The IGDA just launched a new Game Design Special Interest Group (SIG), which I joined right away. It focuses on the actual design aspect of games, as opposed to programming, art, writing, and so on.

The SIG welcomes people working or studying both video games and tabletop games. It’s young and still finding its footing, of course, but if you fall under its remit, consider contacting the Google group‘s owner Sande Chen for admission to the group.

Turns out the scheduled date for the IDGA Madison meeting in Green Bay was during the E3 show. It’s been postponed for now and will be rescheduled for a later date.

The IGDA Writers SIG just had its second book published: Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing. While I didn’t contribute to it directly, Beth A. Dillon interviewed me for the “How to Break In and Stay In” chapter that leads off the book. The book also features chapters from many other wonderful game writers, including my friends Alice Henderson and Rich Dansky.

If you’re interested in writing for video games, this is worth picking up. My copy hasn’t arrived yet, so I can’t comment on anything specifically, but browsing the table of contents suggests that the writers and the topics they tackle should make for a good, instructive read.

When I decided to start writing for video games a couple years ago, one of the first things I did was join the IGDA. I’d been a member through Human Head when I worked there, but I ponied up on my own after I left. I’m part of the board of directors of the Madison chapter, and I’ve helped out with the Writers SIG too.

The Writers SIG has a new book about to come out, edited by Wendy Despain: Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing. I’m not listed as one of the writers, although I did answer interview questions for the “How to Break In and Stay In” chapter.

I’ve not had a chance to read any of the book yet, as it won’t hit shelves until April. If the book’s anywhere near as the group’s first effort—Game Writing: Narrative Skills for Videogames—it should be well worth the money for anyone interested in this sort of work.

The August meeting of the Madison chapter of the IGDA is set for Tuesday, August 13. With luck, I’ll be there, but either way those who attend will get the chance to listen to the talented artist Mark Nelson talk about art in both paper and computer games. I hope to see you there!