Events

GDC

Posted by Gemma Thomson on

The annual Game Developers’ Conference, which I attended as a speaker in 2016 and 2017. It’s the games industry’s largest and most influential conference, as far as American and European branches of the medium are concerned. GDC attracts speakers and attendees from all over, including post-release discussions on big-budget releases and indie showcases, as well as a slew of after-parties and fringe events.

GDC 2016 (30th Edition)

I attended as a speaker, and as part of a delegation from Diversi: an organisation in the
Nordic region which in turn brought a dozen women from across the EU to the conference. I also initiated a cross-scholarship meetup event, and was showing a wearable game named Gemma Hat on behalf of yet another non-profit organisation, TjejHack.

  • En route to a gathering in The Mission
  • “Rotator” at alt.ctrl.gdc.
  • Susana Meza Graham speaks to the Diversi & King scholars
  • GDC 2016 Scholarships Picnic
  • “Gemma Hat” at the GDC 2016 Scholarships Picnic
  • That Party
  • That Party
  • “Ripple Effect: Why Women in Games Initiatives Matter”
  • GDC Microtalks
  • ‘Shut Up & Sit Down’ showcase
  • “Chalo Chalo” (Experimental Gameplay Workshop)
  • “Robots!” (Experimental Gameplay Workshop)

2017

This year I attended the conference solely as a Train Jam participant and a speaker, on a ‘panel’ session of short talks from indie developers. I also attended an accessibility-focused conference on the day before GDC, as well as other fringe events which form the majority of my photographs from the week.

  • Indie panel at GAconf
  • Loading “Tacoma” at Day of the Devs
  • “Metro Mori” on display at the Train Jam booth
  • Ben Prunty performs at Pow Pow Pow
  • The Game Developers’ Choice Awards