Blog by Tim Loew, Executive Director, MassDiGI

It is that time of year again! MassDiGI’s 2013 Summer Innovation Program (SIP) is just around the corner. Beginning on May 21st, 22 students  representing 10 colleges and universities – Northeastern, Berklee, UMass Lowell, WPI, Becker, Hampshire, RISD, Champlain, RPI and Union – will join us in the game lab on Becker’s campus in Worcester for what is the most immersive (and fun) game development internship program in the region.

This year, for the 22 positions, we received 84 eligible applications from students, both undergraduate and graduate, representing 24 colleges and universities. That’s an increase of 29 applications over last year.  Needless to say, this is a very competitive program and selecting participants from such a high-achieving, talented applicant pool was a challenge.

The 7 women and 15 men taking part in SIP can expect, to paraphrase one of last year’s participants, “one of the best, if not the best, learning experiences you’ll have.” With support from veteran game industry staff, mentors, entrepreneurs and advisors, the students will be working on 4 great team projects. The projects are: Wobbles (winner of the best entertainment game – student category at this year’s Game Challenge), a collaborative project with NeuroScouting, a collaborative project with the Indie Game Collective and a collaborative project with Zeebi Lab (runner-up for the Overdriver.com best online game (serious) at this year’s Game Challenge).  We think this mixture of projects will be really exciting for all the student artists, programmers, designers and producers.

In addition to these great projects, students, who receive a stipend as well as free residence hall housing courtesy of Becker, will have the opportunity to visit area game development studios, attend game industry meet-ups and events.

From time to time during the course of the summer, SIP teams will be blogging about their projects, business models, technology challenges, design choices, art styles, team dynamics, mentor sessions etc.  so keep an eye out for some cool posts. And like last year, we’ll be holding an Open House in early August where teams will demo their work.  Follow us on Twitter @MassDiGI or like us at FB/massdigi for updates all summer long!

Game designers and game artists from various MA-based game studios will review portfolios, provide advice and conduct mock interviews with students.

Review team includes game pros with current and prior game credits at Turbine, EA, Sony Online, Proletariat, Disruptor Beam, Fire Hose Games, Dejobaan Games, Zynga Boston, Stomp Games, Giant Spacekat, Hitpoint Studios and Creat Studios.

For reviews, please bring your game design or game art portfolio on a laptop or memory key. For interviews, please bring two printed copies of your resume.

Reviews and interviews are 15-20 minutes each, and are scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis. You are welcome to sign up for multiple reviews and interviews with our team of game pros!

For more info, contact Jonathan Munoz, Becker College IGDA Chapter coordinator at jonathanmunoz213(at)live.com.

April 19, 2013, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Becker College, 80 William St., Worcester, MA

Free and open to the community.  To RSVP and for more details, please click here.

Some of the game pros who will be on hand include:

John Anderson, Game Animator

John a graduate of The New England Institute of Art with a B.S. in Media Arts and Animation. He currently works for VisibleBody in Newton, MA, creating assets and animation for interactive iPad apps using the Unity game engine. He also worked for ForgeFX creating character and environment assets for an unreleased UAV Drone Simulator. Released credits include the Visible Body Atlas, Visible Body Muscular and the soon to be released Visible Body Anatomy and Physiology apps.

Fiona Cherbak, Game Staffing

Fiona is a games industry staffing professional, and has provided recruiting services for leading clients such as Activision, Disney, Electronic Arts, LucasArts, NCsoft, and Sony. Fiona is currently Director of U.S. Operations for Interactive Selection, a global games recruitment firm with nearly 200 clients in over 20 countries. She was previously Senior Staffing Specialist for Irrational Games and Senior Talent Acquisition Manger for Tencent Boston.

Maria Enderton, Game Programmer

Maria is the Lead Programmer and Technical Artist at Giant Spacekat Productions, an indie studio producing their first title, Revolution 60, using Unreal Engine for iOS. Their demo debuted at PAX East. She has a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from Macalester College and Certificate in 3D Animation from Boston University CDIA.

