USC IMD:

IMD Annual MFA Thesis Show Exhibit

Playtesters Wanted

thatgamecompany is holding a playtest on Tuesday, May 27th, and we would like to get the opinions of fellow design students on this one!

If you are interested, please contact me at kellee(at)thatgamecompany(dot)com.

The playtest will be held in Santa Monica, at either 3pm or 6pm. Please note which time works for you when you email me.

Intermediate Game Design and Development

Many of you asked about this semester's final projects from CTIN 484/489 after seeing them during seminar two weeks ago. They have just been added to the projects page, and Tracy and I are very proud. Direct link here:

http://interactive.usc.edu/projects/games/20080514-intermedia.php

Free Games (GTA and GTA2)

A list of formerly commercial or shareware games now free to download

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_commercial_games_released_as_freeware

Check out GTA and GTA II as free downloads for some interesting historic perspective on the recently released GTA IV. The original multi player gameplay in GTA consumed many hours of my time in 1997 here at USC and is well worth checking out considering no multi player versions of the game have been released until recently.

Go Peter!!

In case anyone missed it:

http://interactive.usc.edu/members/ppreuss/2008/05/engaged.html

Immersive/Interactive Dance Installation in ZML 7pm-9pm

Cuerpo y Luz (body & light) is a work in progress co-directed and designed by Veronica Paredes (iMAP) & Andrea "budafly" Rodriguez (IMD). This immersive/interactive dance installation was created in conjunction with the CTAN 495b Experimental Animation class taught by Michael Patterson & Perry Hoberman's CTIN 544 Experiments & Interactivity class.

Please join us TONIGHT for the CTAN 495b screening on in the RCZ Stage E and walk through demo from in the ZML 7pm-9pm. Hope to see you there!

Runesinger is recruiting

Our MFA thesis and Advanced Game Project is recruiting. Runesinger is a videogame to practice Korean through play. We are seeking three creative coders and many more playtesters. Do you know someone interested?

Hotbed: Video Cultivation Beside the Getty Gardens!

The Getty Museum is currently hosting “California Video,” a survey of 40 years of video art made in California. To complement this show, the IML’s Anne Bray has curated a stellar program of cutting edge videos from 1980 forward called “Hotbed: Video Cultivation Beside the Getty Gardens"; it will feature 20 videos projected outside on the walls of the Getty in a spectacular and unprecedented display this Friday, May 9 (7:00 - 9:00 p.m.). The show continues on Saturday, but this conflicts with the IMD thesis show opening, so plan accordingly!

Dr. Randy Pausch Scholarship Fund - Deadline May 15

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences is now accepting applications for the Dr. Randy Pausch Scholarship Fund for the 2008-2009 academic school year. The scholarship will provide four students with $2,500 in financial aid in preparation of entering the game industry.

Submission requirements, details, and the application form are all available in PDF via http://www.interactive.org

The deadline for submission is May 15.

TGC: 10 Innovators to Watch For

thatgamecompany is featured in today's issue of Variety as one of "10 Innovators to Watch For."

From the article:
"The men and women on Variety’s inaugural “10 Innovators to Watch” — 15 names, actually — are looking beyond 2008 to build the entertainment industry of the future, from the digital studio to the home and cyberspace.
Meet them today. Before they turn your world upside down tomorrow."

Yeah, so watch out! =)

For the article as well as video interviews (although nothing new to most of you IMDers):
http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=hottopic&id=innovators