Game Audio Network Guild

Interactive Entertainment Sound Developers (IESD) is a branch of the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.) focused on discussing and addressing the needs, resources, standards, networking, and continuing education of game industry sound implementation professionals.

• To provide events, resources, and open and thoughtful discussion on the issues that most affect game sound designers today – integrating non-repetitive sound effects, studio and field recording techniques, real-time mixing, determining reasonable reference/listening levels, etc.

• To give a more prominent voice to sound designers in GANG – while the organization has accomplished enormous amounts for composers and sound designers alike, we’re aiming to get equivalent discussions, events, and "value-add" that composers have been drawing from GANG.

• To offer information and networking opportunities specifically pertinent to game industry sound professionals. While many of our activities and discussions will certainly be of interest to students, apprentices, and newer workers, we are focusing our efforts specifically on developing knowledge resources for full-time game industry 'veterans'.

• To provide a definable, recognized moniker that can be appended to long-term (3+ year) industry professionals in game credits ('Sound Design: John Doe, IESD'), demonstrating commitment to the larger interactive sound trade.

Interactive: Differentiation from linear media. This is the creation of non-repetitive and dynamic sound effects that respond to other elements of an entertainment experience, including both tangible/technical elements such as physics (the force of an attack), and intangibles/aesthetics (the excitement of a crowd).

Entertainment: Not 'games', because this group applies to more extended potential varieties of dynamic audio. Consoles, portables, mobile devices, phones, electronic toys, website/online, etc. all fit into the more general 'Entertainment' name.

Sound: Perhaps the least debatable bit? :-) Expanding GANG's authority beyond just music issues, this group is focused on all sources of noise-making.

Developers: Not 'designers', because the group is intended for implementers as well as content creators. The group is designed to address the needs of programmers, tool creators, and sound designers, with implementation techniques and actual sound acquisition/creation.

IESD: A single, 'non-loaded' organizational acronym similar to SMPTE and MPSE. Also, standardized as a bug to append to game credits moving forward ('Sound Design: John Doe, IESD')

Welcome to the G.A.N.G. Voice Actor Coalition (GVAC) - the Guild’s second pro-only branch! G.V.A.C. was formed to address the needs of dialog professionals in interactive entertainment - and is here to develop policy, highlight important issues, create communication channels, and evangelize the unique needs and issues surrounding the professional dialog production pipeline.

G.V.A.C. will officially launch at GDC 2009 - stay tuned for more news forthcoming!

• To enrich and empower actors and dialog developers by providing information, educational resources, best practices, and community.
• Illuminate and address all elements of dialog and VO production, and facilitate discussion to tackle current issues.
• Explore new pipeline processes and technology that allows that advances production protocols - from the writing phase to the integration phase.
• Establish relationships with acting unions and other professional organizations to unify game audio industry best practices