Jeremy Ellis, Game Designer

Starting in 2001, Jeremy’s game design career has taken him to Sony Online Entertainment, Electronic Arts, and Tencent Boston. He has shipped 7 titles including The Sims 3 and several Everquest incarnations. He is currently pursuing an independent project in the board game space.

Jenna Hoffstein, Game Designer

Jenna is a local game designer who, after a number of years in the industry, has recently founded her own one-woman studio called Monster & Glitch. Jenna focuses on developing games that are beautiful, meaningful, and full of personality. Her recent design credits include The Golden Arrow (Monster & Glitch), and Robot Rising (Stomp Games/Tencent). Her early game career experience was as an art assistant for Turbine.

Scott Hyman, Game Artist

Scott holds nearly two decades of video game industry experience, most recently overseeing development for Creat Studios and MocoSpace. He created and animated characters and environments for Pandemic Studios, DreamWorks Interactive, Activision and more, developing games for high-profile properties such as Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Sesame Street and Pitfall. He was previously a Project Coordinator at EA Mobile/JAMDAT and a Producer at Vivendi.

Ichiro Lambe, Game Designer

Ichiro is Founder and President of Dejobaan Games, an independent Boston-area game development studio. He’s worked in the industry since 1993, co-founding Worlds Apart Productions (later Sony Online Entertainment Denver) in 1995 and Dejobaan Games in 1999.

David LoVecchio, Game Animator

David has been working as an animator in the game industry since 2006. He currently works as a Senior Animator at Fire Hose Games in Cambridge, MA. Titles he has worked on are: Empire Earth III (Mad Doc Software), Red Dead Redemption, Max Payne 3 (Rockstar-New England), Project Copernicus (38 Studios), and most recently Go Home Dinosaurs! (Fire Hose Games).

Jeremy Miller, Game Artist

Jeremy is Character Artist and graduate of the Columbus College of Art and Design who’s published titles include Robot Rising, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, and Dark Age of Camelot: Darkness Rising. His professional experience includes MMO, ARPG, and RTS game development, working with both original and Licensed IP for EA Mythic and Timegate Studios.

Jonathon Myers, Game Designer

Jonathon is a freelance narrative designer and writer. His recent work includes Game of Thrones Ascent by Disruptor Beam, Jack Lumber by Owlchemy Labs, and Indiana Jones Adventure World by Zynga Boston. He’s currently working on the interactive radio drama Codename: Cygnus for release on iOS.

Morgan Ogburn, Game Artist/Art Director

Morgan has games and film experience as Art Director, Lead Artist, Senior Artist and Concept Artist, working on game titles such as Resident Evil 5 (cinematics), TRON: Legacy and a $10 mm FPS project for UTV Ignition. He has worked with Hitpoint Studios, Creat Studios, Activision, Warthog Studios and Origin Systems (EA). Morgan has also contributed art direction, illustration, graphic design, web design, digital matte painting and storyboarding for comics and book publishing, film and television.

Seth Sivak, Game Designer/Programmer

Seth started in the industry as an Engineer and has been a Product Manager, Lead Designer and Executive Producer. He has worked at a start-up called Conduit Labs, Zynga Boston, Disney and is currently the CEO of a new studio called Proletariat Inc.

Briannu Wu, Game Designer/Programmer

Brianna Wu is head of development for Giant Spacekat, an independent development team specializing in cinematic experiences using Unreal. She specializes in cinematic scripting, level design and asset creation. She likes dance music, running and racing motorcycles.

