2004 GDC Journal of my trip
by backtracking · in General Discussion · 03/18/2004 (1:41 pm) · 11 replies
Like I did last year, I'll post on here everything I find out at the GDC daily or semi-daily, so those who can't attend it will be in the know ;)
On some things I'll have to just drop hints, but hey ;)
I'm fixing to leave on a 2 1/2 day bus trip tonight, so my next post on here will be hopefully when I'm there in San Jose, alive.
I get to go to few invite parties too, so hopefully I'll do ok, as I don't drink!
Wish me luck...
Joseph
www.agfrag.com
On some things I'll have to just drop hints, but hey ;)
I'm fixing to leave on a 2 1/2 day bus trip tonight, so my next post on here will be hopefully when I'm there in San Jose, alive.
I get to go to few invite parties too, so hopefully I'll do ok, as I don't drink!
Wish me luck...
Joseph
www.agfrag.com
#2
2 days, 10 hours, and xx minutes on a bus from TN to CA. I'm tired!
--Wow, the ratio of men to women CAs (conference associates) has improved, I would say almost up to 10% or more!!!!
Which is good, because women are the ones who have the largest market of purchasing and playing casual games!!!!
The orientation went well tonight, now I'm off to go figure my schedule for the week, some meetings, some parties, and not die of exhaustion trying to make everything work out the way I need it too.
I'll try and post again tommorrow, but I'll be taking notes to myself during the whole GDC, so if I have to skip a day or two, logging here, I'll get to it eventually, it jusr depends on my schedules.
See you guys later,
Joseph
03/21/2004 (9:18 pm)
--OK Jeff.2 days, 10 hours, and xx minutes on a bus from TN to CA. I'm tired!
--Wow, the ratio of men to women CAs (conference associates) has improved, I would say almost up to 10% or more!!!!
Which is good, because women are the ones who have the largest market of purchasing and playing casual games!!!!
The orientation went well tonight, now I'm off to go figure my schedule for the week, some meetings, some parties, and not die of exhaustion trying to make everything work out the way I need it too.
I'll try and post again tommorrow, but I'll be taking notes to myself during the whole GDC, so if I have to skip a day or two, logging here, I'll get to it eventually, it jusr depends on my schedules.
See you guys later,
Joseph
#3
It'll be interesting. I dread Wed-Fri, it's going to be so slammed for me.
I'm working on getting my book signed by Chris Crawford this morning (his new book), if not tommorrow.
I have several meetings tommorrow, and a party to go to, I'll try and tell you guys about the meetings tommorrow, or ASAP.
I gotta get off here so other CAs can use this terminal.
Any GGs at the GDC wanna meet up?
-Joseph
03/22/2004 (8:08 am)
1st day...It'll be interesting. I dread Wed-Fri, it's going to be so slammed for me.
I'm working on getting my book signed by Chris Crawford this morning (his new book), if not tommorrow.
I have several meetings tommorrow, and a party to go to, I'll try and tell you guys about the meetings tommorrow, or ASAP.
I gotta get off here so other CAs can use this terminal.
Any GGs at the GDC wanna meet up?
-Joseph
#4
I found where the parties are actually at for tonight and thur, so I know where I'm going. The next few days are going to kick my @$$.
Hopefully I'll be able to meet up with Jeff and GG company tomorrow in between my very hectic schedule.
I'll post more when I get more info.
Yesterday was pretty mild, I worked the info booth some, and that was it. I networked with people and attended the 2nd half of a storytelling tutorial, so i actually learned something.
-Joseph
03/23/2004 (8:17 am)
Start of a new day. I'm not sure whether I'll attend a tutorial partially before I have to badge afternoon breaks, or just meet with people and check things out.I found where the parties are actually at for tonight and thur, so I know where I'm going. The next few days are going to kick my @$$.
Hopefully I'll be able to meet up with Jeff and GG company tomorrow in between my very hectic schedule.
I'll post more when I get more info.
Yesterday was pretty mild, I worked the info booth some, and that was it. I networked with people and attended the 2nd half of a storytelling tutorial, so i actually learned something.
-Joseph
#5
(My last GDC was in 1999... so it's getting to be a few years...)
03/23/2004 (12:25 pm)
Thanks for your posting of the journal, Joseph. Maybe I can attend vicariously through you :)(My last GDC was in 1999... so it's getting to be a few years...)
