SEPTEMBER 1998 GAME DEVELOPER MAGAZINE V GAME PLAN Where’s Our Sundance? EDITOR IN CHIEF Alex Dunne [email protected] MANAGING EDITOR Tor D. Berg ome years back, certain The Sundance idea has since been repli- [email protected] forces decided that a mar- cated all over the world, and chances DEPARTMENTS EDITOR Wesley Hall riage of Hollywood and are that there’s a city near you that has whall@mfi.com Silicon Valley should be its own film festival now, but it’s the ART DIRECTOR Laura Pool S lpool@mfi.com arranged. Much was written about this Sundance festival that most filmmakers EDITOR-AT-LARGE Chris Hecker nuptial, and many prognosticated that pine for. [email protected] this joining would forever change both Is it just me, or is the game develop- CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jeff Lander industries. This vision of the future ment community missing out on a [email protected] never materialized, and many game golden opportunity here? I think the Josh White [email protected] developers have been happy to distance time is ripe to create an event like this Omid Rahmat themselves from their movie-making to highlight outstanding new games, [email protected] brethren, but lately I’ve been thinking particularly those by smaller game ADVISORY BOARD Hal Barwood that one aspect of the film industry does development companies. Right now, Noah Falstein deserve a closer look by game develop- the big launch (preview, really) event Brian Hook ers — the concept of the indie film festi- for game developers is E3. While E3 def- Susan Lee-Merrow val. The Sundance Film Festival is an initely serves its purpose in hooking up Mark Miller 2 event we could do well to imitate. established publishers with the likes of The Sundance Festival came out of Wal-Mart purchasing agents, it doesn’t COVER IMAGE dub Media Inc. nowhere in 1978 (at the time it was cut it for the less-established developer called the “U.S. Film Festival”) as the looking to sign a game to a publisher — PUBLISHER Cynthia A. Blair country’s first film festival. The original or even just break into the market. cblair@mfi.com idea for the festival was simple enough: Between the 30,000 people streaming WESTERN REGIONAL SALES Alicia Langer to bring filmmakers, authors, and actors though the cavernous tradeshow floor, MANAGER (415) 905-2156 to Utah to screen classic indies and talk the pulsating beat of high-decibel alanger@mfi.com about current social themes in films. techno-rock, and the cost of exhibiting EASTERN REGIONAL SALES Kim Love MANAGER (415) 905-2175 (“Indies” are films made outside of the at this tradeshow, the little guy doesn’t klove@mfi.com massive, often formulaic Hollywood sys- stand much of a chance to get noticed. SALES ASSOCIATE Ayrien Houchin tem, and are typically characterized by What the game development industry (415) 905-2788 ahouchin@mfi.com their miniscule budgets.) The late needs is another, more relaxed venue Arthur Knight, then a professor of film where “indie” games can be “screened” at USC, suggested turning the festival in a comfortable setting, and where the MARKETING MANAGER Susan McDonald into a national competition to foster the gaming public (and other aspiring AD. PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Dave Perrotti emerging market of American-made developers) can see what kinds of titles DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION Andrew A. Mickus independent films. As the festival grew, are being developed on a shoestring. VICE PRESIDENT/CIRCULATION Jerry M. Okabe the premieres began to dominate the Like Sundance, there ought to be eligi- ASST. CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Mike Poplardo program, and showings of older films bility requirements, a jury to select and CIRCULATION MANAGER Stephanie Blake were scaled back. judge entries, and awards for the win- CIRCULATION ASSISTANT Kausha Jackson-Craine Today the Sundance Festival is one of ners. While you might scoff at the idea NEWSSTAND ANALYST Joyce Gorsuch the film industry’s biggest events, and of a festival of indie games, I know some REPRINTS Stella Valdez its highlight is the American Indepen- damn talented developers who could (916) 983-6971 dent Dramatic and Documentary use this kind of event to show off their Miller Freeman A United News & Media publication Competition, where new American projects and skills. If those who dis- indies are premiered. It’s hard to over- missed the idea of an indie film festival CEO-MILLER FREEMAN GLOBAL Tony Tillin state the exposure that this competition were taken seriously a few decades ago, CHAIRMAN-MILLER FREEMAN INC. Marshall W. Freeman gives to these films. Most of these indies great indie films like Hoop Dreams; sex, PRESIDENT/COO Donald A. Pazour wouldn’t be seen by distributors and lies, and videotape; Crumb; Clerks; The SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/CFO Warren “Andy” Ambrose