Your Complete Guide to the 2014 Game Developer’s Conference (GDC)

If you plan on attending the Game Developer’s Conference (GDC) you better get plenty of sleep this weekend because the event each day is packed from the crack of dawn to late in the night.

We thought we’d provide a highlight of what to see and what to do.

9:00am - 6:00pm

South Hall, Street Level

BreakPoint Books is the official bookstore vendor and Moxie is the official vendor of the GDC Store. A broad selection of books and supporting material from GDC speakers highlight the vast array of available titles. T-shirts and goodies can be found here as well. Joining us as a part of the GDC Store, iam8bit will be offering unique merchandise. Take a break from your sessions and check out the GDC Store! Exclusive GDC Bookstore Discounts

Beginning Hours Vary from 8:30am – 6:30pm

West Hall, Third Floor Lobby 

Come and join us at the Ubisoft Lounge. Talk with our creative teams in a cozy atmosphere, have a look at our development tools and their capabilities through video content and get your hands on UbiArt Framework for the very first time.

 

10:00am - 6:00pm

West Hall, Second Floor

GDC presents an 8 person "Deathmatch with John" multiplayer cluster, with equipment provided by The MADE. All matches will end at a specific frag count and the next in line can take over the losing computer. John Romero will be playing...brutally.

 

10:00am - 6:00pm

West Hall, Third Floor

Before there were pixels, there were pawns. And dice. DOING IT ON THE TABLE celebrates tabletop games created by videogame designers - in a cozy lounge where you can relax and kick it with some face-to-face gameplay. Come to the 3rd floor of the West Hall for a few rounds of Drunk Dungeon, Guts of Glory, Karaokards, and more. Curated by Eric Zimmerman.

 

10:00am - 6:00pm

West Hall, Third Floor

Unleash your creativity with Wacom Technology's complete line of professional pen tablets and interactive pen displays for designers, photographers, animators, and artists. Wacom's most advanced, pressure-sensitive pen combined with intuitive, multi-touch capabilities deliver an on-screen creation experience that's so natural and seamless, it feels like an extension of your senses.

 

10:00am - 6:00pm

West Hall, Third Floor

Indie MEGABOOTH Showcase is a collection of independent developers banding together to showcase the latest and greatest indie games at conventions across the world. Working with over 150 game studios, and routinely featured in industry press, our games are interesting and innovative and other buzz words as well. We have mobile, PC, console and some platforms you haven't even heard of. How's that for ground level access? Read more and see all games chosen to participate at GDC 2014.

 

10:00am - 6:00pm

South Hall, Street Level

Come visit the Microsoft Lobby Bar. Meet up with friends, grab a drink and check out the latest entertainment blockbusters for Xbox One. You can also code for a chance to WIN at the Windows QuickStart Challenge and learn about Windows Platform development tools.

 

10:00am - 6:00pm

West Hall, Street Level

Relax and enjoy beautifully soothing indie videogames in the comfort of your own living room. Throughout the week Mild Rumpus welcomes you into a sofa filled sanctuary of videogame tranquility alongside a scattering of live performances and bean-bags the size of a small house. You can even charge your telephone.

 

10:00am - 6:00pm

North Hall, Lower Lobby

After last year's highly acclaimed "History of Sega" exhibit, the Videogame History Museum will turn the tables this year and present "The History of Nintendo". From all of the basics to some of the most obscure Nintendo items ever displayed, they all be at the Videogame History Museum exhibit in the North Hall. Take a break and come check it out or play a few games in our mini-arcade!

 

10:00am - 6:00pm

North Hall, Lower Lobby

People love to GET CRAZY and WIN FREE STUFF, but sadly, our industry has been sorely neglected in the game show universe -- until now! Introducing YOU'VE GOT GAME SHOW!, a rapid-fire competition experience that pits three contestants against one another in a bloody skirmish of nerdy knowledge, taking just 5 minutes to win (or lose) it all. Brought to you by the eclectic engineers at iam8bit.

West Hall, Third Floor 

5:30pm-7:30pm

Please join the Videogame Writers Caucus of the Writers Guild of America, West for cocktails at our annual mixer. The mixer is a great opportunity for videogame writers to network with fellow industry professionals, discuss opportunities in game writing, and learn how the WGAW is leading the cause for writer benefits, fair credits, and compensation in the videogame industry.