April 10, 2013, 7:00 p.m.
Becker College, Weller Academic Center, Lecture Hall, 61 SeverStreet, Worcester, MA

Fiona Cherbak is a staffing professional who develops strategies and recruiting campaigns for a wide range of game companies. She has provided services for Activision, Disney, Electronic Arts, LucasArts, NCsoft, Sony, THQ, and more. She’s been a regular speaker at GDC’s Game Career Seminar series, and an advisory board member and speaker at SXSW Screenburn/SXSW Interactive. She is co-producer of the Boston Festival of Indie Games and has supported IndieCade and Fantastic Arcade. A former chairperson for IGDA Women in Games SIG, and a founding member of Women in Games International, she is currently director of U.S. operations for Interactive Selection, a global games recruitment firm with nearly 200 clients in more than 20 countries. She was previously senior staffing specialist for Irrational Games and senior talent acquisition manager for Tencent Boston.

Free and open to the  community.  Seating is limited.  RSVP to lectures(at)becker.edu.

NECN Morning Show (VIDEO)

Boston Globe

Boston Herald – 1, 2, 3, 4

Boston.com

WBZ/CBS Radio (AUDIO)

 BBJ/Mass. High Tech

MassEOHED blog – 1, 2 (VIDEO)

In addition, we have a PAX East panel, “This (Boston) Indie Life: From Breaking In to Making It” featuring many well-known local developers on March 22 in the Arachnid Theater.

Click here for more information about PAX East.

Media links: Boston.com, Boston Business Journal, Boston Globe, Gamasutra, Indie DB, NECN (Video) and the Worcester Business Journal.

Official Press Release:

BEST IN PLAY:
MASSDIGI NAMES 82 APPS OF CAMBRIDGE

AS 2013 GAME CHALLENGE GRAND PRIZE WINNER!

Some 250 “indie” game developers and students from across New England 

battled to win over $25,000 in prizes

March 2, 2013 (Cambridge, Mass.) – The Massachusetts Digital Games Institute announces 82 Apps, a Cambridge-based independent game development studio, has won Grand Prize honors for PWN, its fast, fun and futuristic game about competitive hacking in the 2^nd Annual MassDiGI Game Challenge.

 “MassDiGI did an amazing job organizing the event and bringing so many great developers, mentors, and speakers together. The feedback and experience I got during the Game Challenge was extremely valuable, and I’d recommend it to anyone who is making a game and wants it to succeed,” said Erik Asmussen of 82 Apps. “The Game Challenge was a perfect way to develop and sharpen a game pitch, which is critical for any kind of outreach efforts.”

The Game Challenge, a pitch contest, helps indie and student game development entrepreneurs hone their ideas and products for launch. Forty-four teams consisting of indie game developers and student teams from around New England competed in a sold-out event from March 1-2 at the Microsoft New England Research and Development Center showcasing the rapidly expanding game industry cluster in the region. A panel of videogame industry veterans served as judges for the competition.

As the Grand Prize Winner and Best Indie Entertainment Game Winner, 82 Apps receives $2,250; Adobe Creative Cloud licenses; a legal services package from Morse-Barnes, Brown & Pendleton; customized mentor and PR/marketing packages; a Penny Arcade Expo “mini-session”; Blackberry PlayBooks; a trophy and certificates.

“The MassDiGI Game Challenge is unlike any other competition held in Massachusetts and the wider game industry as a whole,” said Elliott Mitchell, Game Challenge mentor and founder of Vermont Digital Arts. “It has been thrilling to see and meet with all of the teams, many of which have presented truly groundbreaking ideas showcasing the strength of the game development community around Boston.”

Other Boston area top indie winners include Zoe Quinn, Patrick Lindsey and Isaac Schankler for their creative interactive fiction game Depression Quest, which took home Best Indie Serious Game Winner honors.

“Our first Game Challenge in 2012 was a big success, but 2013 has really blown last year’s event out of the water – in more ways than one,” said Monty Sharma, MassDiGI’s managing director.  “With over 40 passionate, creative teams competing this year and over 30 VIP mentors and speakers participating, along with a stellar line-up of game industry judges, the 2013 Game Challenge exceeded our expectations. The talent we have seen in this competition promises a bright future for game development in the region!”

In addition, the Overdriver.com Best Online Game Winner and Best Indie Entertainment Game Runner-up, Pathogen, a turn-based strategy game by Vermont-based studio Birnam Wood Games, received $1,500 as well as a legal services package from Greenberg Traurig and other prizes.

