[MUD-Dev] Bartle receives IGDA "Frist Penguin" Award

[Koster, Raph]

Congrats, Richard! Well deserved! I believe that makes two online world
awards in this category, since Randy & Chip got one a couple of years
ago.

-Raph

---

IGDA to Honor Richard Bartle, Founding Father of MUDs; Sheri Graner
Ray, a Women's Advocate; Founders of Interactive Media Artists
Group, Blast Theory; With Choice Awards


SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Game
Developers Association (IGDA) will give special recognition to an
academic, an industry professional and the founders of a media
artists' group whose contributions have been invaluable to the
evolution of interactive entertainment, during the 5th Annual Game
Developers Choice Awards, Wednesday, March 9, 2005, at the Moscone
West Convention Center in San Francisco.  Recipients include Richard
Allan Bartle, Ph.D, founding father of Multi-User Dungeons (MUD),
who will receive the First Penguin award; Sheri Graner Ray, a
revered advocate of women's interests in game development, the
Community Contribution award; and Matt Adams, Ju Row Farr and Nick
Tandavanitj, the founders and leaders of Blast Theory, an
internationally renowned interactive media artists' group, for the
Maverick award.

First Penguin Award

The IGDA's First Penguin award celebrates the courage and bravery of
a developer who is the first to test the proverbial waters, in the
face of uncertainty of success or failure.  Receiving a "penguin"
serves as an inspiration and lesson to the community.  Richard Allan
Bartle, Ph.D, who has been at the forefront of the online gaming
industry from its very inception, embodies the spirit of this award.
As co-creator of the first virtual world MUD's in 1978 he paved the
path for many of today's massively multiplayer online role-playing
(MMORPG) and persistent-world games.

"I'm touched the IGDA thought of me for this award," Richard Allan
Bartle said.  "The fact that MUD's have a direct connection to the
imagination is what hooked thousands; computer games will always
innovate, as long as people have imagination."

More than 20 years have passed since Bartle fired the first neutron
and the chain reaction shows no sign of stopping.  With more than
1,670 MU* games in existence, Richard continues be an important
player in the industry.

Bartle is currently a visiting professor in the Department of
Electronic Systems Engineering at Essex University, Essex, United
Kingdom.  He is also a highly acclaimed writer on all aspects of
virtual world design and development.  He authored "Designing
Virtual Worlds," which rapidly became the standard work for anyone
developing persistent world games.  His current musings can be
viewed at his popular research blog Terra Nova.

Community Contribution Award

Sheri Graner Ray, the world's leading expert on the topic of gender
equality in the games industry, has the spirit of community building
and improvement ingrained in her life's work.  Her dedication to
propagating women's issues in the game industry made her a natural
pick for the Community Contribution award.

"I hope we can actually increase the number of women in the industry
as well as their visibility so they are taken into consideration
during game design," Sheri Graner Ray said.  "That way we'll start
seeing more games that appeal to women which will increase the
number of women playing which should finally encourage more women to
enter technical computer industries."

In 2004 Ray was recognized by the Hollywood Reporter as one of the
Top 100 Most Influential Women in the Computer Game Industry.  She
recently authored a book, "Gender Inclusive Game Design -- Expanding
the Market," which ignited conversation about gender biases within
the industry.  Ray continues advocating for women's issues via the
IGDA's Women in Game Development Special Interest Group and the
upcoming Austin Women's Game Developers Group.

Maverick Award

Utilizing cutting-edge technologies in combination with rigorous
research, Matt Adams, Ju Row Farr and Nick Tandavanitj, the founders
of Blast Theory, lead a team of UK-based interactive media artists,
creating highly interactive and socially engaging cultural
performances.  Their work inspires debate and critical reflection on
contemporary issues found in popular culture.  Award judges
commented: "In a time where the intersection of interactive media,
art and society remain relatively unexplored, Blast Theory
intrepidly forges ahead into intersection of real and digital
worlds."

The Blast Theory gang says their work "confronts a media saturated
world in which popular culture rules.  They use video computers,
performance, installation, mobile and online technologies to ask
questions about the ideologies presented in the information that
envelops us."

"While technology is heading in one direction, Blast Theory
recognizes that cultural norms and society will have something to
say about the process," said Jason Della Rocca, executive director,
IGDA.  "By engaging the public in this kind of discussion over how
experiences will be designed poses questions about the way we will
all live for decades to come."

About the International Game Developers Association (IGDA)

The International Game Developers Association is a non-profit
membership organization that advocates globally on issues related to
digital game creation.  The IGDA's mission is to strengthen the
international game development community and effect change to
benefit that community.  For more information on the IGDA, please
visit http://www.igda.org or e-mail info at igda.org.

About the CMP Game Group

A core provider of essential information and community to the
professional game industry, the CMP Game Group includes the Game
Developers Conference, Game Developer magazine, Gamasutra.com, the
Independent Games Festival, and the Game Developers Choice Awards.
For more information, please visit http://www.cmpgame.com.

About CMP Media LLC

CMP Media LLC (http://www.cmp.com) is a leading integrated media
company providing essential information and marketing services to
the entire technology spectrum -- the builders, sellers and users of
technology worldwide.  Capitalizing on its editorial strength, CMP
is uniquely positioned to offer marketers comprehensive, integrated
media solutions tailored to meet their individual needs.  Its
diverse products and services include newspapers, magazines,
Internet products, research, direct marketing services, education
and training, trade shows and conferences and custom publishing.

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