Conclusions from GDC 2006 :: 0 A.D.

Conclusions from GDC 2006

Posted by Wijitmaker on April 7 2006, 01:07 AM

by Damian Kastbauer (aka LostChocolateLab)

I promised a little wrap up so here goes:

Disclaimer: This write up is focused strictly on the experience SURROUNDING the actual tutorials, sessions, and lectures. What follows in the seedy underbelly of the conference, and should be seen as a secondary focus, apart from the hard skills and learning from industry professionals.

Looking back on the week that was GDC 2006

Mantra’s:
1. No thinking, only doing.
2. I can sleep when I get home.

Most of you know I headed out to GDC, Demo Reel in hand ready to take on the world with experience gained here, and through other contract work I’ve accumulated over the past year. While I don’t regret the singularity with which I headed out west, I feel that in hindsight I might now be able to offer a better perspective on what the convention is all about, and how one might prepare for it. Truth be told, nothing can truly prepare you for your first time, but I’ll throw out some observations that might help fill in the picture of what is to be gained. (Or at least what made it through my filter)

GDC is all about levels:
Are you the next Eisner Award winning artist? The next Marty O’Donnel Halo 2 scoring master chief musician? The next Sid Mier waiting to happen?
Understanding all this and more can be yours at the largest conglomeration of be’s and wannabe’s in the industry. Being immersed in the culture is a fantastic way to see the levels of skill, dedication, and talent stacked up against you in the industry. The people working and who want to be working are on display and only a handshake away. Most are hungry to be either recognized or validated for their hard work, and taking the time to get to know some of them is what it’s all about.

If you were wondering where you fall in the hierarchy of creatives out there angling for all the same great game jobs, GDC is where you can find that answer.

I remember you from last year, and other stories I overheard:
It became swiftly apparent that I was playing at an insider’s game. Most of the heavy hitters in my industry were well connected, they knew people who knew people…and most importantly had been coming to GDC for YEARS! For some it was reconnecting with people that they met/saw last year at GDC, or maybe worked with or corresponded with last year. This recognition and continuation is an immediate induction into the “I’m for Real” Club, and that MATTERS.
Anyone can go to GDC and be surrounded by prophetic greatness flowing in the lecture halls, that's the beauty of it.
But not everyone KEEPS coming back year after year to re-educate, see friends/clients, and keep up good contacts.

People want to feel secure that you’ll be around for the long haul.
These people mean business, and part of business is continuity.
(If you plan on going one year, plan on it for the rest of your career)

You can’t shut it off, but please put it away:
If I were to tell you that GDC is not all about networking, it’s all about “Relationship Building”, you’d tie me up in a burlap sack and flog my with pink bunny rabbits. But the truth of the matter is, while I did a fair amount of networking…by the time Thursday night hit there was a vibe in the air and it was apparent that no one really wanted to talk shop anymore. Sure there was the formality of introductions, but if you didn’t move on to entertaining subjects pretty quick eyes started wandering and drinks were quickly emptied in an attempt to dash to the bar for a refill. Some of the best experiences were ones spent unraveling the hours in inebriated conversation, people want to know that you can get down and cut loose as a human being. (not that drunken cavorting is a neccessity, but there is a certain ilk with which it holds much water)

People want to meet real people.
They want to share interests but don’t want to be defined by them, and they want to have a good time. (If that overflows into talking shop, fine…but it could just as easily be futurist theory, ice fishing, or who would win in a fight between Superman & Mighty Mouse.)
Prepare to talk and listen without pimping. Be yourself and your @#$%-pirations will follow.

Never underestimate the failure of memory:
You’re going to meet a lot of people. Without going into too much of a personal diatribe on the benefits of taking notes, let me direct you to Darius’ GDC Networking plan. This guy’s got it sussed out, he’s done all the hard thinking for years so that you don’t have to. Read his stuff and benefit from his wisdom.
I came back with 54 business cards and notes on 52 of the conversations. What can I say about the 2 I missed? “Hi, we met and talked…nice knowing ya!” Now that’s not to say I didn’t leave a potentially deep impression on those 2 (I was sporting a potentially brain damaging beard at the time), but I also didn’t get the chance to reconnect with them first after the conference. My bad. (I still think I did pretty good my first time out.)

Read the Blog on networking at GDC.
When you see the guy in the orange shirt next year, thank him profoundly.

What is this all towards and for?
We all want to do work that satisfies us and fulfills our creative desires. Screw the fuzzy talk, WE WANT JOBS! Anyone will tell you there’s no one way to that goal, and from the stories I’ve heard it can be nothing but true. No one knows when their first job in the industry is going to come. Some try to secure their placement through school, some bury their noses in books and code, while others take the straight path in the back door through friends, relatives, or “relationships”. Whichever way or ways you choose, you can always increase the odds by being a person that people can easily work with and by that I mean COMMUNICATE with.

Cultivate your ability to hold conversations with all types of people.
It takes all kinds in the game industry and if you can talk to them, you can likely WORK with them.

What does it mean for 0AD?
This project is a shining example of professionalism in the industry. The level of comunication and high level of detail exposed at every level shows the dedication of all involved. That combined with the steady progress forward, as well as the fit's and start's in various area's show incredible proof that this game will succeed over time thanks in no short part to the core team that has dedicated a significant portion of their talent and resources over the YEARS!

In short, this game is worth making.

Keep moving it forward, asking the hard quesitions, making the big decisions, and sharing the passion with anyone who is interested. Keep talking because alot of people are gonna be playing catchup when the time comes for us to take over.