Irish Games Association
Encyclopedia
The Irish Games Association (IGA) is a non-profit body which is dedicated to promoting gaming
in Ireland
, by running, supporting, and publicising gaming events, while seeking to communicate and cooperate with others that do likewise.
The IGA engages in a number of activities designed to further its stated aim of promoting gaming in Ireland, and has evolved substantially over its lifespan. Originally, the IGA was a group composed of different gaming interests from around the country who came together to organise an event known as Gaelcon http://www.gaelcon.com/. The first Gaelcon was run in 1989 in the Royal Dublin Society
. It has run annually since then, growing to become Ireland's largest independent (i.e., non-college) games convention. Subsequent venues included Croke Park
's convention centre and Royal Hospital Kilmainham.
While the main focus of the convention is obviously on Role-playing games, war games
and collectible card game
s (such as Dungeons & Dragons
, Warhammer 40,000
and Magic: The Gathering
, respectively) and other games, an important aspect is also special events such as the annual Charity Auction, which has raised in excess of €250,000 since its inception at Gaelcon 1996.
In 2006, the international Diana Jones Award
was awarded to 'Irish Game Convention Charity Auctions', including Gaelcon and Warpcon.http://www.dianajonesaward.org/06winner.html
In general, the IGA seeks to help the gaming community in whatever way possible, be it by organising events, providing information, publicising events or offering what assistance it can to others who are working on behalf of the gaming community in Ireland. In the past, this has included the provision of financial assistance to new conventions and gaming societies.
The IGA is not, nor does it claim to be, a representative body for gaming in Ireland.
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, by running, supporting, and publicising gaming events, while seeking to communicate and cooperate with others that do likewise.
The IGA engages in a number of activities designed to further its stated aim of promoting gaming in Ireland, and has evolved substantially over its lifespan. Originally, the IGA was a group composed of different gaming interests from around the country who came together to organise an event known as Gaelcon http://www.gaelcon.com/. The first Gaelcon was run in 1989 in the Royal Dublin Society
Royal Dublin Society
The Royal Dublin Society was founded on 25 June 1731 to "to promote and develop agriculture, arts, industry, and science in Ireland". The RDS is synonymous with its main premises in Ballsbridge in Dublin, Ireland...
. It has run annually since then, growing to become Ireland's largest independent (i.e., non-college) games convention. Subsequent venues included Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
's convention centre and Royal Hospital Kilmainham.
While the main focus of the convention is obviously on Role-playing games, war games
Wargaming
A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
and collectible card game
Collectible card game
thumb|Players and their decksA collectible card game , also called a trading card game or customizable card game, is a game played using specially designed sets of playing cards...
s (such as Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
, Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer 40,000 is a tabletop miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop, set in a dystopian science fantasy universe. Warhammer 40,000 was created by Rick Priestley in 1987 as the futuristic companion to Warhammer Fantasy Battle, sharing many game mechanics...
and Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
, respectively) and other games, an important aspect is also special events such as the annual Charity Auction, which has raised in excess of €250,000 since its inception at Gaelcon 1996.
In 2006, the international Diana Jones Award
Diana Jones Award
The Diana Jones Award is an annual award for "excellence in gaming". The award is unusual in two ways: first, it is not an award for a specific class of thing, but can be awarded to a person, product, publication, company, organization, event or trend – anything related to gaming; second, it does...
was awarded to 'Irish Game Convention Charity Auctions', including Gaelcon and Warpcon.http://www.dianajonesaward.org/06winner.html
In general, the IGA seeks to help the gaming community in whatever way possible, be it by organising events, providing information, publicising events or offering what assistance it can to others who are working on behalf of the gaming community in Ireland. In the past, this has included the provision of financial assistance to new conventions and gaming societies.
The IGA is not, nor does it claim to be, a representative body for gaming in Ireland.
External links
- Irish Games Association home page.
- Diana Jones Award home page.