In 2013 we have a number of conferences at which we will be running the Scholarship program.
GDC 2013
The IGDA Scholars program is starting off the program this year at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. This is the largest gathering of game developers on the planet, and runs as a week-long series of talks, panels and roundtable discussions covering nearly every aspect of the games industry you can think of. The atmosphere of GDC is unforgettable as the games industry effectively takes over a few square blocks of the city. The opportunities to network with developers and learn interesting techniques are second to none – GDC is the premier conference for our field.
When – March 25th – 29th 2013
Where – San Francisco, USA
E3
The Electronic Entertainment Expo is the crown jewel of industry trade shows. The week typically opens with media briefings from the major AAA players, laying out a lot of their strategy and products for the coming year. On the show floor, companies work to hype their games and get media attention, and throughout the event, deals are being struck as journalists try to see – and write about – everything. For Scholars, E3 is a hectic opportunity to get a glimpse behind the curtain, to see first hand the practical side of marketing and business, in a way that a conference such as GDC doesn’t provide.
When – June 10th – 14 2013
Where – Los Angeles, USA
Casual Connect USA
The Casual Connect events, organised by the Casual Games Association, are an excellent opportunity to learn a lot more about the development of casual titles, with a particular emphasis on the more business side of things. CC often has a number of sessions focused around topics like monetisation, social games and free-to-play. In previous years, the IGDA Summit has been collocated with the American edition of Casual Connect, providing a two day opportunity to gain insight into a variety of different aspects of the games industry, as well as meet some of the people who run the organisation. Casual Connect will be of benefit to students interested in learning more about the business of the games industry, especially in the casual space.
When – 30th July – 1st August 2013
Where – San Francisco, USA
GDC Europe
One of the premier European industry conference, GDC Europe provides tracks on Programming, Production, Visual Arts, Design and Business, Marketing and Management, alongside three standalone summits to create a lively atmosphere in the heart of Cologne. GDC Europe provides students with an excellent overview of the state of the art of the industry.
When – 19th – 21st August 2013
Where – Cologne, Germany
CEDEC
The Computer Entertainment Developers Conference is Japan’s largest conference for game developers. CEDEC is a great opportunity for students to learn a lot about the industry, with a particular focus on Asia. The format for the conference is heavily driven by lectures, with tracks for programming, visual arts, design and so on. As with other conferences in this vein, there is also an Expo Hall, and the annual CEDEC Awards are held as part of the event. Students applying for CEDEC should be aware that the majority of sessions will be in Japanese.
When – 21st – 23rd August 2013
Where – Yokohama, Japan
Tokyo Game Show
The Tokyo Game Show is one of the premier events of the gaming world; part expo, part convention, it’s a great opportunity for the whole industry to celebrate games, as well as where the industry showcases upcoming products to the Asian market, since it is one of the largest and most well known trade shows in the region. In many ways, TGS is a counter-part to E3 in that it is very much a marketing and PR focused event, so will be of interest to students who want to gain a deeper understanding of these aspects of the industry. It should also be noted that as with CEDEC, students with strong Japanese language skills will gain more from this event.
When – 19th – 22nd September
Where – Chiba, Japan
