HA3 Task 5 - Professional Bodies Supporting the Industry

Professional Bodies Supporting the Games Industry:

Examples of professional bodies supporting the games industry include

BAFTA (The British Academy of  Film and Television Arts)
UKIE (The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment)
IGDA (The International Game Developers Association)
WIGJ (Women in Games Jobs)
MEF (Mobile Entertainment Forum)

BAFTA - (The British Academy of  Film and Television Arts)

BAFTA has supported the games industry. They give awards to people within gaming who have accomplished great things for the industry. An example of this was when they gave Gabe Newell a BAFTA Fellowship in recognition of an 'outstanding and exceptional contribution to games'. His acknowledged works for this award included games such as Half Life and Counter Strike. His involvement in the creation of the Steam game platform was also acknowledged by BAFTA. By awarding people within the game industry, they portray the industry in a positive light to those who are not within it.

UKIE - (The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment) 

UKIE have supported the games industry by being the only trade body for the UK's interactive entertainment industry. Their purpose is to bring the needs and interests of the games industry to light and to support companies within the games industry to make sure they are free to make trade without interruption from non gaming companies. They also make sure the industry is shown in a positive light and to make sure the reputation of the industry is regarded well.

They regard members of their network as 'part of a collective voice' and as such, they support their members and help them grow. They regard their main goal as making the UK a better place for the games industry at large.

IGDA - (The International Game Developers Association) 

The IGDA is known as the largest membership organization in gaming that is non profit. They support individuals within the games industry and their goals are to enhance and advance careers within the games industry, and to make sure that all issues that appear in the games industry are dealt with appropriately.

They also look out for innovation with the games industry and to make sure that innovation is celebrated and built upon within the industry. They view games as artistic expression and as such, they ensure that gaming is treated and regarded just as well as other expressive art such as literature and music. They are known to also hold the impact of gaming world wide in high regard, and they appreciate and cultivate the affects gaming has had on the world wide entertainment industry. They also uphold the gaming community and help benefit it as much as possible.


WIGJ - (Women in Games Jobs)

WIGJ have helped supported the industry by helping to include and recruit more women into the games industry for no profit and are managed by 'a volunteer executive community'. They do this by encouraging women hoping for a career in games, and also to keep them informed. They also campaign for women within the games industry and to make the industry a better place for women who want to enter it and for women already within it. They aim to break down the sexist barriers within the industry, and try to alter the image that the industry is primarily made up of male employees.

MEF - (Mobile Entertainment Forum)

The MEF have helped support the games industry by being a global trade association who help companies or individuals who would like to monetize their products and/or services through a mobile platform. They are located worldwide and have offices in location such as America, Africa, Asia and Britain.

Sources:
http://www.bafta.org/press/press-releases/valves-gabe-newell-to-be-honoured-with-bafta-fellowship

http://www.igda.org/?page=corevalues

http://ukie.org.uk/about

http://www.womeningamesjobs.com/?page_id=2