#6
At the party at the Gordan Biersch resturant, I got to meet Bob Bates, Andre Lamothe (talked with him for a few), Tommy Tallirico, Rodger Pedersen, the head of G.A.N.G., and got to see ALOT of industry power!!! It was sweet!
Then, by mercy, I got a MS/nvidia party invite at THAT party, which was my first one ( I had a feeling one party would lead to another). A few industry people were there, but mostly developers and students. There were girls in neon outfits dancing around and twirling glow sticks on strings. The music was loud and the DJs (4 of them) were doing the party with techno. The girl to guy ratio felt like the 2001 GDC. It was BAD.
Both parties had good free food and drinks, so alot of people were plastered (heck of alot better then GDC lunches). As they added more beers, people thought they could dance, frickin' hilarious (I don't drink, smoke or do drugs).
I get to be MS slave boy this morning, and the expo opens today. Due to my schedule, I doubt I'll get to check it out much, but I'm sure as hell am going to try! I'm pretty sure the GDCA and IGF awards show are tonight. I'm soooooo tired.
It's been a wonderful gig so far, and I've learned alot so far, every time I come.
I'll be more expansive when I can, other CAs have to check their mail.
03/24/2004 (6:45 am)
I got to meet Jeff Tunnel briefly yesterday.At the party at the Gordan Biersch resturant, I got to meet Bob Bates, Andre Lamothe (talked with him for a few), Tommy Tallirico, Rodger Pedersen, the head of G.A.N.G., and got to see ALOT of industry power!!! It was sweet!
Then, by mercy, I got a MS/nvidia party invite at THAT party, which was my first one ( I had a feeling one party would lead to another). A few industry people were there, but mostly developers and students. There were girls in neon outfits dancing around and twirling glow sticks on strings. The music was loud and the DJs (4 of them) were doing the party with techno. The girl to guy ratio felt like the 2001 GDC. It was BAD.
Both parties had good free food and drinks, so alot of people were plastered (heck of alot better then GDC lunches). As they added more beers, people thought they could dance, frickin' hilarious (I don't drink, smoke or do drugs).
I get to be MS slave boy this morning, and the expo opens today. Due to my schedule, I doubt I'll get to check it out much, but I'm sure as hell am going to try! I'm pretty sure the GDCA and IGF awards show are tonight. I'm soooooo tired.
It's been a wonderful gig so far, and I've learned alot so far, every time I come.
I'll be more expansive when I can, other CAs have to check their mail.
#7
Mark Cerny won lifetime achievement award.
Prince of Persia, Star Wars KOTOR won the most awards.
I'm having to do alot of AGFRAG stuff, and am having some technical issues, so I'll have to make due.
03/24/2004 (8:54 pm)
All I have time to tell about today is I have a GG hat!!! Whoo-hoo, and their nVidia demo of Torque and the shaders kicks @$$!!!!!Mark Cerny won lifetime achievement award.
Prince of Persia, Star Wars KOTOR won the most awards.
I'm having to do alot of AGFRAG stuff, and am having some technical issues, so I'll have to make due.
#8
03/25/2004 (7:47 am)
Quote:Damn it and I missed it! I could have tried to teach Mark to breakdance while drunk again.
There were girls in neon outfits dancing around and twirling glow sticks on strings. The music was loud and the DJs (4 of them) were doing the party with techno.
#9
I went to ALOT of parties, and met just about every game industry "celebrity" and power players that there is. The parties were good, even for the GDC. (The Playstation party had Crystal Method there playing live, just as an example ;)
I had an absolute blast!!!
When I get back (I'll be on the road for almost 3 days), I'll post my multi-page notes on events and fun I enjoyed.
Sorry I don't have enough time, I'm leaving San Jose this afternoon.
Talk to you guys soon!!!
-Joseph
P.S. the GDC is in San Francisco next year, and probably the next 5 years at the Moscone center.
03/29/2004 (11:06 am)
I have ALOT to tell you guys, but I've been catching up on sleep before I head back to TN, and the last two days kept me slammed for time.I went to ALOT of parties, and met just about every game industry "celebrity" and power players that there is. The parties were good, even for the GDC. (The Playstation party had Crystal Method there playing live, just as an example ;)
I had an absolute blast!!!