B Restaurant & Bar, San Francisco, CA 

6:00pm-9:00pm

Start your night on the town at the first official GDC VIP Cocktail party brought to you by iDreamSky. By invitation only. Please RSVP by March 17: gdcvip.eventbrite.com

1:00pm - 2:30pm

North Hall, Lower Lobby

A sweet blend of light-hearted discussion, game-related music, interviews and ridiculous features, the One Life Left podcast at Game Developers Conference features game industry legends, past and present. Hosted by Ste Curran, Ann Scantlebury and Simon Byron, One Life Left at GDC will be featured on Gamasutra and broadcast on London's Resonance 104.4 FM. Check them out at onelifeleft.com.

10:00am - 6:00pm

North Hall, Lower Lobby

After last year's highly acclaimed "History of Sega" exhibit, the Videogame History Museum will turn the tables this year and present "The History of Nintendo". From all of the basics to some of the most obscure Nintendo items ever displayed, they all be at the Videogame History Museum exhibit in the North Hall. Take a break and come check it out or play a few games in our mini-arcade!

Booth CC2404, Career Center, North Hall, Lower Level 

10:00am-6:00pm (Friday ends at 3:00pm)

Come by the GREE Interactive Lounge and chat with specialists from recruiting, marketing, development, and publishing. Make sure to grab some GREE goodies and get all the info you need about our open positions, top-charting games, passionate development team, and publishing initiatives. Welcome to mobile social gaming! 

 

9:30 - 10:30am 

GDC Ballroom, West Hall, Street Level 

The Flash Forward is one of the highlights of the week. This Wednesday morning session gives select main conference speakers the opportunity to grab attendees' attention by taking the stage and spending a quick 45 seconds pitching their session. Hear first-hand what will be discussed in sessions taking place Wednesday-Friday and decide which talks best suit your interests. The Flash Forward will begin with a state of the industry from advisory board members and game industry veterans, Michael Capps and Mark Cerny. The Flash Forward is expected to be a fun, fast-paced, can't-miss event.

10:00am - 6:00pm

South Hall, Lower Level

Explore the latest in game innovations and talk with industry experts on GDC's Expo Floor, located in South Hall of the Moscone Center. Ask questions and get answers from game industry professionals and network with peers. Learn more about the GDC Expo.

10:00am - 6:00pm

North Hall, Lower Level

GDC's Career Center is the largest industry-specific job fair in the world, with representatives from 50+ companies actively hiring onsite. Industry leading studios and publishers from across the country and around the world will be present in search of tomorrow's star developers. Learn more about the Career Center.

 

10:00am - 6:00pm

North Hall, Lower Level

Get hands-on with playable games showcased by emerging and independent game developers. Discover pavilions dedicated to showcasing games around emerging game markets ranging from social through mobile, to console, indie, and beyond. From games still in beta, to undiscovered indie titles, GDC Play brings you playble IPs in various stages of development.

 

10:00am - 6:00pm

Career Center Floor

alt.ctrl.GDC is a new exhibit by IndieGames.com EIC John Polson that highlights the outer fringe of exciting alternative control methods for games. Some are custom-made; some repurpose gadgets such as briefcases, telephone receivers and musical keyboards; and others combine VR helmets, MIDI devices, foot pedals, patch cables, and switches into unique forms of play. Developers will be on-hand to discuss their creations, coupled with new games for attendees to try.

10:00am - 6:00pm

West Hall, Third Floor

Before there were pixels, there were pawns. And dice. DOING IT ON THE TABLE celebrates tabletop games created by videogame designers - in a cozy lounge where you can relax and kick it with some face-to-face gameplay. Come to the 3rd floor of the West Hall for a few rounds of Drunk Dungeon, Guts of Glory, Karaokards, and more. Curated by Eric Zimmerman.

 

10:00am - 6:00pm

West Hall, Second Floor

The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment is a non-profit videogame museum in downtown Oakland focused on education and preservation. The Museum's 2014 GDC exhibit focuses on Lucas Film games, the history of which extends back to the Atari 8-Bit home computer system. Just like it's facilities in Oakland, this exhibit features playable versions of significant works on original hardware.

