May 15 , 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Smartpark Research & Technology Park for:
th
Simulation: Manitoba's Training & Education in the 21st Century
with Special Keynote Address by:
Dr. Daniel Laughlin - Project Manager NASA Learning Technologies Goddard Space Flight Centre
This event will be a forum to learn about how immersive environments can be a competitive st advantage for employers and educators in Manitoba in the 21 century. While many think of game development as stuff for kids, some of the same technologies can be applied to training environments in industries such as health, manufacturing and aerospace to train and educate employees before using new skills on-the-job. You will also learn what capabilities already exist in Manitoba and how the industry is growing. This workshop will be of interest to: training program developers industry educators game developers game development stakeholders universities and colleges
Agenda: 8:30 – 9:00 9:00 – 9:15 9:15 – 10:00 10:00 – 10:15 10:15 - 11:15 11:15 – 11:30 11:30 – 11:45 11:45 – 1:00 Registration and Breakfast Welcome and Introductions Keynote Address Break Panel Presentations Update from the Game Development Community Closing Networking and Lunch
***ON-LINE REGISTRATION***
To attend, please go to www.smartpark.ca and click on Event Registration or simply click here. This event is free to attend and open to all. Please feel free to share the attached flyer with your colleagues. This workshop is presented in partnership with: Industry Canada Manitoba Trade & Investment Destination Winnipeg
When: Thursday, May 15, 2008 Time: 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Where: Smartpark at The University of Manitoba - 135 Innovation Drive Lobby Boardroom Free event and parking. For directions and a map to Smartpark, please visit www.smartpark.ca. Registration space is limited!
2. Ryan FitzGerald selected for NSI Game Writing Workshop. After receiving applications and online pitches from across the country, the National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI) is pleased to announce that ten applicants have been chosen to participate in the inaugural NSI playWRITE training program. One of the selected participants is our own local film and game writer Ryan FitzGerald! Make sure to give Ryan a hearty congratulations when you see him! NSI playWRITE is presented by NSI and Telefilm Canada in association with Zeros 2 Heroes. This new program trains developing writers to become narrative designers in the video game industry and provides them with the chance to earn an internship with a Canadian game design studio. 3. Pro Gaming League Event Coming to Winnipeg! The Pro-Gaming League is hosting a tournament in Winnipeg on May 16-18, 2008 at the CanadInns Club Regent. Pro Gaming League (PGL) is Canada's largest video gaming circuit that began in January of 2008. With a 50% increase in gamers/spectators over four tournaments, this grassroots phenomenon is building momentum quickly! Final numbers from the previous tournament in Edmonton, counted 297 gamers and approximately 1,000 spectators over a three-day period. The majority of promotional activities for the tournament were through online word-of-mouth and posters. Most gamers and spectators are males between the ages of 15-25. But with games like Halo 3, Guitar Hero III, NHL 08 and now Super Smash Brothers, the crowds are diversifying. Information on the tournament and organization can be found at: http://www.progamingleague.ca/ 4. Show off your Games at the Pro Gaming League Event Lara Schmidt with the Pro Gaming League has contacted the IGDA with an opportunity for local game development companies to show off some of their work at
the upcoming PGL competition this May 16-18. Anyone interested should contact Lara directly at: lschmidt@motiviacommunications.com 5. Videogames Live Reminder - Don't Forget your Tickets! IGDA Winnipeg is very happy to announce that Video Games Live will be coming to Winnipeg on the 5th of June at the Centennial Concert Hall Date: Thursday, June 5 Time: 8:00pm Pre Show Festival in lobby: 5:30pm Venue: Centennial Concert Hall Tickets: $35.00 – 65.00 plus fees & GST Tickets are now available for sale and can be purchased here: http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/110040677E29889B?artistid=976815&majorcatid= 10001&minorcatid=52 For those of you who are not familiar with Video Games Live: Video Games Live is a multimedia concert experience featuring the best music and exclusive synchronized video clips from the most popular games from the beginning of video gaming to the present. Performed by top orchestras and choirs, the show combines video clips and specially designed Laser and light sequences, special FX showcasing over 50 different games in a wide variety of styles. The show has a segment dedicated to the old arcade classics – but there is also modern music and older, more memorable pieces that few have ever heard live. There is a pre-show festival & post show meet and greet (with industry designers, creators, voice actors, performers and special guests) open to all ticket hodlers - at NO extra cost. Pre-show activities include hands-on game demonstrations, Guitar Hero competition, costume contest and prizes including a draw for a gaming console from Future Shop. As reviewer Leo Cotterell noted, "Nothing could ahve prepared me for the spectacle...I found myself surrounded by video game characters. These were not paid professionals but enthusiastic fans... I discovered and enjoyed being part of another world for a night." 6. JOB OPPORTUNITY - Database Administrator From Corree Franscisco: I have had a fantastic opportunity come to me, a great employer in the city is looking for a DBA, Database Administrator, to join their ever growing team. It is an exciting opportunity, however it is also a role that has not been easily fit just yet. I have been asked to help, so I am contacting people within my network of professionals to see if there is someone you know, or yourself, that is suitable for this position. I have some details of the job below that you can share with someone if you think they may be a good fit. I will work with the individuals to ensure their needs can me met before an initial interview and their resume will go directly to the top of the list. If there is some expressed interest please get your contact to contact me directly and we will go from there.
Thank you in advance, Coree Coree Francisco Interactive Business Development Girlone Interactive e: cors@girlone.com m:204.795.0302 DBA – Requirements -----------------1. Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from an accredited college or university, or equivalent diploma from a recognized educational institution. 2. 2+ years work experience. 3. Work experience as a SQL Server Administrator is a strong asset. 4. Good knowledge of current IT and computer science concepts, issues, practices, methodologies, and trends, particularly those relevant to database design and administration. 5. Experience with and knowledge of database programming concepts including structured query language, stored procedures, and triggers. 6. Experience with analyzing and troubleshooting the interaction between databases, operating systems, and applications particularly in the areas of performance and resource usage. 7. Experience in working with operating systems and MS SQL to establish monitoring and logging procedure is a strong asset. 8. Experience supporting people who depend on the availability and proper operation of production IT environments, including direct support to these people through troubleshooting. 9. MCDBA Certification considered a valuable asset. 10. Experience with the design, management and maintenance of complex web based applications. 11. Experience in a Microsoft environment including ASP and ASP.NET.