GDC Feb 20th - Help and Whos going?

[Generalvivi]

Hey so like I have a chance to go to Gdc this year and I was wondering if anyone else was going? If so speak up!

Also i was wondering if any of you have gone in the past and had to write down notes and stuff to bring back to your company. Im not exactly sure what would be expected (ill prob ask one of the hr people) but what do you guys normally write down when you go? just things you have seen? new products or something? please fill meh in!

-vivi!

[doom3d]

I'm going again this year, it would be my third year. What we do is we go to presentations and take notes normally and try to get the slides. Then at the office once everyone has returned there is a lunch and learn. We get food and everyone talks about things they learned out there. I'm not sure if your company would do the same.

[Generalvivi]

ah sweet! do all presentations have extras of the slides?

[FearOfDreaming]

I wish I could go considering I live right in San Francisco. Unfortunately, all the spots to volunteer were full, and I don't have the money to pay full price.

[doylle]

I haven't been to GDC in San Francisco yet, but i went to GDC Lyon which is the small brother of GDC (very small bother).

Unfortunately, there were no real industry people other than the ones that gave the lectures or the ones sitting in the chair next to me. I really wanted to talk with other industry people for jobs and internships, but of course that was a bit of a letdown. However, the lectures themselves were mostly pretty cool. I went to "The art of Crysis", which was absolutely great. (did you know that the nanosuit was introduced after 12 of production?) I took notes on most of the lectures I did, cause I wanted to write an article for GA about it, but in the end they didn't realy give any stuff that was suitable for an article. To me, it seemed it was more about letting others know what they are doing, and in a way how they are doing it, but withouth all the technical stuff. (if that makes any sense ).

The main thing i rememberd from it from it all is that if you want to make a big game, you have to be skilled, willing to work and simply crazy. Even if you work on "bee movie game", which let's be honest, is a game based on a movie so in 75% of the cases plain bad. But they made an engine, a great game, some amazing animation tools for their facial annimations, in only 18 months. And the game looks very attractive tbh. Same with the facial animations in "Heavenly Sword".

Even though I was a bit disappointed when it ended, and had a feeling like "hmm, so that's it?", today i wouldn't hesitate a second to go back.

And you are going to SF, so no doubt you'll have a great time...

[thanoz]

I've been to 3 or 4 of the GDC's, they're starting to blend together in my memory. Usually people crowd around the Nintendo Booth and one big action Sony/Xbox game up in the front. Then there's a lot of semi-filled attractions that probably suck, tons of nearly empty vendors of odd industry-related technologies, outsourcing services and so on.

Then there are the lectures, they're ok, but nothing better than what gets later posted up on Gamasutra (usually from those lectures). The food is really expensive and oddly distributed.

As a result, usually I'm in a race to get in and get out in the fastest time possible. Why do I go? You can actually have an art director or artist or someone relevant look over your portfolio, give a critique, and maybe hire you. No dice on the hiring thing so far, but it's a hell of a leg up over just mailing stuff out.

If I can get a good enviro reel done before GDC then I'll be attending - just for job shopping.

[Generalvivi]

Thanks for all the advice / shared experiences guys , it really helps

[doom3d]

Originally Posted by Generalvivi

ah sweet! do all presentations have extras of the slides?

Some do, sometimes you'll just have to e-mail the presenter or they'll be on a ftp that they'll give you. As for the career pavilion, just avoid that entirely if you are out there for a job. The best thing to do is go to the after parties and meet people and get business cards and follow up with them the next day or after the conference. It's about who you know, and they can introduce you to the right people.

[Talon]

By the way, if anyone's in the UK and can't quite afford GDC, there's Animex Game happening in Middlesbrough, usually a pretty fun event - animex.net

[requiem2d]

I'd go just for the drinks, but unfortunately a little far away