 

5:00pm - 6:30pm

West Hall, Street Level

The Videri String Quartet is a classically-trained quartet specializing in high-quality renditions of video game music. Videri has performed at RTX, the Boston Festival of Indie Games, IndieCade, Boston's Wang Theatre, and the Nintendo World Store in New York. Videri's first album, Portals, was released in September 2013. Enjoy some live music and a cash bar before watching the IGF and Game Developers Choice Awards.

 

6:30 - 8:30pm

GDC Ballroom, West Hall, Street Level

The IGF was established in 1998 to encourage innovation in game development and to recognize the best independent game developers. At the awards ceremony, the IGF gives out eight awards and over $55,000 in total prize money to the most innovative independent games. The awards are held in conjunction with the Game Developers Choice Awards. Learn more about the IGF.

6:30 - 8:30pm

GDC Ballroom, West Hall, Street Level

The Game Developers Choice Awards are the premier accolades for peer-recognition in the digital games industry, celebrating creativity, artistry and technological genius. Industry professionals from around the world nominate for the awards, free of charge, ensuring that the recipients reflect the community's opinions. Learn more about the GDCA.

Grand Nightclub, San Francisco, CA 

6:00pm-11:00pm

Come party with the creators of Tank Domination and other top-grossing games, and meet our celebrity guest. Featuring: Open Bar with Free Drinks All Night, Free Appetizers, Huge giveaways & free swag (including a custom iPad Air), Celebrity Guest Appearance from Michael Ironside (from Starship Trooper, X-Men, The Machinist, Top Gun, Splinter Cell) - the voice and face of Colonel Killgore in our latest game, Tank Domination. By invitation only. Request to get on the list here: gdcgameinsight.eventbrite.com

10:00am - 6:00pm

North Hall, Lower Level

Get hands-on with playable games showcased by emerging and independent game developers. Discover pavilions dedicated to showcasing games around emerging game markets ranging from social through mobile, to console, indie, and beyond. From games still in beta, to undiscovered indie titles, GDC Play brings you playble IPs in various stages of development.

 

2:30pm - 3:30pm 

North Hall, Room 122

This roundtable will be an opportunity for members of the vast GGJ community to come together, meet in person and review the 2014 GGJ. The focus will be on global accomplishments, games, review of research, sites and growth. This year's meeting will establish goals and ideas for the upcoming year.

1:00pm - 2:30pm 

West Hall, Room 3002

It was 20 years ago that the Interactive Audio Special Interest Group formed at GDC to tackle some of the biggest problems facing game audio professionals. Today, many of the audio technologies and tools that audio professionals use were influenced by the IASIG's formation at GDC, and subsequent working groups. Join the IASIG for their annual town hall meeting and meet some of the movers, shakers and legends of game audio for an epic panel to discuss how today's game audio technology came to be, what challenges we face and where things are going next. Panelists will include Brian Schmidt, Clint Bajakian, Guy Whitmore and Michael Sweet.

7:30pm - 9:30pm 

West Hall, Room 3003

Excellence in game audio is celebrated annually at the G.A.N.G. Awards show - come and be a part of the magic as we recognize the best of the best! It will be a night of entertainment and peer recognition as we review the finest in game audio from the past year.

1:00pm - 2:00pm

West Hall, Room 3002

Celebrating G.A.N.G.'s 12-year anniversary, the G.A.N.G. officers will discuss the organization's accomplishments over the last 12 years, as well as what is currently in the works. There will be an open discussion with the audience on how to further improve the future of the organization and to look at what the future holds. This meeting is open to anyone interested in promoting excellence and advancements in interactive audio. Over 3000 people representing over 25 countries around the world have joined G.A.N.G. since its inception in 2002.

 

1:00pm - 2:00pm

South Hall, Room 304

The International Game Developers Association's Board of Directors and Executive Director will provide developers with a summary of the association's progress over the past year, as well as an overview of what's in store for 2014. There will also be a Q&A period to get feedback and input from the community and a chance to meet the new board members. The IGDA is a non-profit professional association committed to advancing the careers and enhancing the lives of game developers worldwide. Don't miss this critical membership meeting and overview of the organization's past year and its future! Any interested individual is encouraged to attend, you don't need to be an IGDA member. NOTE: Lunch will not be provided, but attendees are encouraged to bring their own.