Bellamy putting the International back in IGDA

IGDA executive director Gordon Bellamy has said the organisation wants to reassert its place on the global stage, and support developers around the world.

In an interview with Gaming Business Review, the acting chief of the organisation

In the US, the organisation has gone to great lengths to collaborate with the likes of the ESA, AIAS and other groups the better represent the interests of game developers in the US.

Now the organisation, which is already supported by chapters in many countries around the world, wants to make those efforts more global-facing.

It’s even hiring a non-US figure to drive the strategy.

"Our focus and community is global and we are excited to be soon adding our first new staff member based outside the US," Bellamy said.

"Groups working for the interests and career development of people in our industry are allies to our shared cause in every region. Local trade agencies around the world are some of the strongest partners and participants in our IGDA community."

"Together we are able to more effectively amplify and celebrate the efforts of local developers. We are 100 per cent aligned in the goal of helping developers help each other."

He pointed to emerging hubs and well-established ones as an example of how industry co-operation between bodies is helping support the industry:

"I just returned from a trip to an exciting emerging development community, Baton Rouge, Louisiana where the Louisiana Digital Gaming Initiative, the Baton Rouge Area Digital Industries Consortium and Department of Economic Development worked with IGDA to launch the chapter community efforts in that city.

"Their efforts are reminiscent of those in Quebec, where trade organisations, local government and our development community work together to create and support game industry initiatives.The sustained commitment of local trade agencies to their markets will only help our community to new heights. We look forward to partnering with initiatives like this across the globe."