The Overdriver.com Best Online Game Runner-up was a serious game by Zeebi Lab, a team from Harvard Medical School.

Indie serious and entertainment runners-up and honorable mentions went to Neocolonialism by Subaltern Games and Captain Astronaut’s Last Hurrah by Popcannibal, two local developers.

The Best Student Entertainment Game Winner went to Play Nimbus, a team from Becker College, for its well-conceived game Wobbles. The Best Student Serious Game Winner was earned by UMass Medical School for Small Victims. Student runners-up and honorable mentions went to teams from Champlain College, Becker and WPI.

“It’s an exciting time to be a game developer,” said Timothy Loew, executive director of MassDiGI, “And the Game Challenge shines a spotlight on that excitement.”

By entering, all Game Challenge game concepts are also eligible for the 2013 MassDiGI Summer Innovation Program, a $20,000 value, to help develop their game for launch.

Students entering their second year of college looking to break into the interactive entertainment industry are welcome to apply for the 2013 MassDiGI Summer Innovation Program. Accepted applicants will work full-time alongside a team of students under the guidance of industry mentors over 11 weeks on the campus of Becker College in Worcester, Mass. Students accepted into the program will receive free housing over the summer, as well as a stipend. To apply, visit www.MassDiGI.org. The deadline for applications is April 5.

The 2013 Game Challenge was made possible through the support of sponsors including Microsoft; GSN Digital; Becker College; The Innovation Institute; Greenberg Traurig; Muzzy Lane Software; Turbine; PAX East; Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton; Overdriver.com; Stomp Games; Adyen; Roadhouse Interactive and Adobe.

Blog by Tim Loew, Executive Director, MassDiGI

Congratulations to the 44 competing teams and all the attendees, mentors, judges, volunteers and sponsors who spent two great days great days of talking, pitching, working and playing at Microsoft NERD for the 2013 MassDiGI Game Challenge! Winners this year are:

We wanted to get this posted as soon as possible.  See our news feed for more information!

Blog by Tim Loew, Executive Director, MassDiGI

Are you studying game design, development, art, production, music, or programming etc? Entering your sophomore, junior or senior year at a regionally accredited college or university? Want to spend your summer working on games, learning a ton, getting paid, living for free, meeting new people and having a great time? Yes? Then, do we have something for you: The 2013 MassDiGI Summer Innovation Program! We call it SIP, for short.

Last summer, we received 55 eligible applications. Of the 55, 18 students ultimately were admitted representing 9 different colleges and universities including RPI, Springfield, WPI, Becker, Mt. Ida, Northeastern, Berklee, Champlain and Mt. Holyoke. In addition, student volunteers from Becker, Emerson and Binghamton are also involved. You can read all about last summer by clicking back through our blog or visiting the 2012 SIP Archive page.

Here are just a few comments from last year’s SIP’pers:

• “I learned an absurd amount of new things this summer.”
• “I MADE A GAME!”
• “Overall, I suspect the SIP is one of the best, if not the best, learning experience I’ll have at college.”
• “The mentors and the company visits were by far the best part of the program.”

This summer, we hope to admit up to 24 students and accomplish even more! For all the details and a link to the 2013 application, please click here.

When applying, please keep in mind that this is a competitive process. Only the best mix of students with the right skills and talents will be accepted.

SIP has everything you need as a student to kick-start your game development career:

• A chance to work on a game prototype from the ground up
• Work with a team of students to help create the “next big thing”
• Industry mentors to help guide you
• A free place to live and a stipend

This is not just another internship, but a chance to hold the fate of a game in your hands.  There are mentors and faculty to help you, but in the end it is up to your team to build a successful game.

The 2013 SIP application period opens February 1, 2013 and closes April 5, 2013. Successful applicants will be informed by April 15, 2013. The 2013 SIP runs from May 21, 2013 to August 9, 2013.