When I get back (I'll be on the road for almost 3 days), I'll post my multi-page notes on events and fun I enjoyed.
Sorry I don't have enough time, I'm leaving San Jose this afternoon.
Talk to you guys soon!!!
-Joseph
P.S. the GDC is in San Francisco next year, and probably the next 5 years at the Moscone center.
#10
I got a photo-op with Mark Cerney this year (Peter Molyneux last year), got to talk with Andre Lamothe, Dave Perry (very brief), John Gaeta at his session (he worked on the VFX of a little brand called... hmmm, The Matrix movies and such) he is a very cool individual, and he read us a speech like it was him from 50 years in the future looking back on the past, but it was 10 years in our future. Lost yet? He said he wrote it a 4am while sick with the flu. It was funny, and made you think about the possible repurcussions that'll effect humanity with the tech we're making.
I got to talk with Tommy Tallirico, Bob Bates, Warren Spector (got his, John Gaeta's and Dave Perry's autographs this year) got my book's signed by Chris Crawford and Rodger Pedersen (who I hung out with alot, and hooked me up with two of the parties!), I can't keep up with all the people. Let's just say I recognize more people now!!!
I met and talked with a bunch of my fellow CAs, who alot of them work at major companies, and on major games and movies. The Garfield Movie, Scooby Doo 2. Games: Beezleys Buzzwords, Savage, the list is huge amoung the 220 of us this year. (250 next year!!!)
The Playstation party rocked, with the Crystal Method boys. There was this nice looking asian woman dancing in front of them with no bra on. I swear you could of hung your jacket on two certain things. My disposable camera didn't fail me.
The Sammy Studios party was ok, they had a Guilty Gear tournament, and I had my ass handed to me first thing. I'd never seen the game before that day. I hope to get hired with them.
The GANG Audio Awards show took forever, but it was cool listening to thses bands play game tunes, and at the end, Dweezil Zappa came out, and played game tunes on his guitar!!!
The MS DX/nvidia party earlier in the week was ok, nothing to write home about.
The Choice Awards and IGF awards was cool, considering a bunch of the people who won the IGF game of the year, and won the cartoon network gig, are on the CA (Conference Associate) team! People just don't realize how many industry people work the GDC to save $$$ and actually ENJOY our job.
The MS Xbox party was cool. They had 6 massage parlours upstairs (I lucked out, and got one of the 2 asian ladies to massage me, instead of the old asian dudes), got to network while standing in line for that, there was a casino downstairs where you could play with MS playmoney, free alcohol x10, free cigars, free henna tattoos (got my AGFRAG logo put on my arm), drunken gamedev geeks attempting to dance, and really messed up food choices. (The other parties had better) I worked with a MS lady (she is a blast to be around BTW) to set up a certain MS executive's hotel suite for an exec get together for the previous night. I cleaned up his room, went across town to a florist and Best Buy to get stuff for the room. The MS lady was with me, so I wasn't complaining. THAT, got me the invite to the MS Xbox party.
Oh yeah, If you don't drink or smoke, be careful in the gear you get, so you can trade!!! I traded t-shirts, schwag, and drink tickets to get invites to some parties this year. I kinda daisy-chained-traded my drink tickets into an extra t-shirt into a thank you for the Playstation invite wristband, all within 30 minutes.
I just got use to San Jose, and now the GDC will be in San Francisco. Oh well, new city to learn.
I enjoyed the connections I made, the people I met, whether plastered or not, all the great CAs and staff I worked and played with, this was the best GDC for me yet, both in enjoyment, learning, and meeting people.
*huge grin*
-Joseph
04/02/2004 (7:50 am)
==Thanks to Jay for the GG hat at the Expo at the GDC!!!I got a photo-op with Mark Cerney this year (Peter Molyneux last year), got to talk with Andre Lamothe, Dave Perry (very brief), John Gaeta at his session (he worked on the VFX of a little brand called... hmmm, The Matrix movies and such) he is a very cool individual, and he read us a speech like it was him from 50 years in the future looking back on the past, but it was 10 years in our future. Lost yet? He said he wrote it a 4am while sick with the flu. It was funny, and made you think about the possible repurcussions that'll effect humanity with the tech we're making.
