GDC in Pictures
Just like 10,000 other industry folks, I am still in the process of recovering from the annual Game Developers Conference. What an intense week! I need to start "training" for this conference more seriously... With all the sessions, meetings, events, socializing, etc, etc, etc, it's a wonder we all survive. The GDC is the the Boston Marathon of the game industry.
Unlike the somewhat reserved vibe of the past several years, this GDC seemed more upbeat. The hustle/bustle in the convention halls were one clear indication that this was indeed the largest GDC - ever.
Highlights for me were the Game Developers Choice Awards, the "love story" panel, the Indie Game Jam demos during the Experimental Gameplay Workshop, and the overall collegiate atmosphere of everyone at the show. Sadly, I just do not have the time or patience to describe everything, so I'll point you to several sites with extensive GDC coverage:
With that out of the way, here's my GDC "in pictures"...
Eric Zimmerman (gameLab) lead the opening "hot seat" panel of the IGDA's Business Summit.
Table 11: During the Business Summit, groups tackled various business issues...
The folks at the Serious Games Summit had similar discussion exercises. They were packed past capacity!
Mathilde Remy, David Roberton (ex-Criterion), Jon Jordon (Develop mag), Owain Bennallack (Develop mag) and GDC director Alan Yu, loiter during the summit/tutorials coffee break.
EA exec VP Bing Gordon gives the keynote during the Business Summit. Talks a lot about David Ogilvy and the power of smart marketing. Also, tells audience that he hates people who whine (ie, "If your game was that good, it would sell")...
Brian Sharp (Ion Storm) and Frank Lantz (gameLab) hang out in the Fairmont lobby bar after the first day of GDC.
...and start debating with Marc LeBlanc (Mind Control) and Justin Hall (journo gadfly).
Warren Currell (Sherpa Games) enjoys a beer with old NYC buddy Boo Wong (Curious Pictures).
Dom Milano (CMP), Mark DeLoura (Sony), Chris Melissinos (Sun), John Byrd (CRI) and Susan Kirby (CMP) goofing off during the exhibitor's cocktail reception.
Jay Allard unveils Microsoft's XNA roadmap to the game development community.
Eric Zimmerman (gameLab), Robin Hunicke (Northwestern University) and Brian Sharp (Ion Storm) take "SuperCollider" (the new massively multiplayer social game developed by gameLab) for a test run.
Chris Bateman (International Hobo) leads the Writers Group Gathering session at the IGDA's booth, pointing everyone to the Writing SIG's great guide.
At the IGDA's VIP Luncheon: Providing a nice meal and pleasant company is the least we can do to thank all the volunteers, Studio Affiliate heads and Partner reps who contribute to and support the IGDA. The luncheon was made possible by the gracious sponsorship of Kaydara.
Noah Falstein (The Inspiracy) and Hal Barwood enjoy the VIP meal...
...as do Dave Perry (Shiny) and Louis Castle (EA).
While the throngs of developers build up in the auditorium for the Game Developers Choice Awards ceremony...
The presenters and various other guests huddle over the small TV in the lovely "green room": Louis Castle (EA), Jason Rubin (Naughty Dog), Jade (There Inc.), Phil Harrison (Sony Europe), Ed Fries, Chris Cross (EA).
Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk pick up the well deserved IGDA Award for Community Contribution.
Will Wright presents the Lifetime Achievement Award to Mark Cerny.
(Sorry, I was kinda busy during the ceremony and didn't get a chance to snap many pics. Check out GameDev.Net's complete run down of the Choice Awards along with pictures of the presenters and recipients.)
Mind Control's Andrew Leker and Marc LeBlanc very proud of the IGF victory for Oasis.
CliffyB (EpicGames) and Gavin (G4 TV) hang during the Choice Awards after-party.
The Crystal Method perform during Sony's party. Damn, they were freaking loud :)
People were pouring out in the hallway trying to hear of the love stories from Raph, Warren and Will.
Will pitches his concept for "Collateral Romance". This "designer's challenge" panel, organized by Eric Zimmerman, was easily one of the best of the entire conference!
Jason Weiner (Art Institute) leads an artists gathering at the IGDA booth. Looked like fun, too bad I can't draw.
Chris Hecker demos the dozen-or-so games produced during the Indie Game Jam at the Experimental Gameplay Workshop session.
