Heading to GDC, Gamescom or an international games event? Game Republic provides a short quick guide to getting the most out of the events, with links to "How To Pitch" to platform-holder Sony PlayStation and publisher Raw Fury.
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Game Republic - Getting the most from GDC and International Games Events
1. Getting the most from
the Game Developers Conference and
International Games Events
2. International Games Events
Game Developers Conference (GDC) – San Francisco, USA
Reboot Develop – Dubrovnik, Croatia
PAX East/West – Boston/Seattle, USA
E3 – Los Angeles, USA
Devcom/Gamescom – Cologne, Germany
Mobile World Congress – Barcelona, Spain
Bitsummit – Kyoto, Japan
China Joy – Shanghai, China
D.I.C.E. – Las Vegas, USA
3. GDC Overview
• The Game Developers
Conference (GDC) in
San Francisco is one of the
biggest events on the game
developers’ calendar to
learn, observe, network
and maintain, develop or
kickstart industry business
4. GDC Overview
• As well as GDC – networking parties, bars, meetings in
hotels, business lunches & breakfasts eg. W Bar,
Marriott Marquis “Sky Bar” and Werqwise
• Also taking place – Game Connection, GDC Play,
Pocket Gamer Connects & MeetToMatch
5. International Events Focus
• What are your goals?
• What are you pitching? (project(s), yourself,
the company)
• Which couple of companies are you really
aiming to meet?
• Which individuals in those companies do you
need to meet?
• Start booking meetings EARLY
6. Events Practical Tips
• Visa eg. ESTA (USA) – make sure it’s valid
• Business cards – but less important –
LinkedIn app
• Mints / Chewing gum / Deodorant
• Water / Orange juice
• USB battery packs
• Phone with Wifi hotspot
(GDC wifi is sketchy)
• Laptop/Tablet with offline pitches/videos
• Get a cheap Expo pass – eg GDC $299
• Expect to have cancellations/no-shows - don’t take it personally
7. Daily Ritual
• Go through business cards and add contacts
• Write down any new next actions to make
after each meeting if you can
• Catch up with the office / new meetings
requested on MeetToMatch etc
• Review your next day of meetings – new
meetings to arrange?
• Work out what parties / evening events
to attend – do a few (don’t drink too much!)
• Charge everything!
8. Back In The UK
• Review your daily notes
• Look at the actions you wrote down
• LinkedIn hook up with everyone met
• Remind them of where you met / things
you discussed if it was brief
• This is your chance to make a longer
lasting impression before they
completely forget
• Email follow-ups, sign that deal!
GDC – huge event – spread over 5 days.
Also Game Connection (separate to GDC), Pocket Gamer Connects and GDC Play – plus Meet To Match
Really important to have a focus – what are you pitching? Projects or company?
Who would make a difference? Apple for example – Apple US as well as Apple UK – research who they are on Linked In