First GDG meeting a success

On a stormy Friday night - Sept. 14, 2012 - 36 people came together to help launch the Game Designers' Guild.  From Syracuse University, we had students and faculty from the iSchool, English, Computer Engineering, Architecture, Computer Art and Animalion, and Newhouse.  We also had people come from Utica College, Onondaga Community College, ESF, and Mohawk Valley Community College, as well as some members of the Syracuse community join us.

We started with a social time from 5:30-6pm, where we were playing Johann Sebastian Joust, a screenless video game.

After some socializing and snacks, we settled down to business. 

Scott Nicholson gave an introduction to the guild and laid out the goals, and then there were game pitches by Fort Stanwix National Park and the iSchool.  Fort Stanwix is looking for a game that will allow players to get an understanding of the importance of the Fort and what might have happened if the Fort had been lost.  The iSchool is wanting a game to help iSchool faculty and staff engage with each other more effectively.

The formal part of the meeting ended at 7pm, and then several groups were formed.   One group helped Fort Stanwix brainstorm game ideas, while another worked with the iSchool.  An instructor brought an educational game that she wanted some people to playtest, and others played games like Forbidden Island and Paint the Line.

Working teams were formed for each of the game projects, and then informal play went on into the night.

The next meeting of the Game Designers' Guild will be October 12th from 5:30-10 in 347 Hinds Hall.  The pitch at this meeting will come from the MOST Science museum, and we will hear reports from our two game design teams.