I attended GDC for the first time in 2022! That now makes me an expert to explain it to everyone else who will go in the future!

… of course not, but read on to get my opinions on some common FAQ. I assume this is applicable for 2023 and a few years beyond.

• What is GDC?
  • GDC is the “Game Developer Conference.” More information on it is typically updated on their website: https://gdconf.com/
• When and where is GDC?
  • GDC is typically held in San Francisco, California, USA, at the Moscone Convention Center.
  • It is typically held each year in the 2nd half of March for 5 days, from Monday to Friday.
  • Many years ago, there were alternative GDC events in other countries, but they’ve since been shut down in favor of the original one in San Francisco.
• What occurs during GDC?
  • Throughout the week, there are technical and professional talks and lectures by industry professionals.
  • From Wednesday to Friday, there is an Expo show-floor with exhibitor booths, with companies showcasing game engines, technology solutions, business solutions, and indie games from around the world.
  • The IGF and GDC Game Awards occur on Wednesday, free to attend with a GDC pass.
  • There are select opportunities to get advice from mentors, have your art portfolio reviewed, and limited opportunity to engage with career opportunities.
  • GDC is touted as a premiere networking opportunity, based on the number of developers that happen to be around that week.
  • GDC has many third-party parties throughout the week, each organized by different companies and volunteers, and not officially organized or sanctioned by GDC.
• How many people attend GDC?
  • At its peak, GDC hosted nearly 30,000 developers from around the world.
  • In 2022, the estimated attendance was expected to be as much as 15,000. I’d personally estimate 10,000.
• Does it cost money to attend GDC?
  • GDC has multiple pass tiers to attend. They range from $150 to $2,500 USD depending on what pass you get, and when you get it.
• Why is GDC so expensive?
  • GDC is a for-profit business and technical-research conference. Its pricing is not unusual compared to similar professional events. Costs may be associated with the city location, renting the conference venue, the amount of speakers and exhibitors, technology and electricity usage, setup and cleanup costs, volunteer and paid staff, food vendors, online logistics and hosting, the number of days the event is held, and other factors.
  • (This does not mean the expense is justified for the average attendee in terms of what it offers.)
• What are the pass options at GDC?
  • GDC’s tier options and pricing varies each year (trending as more expensive each year).
  • In 2022, the options were:
    • “All-Access” (gives access to everything, plus GDC Vault) for $2,199,
    • “Core” (access to exhibitors and talks from Wednesday to Friday) for $1,749,
    • “Summits” (access to exhibitors on Wednesday to Friday, and specialized talks from Monday to Tuesday) for $1,149.
    • There’s also a “Expo Plus” for $399, and
    • an “Expo” pass, providing access to exhibitors for $349.
  • Separately, there are also typically specialty passes, including an “Independent Developer Pass” for $399 (access to select IGDA-sponsored talks and the Expo floor), and a “Student” / “Career Development Pass” for $99 (access to select talks on Friday and the Expo floor).
  • 2022 also had an “All-Access Online” pass for $749.
• What is the difference between “Summits” and “Core” talks and passes?
  • The “Summits” talks occur on Monday and Tuesday, and “Core” talks occur on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
  • Typically, the “Summits” talks are more specialized, featuring talks on the latest technologies and methods, and is more similar to a research conference (with specialized “tracks” such as “Design,” “Visual Art,” “Audio,” etc. to organize the talk sessions). The “Core” talks tend to be more general and focus on popular games and topics, and has a feel of a business expo.
• What is the difference between “Expo” and “Expo Plus” passes?
  • Both talks get access to the Expo floor and select sponsored content from Monday to Friday. The “Expo Plus” pass get access to more sponsored content.
• Are there any free talks at GDC with the cheapest pass?
  • Yes! The “Expo Plus” and “Expo” passes get access to select sponsored talks that occur throughout Monday to Friday, but primarily Wednesday to Friday.
• Can I go to GDC without a pass?
  • It’s not uncommon for people to go to San Francisco without a pass, and hang outside the building to talk with people passing by. A nearby outdoor park is a popular hangout spot to show off games and chat. Or nearby food courts and hotel coffee shops. This is a casual way to “unofficially” part of GDC.
  • You don’t need a pass to attend the many nightly “unofficial” parties of GDC.
• When should I get my pass for GDC?
  • Passes tend to go on sale in late December, and don’t sell out (no volume cap).
  • Passes tend to be cheaper with “Early-Bird” pricing until late January, as little as half-price! The main passes for 2022 were $1,699, $1,049, $849, $199, and $149 during Early-Bird pricing.
  • Pass prices raise once more until a couple weeks before the event, and then raise to full-price.
  • Check your refund policy to help determine when to purchase a pass (in 2022, a full refund could be issued if requested before the end of February).
• What can I do to make my GDC pass cheaper?
  • It’s common for a 10% discount code to be offered for more expensive pass options. This might be offered by IGDA to its paying members, or by select online blogs and influencers. These codes may or may not be available before “Early-Bird” pricing ends.
  • In 2022, a 10% discount code was available for speakers to give to potential attendees (and was accidently made public, easily searchable in Google). And a 20% discount code was available to email subscribers a few weeks before the event.
