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Going to GDC?

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Started by GeneralJist February 16, 2017 12:40 AM

13 comments, last by khawk 7 years, 1 month ago

GeneralJist

1,497

Author

February 16, 2017 12:40 AM

Hello,

Was curious to see if anyone here is going this year?

This will be my 1st, and I was only able to afford an expo pass.

What am I missing?

I also read a few articles on the experience of others.

Anyone care to share here?

How many resumes and business cards should I bring?

Our company homepage:

https://honorgames.co/

My New Book!:

https://booklocker.com/books/13011.html

frob

46,220

February 16, 2017 12:53 AM

Conferences are good for making connections and getting business contacts.

Bring a box of cards, they are conference currency. Give a card to get a card. Chances are they'll throw yours out, but you can use theirs.

Don't bring resumes unless there is a recruiting fair. Exchange cards and follow up with a resume after a few days.

khawk

3,752

February 16, 2017 01:45 AM

This will be my 1st, and I was only able to afford an expo pass.

Are you going to be in town the entire week?

Admin for GameDev.net.

SeanMiddleditch

17,596

February 16, 2017 02:28 AM

Bring a box of cards, they are conference currency. Give a card to get a card.

I think this is declining fairly rapidly (the odds of your card just getting a weird look while someone pulls out their phone to enter your info directly or trade via NFC are increasing) but it's definitely still good enough advice for now. I give it to 2020 before cards are a complete relic. :P

I might be biased though because my company's cards are garbage solid-black affairs that you can't scribble notes on and I end up using maybe 1 or 2 every GDC. Which reminds me - anyone printing custom cards, always leave the back entirely/mostly plain white. The blank space is as valuable (if not more so) than everything else on it. :)

Sean Middleditch – Game Systems Engineer – Join my team!

ApochPiQ

23,138

February 16, 2017 03:06 AM

Going to GDC on an Expo pass is a tough call. My personal opinion is that it isn't worth it, but YMMV.

One of the biggest gains I get from GDC is networking with people immediately after a session is over. I like to hang out and talk to the speakers of good sessions, if only to thank them for their time. Others may have pertinent questions or other feedback and also linger around after the session is over. This is such a big trend at GDC that they officially have "Wrap up rooms" that the CAs will send you to if you're running into another session's prep time.

If you're not attending any sessions, it becomes much harder to justify talking to complete strangers. Maybe you can pull it off; I don't think I'd like to try it.

The main site has a scheduler feature that lets you see every session's details in advance. If you want a taste of how much is there, I highly recommend checking it out.

Wielder of the Sacred Wands
[Work - ArenaNet] [Epoch Language] [Scribblings]

GeneralJist

1,497

Author

February 16, 2017 03:20 AM

This will be my 1st, and I was only able to afford an expo pass.

Are you going to be in town the entire week?

Yes.

I actually live in the area.

I never went before since I didn't have anything to show back then...

I was also at school most of the time, so didn't have he money, and was too busy to.

Should I still tern up the other days, even though I don;t have a pass?

I guess I could lounge around the hotels, restaurants, and such near the conference....some of the other days.

Going to GDC on an Expo pass is a tough call. My personal opinion is that it isn't worth it, but YMMV.

If you're not attending any sessions, it becomes much harder to justify talking to complete strangers. Maybe you can pull it off; I don't think I'd like to try it.

Ya, I'd expect so....

What is the "Summit, tutorials & boot camps" pass?

If I stretch it, I might be able to get that...

Our company homepage:

https://honorgames.co/

My New Book!:

https://booklocker.com/books/13011.html

khawk

3,752

February 16, 2017 03:53 AM

Yes. I actually live in the area.

Well, want an All Access or a Main Conference pass instead on behalf of GameDev.net? You can't get a refund for the Expo unfortunately, but you can get more out of GDC.

Admin for GameDev.net.

GeneralJist

1,497

Author

February 16, 2017 04:05 AM

What?!

Are you serious?

I can't say no to that.....!!!!

Wow....

And I thought I knew what above and beyond meant....

Our company homepage:

https://honorgames.co/