Bah, GDC!
by Phil Carlisle · 03/09/2007 (5:54 am) · 14 comments
Man, I'm really kicking myself. I didnt come to GDC this time around and I'm starting to feel left out a bit. Drew is posting a bunch of interesting reading and it feels like I really want to be there.
GDC seems like a very strange beast. I'm sure that San Jose has a weird time warp bermuda triangle thing going on (but thats a story for another time). But I've never really stayed in SF!
I think next year I'll be coming. Will likely be as busy as hell of course, but for some reason, there seems to be a buzz about the indie stuff at GDC that I havent really tapped into before. Last time I was there, I basically met up with some buddies from the AAA scene and then fell off the planet for a while.
We have tons of new things going on right now, both in my worky-work and my indie-work and it seems like maybe I could use the break to come over and do some schmoozing. Budget allowing I'll make it over just after the casual connect europe west 2008.
Anyway, just wanted to say a belated not-there-but-wish-I-was HI! from over here in the UK.
GDC seems like a very strange beast. I'm sure that San Jose has a weird time warp bermuda triangle thing going on (but thats a story for another time). But I've never really stayed in SF!
I think next year I'll be coming. Will likely be as busy as hell of course, but for some reason, there seems to be a buzz about the indie stuff at GDC that I havent really tapped into before. Last time I was there, I basically met up with some buddies from the AAA scene and then fell off the planet for a while.
We have tons of new things going on right now, both in my worky-work and my indie-work and it seems like maybe I could use the break to come over and do some schmoozing. Budget allowing I'll make it over just after the casual connect europe west 2008.
Anyway, just wanted to say a belated not-there-but-wish-I-was HI! from over here in the UK.
About the author
#2
03/09/2007 (6:08 am)
We'll have our own booth next year, Phil ;-) 
#3
Ah well, next year.
03/09/2007 (7:04 am)
Actually, I was feeling pretty much the exact same thing the other day. GDC didn't really seem that particularly interesting, but now I realized there was a lot of people there that I wouldn't have minded catching up with.Ah well, next year.
#5
For instance, I found a bar called "the longest bar in san jose" :)
03/09/2007 (7:36 am)
well, to be fair to GDC, you can combine the two quite easily andy.. actually, I've done pretty much exactly that.For instance, I found a bar called "the longest bar in san jose" :)
#7
there is usually free beer, or at least there used to be. haven't been in a couple years.
there were quite a few game design talks t hat looked interesting this year, sorry I missed them too :(
03/09/2007 (11:27 am)
I thought gdc WAS a beer festival....and a gin festival...and a talking with strange Norwegian people with amazingly glorious business cards, all plastic and transparent and blue and glowing...festival.there is usually free beer, or at least there used to be. haven't been in a couple years.
there were quite a few game design talks t hat looked interesting this year, sorry I missed them too :(
#8
03/09/2007 (12:13 pm)
Yea things are picking up. I like to follow GDC from remote uh hem at home. More GG powered titles and a larger customer base are good news for all of us. Intel is about to do 40% CPU price cuts, Nvidia gonna ship $99 DX 10 SM 4.0 card in 2-3 months. It's all looking good potential and tool wise. I think we have just came out of a dark time in PC game history. Good for a few like Blizzard and SOE but I predict "micro MMO's will be the new thing. Cheaper fee's and more casual oriented. Designed for less time but persistant characters and social functions.
#9
03/09/2007 (1:12 pm)
there does seem to be quite a lot going on with the micro mmo. good for doppelganger I hope!
#10
03/09/2007 (8:15 pm)
there was plenty of free beer and open bars and other good things. MGT was there in force. 
#11
Yea like everyone else said, that describes GDC rather well! What, you think we all get together to actually talk about game development? Pfshaw!
Glad you're enjoying the coverage Phil. I usually have more to show for it than just blog posts, three articles and a few pictures, but I was busier than I've ever been before. I guess being an Executive Producer entails that. But I'll be posting tons and tons of cool stuff starting Monday. So you ain't seen nothing yet!
03/10/2007 (1:25 am)
Quote:
Bah, GDC! chin waging time waste, I prefer beer festivals :)
Yea like everyone else said, that describes GDC rather well! What, you think we all get together to actually talk about game development? Pfshaw!
Glad you're enjoying the coverage Phil. I usually have more to show for it than just blog posts, three articles and a few pictures, but I was busier than I've ever been before. I guess being an Executive Producer entails that. But I'll be posting tons and tons of cool stuff starting Monday. So you ain't seen nothing yet!
#12
03/10/2007 (3:02 am)
GDCs been a bit dissapointing for me. It's turning into such a marketing event. I think the split between marketing and game development was much larger before the new E3 setup.
#13
03/10/2007 (6:47 am)
Eric: actually, I dont mind that so much. I dont find the game dev sessions too useful, but I do like meeting game devs, so I quite like the expo-mixed-with-dev feel of it. I just expected more out of the dev sessions last time I was over. Now that I know what to expect, I think it'll be a lot better.
Employee Michael Perry
GarageGames
Oh well, I'll be there next year as well.