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I AM SORRY TO ANNOUNCE THAT MARK HAS THE FLU, SO WE WILL RESCHEDULE THIS EVENT. STAY TUNED.

Mark Jacobs is one of the true pioneers of online gaming. Literally starting in his basement in 1985 with a 286 computer and 10 modems, Mark conceptualized, designed and programmed one of the world's earliest commercial MUDs called Aradath, a fantasy role-playing game for his first company, Adventures Unlimited Software Inc. He was on the ground floor of the first commercial multiuser gaming system, GEnie, with a port of Aradath (renamed Dragons' Gate) and a 4X game called Galaxy.

In 1995, Mark formed Mythic Entertainment, and after a dozen other online games such as Magestorm and Aliens Online, produced one of the most popular MMOs of all time in Dark Age of Camelot in 2001. Electronic Arts purchased Mythic Entertainment in 2006 and Mark remained aboard to head the Fairfax-based studio which produced Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, released in 2008. Dark Age of Camelot and Warhammer Online are two of the highest rated MMORPGs of all time occupying two of the top 5 slots according to the game's industry yardstick Metacritic. Mark and EA parted ways earlier this year.

Mark has graciously agreed to share his thoughts about the past, present, and future of online games in an informal setting.

One of our new members, Gene Koo, sent in this event information which may interest you (Thanks, Gene!):

The United States Institute of Peace invites you to: Smart Tools For Smart Power: Simulations and Serious Games for Peacebuilding

From 9am-3:30pm
RSVP for the event at: http://smarttools.eventbrite.com/

Please join USIP's Center of Innovation for Science, Technology and Peacebuilding for a full-day multimedia showcase of state-of-the-art simulation and "serious gaming" tools that promise to transform the way that peacebuilding organizations train, plan and collaborate. Gain practical insights from a diverse range of innovators, including IBM, EBay, the Army War College, Lockheed Martin, and Second Life.
RSVP at http://smarttools.eventbrite.com/ to register and see specific tools being presented. Pre-registration is required. Lunch will be provided.
If you are not in Washington DC, you may also register to watch the live video stream and participate in online discussion.
Sophisticated new technologies are transforming decision-making for corporations and militaries, but the organizations that seek to mitigate violent conflict have yet to take full advantage of cutting-edge simulations, analytics, serious games and other technology-enabled decision-support and collaboration tools.
This session will provide hands-on demonstrations of cutting-edge, best in class "serious games" and simulation tools, some with current application to conflict management and some to inspire new ideas for the peacebuilding community. You will see how governments, militaries, businesses and NGOs are applying the latest online and scenario-driven simulations and 3D virtual environments to sharpen decision-making skills and lay the foundation for more effective operations, negotiation, and cooperation.
Please join us, and be part of USIP's effort to help the peacebuilding community adapt these state-of-the-art tools to better prevent, manage, and resolve armed conflict.
Presenters
• Col. Philip Evans
Director, Operations & Gaming Division, U.S. Army War College
• Jason Dechant
Strategy, Forces and Resources Division, Institute for Defense Analyses
• Colin Rule
Director, Online Dispute Resolution, EBay
• Stan Litow
President, IBM International Foundation
• Scott Sechser
Second Life Government Affairs, Linden Lab
• Charlie Hargraves
3D Immersive Virtual Environment Program, Lockheed Martin
• Jon Wilkenfeld
Director, Center for International Development and Conflict Management, University of Maryland
• Skip Cole
Senior Program Officer, Education and Training Center, U.S. Institute of Peace
• Steve York
Producer, "A Force More Powerful," York Zimmerman
• Sheldon Himelfarb, Moderator
Associate Vice President, Center of Innovation for Science, Technology, and Peacebuilding, U.S. Institute of Peace
Registered attendees will receive a more detailed agenda in advance of the event.
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This event is part of the Center's ongoing "Smart Tools for Smart Power" initiative to identify cutting-edge technologies that may enable peacebuilding organizations to better prevent and resolve violent conflict through data-driven decision-making, information sharing, analytics, and online collaboration.
If you would like more information about the initiative, please contact Joel Whitaker (jwhitaker@usip.org) and Anand Varghese (avarghese1@usip.org).
The "Smart Tools for Smart Power" initiative is led by the US Institute of Peace's Center of Innovation for Science, Technology and Peacebuilding, co-sponsored by USIP's Education and Training Center and Center for Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations, in partnership with the 3D Security Initiative of Eastern Mennonite University and Lockheed Martin's Center for Innovation.
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RSVP for the event at: http://smarttools.eventbrite.com/

Carl Symborski is once again bringing Virtual Worlds to Games Gateway:

Forterra Systems (http://www.forterrainc.com/), the leader in providing private, virtual world technology for serious games applications will join us on June 17th at 6:30PM at Garvey Schuber Barer.

John Burwell of Forterra Systems will share with us some of the latest developments in the area of virtual worlds and their serious applications in either government or corporate. John will also be able to give us some live demos of Forterra’s technologies and products.

This will also be an open forum for discussion and commentary so bring your questions and your ideas to the table.

Agenda:
6:30pm - Gathering and Networking
7:00pm - Meeting Begins and Intros
7:20pm - Presentation which will flow into Discussion and Q&A
8:45pm - Final Announcements

I look forward to seeing you there!

Check out all the information and register at at www.gamesforchange.org.

This May, the only festival dedicated to the exciting new movement of Digital Games for Social Change will explore real-world impact, the latest games, and funding strategies. Hosted in New York City by Parsons The New School for Design, the 6th annual Games for Change Festival will take place May 27 – 29, 2009. The Annual Games for Change Festival brings together the world’s leading foundations, NGOs, game-makers, academics, and journalists to explore how best to harness this incredibly powerful medium to help address the most critical issues of our day, from poverty, climate change, global conflicts, to human rights. Every year, the festival doubles in size and brings in new, high-impact partners.

The festival includes 3 exciting days of panels, keynotes and brainstorming sessions, as well as funders' meetings, press briefings, a private journalists dinner, an in-conference game, birds-of-a-feather gatherings and the usual excellent networking opportunities. This year we'll also be featuring the first-ever Newsgame Award at the Expo Night on May 28th, sponsored by the Knight Foundation, an evening games Expo and reception where attendees can play these new games first-hand and watch the awards ceremony for the best news games.

Called "the Sundance of video games" for "socially-responsible game-makers" we’re promoting a new genre of video game – games to change the world – for the better.

Join us in this exciting and important new event!

Overview of Business and Legal Issues with Virtual Worlds
What You Need to Know Now About this Tremendous Business Opportunity

Virtual Worlds are on the verge of transforming business in as dramatic a way as the Internet did in the mid-late 90’s. But as with every new technology, there also are emerging legal issues to consider. Pillsbury formed the first legal practice team focused exclusively on virtual worlds and video games and the team includes the author of “Virtual Law”, the leading book on the subject published by the American Bar Association.

This seminar, led by Jim Gatto, leader of Pillsbury’s Virtual Worlds & Video Games team, will provide an overview of the business opportunities associated with virtual worlds, how businesses are using them and the legal issues of which you need to be aware.

To Register go to: http://www.pillsburylaw.com/bv/bvisapi.dll/portal/ep/eventRegister.do?eventId=2009415153736359&channelId=-8598&tabId=5 or send an email to Meggan Maromonte at meggan.maromonte@pillsburylaw.com.