IRDC 2016-usa

The International Roguelike Development Conference 2016. A unique opportunity for roguelike developers and enthusiasts to network and discuss their genre in depth. Attendance is free and open to all, whether developer, fan, enthusiast, academic, journalist, or wandering vagrant.

This page is for the USA conference. This is not to be confused with either

• IRDC Europe 2016 - Bulgaria, 26-27 November
• Roguelike Celebration - San Francisco, September 17

Feel free to sign up for the email list! And if you missed any emails, find them here.

Dissemination

• Roguelike Radio episode recorded at the conference
• Videos of the talks
• Blog write-ups from Mark and Jeremiah

Venue

NYU Game Center in Brooklyn. KawaiiDragoness is host.

Address: 2 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201 8th Floor

Dates

August 6-7, 2016, 10 AM - 5 PM

Participants

Registration is not necessary, but it helps to know how many people will come. Put your details below with a note on when you're around. (See also the Presentations and Demonstrations section.)

• Mark Johnson (Ultima Ratio Regum developer). I'll be in NY from late 5th to late 8th, possibly longer if a few meetings with people I'm trying to schedule around the same time come through.
• Squirrel Eiserloh (Dallas-based game developer): 90% likely
• Brian Bucklew (Caves of Qud & Sproggiwood programmer/producer) early on the 5th through lateish on the 9th
• Guillaume Bailey (Virginia, deft): attending 5th-8th, unless someone recommends otherwise
• Brett Gildersleeve - Arriving late Friday night, departing on Sunday night. Presenting on both Saturday and Sunday.

Presentations and Demonstrations

There are/will be videos of everything but Sunday's lightning talks and Roguelike Radio on Youtube. The links below are to slides or other resources as Kawa had them (may not be ideally formatted):

Saturday Main Sessions:

• Jason Grinblat, Markov by Candlelight
• Thom Robertson, Writing Better Code
• Patrick Kenney & Brett Gildersleeve, Applications of Dijkstra Maps in Roguelikes
• Sheridan Rathbun, Various updates
• Mark Johnson, Dialects and Culture in Ultima Ratio Regum

Saturday Lightning Talks:

• Roguelike Celebration is happening!
• Mark Johnson is writing a book about luck and chance
• John Nicholas shows off Machinations
• Leonard Richardson talked Queneau Assemblies
• A bfxr demo
• Thom Robertson inspires with the wonderful works of Christopher R. Mihm
• Mitu K showed off some Markov-generated humor and karaoke ensued

Sunday Sessions:

• Brett Gildersleeve, Real Time Synchronous Turn Systems in Roguelikes
• Jeremiah Reid, Roguelike Time Travel
• Brian Bucklew, AI of Qud and Sproggiwood
• Adam Boyd, A Personal Hell

Sunday Lightning Talks:

• Noah Swartz on Tiny Dungeon Bot and Tiny Dungeon Player
• Kawa showed off some roguelike fanfiction - dramatic reading of a Nethack fanfic, mentioning a Caves of Qud quickstart Twine
• Squirrel talked Zen and the Art of Programming

Code of Conduct

Everyone is welcome at this convention, regardless of identity, presentation, or experience in the roguelike world. This code of conduct serves to formalize that welcoming attitude. It is based on Roguelike Celebration's, which is itself based on the one created in part by the Ada Initiative.

Short Version

We want a harassment-free conference experience for everyone who would like to attend, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), technology choices, or experience in the roguelike community (or lack thereof). We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. Participants who violate these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference at the discretion of the organizers or the host body (New York University's Game Center).

Long Version

Harassment includes:

• offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, technology choices, and/or previous experience
• sexual images in public spaces
• deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording
• sustained disruption of talks or other events
• inappropriate physical contact, and
• unwelcome sexual attention.

Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.

Sponsors are also subject to the anti-harassment policy. In particular, sponsors should not use sexualized images, activities, or other material. Demonstrators should not use sexualized clothing/uniforms/costumes, or otherwise create a sexualized environment.

If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the conference organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the conference.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of conference staff immediately - Kawa or one of the NYU Game Center staffers, or other volunteers TBA. Kawa and other volunteers will be wearing name tags that clearly identify them as IRDC staff. NYU Game Center staff will have identification in accordance with NYU policy.

Conference staff will be happy to help participants contact NYU security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the conference. We value your attendance.

We expect participants to follow these rules at conference and workshop venues and conference-related social events.

These rules are meant to supplement, not overrule, already placed policies and guidelines for guests at NYU facilities.

NYC General Information

Getting In/Out of NYC

Your airport options are JFK, LGA (LaGuardia), and EWR (Newark).

EWR is probably the cheapest, but also requires the most effort in terms of transit to/from NYC, as it's actually in New Jersey. LGA has buses that will take you to fairly convenient subway lines (see the "Travel Within NYC" section), though it's also terribly crowded and just a very unpleasant place. JFK is honestly a gorgeous airport, but is also fairly large, and a little less convenient - the buses that go there go to less convenient subways, or you can take AirTrain, which costs more. Disregard the travel issues if you're planning to take cabs the whole time, though that adds up fast too.

For those of you not flying, Amtrak goes into Penn Station, and Greyhound stops at Port Authority Bus Terminal. There's also the super-cheap Chinatown/Flushing buses and Megabus.

Travel Within NYC

I don't recommend driving in NYC unless you're okay with a LOT of traffic and weird construction nonsense, plus very narrow roads and odd parking rules (or paying out the nose for parking garage space).

Subway/bus service is all through the MTA, which for all the complaining New Yorkers do is actually relatively reasonable: you can get basically anywhere for $2.75, plus a one time $1 fee for a card (and you can refill the card at any subway station). If you're staying for a while, the unlimited cards (7 or 30 day) can be worth it. MetroTech (the complex that contains NYU Game Center) is close to tons and tons of different stations (most notably Jay St Metrotech on the A/C/F/R, but also not far from Borough Hall on the 2/3/4/5). The MTA's own "Trip Planner Plus" is actually remarkably good at giving directions, as is Google Maps during weekdays (it's less reliable on weekends), but if you have any questions don't be afraid to ask.

Both Lyft and Uber are very common and reliable here, though prices are high relative to other places. All Lyft/Uber rides I've had are actually part of commercial liveries, so it's actually quite safe! There are also hailable cabs - yellow in Manhattan and green everywhere else - but Lyft/Uber are more reasonable in price. If you haven't used these services yet, consider using my discount codes.

The vast vast majority of New York is very walkable, especially in midsummer. Bring good shoes and sunscreen, though you should also be prepared for rain!

Accommodations

Every major hotel chain has an outpost in NYC or two. AirBNB is pretty common here too. As a native, this is something I (Kawa) know less about, so if anyone has suggestions or rooms to offer, feel free to add to this!

Mr David - Don't forget New Jersey as an alternative option, Try to get something near the Path Train which has stops in Jersey City Journal Sq and Newark. The Path Train runs to Manhattan and you can transfer to main subway transit to Brooklyn once in Manhattan