Buzz
The yearly Game Developers Conference (GDC), originally planned for San Francisco this week, has been canceled due to coronavirus precautions. However, many of the scheduled talks can now be accessed through exclusive online streams.
These presentations are fascinating to watch, even for those who aren’t game developers. For current or aspiring developers, they’re an invaluable resource.
You can find the full schedule on the conference’s official website.
Streams will be accessible on the official GDC Twitch channel here.
On Wednesday, March 18, virtual award ceremonies for The Independent Games Festival (IGF) and Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCA) will be streamed. Additionally, Double Fine & iam8bit will present a virtual 2020 edition of their Day of the Devs showcase just before the awards.
Below are some key highlights. All times are listed in PT.
Tuesday
11-11:30 am: Baked in Accessibility: How Features Were Approached in ‘Borderlands 3'
“This postmortem will examine how accessibility features were integrated into the design of Borderlands 3 from the beginning. Covering elements such as subtitles & closed captions, loot beams, and sound effects, this discussion will highlight successful implementations and also explore features that were ultimately excluded, sharing insights into why they didn’t work.”
Wednesday
2-2:30 pm: Designing a Compact Open World: Postmortem of ‘A Short Hike’
“Adam Robinson-Yu discusses his decision to pause a major project to focus on a new prototype, which eventually evolved into the game A Short Hike.”
Thursday
11-11:30 am: Preparing Your Game for Influencers: A Developer’s Marketing Guide
“This session will introduce both innovative and proven strategies to ensure your game is ready for content creators.”
10-10:30 am: Eliminate the Hero, Transform the Narrative
“Hannah Nicklin, the lead writer and narrative designer for MUTAZIONE, explores the essential methods, obstacles, and opportunities of crafting stories for ensemble casts rather than focusing on traditional hero-centric narratives.”
