I was surprised to arrive at University of Teesside and not find a games society.
I mean this is a university where there are societies for women who want to play Gaelic football!
(and everything else more ordinary than that...)
Games have been taught here longer than anywhere else in the UK, but no games society.
All of the students bemoaned the fact that there was no
formal outlet for socialising around games.
So I took it upon myself to start a games society at University of Teesside.
That was back in winter/spring 2003, and today we have a sprawling community,
which fosters a wealth of activities and initiatives.
We have guest
speakers coming from the industry on a regular basis; We publish a magazine;
We host the largest games tournament of its kind in the country;
We have weekly meetings for socialising and games discussions; We develop games in our own time;
And we have been preapproved to be the first IGDA
Student Chapter outside of the US.
Personally, I did not want to serve as the obvious Chairman, once things were up and running; my strength is more as an agent of change, rather than a day-to-day manager.
So I serve as Communication Officer, with the responsibilities of inviting industry speakers and speaking our cause.
The Games Studies Society web site at www.westudygames.com
Our recently launched magazine
I have personally contributed with the articles on Page 6, Page 7 and in the hidden bonus area.
On a final note, what I am personally the most proud of, is that we have a wonderfully open society, where anybody with an idea, a bit of initiative and
energy, can have their project up and running the next day, for the benefit of everybody.
Isn't that what you want a games company to be as well?
