GDC 2009 Tracks

Each year, hundreds of ideas and topics are submitted during the GDC call for submission process. This year saw a record breaking number of submissions all geared towards the advancement of the games industry. After review with the GDC Advisory Board, the top session proposals that address the most relevant issues facing developers and the industry are selected.

Audio
Business and Management
Game Design
Production
Programming
Vision
Visual Arts

Audio Track

Games routinely involve the scripting and editing of 50,000 lines of dialog, multiple variations of orchestral scores and sound effects with real-time controls. This requires a unique fusion of craft and technology, and is shared by musicians, sound designers, programmers, and game designers. From sessions designed to polish the skills of a veteran composer to case studies that shed light on programming techniques and tools that bring those compositions to life, the Audio Track offers real world information to take game audio to new heights. For more information, click here.

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Business & Management Track

All studios face enormous business challenges today. The game industry is mitigating risk by basing a large proportion of new products on known licenses and sequels to popular games. Projects perceived as too weak to take to market are more likely to be killed during development. To create a business environment that supports the creation of innovative games, developers need both sound business strategies and outstanding tactical execution. The Business and Management Track looks at the game development process from the standpoint of running the business and offers proven strategies for the developer who needs to understand complex business issues. For more information, click here.

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Game Design

Creating compelling, immersive games requires understanding, visualizing, demonstrating, and tuning the interactions of an ever-increasing number of game tools and systems. While game designers need to understand and exploit the possibilities of new technologies such as realistic physics, facial expressions, and lighting techniques; they must also continue to master the traditional disciplines of drama, gameplay, and psychology. The Game Design Track explores the challenges and ramifications of the interaction between new technologies and established techniques. For more information, click here.

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Production Track

Next-generation console development has propelled game production values to an all-time high, increasing the already high demands upon game producers. Producers must manage expanding development teams, skyrocketing budgets, larger games, and a growing global market to create games that stand out from the crowd and find an audience. Production track sessions continue to offer proven tools and techniques to take a project from pre-production to shipping, on-time and on-budget. The track will help tighten a producer's focus by looking more clearly at the market and the resources needed to put out the games of the future. For more information, click here.

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Programming Track

As new platforms emerge and existing platforms evolve, programmers face an ever increasing challenge to produce games that capture the attention of the public and the media. The Programming Track focuses on these challenges and the opportunities presented by next and current generation development including mature consoles, new handhelds, a highly competitive sales environment, and increased demand for very high production values in games. For more information, click here.

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Vision Track

The Vision Track features creative artists from a range of cultural media, such as film, music, design, and games, who will discuss their visions of the future of interactive entertainment. The track is designed to provoke innovation among developers, and inspire you to create the breakthrough games that drive our industry forward.

Vision Track Session Highlights to be made available soon.

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Visual Arts Track

The focus of game art is shifting from simply attaining the best possible production quality to exploring new ideas and art styles that allow a game to stand out from the competition. The Visual Arts track provides longer format classes to allow speakers the time to walk attendees step-by-step through the latest tools and techniques. Each class will be self-contained to provide the specific practical knowledge of advanced techniques that will take game art in new directions. For more information, click here.

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