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[increpare]

Not a bad time to open the floor, I guess!

we've already had a number of international TIGJams, i think its time for a TIGConf.

Of what might, do our members think, a TIGConf consist, what a TIGJam would not?  A nice competition, with modeling contracts for the winners?  Seminars on various topics? (though, would this work?)  Lots of people showing off their games in a hall?  Industry peeps/potential sponsors invited?

If it be international, I'm sure we could track down somewhere relatively cheap to host it.

[Ivan]

It could have its own award show.

where all the games are judged by me.

[moi]

hotstesses

[Kinten]

Tigsource already have a couple of great concepts established, like the compo and the TIGJam. If anything these should be kept and combined and evolved into something bigger, adding TIGWorkshops and TIGSeminars.
A prize ceremony could be held were the top TIGCompo games of the past year are awarded by vote. That way you could avoid the whole "is it Indie or not" discussion. As long as it's TIG, it's ok.

If it would be done it's important to try to establish what TIGSource really is all about, find it's soul. Otherwise you'd risk creating a lesser IGS clone.

[GregWS]

It could have its own award show.

where all the games are judged by me.

They'd have to be called the TIGies.

OK, on a more serious note, I do think the idea of this needs to be pursued (if not now, then certainly within a few years time).

Indie gaming isn't getting any smaller, and as it becomes the hobby (and sometimes paycheck) for more and more people, I think TIGS should be there front and centre.  I really do think the TIGS approach to indie gaming is something to be cherished, and I think a TIGConf would be a great way to unite independent gamers.

That said, I don't think there's much I could currently suggest about details.  I think there would have to be lectures from successful indies (Jons Mak and Blow come to mind, but then again so do Derek and Alec), and I think some panels would be nice.  Location wise, who knows...anything global could really be anywhere, and I probably wouldn't be able to attend for a couple years unless the stars aligned.

Good idea though, and like I said, it really should be pursued, because I'd much rather TIGS be at the forefront of indie gaming than an organization with a different motive/culture.

[agj]

Where would we get the money from?

[increpare]

Where would we get the money from?

we'd have to look for corporate sponsors/benefactors, especially if there be prizes.  An alternative would be to try get together with some university (maybe, in particular, one with a strong games course?) to host it for free.  Another alternative would be to hassle some arts council somewhere to host it or pay for hosting.

If it would be done it's important to try to establish what TIGSource really is all about, find it's soul. Otherwise you'd risk creating a lesser IGS clone.

I don't personally care much about making anything tigsource specific, and I don't see what's to be gained from trying to establish what TIGSource is about (if you want to discuss this, I think it'd be better to do it in another thread...let's keep suggestions concrete on this one...).  The main issue people were having with IGF as a competition as I can see it are

- games getting submitted that already have publishing deals

the main issue with IGF as a conference being

- cost of attendance

One possible solution would be to have an entry fee of however-many units of currency, and have that include a ticket.  If there was going to be a 'showcase your stuff to industry peeps' aspect, it might be worth hiking up the price for non-entrants (people from 'industry').  Though this might result in a lot of 'spurious' entries.

[Alec]

In terms of funding, I think it depends how we'd want to run it.

We could have a smaller scale event and just have it funded by ticket purchases.

Or, additionally, we could try to get some sponsors...

It would be really cool to mix talks with a competition and also a game jam. (maybe with a "best of jam" thing too)

[Powergloved Andy]

well technically the first TIGjam was a few months ago, and then the UK tigjam. Is it really worth trying to set up a whole conference. People seem to blind to the idea of how these sort of things work. At least, the way they work behind the scenes.

Anyway, I'd like to participate in anything really, but you have to think of something like this within reasonable bounds. Sure it sounds like a good idea, but is it feasible at the moment? Please do not let your excitement for something like this take over your thought process... Then you'll only be letting yourself down.

[increpare]

Or, additionally, we could try to get some sponsors...

Sponsors are pretty much always worth trying to get, though, right?  (intel used to sponsor one of the old indie-ish gaming competitions; can't remember which one at the moment, though).

What about the idea of having workshops on certain topics?  

(not big on formal talks myself, but I guess plenty of people are, and we'd get to advertise our 'headliners', so)

Is it really worth trying to set up a whole conference.

Well, I think that it might very well be.

Is it really worth trying to set up a whole conference.

Well it needn't be a corporate-class conference; with all the various stylings that go along with that.  A conference is just a three-day event probably; that's the length of the TIGjams, pretty much.

you have to think of something like this within reasonable bounds.

Suggest some, then.

I've organized small conferences and get-togethers before (though in a university setting), have gotten Big People from Far Away to give talks (ditto).  It's not necessarily a back-breaking task.  If it's a relatively informal affair (as one would expect something 'indie' to be), that makes things easier still.

[Alec]

Yeah, I think you start small and then work up to something more massive later if its in the cards. (or just stay small, that'd be cool too)

I like the idea of workshops! 

I think that would be much more interesting than straight talks. I'd love to be able to pay a reasonable amount to hang out and learn a bunch of useful skills from other indie developers.

[increpare]

Yeah, I think you start small and then work up to something more massive later if its in the cards. (or just stay small, that'd be cool too)

Seems reasonable.

So, how about trying to compile a list of potential corporate sponsors, what might in principle like to give prize-money?

Intel, say

any game companies that are known to be indie-friendly?

[Alec]

any game companies that are known to be indie-friendly?

Doing something with Valve's participation might be cool? They might be interested in the competition because of the indie-Steam connection.

Direct2Drive is sponsoring the IGF this year, they seem to be big on the indie thing. They might be interested in sponsoring a TIGS event.

(also, I really think it'd be cool if there was an "Orange Box" for indie games on Steam. like all the IGF winners from 2007 in a package or something like that)

[J.G. Martins]

The Tiger Box! Careful when you open it.

Anyway, just a very random idea regarding the workshops... Assuming there's going to be more technical and more artsy types of things, it'd be great if there was some sort of connection between them.

Sprite making / animation goes first, and then the technical ones so that you can actually use the resources from the art ones and thus constitute ad-hoc teams for a later quick game making competition?

Some sort of integration would be nice in any case. Not that I'll be attending unless, you know, it's in Portugal.

[xerus]

Workshops would be amazing and would definitely interest me.  Instead of just people talking about how to manage an indie business, things like animation or pixel art or engine programming would be awesome.