GDC claims they will have an in-person 2021 convention in San Francisco in late July. That just might maybe be possible. Or not. What's thinking on this? Are the usual big exhibitors signing up?
Moscone Center's calendar is blank - they're closed for the duration, they say.
I don't see any way an in-person conference happens in July. Given current vaccination trends, most countries will barely be through the elderly and high risk by then - and no one is going to be willing to allow mass international travel in that timeframe.
swiftcoder said:
I don't see any way an in-person conference happens in July. Given current vaccination trends, most countries will barely be through the elderly and high risk by then - and no one is going to be willing to allow mass international travel in that timeframe.
I pretty much agree, but the GDC site says “In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, GDC 2021 will be held as a hybrid event on July 19-23, 2021, taking place physically in the Moscone Center in San Francisco along with a robust virtual offering online.”
Maybe they'll broadcast the speakers from Moscone, but not have any attendees present in person? Even that seems risky, when they could do an Apple-style remote-composited keynote.
My guess is it will be just like the web site describes. They will likely have an open event there at the event center, which will mostly have people who are either already vaccinated or willing to risk attendance, will have mask and distancing requirements, and the event will also have significant online presence. International in-person participants will be more limited due to travel restrictions, but virtual attendance will be huge, potentially multiple times regular attendance numbers.
Since many people have successfully run virtual conferences (I've attended several) the common difficulties are easily understood.
Presentations can be pre-recorded or live, both are straightforward. A mixed venue can have some presentations that take place with in-person viewing on a large display for remote/recorded speakers, and a lectern and camera for live speakers. Social rooms and other mingling is also straightforward, and often less intimidating than physical spaces, and with some cameras and group chat can be easily handled. In-person rooms can have a small conference room while people online can be individuals in video chat. Demos floor breakout rooms become chats run by individual vendors showcasing whatever they want, which they can do from the safety of their own homes showing on live video, or in person with cameras on a demo room floor.
most of it will be online here:
Even if they do have in person, the restaurants will all be closed.
I'm glad they made the online part free this year, I think they learned from last year, how you can't charge $200 or more for an online conference.
GeneralJist said:
most of it will be online here:
Even if they do have (it) in person, the restaurants will all be closed.
I'm glad they made the online part free this year, I think they learned from last year, how you can't charge $200 or more for an online conference.
That's GDC Showcase (March 15-19, 2021), not to be confused with GDC Tutorials ("Master Class", March 4-5, 2021) and the original GDC (July 19-23, 2021). They're struggling to keep GDC alive while they can't actually have a convention. It's good that they're coping.
As far as I can find, you can't actually register and pay for for the real GDC 2021. So they're not serious about an in-person convention. That's realistic.
Moscone Center is now being used as a COVID vaccination site, anyway.
It's officially not happening in person. From the GDC site: “For the health and safety of our attendees, staff, speakers, and sponsors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, GDC 2021 will be held as an all-digital event on July 19-23, 2021.”
