Video game enthusiasts attend a game developer conference in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margo, Filet)
Four years later, game developer conferences are getting closer to normal. Officials said close to 30,000 attendees are expected in downtown San Francisco, and exhibitors are returning on track. The gathering comes at a time when publishers are announcing layoffs and the technology industry is facing several changes.
Event production director Stephanie Hawkins said that amid all the upheaval and change ahead, GDC is looking back. “Her GDC last year was forward-looking,” she said. “This year is about the history of game development.” To this end, organizers have partnered with the Video Game History Foundation to highlight and celebrate lesser-known developers in the interactive Game History Gallery. did.
This move also emphasizes the importance of game preservation. Hawkins said even the 2010 title has been lost to time. The GDC itself preserves hours of lectures and documents from decades of conferences. She said information repositories are some of the most sought-after assets for fast-growing developers.
That's one of the things that makes GDC different from other video game gatherings. This is not a show promoting the next big fight. It's a place for developers to exchange ideas and network, so we mainly focus on how to make games. It also requires a $149 Expo Pass on Fridays, but is otherwise closed to the public. It is aimed at professionals and students who want to enter the industry. Hawkins said it's the starting point for some careers, and the conference people who support attendees often return as advisory board members after a successful career in the industry.
Check out some sessions
When it comes to GDC's big talk, “Prince of Persia” creator Jordan Meckner will delve into the creation of the classic game “Karateka” in a post-mortem discussion. The conference will also cover artificial intelligence and its impact on gaming, including sessions on ethics and business challenges.
One of the highlight sessions focuses on “Tetris” creator Alexy Pajitnov. He talks about Croatian game developer Vedran Klanac and the lost prototype of his game, the legendary Puzzle. What's interesting is that, according to his website at GDC, this was created through “remote communication.”
This remote work and collaboration is something the industry has experienced during the pandemic and has impacted several projects and studios, including recently announced developers Giant Skull and emptyvessel.
Ashley Corrigan, the conference's senior producer, said this is another reason the conference focuses on examining the past. Sometimes there are bits of knowledge or ideas that are ahead of their time and that were not popular before, but suddenly become popular. For example, she pointed to her QR code. Initially a novelty, it became more popular in restaurants and bars during the pandemic. “You see how things change and fit better in different environments,” she said.
In addition to talks, GDC is also a place for companies to showcase the technology that is pushing gaming to the cutting edge. This conference was when Sony announced Project Morpheus, which would eventually become PlayStation VR. It's also where several services focused on game streaming were announced. (OnLive and Stadia are just a few.)
GDC is also adapting to a world where COVID-19 is less prevalent. Hawkins said there are no coronavirus restrictions this year. There is no vaccine requirement for GDC 2024, and wearing a mask is not required indoors, but is highly recommended. Face masks and hand sanitizer will be available throughout the facility, and enhanced cleaning measures will be implemented.
