Ludology.org

Web-based MMOG conference

Have conference, will not travel? IBM is hosting a webcast conference about MMOGs. Speakers include Raph Koster (Sony Online), Chris Chung and Geoffrey Heath (NCSoft). It'll happen on June 1st. Registration is free but the number of users is limited, so hurry up! (via GrandTextAuto)

Oui ou non?

This Sunday I need to vote for the French referendum about the European Constitution. I have NO idea what I should vote (doing some research currently) but if anybody out there has any strong arguments for YES/NO, please let me know. Thanks.

Procedural

I couldn't make it to GDC this year, but everybody I know who was there kept talking about Will Wright's talk about Spore. I read a bit about Spore on different publications and I was like: yup, sounds like a cool idea. Well, I was sooo wrong. Now that I have watched the full video online, I was simply blown away by this upcoming game (hold your horses, it won't be out until next year). The talk is one hour long and worth every single minute of it. Oh, btw, one of the little ads tells us that GDC Europe is back this year, with registration going live on their site on June 6 (via GameGirlAdvance).

The Art of Puzzle Design

Puzzled about puzzles? The visit Scott Kim's article and powerpoint goldmine.

News.com on game education

I am not posting about PS3, Xbox360 or GameBoy Micro. Well, actually I am posting just to say that I am not posting about them (chances are that any of these machines will be launched in Europe in 2031 if the PSP launch is setting a trend). I am currently in Uruguay attending an "unplugged" games conference. Nothing about videogames, plenty about games and human interaction. I was needing a change and this was really good. Meanwhile, you may want to read what News.com is saying about university programs on game development/studies.

MA in Digital Culture

The University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Humanities will launch a new Master´s Programme starting in September 2005. Application deadline is extended until May 31. Here's more information about it.

IAGER.org

Check out the International Association for Game Education and Research. They plan to launch a new journal and they will be having a meeting at USC during E3 (thanks T.L.)

Free Play: The Next Wave Independent Game Developers' Conference

Good news for the Aussies. Free Play: The Next Wave Independent Game Developers' Conference will take place in Melbourne on July 15-17. Conference details should be posted really soon at www.free-play.org.

Game Design Workshop at ITU

Videogames - passion, practice and fresh perspectives. A workshop to be held at the IT University of Copenhagen from August 19th to 21st, organized by our very own Department of Digital Aesthetics and Communication. Applications are accepted until June 15th. I guess I must clarify that I am not directly involved in the organization (read: I am not running the workshop) but I'll definitively be around.

CFP: GameOn North America 2005

Game On North America 2005 is calling for papers. The conference will take place in August 22-24, 2005, at McGill University in Canada (the country with the funny leaf on its flag). Early bird deadline is June 15 and "late bird" deadline is July 1st. May I add that Montreal is a fantastic city? Games, Montreal, who could ask for more?