[games_access] GDC-Europe, GamesCom

[Michelle Hinn]

The answer from why our SIG panel didn't happen was due to the fact that GDC-Europe was cut in half -- That is my understanding. So half of the invited speakers got "uninvited" -- a very poor signal to many of us and we were the only accessibility talk! So they made many mad. So we were invited to GDC, not GamesCom (I thought the two had merged but I was wrong). The IGDA ties to the conference seem to have just disappeared. I think many have decided to skip this year due to the cut backs.

Who decided it was all cancelled? GDC. As you know, I have had to fight tooth and nail to keep game accessibility on the radar at GDC in San Francisco...let alone make a foothold in other GDCs in other locations. 

So while we were given a positive note (without reason why) at first, we were not alone in the cut backs. GDC is VERY bad at letting people know why a panel or talk has or has not been accepted. A shame because that means that there is a lack of learning from past submissions.

Political reasons? Those always exist...sadly. :( And lack of feedback? VERY common, especially with industry versus academic conferences. 

As I said to Steve (and you) -- perhaps we could start working on 2011 as a collective now so that we can all attend together.

It's all very frustrating...so, Sandra, know that we share your frustration. I was the one who was going to represent the SIG in Germany (others could not attend due to all the things going on at the same time like Nordic DIGRA -- I think that's right) but then when I got invited to China after learning I would not attend GDC Europe, I just did not pursue it any further. I cannot get funding for something that I don't have a speaker's invite to.

Michelle

On Jul 18, 2010, at 4:45 AM, Sandra Uhling wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> I think most of us know that beside the business part,
> we always have to keep in mind the "political" / "human" background.
> 
> The VDVC learnt this also. We applied for a stand in a non-profit area.
> In the past this area was for gamer who presents their point of view of
> gaming.
> We got a no. Officially the reason was that the VDVC is not the right
> "organization".
> That is very stupid, because a community (who is not organized in any way)
> got a yes.
> We learnt that there has to be some political reasons. But we never got the
> information
> what are the real reasons.
> 
> I think it is very important to know some of these background stuffs.
> 
> 
> I only know that the SIG had some kind of offer to have a stand at the
> GDC-Europe.
> But I do not know anything else. No details, no background information.
> 
> I really would like to know more about this:
> Who offered the stand, the IGDA or the GDC-Europe?
> Who decided that this was cancelled.
> Did we got an official reason why the submission for a presentation at the
> GDC-Europe was not accepted?
> 
> Same goes for AbleGamers:
> Who invited AbleGamers and for what?
> GamesCom, GDC-Europe? Presentation, Stand?
> 
> And why did AbleGamers not ask the VDVC to take over this invitation?
> I know we are at the beginning, but this would have been a great chance.
> 
> Best regards,
> Sandra
> 
> 
> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] Im
> Auftrag von Steve Spohn
> Gesendet: Samstag, 17. Juli 2010 17:36
> An: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
> Betreff: Re: [games_access] GDC-Europe, GamesCom
> 
> Not AG, we were invited but short on funds - hopefully we'll see you there
> next year!
> 
> Steve Spohn
> Associate Editor
> The AbleGamers Foundation
> 
> www.ablegamers.com
> www.ablegamers.org
> 
> Find me on Skype!  Username: Steve_Spohn
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
> On Behalf Of Sandra Uhling
> Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2010 10:52 AM
> To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
> Subject: [games_access] GDC-Europe, GamesCom
> 
> Hi,
> 
> is anyone there?
> 
> GameCom:
> The VDVC will be in hall 10 (Community Lounge)
> and game accessibility is one of their topics.
> 
> Best regards,
> Sandra
> 
> 
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