Dr. Allen Partridge, CEO of Insight Interactive Games and author of
“Real-Time interactive 3D Games”, is scheduled to present a lecture /
discussion on Tuesday February 11, 2003 at the monthly meeting of the
Atlanta chapter of the Independent Game Developers Association. The group
meets from 7:00-8:30pm at
Giant Studios, 2160 Hills Ave. Atlanta GA, 30309. Driving directions are
available online at http://www.igda.org/atlanta/. There is a $5 fee for
attendance.

The focus of the session will be rapid prototyping and developing
proof-of-concept games on a tight or non-existent budget. As game
development continues to cost more and present less probability for
commercial success, rapid prototyping may offer hope for independent
developers. By latching on to the less flexible, but more cost-effective
third party and middleware tools for game development, game companies may be
able to quickly and inexpensively test new product features and even rapidly
develop and demonstrate entire titles, without the time and expense of a
complete development cycle.

Third party engines and middleware, however are slow, rigid and often
difficult to translate into C, C++ and DirectX Games.  What are the
trade-offs? Is a third party engine ever a viable option for delivery? Where
do we draw the line? The evening will focus on these questions.

Dr. Partridge is an Assistant Professor of Dramatic Media at The University
of Georgia and the founder and head of Insight Interactive Games, an
Athens-based electronic game development company.  Insight Interactive
creates online games and custom entertainment solutions.

Professor Partridge specializes in Interactive Dramatic Media and
Playwriting. Partridge has created a plethora of Internet based
entertainments and utilities. His current projects involve Interactive
Dramatic Narrative techniques in digitally enhanced performance events.

Recent publications include an article outlining the purpose, perspective
and style of artist and architectural reclamationist Friedensreich
Hundertwasser, Online 3D tutorials for DOUG and Macromedia’s Designer and
Developer Center, and a series of digital paintings, which focus on social
fervor. His book, "Real-Time Interactive 3D Games" is available online or in
major bookstores. The book and the games found in the book explore the
relationships between traditional narrative structures and those influenced
by interactivity. He is currently working with New Riders on his second
book, which will focus on the core concepts of game programming.