The Anatomy of a Game

On Tuesday, August 21/07, NMM Presents, "Anatomy of a Game" at the Psych Health Centre on William. The meeting begins at 7 pm and there is no charge to attend.

Resident Game Design expert, Ryan FitzGerald, will provide you with an overview of video game design and the crucial anatomy of the game planning process. This training event will be of interest to anyone who is interested in developing their own video game or transitioning their present skills to game design.

The excitement over the future of game design in Manitoba can feel a bit overwhelming. Initiatives like the first-ever Manitoba game incubator, "Fortune Cat Games," has stirred interest from potential game developers and the provincial government alike. Veteran new media developers and graphic designers are well-suited to take advantage of the local development industry and make a move to casual, serious, and even console game development. But where do you start? Where can you find your niche in this multi-billion dollar market and how can you develop your own game now?
Tuesday night's presentation will seek to dissect the mystery of the game. Ryan FitzGerald is the past president of the Winnipeg Game Developers Group (now known as the IGDA) and has studied game design locally and abroad. He is currently a writer and contributor on an international game title due out in 2008. Ryan has spoken at numerous game development gatherings and has managed workshops for burgeoning game designers. I am thrilled that he will be sharing his expertise with us.

On Tuesday evening Ryan will cover:

1. Elements of a Game
2. Game Design Procedure
3. Tools of the Trade
4. "If you build it, they will come" and other myths

If you are interested in game design either from a service perspective or from the goal of developing your own game, you will not want to miss this event. The content covered during the presentation will be an essential overview to anyone seeking to understand the process of game design and where you fit in. No prior knowledge of video game creation is required and all are welcome.

Brock and I hope to see you out!