Bruno hosts the GAMEHOTEL, the GDC's first cultural style event. It was an interesting talk-show style show, with such diverse guests as toy doll makers Furi Furi, music video producers H5 and Japanese game developer Masaya Matsuura.
Brian Robbins (Fuel Industries), me, John Welch (ShockWave.com) and Jason Rubinstein (Ubisoft) in group hug mode during John's "online games" reception.
Yannis Mallat (Ubisoft Montreal) enjoys discussion with Kiyoshi Shin (IGDA Tokyo chapter coordinator) during the "Level 99" speaker's party.
When developers are invited to the party: Jon Blow gets his groove on. And, notice a blue Eric Zimmerman in the funky background.
More groove action during Level 99.
Midway's Lee Jacobson and John Romero unwind at the Fairmont.
The boys from High Voltage Software - Ben Hoyt, Josh, and Jesse Helton - also at the Fairmont.
The Canadians: me, Jodi Vetterl (Discreet), Nick Carota and Rob Cunningham from Relic, and Dan Irish - guess where, at the Fairmont.
Academic/author James Paul Gee talks about games as learning machines (read his awesome book to learn more). Not pictured, Warren Spector giggling at the back of the room every time Gee used a Deus Ex example...
John Gaeta, of Matrix fame, puts on a circus show of a visual arts keynote. I listened but I just couldn't get at the core of his speech, titled "From Visual Anti-Establishmentarianism To Ubiquity and Back".
NVidia's "draw for cool prizes" booth is always popular with the artsy folk.
Can any single game/device make us look goofier???
The Puzzle Pirates pod at the IGF pavilion.
Well, that's all the pics I managed to snap. Sorry for the rather uninsightful "report" - my brain is just too fried. I'll likely be making separate/smaller posts dealing with specific issues/themes from the conference in the near future. Until next year...
Posted on March 30, 2004 05:20 PM
Comments
Good stuff, Jason. Not being there, it's nice to see some of the goings-on.
Posted by: Scott Miller at April 1, 2004 10:34 AM
Sweet, I've read this blog since I became an IGDA member and now I'm pictured in it; way in the back of the artist gathering.
The GDC was a great event for bringing this community together. I can't wait for next year.
Posted by: Eric B. Orr at April 4, 2004 01:36 PM
As a new Game Developer/Inventor, I would like to congratulate all the participants. Sorry not to be able to attend. Shall definitely do next year. It is a great album of pictures, Jason: good job, and all the best!
Posted by: George Y. Krikorian at April 5, 2004 08:36 AM
Haha, neat. I haven't seen Eric since I lived in NYC. He cut his hair since then.
Great pictures, glad you had fun! :)
Posted by: Megan at April 5, 2004 01:39 PM
Thanks for sharing the pictures Jason... looks like you had a good time...
Shame I wasn't there... would haved loved to see all you guys... next year then I guess...
Posted by: Markus Friedl at April 6, 2004 03:08 AM
Hey cool recap. My favorite is the picture of the auditorium of the Game Developers Choice Awards where the guy in the front row crushes his face in his hands, shamed by not being nominated.
Nice job.
Posted by: Henry Wong at April 7, 2004 10:43 PM
nice photos. i stole the one of eric, robin, and me and cropped it down (sorry eric!) for a friendster photo.
Posted by: brian at April 12, 2004 02:24 AM
Awww, looks like so much fun! Shame I can't get the uni to stump up for the transatlantic trip! Still, whet's my appetite for GDCE in the summer. Hope to see old friends and meet new ones.
Posted by: Dan at April 13, 2004 10:32 AM
Nice Photoshoot! The GDC this year was a blast! Crystal Meth realy drilled our ears. Hope to see everyone again there next year!
Posted by: Bruno Steppuhn at April 13, 2004 03:51 PM
Really it was a nice GDC for this year .
The attendance of Mr. John Romero and Mr. will wright was so nice and it was a good surprise for me personally (specially Romero SAN-japaneese- ).
Teh XNA presentation was so cool. The presentation of Sony's PSP's capabilities was the most awaited by me.
THANK YOU ALL (igda) FOR YOUR GOOD COVERAGE.
Posted by: Ahmad Dawood at August 28, 2004 06:45 AM
You guys look like you have too much fun!
Posted by: Isaac at March 24, 2005 08:48 AM