Welcome back to Austin writers.

Breakthroughs in technology have changed the way that stories are told in games. With this in mind, the advisory board has been hard at work developing sessions where you can connect with other writers to explore what is currently happening, what to expect soon and what is possible on the horizon of interactive storytelling.
We have tailored all sessions to fit specifically into one of our three days.

In other words, each day has a theme, and sessions are tailored specifically to one of those days!

So, for example, these three sessions do a nice job of illustrating how the sessions work together to tell a story over the course of the conference.

Tom Abernathy's talk on character development is a Day One topic. ''The Future Is Now: A look at how this year's crop of games is breaking the storytelling mold in games''

Patrick Redding's game-writing challenge is a Day Two topic

And finally, Adrian Hon's talk is a Day Three topic. ''The Future Is Yours: A no-holds-barred look at what's possible in the world of interactive storytelling''

Read more details on the writing track here: http://www.austingdc.net/writing/index.htm

Check back soon for more.

Posted by admin at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Welcome back to Austin!

For 2008, Austin GDC covers all you need to know in Business & Marketing, Design, Social Networking & Community, and Technology & Services. With over 100 sessions in addition to the Worlds in Motion Summit and Independent Games Festival it can be hard to know where to start.

We asked advisory board members Corey Bridges (Multiverse), and Jessica Mulligan (ImaginVenture SA) which sessions they can't wait to attend this September.

Corey Bridges' Top Five Picks

1. 10 Key Ingredients for a Successful Social Game
2. Endgame: How to Build High-End Gameplay for Your Most Devoted Players
3. Designing for Player Sociability
4. Evolving Business for MMOs
5. Reaching Beyond WOW: Facebook and the Keys to Social Play

Jessica Mulligan's ''Must See'' Sessions

Comparing Virtual Property Models - A Business and Legal Perspective

Mulligan's Take: Whether you think it is a good thing or bad, the buying and selling of in-game items is here to stay and the government keeps making noises about regulating it. Greg Boyd is one of the most experienced lawyers we have looking at the subject; this is where you can get the straight skinny about what both business leaders and lawmakers are thinking.

Emerging Market: India, Challenges & Pitfalls

Mulligan's Take: Everyone agrees that India is the next China, a huge market just waiting to explode. Sumeet is well-versed in the market; you can expect a lot of excellent information and advice here, if you're interested in approaching India as a market for your online game.

From Development to Launch: the Keys to Building a Successful Free-to-Play MMO

Mulligan's Take: No one knows the free-to-play market better than Nexon; their game 'Maple Story' is one of the huge successes over the past decade. If you're looking at entering that market, why wouldn't you want to listen to one of their executives tell you the right way to develop one?

Measuring & Metrics: The Online Gaming Audience

Muligan's Take: Who is the audience for your game? That is the first question that I ask my new clients and over half them of really have no idea. Mr. Hunter is the director of Gaming Solutions for comScore; this one promises to deliver juicy details about audiences, behavior and trends.

Pirates of the Burning Sea: A Post-Partum

Mulligan's Take: Whether you are an indy like Joe or working on an online game for a large publisher, the lessons of someone else's development and launch experience can save you time, trouble and money. This one should be on your list, whether you've never launched an MMO or launched several.

Check Back soon for more from the Advisory Board.

Posted by admin at 01:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Time to Rock.

The Austin GDC Audio Advisory board has been hard at work designing a program that features the best minds and ears in game audio. For three days you will hear the latest mixing, designing, and tracks elevating the gaming experience.

Learn more about the Audio track here.

Check back soon for more details and highlights to expect in September.

Posted by admin at 01:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Brace yourself for more parties, more BBQ, and more fun under the Texan sun. For three days this summer, reconnect with other online game developers, audio professionals, and writers for games to push your boundaries.

The Austin GDC Advisory Board has been hard at work creating a program featuring more interactive roundtables, competitions, lectures, and keynotes from industry luminaries. They have definitely hit the mark.

To take a peek at the complete conference line-up, click here.

What's New at Austin in 2008?

This year's program, Evolve to Win, is focused on what is currently happening, what to expect soon and what is possible on the horizon of game development ideas and practices. Highlights for Austin in 2008 include:

*Over 100 sessions covering Online Games, Audio, and Writing for Games
*Competitions pitting you against your peers including ''The Iron Composer'' and ''Assembly Required: A Team Writing Challenge''
*Worlds in Motion Summit
*Game Career Seminar
*Independent Games Festival Showcase

Check back soon for more updates.

Posted by admin at 01:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)