studios otherwise. As a result, many Brothers McMullen; Paris is Burning; and SENIOR VICE PRESIDENTS H. Ted Bahr indie filmmakers look to Sundance as other excellent Sundance premieres Darrell Denny their opportunity to present their films might never have caught on (or even David Nussbaum before an influential audience. have been made). Galen A. Poss Distributors see what’s available and If the Sundance idea intrigues you Wini D. Ragus often sign on indies for wide distribu- too, let me know — I’d like to hear from Regina Starr Ridley tion. Film industry execs go to the festi- you. Send your thoughts and ideas to VICE PRESIDENT/PRODUCTION Andrew A. Mickus val to unearth undiscovered talent and me at [email protected]. We’ll see VICE PRESIDENT/CIRCULATION Jerry M. Okabe see what themes cutting-edge films are where this takes us. ■ VICE PRESIDENT/ KoAnn Vikören GROUP DIRECTOR exploring. Audiences come in droves to SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/ Regina Starr Ridley preview the movies and, hopefully, rub SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE elbows with the movie-making crowd. DIVISION GAME DEVELOPER SEPTMEBER 1998 www.gdmag.com SAYS YOU In Defense of Curriculum Designers of skills may be an expert in every field. from new technologies and from new theo- It's true that teaching a person how to ries of learning that threaten to overthrow learn is considered the ultimate goal of the accepted structure of school, the idea of was outraged by Seymour Papert's academia, but when it comes to educat- curriculum, the segregation of children by I irresponsible, self-serving Soapbox in ing students in specific subject matter, age, and pretty well everything that the edu- the June 1998 issue of Game Developer. the medium cannot afford to become cation establishment will defend to the bitter As an instructional designer, I believe he the message. end. paints a very misleading picture of what A panel discussion at this year's E3 on Artinian throws out a challenge that high- motivates us. I'm offended by his accusa- educational software presented another lights one key position in this battle: "I'd like tion that it’s in a curriculum designer’s important reason for a curriculum to know exactly which games Papert thinks best interest for a student not to learn designer to lend input on an education- teach players how to learn, and what specific (so that a new curriculum is needed and al product: promoting the product in learning skills he thinks they are developing brings more business). The instructional the classroom market. In order for a by playing these games." The most impor- designers I've known are dedicated to school system to adopt educational soft- tant learning skills that I see children getting educating others. Teaching is not a ware, the software must comply with from games are those that support the lucrative profession. Clearly, financial the school's curriculum. Great instruc- empowering sense of taking charge of their gain isn’t our primary motivator. tional designers are not only familiar own learning. And the learner taking charge Papert seals his hypocrisy by using his with a of learning is antithetical to the dominant article simply to promote his latest Got some issues? E-mail us at ideology of curriculum design. By definition, book. This cripples his argument and curriculum design means assigning to 5 makes his column a self-serving adver- [email protected]. Or write to Game experts the job of deciding the best way for tisement that panders to a target audi- Developer, 600 Harrison Street, San each individual to ence of programmers and others in the Francisco, CA 94107. learn each sub- game industry who might read it and given ject. The power of think "I've always said we didn't need school sys- the idea of taking instructional designers!" tem's curriculum; they also responsibility for As an instructional editor and project have experience implementing one's own learn- manager of computer-based training the curriculum in the classroom. ing applies to all programs at Total Learning Concepts, I I have the utmost respect everyone learning. It is sheer made sure that our customers learned involved with project development, and mystification to sug- key concepts. Any perpetuation of busi- recognize the important contributions Mgest that no princi- ness came not from doing a poor job, of each member of the team. I've ples can be shared by but rather from always doing the best learned much about game design from all forms of learning. Saying job that I could. If our clients didn't incredibly talented, insightful program- that the learner is in charge does not mean learn from our material, they certainly mers. I hope game developers recognize that everyone has to re-invent every wheel. wouldn't come back to us for help in the the advantages and benefits that a good Good learners will recognize the limits of future.