I got to talk with Tommy Tallirico, Bob Bates, Warren Spector (got his, John Gaeta's and Dave Perry's autographs this year) got my book's signed by Chris Crawford and Rodger Pedersen (who I hung out with alot, and hooked me up with two of the parties!), I can't keep up with all the people. Let's just say I recognize more people now!!!
I met and talked with a bunch of my fellow CAs, who alot of them work at major companies, and on major games and movies. The Garfield Movie, Scooby Doo 2. Games: Beezleys Buzzwords, Savage, the list is huge amoung the 220 of us this year. (250 next year!!!)
The Playstation party rocked, with the Crystal Method boys. There was this nice looking asian woman dancing in front of them with no bra on. I swear you could of hung your jacket on two certain things. My disposable camera didn't fail me.
The Sammy Studios party was ok, they had a Guilty Gear tournament, and I had my ass handed to me first thing. I'd never seen the game before that day. I hope to get hired with them.
The GANG Audio Awards show took forever, but it was cool listening to thses bands play game tunes, and at the end, Dweezil Zappa came out, and played game tunes on his guitar!!!
The MS DX/nvidia party earlier in the week was ok, nothing to write home about.
The Choice Awards and IGF awards was cool, considering a bunch of the people who won the IGF game of the year, and won the cartoon network gig, are on the CA (Conference Associate) team! People just don't realize how many industry people work the GDC to save $$$ and actually ENJOY our job.
The MS Xbox party was cool. They had 6 massage parlours upstairs (I lucked out, and got one of the 2 asian ladies to massage me, instead of the old asian dudes), got to network while standing in line for that, there was a casino downstairs where you could play with MS playmoney, free alcohol x10, free cigars, free henna tattoos (got my AGFRAG logo put on my arm), drunken gamedev geeks attempting to dance, and really messed up food choices. (The other parties had better) I worked with a MS lady (she is a blast to be around BTW) to set up a certain MS executive's hotel suite for an exec get together for the previous night. I cleaned up his room, went across town to a florist and Best Buy to get stuff for the room. The MS lady was with me, so I wasn't complaining. THAT, got me the invite to the MS Xbox party.
Oh yeah, If you don't drink or smoke, be careful in the gear you get, so you can trade!!! I traded t-shirts, schwag, and drink tickets to get invites to some parties this year. I kinda daisy-chained-traded my drink tickets into an extra t-shirt into a thank you for the Playstation invite wristband, all within 30 minutes.
I just got use to San Jose, and now the GDC will be in San Francisco. Oh well, new city to learn.
I enjoyed the connections I made, the people I met, whether plastered or not, all the great CAs and staff I worked and played with, this was the best GDC for me yet, both in enjoyment, learning, and meeting people.
*huge grin*
-Joseph
#11
The Xbox party was '30-40s themed out. I got my polaroid pic made with one of the girls in a cardboard car. (Hey, its MS, what can you say?)The plasma screen over the urinals in the restroom was just WRONG, with the woman saying "You better be careful, you could poke my eye out with that" or something like that. The same girl they had projected on a screen at the entrance to the party, and you could interact with her live, since they had a mic and camera there for her to see and hear you. She insulted the guys back that kept harrassing her, and I think I'm one of the few that almost made here break character multiple times, by making her laugh, but she tipped her hat down to cover. I hate knowing thing about things, and not being able to say things.
Just thought you guys might want to know.
04/02/2004 (8:04 am)
BTW, the PS party had girls in giant weird cages dancing in front of giant screens, and so did the Xbox party. Except the Xbox girls had lingerie on!!!The Xbox party was '30-40s themed out. I got my polaroid pic made with one of the girls in a cardboard car. (Hey, its MS, what can you say?)The plasma screen over the urinals in the restroom was just WRONG, with the woman saying "You better be careful, you could poke my eye out with that" or something like that. The same girl they had projected on a screen at the entrance to the party, and you could interact with her live, since they had a mic and camera there for her to see and hear you. She insulted the guys back that kept harrassing her, and I think I'm one of the few that almost made here break character multiple times, by making her laugh, but she tipped her hat down to cover. I hate knowing thing about things, and not being able to say things.
Just thought you guys might want to know.
Torque Owner Jeff Tunnell
-Jeff