4 ms·

GDC took place last week in SF . Is it also at risk, does it have good reasons to still exist? edit: typo

VHRanger 4y ago
GDC is aimed at devs. E3 was aimed at the unwashed masses. Different audiences entirely. GDC is more like a trade conference.
- isk517 4y ago
  E3 has traditionally been aimed at the media. It's only been in resent years that the general public has been allowed in, and even that move was seen by most as a attempt to keep the event from dying.
- MBCook 4y ago
  E3 wasn’t aimed at normal people. It was aimed at the press. Then they would put the coverage of what they’re excited about in their magazines. Companies can now reach both the press and fans directly any time.
- flohofwoe 4y ago
  > E3 was aimed at the unwashed masses. Back in its heyday E3 was purely a business event (e.g. you had to work in the games industry one way or another to be allowed in). Might have changed in recent years though, I didn't really pay attention anymore since around 2010 or so.
  - georgeecollins 4y ago
    Actually the first few E3 was open to anyone. Then for a few years they had a day where anyone could come. One of my happiest memories was demonstrating my game on the floor of E3 to fans. It was really nice to talk to gamers about the game after spending time with the retail chains and press. Then E3 got so big you had to be in the industry. Then another year they tried to move it to multiple venues. That is the core problem- who is E3 for? GDC is for game developers.
qbasic_forever 4y ago
Zero chance GDC goes away, it's a developer focused conference and is way more than just press releases and announcements. If you've never been to it GDC is non-stop talks and technical sessions, it's an invaluable resource for people in the industry.
- flohofwoe 4y ago
  I wouldn't be so sure about that TBH. Before Covid a lot of people were already complaining that it's starting to get really expensive to attend in person (especially from Europe), and technical presentations can just as well be attended online or later at your own leisure. Which basically only leaves the parties as a reason to attend, and games companies might start thinking twice whether that's worth the money to send their employees in person ;)
  - SXX 4y ago
    No one ever went to GDC for technical presentations. It was always about networking and no amount of online events can replace face-to-face meetings when it's comes to business. Yeah you can reach a lot of people through friends of friends and Linkedin, but it's much easier to get funding or publishing deal in-person. Also jobs in gamedev usually pay way below other IT markets and being part of community and parties is one of ways companies keep their staff from leaving for better paying jobs.

GDC is aimed at devs. E3 was aimed at the unwashed masses. Different audiences entirely. GDC is more like a trade conference.

isk517 4y ago
E3 has traditionally been aimed at the media. It's only been in resent years that the general public has been allowed in, and even that move was seen by most as a attempt to keep the event from dying.
MBCook 4y ago
E3 wasn’t aimed at normal people. It was aimed at the press. Then they would put the coverage of what they’re excited about in their magazines. Companies can now reach both the press and fans directly any time.
flohofwoe 4y ago
> E3 was aimed at the unwashed masses. Back in its heyday E3 was purely a business event (e.g. you had to work in the games industry one way or another to be allowed in). Might have changed in recent years though, I didn't really pay attention anymore since around 2010 or so.
- georgeecollins 4y ago
  Actually the first few E3 was open to anyone. Then for a few years they had a day where anyone could come. One of my happiest memories was demonstrating my game on the floor of E3 to fans. It was really nice to talk to gamers about the game after spending time with the retail chains and press. Then E3 got so big you had to be in the industry. Then another year they tried to move it to multiple venues. That is the core problem- who is E3 for? GDC is for game developers.

qbasic_forever 4y ago

Zero chance GDC goes away, it's a developer focused conference and is way more than just press releases and announcements. If you've never been to it GDC is non-stop talks and technical sessions, it's an invaluable resource for people in the industry.

flohofwoe 4y ago
I wouldn't be so sure about that TBH. Before Covid a lot of people were already complaining that it's starting to get really expensive to attend in person (especially from Europe), and technical presentations can just as well be attended online or later at your own leisure. Which basically only leaves the parties as a reason to attend, and games companies might start thinking twice whether that's worth the money to send their employees in person ;)
- SXX 4y ago
  No one ever went to GDC for technical presentations. It was always about networking and no amount of online events can replace face-to-face meetings when it's comes to business. Yeah you can reach a lot of people through friends of friends and Linkedin, but it's much easier to get funding or publishing deal in-person. Also jobs in gamedev usually pay way below other IT markets and being part of community and parties is one of ways companies keep their staff from leaving for better paying jobs.