Critique focused meet-up?

[Thomas]

Just read blog post by Jon Blow on their recent Depth Jam and thought it might be interesting to try something similar ourselves.

The format would of course not be the same and just essentially having something similar as we had in Cologne last year would be great. Only thing that I would see is to have a full day and that everyone attending had a game in progress to show up and had some more specific problems to discuss.

I have not really thought much about it, so just wanted to start by checking what all else think?

[Hugo Bille]

Well, loving it. I could really use some new perspectives on what I do right about now, feels like I'm starting to do things habitually. Not gut. Meeting up in Cologne or something is a good idea of course, but I'm also starting to think that a bunch of us Swedes operate close enough together to actually be able to pull some smaller things off.

Also, I find myself agreeing 100% with Blow & Hecker on this one. Never thought that way about game jams before, but it's true what they're saying, at least for the ones I've attended. Much as I love getting newcomers involved into this world of ours, I believe that for developers with the kind of experience that most of us here seem to have, the low expectations are just holding us back. It would be fun with something more in-depth, focusing on the things we're already working on.

[Michaël Samyn]

Can we do this NOW?
Cause I'm struggling with doubts about Bientôt l'été's design at the moment.

Do we have to wait until August?  
All my problems will be solved by then.  

Anyway, it's a great idea. Can you organize this? Should we ask Cologne Game Lab to help?

[Thomas]

Anyway, it's a great idea. Can you organize this? Should we ask Cologne Game Lab to help?

Unsure I time to organize since I will have to spend quite a bit of time with my talk. If Cologne Game Lab could set something up, then that would be really nice. I guess the biggest problem with these sort of things is to get someone to take charge.

[Jonathan Hise Kaldma]

I would love something like this too. Really enjoyed the discussions we had at the Notgames Fest. Michael, have you talked to them about doing some kind of follow-up this year?

[Michaël Samyn]

Michael, have you talked to them about doing some kind of follow-up this year?

A bit. But they didn't want to do another notgames-focused exhibition for fear that they might run out of material too quickly if it turns into an annual event.
This doesn't mean that they wouldn't offer us a room for a private symposium/gathering/jam if we asked.

But we should probably first define a little bit better among ourselves what we want, when it should happen, how long it would take, how many people would be involved, what we would need in terms of space, food, technology, etc.

[Jonathan Hise Kaldma]

A bit. But they didn't want to do another notgames-focused exhibition for fear that they might run out of material too quickly if it turns into an annual event.

A biennale it is then.

But we should probably first define a little bit better among ourselves what we want, when it should happen, how long it would take, how many people would be involved, what we would need in terms of space, food, technology, etc.

I'm thinking along the same lines as Thomas:

- Not too many people
- Everyone has to have a game in progress with problems to discuss
- Enough time for each game to present it, play it properly, and discuss and critique. Maybe 2-3 hours per game
- Any technical stuffs needed to play the games (laptops, consoles, iPads, controllers, etc)

It would probably take at least a full day, if not two.

[Michaël Samyn]

How many people?
If there's too many, discussion will not be very focussed.
How about forming pairs? "I'll show you mine if you show me yours"

[Jonathan Hise Kaldma]

If we're 4-6 people I think we can do it in one group. But if we're more people than that we would definitely have to split up into smaller groups. Personally, I like discussions between more than two as it often leads to ideas bouncing off of each other in unexpected ways.

Maybe it's easiest to do it in August in connection with GDC? Guess people have holidays and stuff during the rest of the summer? Or we could try to get something together before then. I can do second week of July if other people can!

If we do it in July I could bring Mandalarium to talk about. If we do it in August I might have a prototype of another game ready.

[chineseroom]

I'd be up for that - sounds like a really good idea. Will be difficult for us to book time away from development on top of GDC, so if it synchronises with that, it'd be really grand. There's also Indiecade coming up for a potential meet-up, although it's a hell of a long way for any EU people, so I think we should definitely look to having a smaller, focused session this side of the pond - and probably mainland Europe rather than over here on the monkey farm (according to our government, you're all thieving would-be illegal immigrants and probably at least 50% greek/muslim/gay/socialist [*delete as appropriate or add more clauses] and they wouldn't let you in anyway)

great idea folks, let's make it happen 

[Thomas]

GDC EU will most likely not work for me, as it seems like the week there will be fully packed for me. Do not let that stop the rest of you to fix something though

For my part, perhaps later in the fall?  Also it does not has to coincide with any major event either? Since most of us seem up for it, it should just take someone to be will to pull the strings and set it up

[Krystman]

This does sound like a great idea. I don't have anything playable yet. But if the depth jam is going to be late fall, it may be good timing for me.

[Michaël Samyn]

I'm discussing this with Katharina of Cologne Game Lab tomorrow. It's looking good. Something will happen! Will keep you posted.

[Michaël Samyn]

Ok: here's a call for participants to the events we want to organize during the GDC.