The world’s largest industry-only event dedicated to the advancement of interactive entertainment attracted the full spectrum of game industry enthusiast from known luminaries, to aspiring and established game developers, to publishers and deal makers to members of the working press. With over 400 sessions, a robust expo and career pavilion featuring more than 300 exhibitors and sponsors, and numerous networking events, the five day conference provided interactive engagement and insight for the industry.
Highlights of the conference included a keynote address by Microsoft’s John Schappert, Corporate Vice President LIVE, Software and Services for the Interactive Entertainment Business, who shared Microsoft’s vision for the democratization of game distribution through use of their XNA Game Studio development software and the Xbox LIVE portal. In the conference’s second keynote address, the celebrated inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil inspired game developers to think into the future of gaming and consider closely how the power of technology can exponentially grow their capabilities to create more robust and dynamic games, drive community, and revolutionize interactive entertainment.
“Every year, the GDC’s goal is to deliver tailored learning and networking opportunities for the diverse groups of people who make games,” said Jamil Moledina, executive director of the Game Developers Conference. “This year’s conference not only exceeded our historical attendance record, but also surpassed expectations in terms of content quality and deal-making productivity.”
In addition to the ever popular lectures, panels, tutorials and roundtable discussions, this year’s summit lineup proved to be of particular interest to attendees as many sessions reached capacity. Covering emerging and influential sectors of the game industry, the Casual Games Summit, the Game Outsourcing Summit, the IGDA Education Summit, the Independent Games Summit, the Serious Games Summit, and the Worlds in Motion Summit presented cutting edge content and featured sector experts and thought leaders. Additional highlights to the conference included the 10th Annual Independent Games Festival (IGF), the 8th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards, Game Connection, Video Games Live and the Game Career Seminar.
myGDC, the events newly launched social/professional networking platform, proved to be very popular with attendees attracting 5,000 registered users. Participants were able to create and upload customized attendee profiles and search a database of other profiles; connect with designers, programmers, publishers, GDC speakers, and game professionals; and share conference schedules, projects and ideas.
GDC will return to the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA in 2009 taking place March 23-27.