The core crew for G.A.N.G.:IESD. Standing, L to R: Paul Lipson, chief
academic officer of Ex’pression and president of G.A.N.G; Scott Gershin
of Soundelux Design Media Group. Seated, L to R: Scott Selfon of Microsoft/Xbox;
Gene Semel of Sony Computer Entertainment America; and Dave Murrant of Sony
Computer Entertainment America.
A key working group within the Game Audio Network Guild announced yesterday the formation of a professional branch within the guild, called Interactive Entertainment Sound Developers. In a gathering at Ex’pression College for Digital Arts (Emeryville, Calif.), a program partner with G.A.N.G., Scott Gershin of Soundelux Design Media Group, Dave Murrant and Gene Semel of Sony Computer Entertainment America, and Scott Selfon of Microsoft/Xbox laid out the objectives of the professional branch in a panel discussion moderated by Paul Lipson, chief academic officer at Ex’pression and president of G.A.N.G.
“We have been working for a year now in putting together this group,” said Gershin. “G.A.N.G. has been great for raising the dialog and profile on interactive audio, but it’s primarily focused on musicians and composers. With IESD, we want to create a high-level organization for those involved in sound development. And by development, we mean implementers, programmers, content creators, sound designers—anyone working with sound to enrich the game experience.”
“We also were very careful in using the term ‘interactive’ and not ‘videogame’ in defining our group,” added Semel. “We don’t know what the future will bring in terms of content delivery. Just look at the rise of mobile and Web-based delivery in the past year alone. So we want to look toward the future.”
Murrant emphasized the efforts the group was planning to build a sense of community, including a series of educational proposals, regional events and seminars, and Web-based discussion groups for the establishment of best practices and recommended standards. All four panelists, who are serving as co-chairs for the group, talked of the unlimited possibilities inherent with new technologies and game consoles, allowing sound developers to increase the aesthetic and boost the art of sound in the storytelling process.
IESD members in good standing will be able to use the moniker IESD after their names in screen credits after three years. Students will be able to “lurk” in all Web forums and discussion groups as members of G.A.N.G.
For preliminary information on IESD, please visit the G.A.N.G. Website at www.audiogang.org. For information on Ex’presson, including a soon-to-be posted video of the IESD announcement, visit www.expression.edu.
