About the association
About IGDA Chicago
IGDA Chicago has been a chapter of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) since 2001.
IGDA Chicago strives to enrich our local game development community through civic engagement, regular events that facilitate networking and professional growth, and coordination with local studios, educators, and organizations to ensure Chicago thrives as a major game development hub of the Midwest.
About the IGDA
The International Game Developers Association is the largest non-profit membership organization serving individuals who create video games. The IGDA is committeed to advancing the careers and enhancing the lives of game developers by connecting members with their peers, promoting professional development, and advocating on issues that affect the developer community.
For more information on the IGDA, please visit www.igda.org.
About the Board
Ross a. hersemann,
Chair
Ross is the Founder of Loading Law, a Chicago-based law practice, and provides legal counsel to video game developers and entrepreneurs in the tech sector. Ross is also the Organizer of the Chicago Video Game Law Summit and an Adjunct Professor of Video Game Law at DePaul University. He speaks frequently on hot topics in law and technology.
Ross also serves as the Chair of IGDA Chicago, Chair of the CBA YLS Creative Arts Committee, and Vice Chair of the ABA Digital Games and New Media Committee.
chris weiss
Chris is a professional and independent game developer with a background in production and design. He is the co-founder of Affinity Archives, where he produces independent games and visual media, and is currently a Producer at Phosphor Studios in Chicago.
Ashlyn Sparrow
Ashlyn Sparrow is the Assistant Director of the Weston Game Design Lab at the University of Chicago. She has worked on scholarly board, card, and digital games, and public health apps. She works closely with researchers and faculty to lead in the development of serious games, interactive learning experiences, and digital media art with youth and for youth. She has a BS in Information Sciences and Technology Design and Development from Pennsylvania State University and an MS in Entertainment Technology from Carnegie Mellon.
Kailey Phan Mitchell
Kailey is an indie developer and project manager for UnitedHealth Group’s digital platform. She graduated from DePaul University majoring in game development. While in school she worked with Professors Allen Turner and Will Meyers as a producer for DePaul Originals Game Studio. She also led JDE, an organization dedicated to giving students more creative opportunities.
She has showcased games at BitBash, PixelPop, Super Magfest, Game Devs of Color Expo, C2E2, and Indy Indies.
She currently helps run Indie City meetup, a bi-monthly get-together for developers to show off their in-progress passion projects.