The GDC attracts over 26,000 attendees, and is the primary forum where programmers, artists, producers, game designers, audio professionals, business decision-makers and others involved in the development of interactive games gather to exchange ideas and shape the future of the industry. The GDC is produced by the UBM Tech Game Network.

This market defining conference features over 400 lectures, panels, tutorials and round-table discussions on a comprehensive selection of game development topics taught by leading industry experts. In addition, the GDC expo showcases all of the most relevant game development tools, platforms and services helping to drive the industry forward. The conference also features the seventeenth annual Independent Games Festival, the longest-running and largest festival relating to independent games worldwide, where original games compete for the attention of the publishing community, and the fifteenth annual Game Developers Choice Awards, the premier accolades for peer-recognition in the digital games industry.

History of the GDC

The Game Developers Conference has grown from an informal gathering of about 25 developers in the living room of a notable game designer 27 years ago, to a week-long conference for more than 23,000 industry insiders. In 2011, GDC commemorated the 25th edition of the conference, serving as a testament of how far the industry has come. Initially, the GDC was focused on computer games, but the industry has now diversified to the point that it includes any number of platforms, such as dedicated gaming consoles, handheld devices, mobile, smartphone and tablet devices, online, and of course computers. From year to year, the GDC continues to define market innovations and future vision, providing insight into the future of gaming.

The GDC Advisory Board

Passion is the essence of the GDC Advisory Board. These seasoned industry professionals volunteer their time every year to help construct the 400+ GDC conference sessions. They work to ensure that the quality of the content provided to attendees is high-level, relevant, and timely. Their dedication is critical to the success of the conference. Read about the extraordinary members of the GDC Advisory Board.

—Event Producer