Searching for the next big thing at GDC 2011 (photos)
At the hub of the game developer industry, artists, designers, and producers come together to share ideas on what comes next in gaming.
Nintendo President
This week in San Francisco, big thinkers in gaming are convening to share ideas of craft and coding.
A comprehensive hub of the game developers industry, this week is a time for artists and producers to share their ideas, show off their talents, and make the connections and collaborations that will lead to the next big thing in video games.
Nintendo President Satoru Iwata, during his keynote Wednesday, "Video Games Turn 25: A Historical Perspective and Vision for the Future," looked back to the start of what he called the "modern" era of gaming, and the advancement Nintendo has made and what's to come.
Octodad - Independent Games Festival
Octodad, the lanky octopus character created by students from Chicago at the University of DePaul, wanders the expo floor at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco this week.
The motion-controlled Octodad games, which requires players to use their arced arm to mimic waddling flipper movements, was a finalist in the Student Showcase at GDC's Independent Games Festival.
Inside the Career Pavillion at GDC
Dozens of companies hiring
Lists of open positions at gaming companies were posted around the floor in the Career Pavilion, and everyone seems to be hiring for just about every position, from level artists designer to project managers and sales.
Killzone 3
Programmer Daniel Rohrlick uses the motion-controlled weapon to play Killzone 3 inside the pavilion at GDC 2011 Thursday.
Move.me
What started as a personal hacking project has developed into a forward-thinking application for development of robotics beyond gaming, Move.me, just announced this week at GDC 2011.
This new software application is designed for "academics, researchers, students, and hobbyists" and will allow developers to use their PlayStation 3 consoles to create PC applications that use the PlayStation Move controller as an input device.
Using the Move's motion-tracking PlayStationEye camera and motion sensor controllers, Sony envisions potential applications such as integration with medical applications and research on human-computer interaction.
Cinematography
The Insight VCS is a steadycam-like virtual camera system that gives game developers the ability to shoot cut scenes and demos from within game worlds with unprecedented creativity.
Shot from within the game, Insight VCS integrates real-world cinematography into the virtual environment.
Google booth
Illustrator Amanda Keifer Nvidia Sketch Match
Costumed patrols
Hundreds gather to see early Doom
Showing off speed
Next big thing
Midgets with funny heads
Independent Games Pavilion
Using just the power of thought
NeuroSky
With around 20,000 attendees expected from around the world
This market-defining conference has more than 400 lectures, panels, tutorials, and round-table discussions on a every facet of game development topics taught by leading industry experts.
Playstation booth at GDC
Nintendo at GDC
Partnering with AT&T, any Nintendo 3DS owner will also automatically get free Internet access at more than 10,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots beginning in late May.
Playing with 3DS
Unity
IDF
Like Nintendo's Satoru Iwata said during his keynote this week, it's all about innovation and finding the next big thing, and wandering the floor, I'm sure that it's here somewhere.