  • Volunteer staff typically get a complimentary “All-Access” pass for their work during the week. See the official website for details on how to apply.
• Which GDC pass should I get?
  • Something to consider: You can’t physically see every talk in person. So the “Summits” or “Core” pass would give you virtually everything you have time to do in the event.
  • Something to consider: The “All Access” pass includes a “GDC Vault” subscription, where all talks will be recorded, for this year and all prior years.
  • Something to consider: The higher-tier passes are likely intended for employees and students that are fully sponsored by their companies or schools (“business-expense” write-offs like this are common, and events like GDC takes advantage of it).
  • Something to consider: An Early Bird “Expo” pass and a GDC Vault 12-month subscription is cheaper than the top and middle tier passes.
  • Therefore, I recommend getting an “Expo” or “Expo Plus” pass (Early Bird pricing). If you want to see the talks you missed, add a “GDC Vault” subscription separately. If it’s important to see a talk live (if you want to start a discussion with one of the speakers scheduled), then the “All Access” pass might be worthwhile.
• Are GDC talks recorded?
  • Almost all talks at GDC are recorded. These recordings are exclusively available through the GDC Vault, accessible through a separate subscription (gives you access to several years of talks, not able to select smaller subsets). No recordings or transcripts are included in the GDC passes (only the “All Access” pass has access through an included Vault subscription).
  • Many select GDC talks are posted for free on GDC’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Gdconf/videos
  • (In 2022, some talks were recorded and posted in the GDC mobile app for a couple weeks, but this counted for less than 10% of all talks. This is proof that GDC could offer recordings in a better manner in the future, but it’s not clear if they will, or if this was due to the hybrid physical/online nature of the 2022 edition.)
• Can I attend GDC without traveling to the in-person event?
  • In 2020 and 2021, GDC was held online. In 2022, GDC was held both with content in-person and online. Some elements of GDC may continue to be online in the future, probably requiring a paid pass. Check the official website for information closer to the event.
• When is the GDC talk schedule posted?
  • The tentative schedule may be posted as much as 1 month in advance of the event. Scheduling and final talks offered are subject to change up to the event. I recommend double-checking the schedule 1 week before the event to plan.
• How many talks are typically offered?
  • Previous recent years have offered between 600 – 800 talks during the week of GDC.
  • In 2022, there were approximately 639 things on the final schedule from Monday to Friday.
• What about all these parties I hear about at GDC?
  • The unofficial parties are one of the most popular parts of GDC, typically running from a couple days before GDC, up to the last day.
  • There can be anywhere from 15 – 40 parties of all sizes during the week. Most of them aren’t known until a couple weeks before GDC. Search for a few aggregate party lists to help you plan before traveling.
  • Most parties require pre-registration, and may require an entrance fee. They sell out fast, so don’t wait to register. An official GDC pass usually isn’t required.
  • The parties range from industry talks, game demos, free food and drink, music and dancing, outdoor park picnics, and more.
  • It can be difficult to network at GDC when people are following a talk schedule, but it tends to be easier to strike up a conversation at these parties at the end of the day, making them a good networking opportunity.
  • Most of the talks are in the shady “Tenderloin” district, within walking distance West of the Moscone Center. Others may be on the other end of town (again, typically West of the Moscone Center), only accessible by a 1-hour bus or car ride.
  • Parties can vary greatly in quality. Some parties don’t occur at all. Some parties are too loud or dark to network at, and aren’t great for introverts. Your mileage may vary. But generally these are fun.
• What’s the GDC Vault?
  • The GDC Vault is a separate product. It’s a hub of video recordings for all of GDC’s past talks, from the past 2 decades.
  • Pricing options can vary each year (tends to get more expensive each year). In 2022, the price was $550 for 12 months of access, and there were no smaller access plans.
  • The GDC Vault is a good way to watch all the talks you missed from a given year, including this year. A subscription is included in the “All Access” pass.
  • More information is available here: https://gdcvault.com/
• Is GDC a good place to get a job?
  • When I went in 2022, I had some cool conversations with cool people, and having a personal link to a company’s team is essential to work in the games industry. But there were virtually no formal opportunities to apply for a job. Experienced attendees also told me GDC was less effective than it used to be for job hunting.
  • Alternatively, if you are applying or looking to hire, I found blind posts on Twitter to be more effective.
  • GDC is a good place to learn and hang out with game makers. It’s not particularly good for finding a job.
• When should I get my hotel / travel tickets to GDC?
  • Generally, it’s good practice to book hotels and flight / train tickets as much as 3 months in advance to get the best selection and price. You could wait up to 1 week before the event for a good deal, but it’s risky.
  • As a reminder, the “Train Jam” is a popular game jam event that runs across the country towards GDC. This did not occur in 2022 however, and may be a good networking experience, but not cost or time efficient.
• What hotel should I book for GDC?
  • GDC officially offers discounted rates for partner hotels in the area. See the official site closer to the event for details.
  • It’s typical that you can find cheaper, nicer hotels on your own that don’t have official discount rates. Shop around and see what you can find.
