To provide a little context, Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) are fiction that happens in the real world, generally without rules or guidelines on how to participate. Because it’s in the real world, people can interact with it in the same way they interact with anything else. Phones, websites, emails, regular mail, and anything else the designers want to use. The defining aspect is that you don’t need special hardware or software to join in the fun.

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Scholarship Competition
Open for Entries
Deadline Friday, June 20th

Something is terribly wrong with the Game Development Industry and you can fix it… but only if you are a woman and get the education you need to break in.

9% of game artists are women and they make on average over $10,000 less per year than their male counterparts. (Source: Game Career Guide, 2007.)

Notes on Game Dev invites all women aspiring game artists to submit an essay to the 2008 NoGD Aspiring Women Game Artists Competition for a chance at a full time scholarship to Sessions Online(SM) School of Game Art.

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So, I can’t count the number of times I’ve had a conversation at a game industry event go something like this…

General introductions, followed by explaining that I’m a game writer (and yes indeed, that game writers are good for something), followed by information about their company, followed by a line like: “You should come work for us, we’re trying to get into the women market and could really use a woman on the team.”

Well, thanks.
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2008 NoGD 2D/3D Environment and Character Design Competition

OPEN FOR ENTRIES
Deadline June 15

The 2008 Notes on Game Dev 2D/3D Environment and Character Design Competition is now open for entries. Art will be judged by some of the top talent in game development today including Damian Pannell (Artist, Relic, Vancouver, British Columbia), Doug Oglesby (Concept Artist, Red Storm Entertainment), Jesse Brophy (THQ, Phoenix, AZ), and Nate Purkeypile (World Artist, Bethesda).

Winners and runners up will be announced in the Notes on Game Dev and Notes on Design Blogs and in their respective newsletters which include 40,000 global subscribers. Winners will also be announced on GameCareerGuide.com, the leading portal site for game career seekers and industry recruitment.

Excellent prizes for winners include a full Game Art Certificate Program from Sessions Online Schools of Game Art, a broad choice of instructor-led game art and animation classes, membership in IGDA, and subscriptions to Game Developer Magazine.

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