  • Ideally, find a hotel that’s within walking distance of GDC, in a good neighborhood. I got a hotel in the North part of Chinatown, about a 20 minute walk or 10 minute bus ride away.
  • … Keep in mind that many of the late-night GDC parties are in the “Tenderloin” district, South-West of GDC. This might effect where you want your hotel to be.
  • In terms of pricing, it’s always cheaper per person to book a multi-bed room and bunk with friends.
• What is the recommended dress-code at GDC?
  • I recommend a comfortable but clean t-shirt, jeans, and comfortable shoes. Shorts and flip-flops are not recommended. Suits, blazers, dresses or high heels aren’t really necessary at the conference or the parties, unless you’re running a booth or representing a company. San Francisco can vary from hot during the day to cold at night (with unpredictable light rain), so a light jacket or sweater is a good idea.
  • (I’ve seen some people recommend 2 pairs of shoes for all the walking you’ll do. If you’re traveling light, I found 1 pair of running shoes to be fine.)
• What are “business cards”? Do I need them for GDC?
  • Business cards are these cute little paper things with your name on them that people used for connecting before social media followers. They tend to be far more effective than being one of thousands of online followers, so they are highly recommended, whether you’re a student or hobbyist or professional (cards are cheap enough to get new ones every few years).
  • A card should have your name, current or desired role (example: “A.I. programmer,” “3D concept artist,” etc.), a contact email (or school email if still a student), and a website (portfolio and/or LinkedIn and/or social-media handle). A QR code is also popular, or this could be on a separate card you show people who want to quickly see your site.
  • As a friendly reminder: emails like “happycat4321@hotmail.com” was cool in the 2000’s, but looks unprofessional today. Use something that you’d share to a serious employer.
  • I’ve seen some people recommend bringing 1,000 business cards. Even if 30,000 other people will be there, that’s overkill as you probably won’t meet everyone, and it’s a pain to bring that many cards back with you. 50 – 100 cards should be fine depending on how outgoing you are.
  • If you forget to bring cards or run out, check for stores that offer “same-day” business card printing. Office Depot near the Moscone Center sold me 50 cards for $12.
• What are “resumes”? Do I need them for GDC?
  • (Stop using social media and buy a dictionary. Business cards and resumes are important!)
  • A resume is a 1-page summary of your professional career and aspirations, and you typically give one to apply for a job.
  • In 2022, there weren’t many opportunities to give out resumes at GDC, but it doesn’t hurt to print out out a couple just in case.
• When do I pick up my pass?
  • If picking up in person (required for 2022), try to get it the day before your events start. In 2022, there was a long line each morning that took up to an hour to get pre-registered passes. If you wait until the day-of, you might miss a couple talks.
• What should I bring to GDC and the Moscone Center?
  • I recommend a light laptop bag or messenger bag. This could hold a small laptop to show off your work (be careful to keep track that you don’t lose it or have it stolen; video footage of your game on a phone is also fine). Or it can hold notebooks or paper for taking notes during talks. Or it can hold extra business cards or resumes. Or it can hold the free swag you might grab, or souvenirs you get in the city. A water bottle and a protein bar for emergencies is a good idea (water, coffee and bathrooms are available in the Moscone Center, as well as food to purchase).
• Is there a GDC mobile app?
  • For 2022, there was a GDC app for registration, and viewing the talk schedule.
  • The app also allowed networking and making meetings with other attendees, but it frequently deleted my message history. The app is known to be buggy, so get people’s LinkedIn or email addresses if trying to connect.
• Is San Francisco safe?
  • Contrary to reputation and anecdotes I’ve heard, when I went in 2022, I found San Francisco to be one of the safest, most walkable cities I’ve ever been to, comparable to cities like Toronto or Vancouver.
  • … this is less true in the “Tenderloin” district, where people wandering the streets seem to be concentrated. Unfortunately, this is where most of the nightly GDC parties take place.
  • Standard common sense applies: don’t go out alone too late at night, always be sober and attentive when walking back to your hotel. Most people are well-mannered if you don’t linger or stare. And frequently check that nothing from your bag was stolen or forgotten.
• Do I need a bus pass in San Francisco?
  • San Francisco has a reloadable “Clipper” card that you can use to take transit from the airport to downtown (roughly $11 each way). In addition, you can use this card to pay for buses in downtown San Francisco. Generally, you’ll probably be within walking distance from everything if you stay near GDC, so the bus might not be necessary.
  • There’s also an optional unlimited 1-day, 3-day or 7-day pass for bus use with the Clipper card. This is useful if you plan to use the bus often, or plan to be a tourist in different parts of the city.
  • (The bus is useful to avoid walking up and down the steep hills San Francisco is famous for!)
• What else should I see in San Francisco?
  • There’s so much to see! There’s a small park, art gallery, and movie theater just across the street from the Moscone Center. There are other art galleries and museums across the city. There’s tourist souvenirs and food at Pier 39 along the riverfront. There’s ChinaTown and JapanTown and KoreaTown and Little Italy and the Russian Hill. There’s that winding neighborhood street called Lombard St. And there’s the Golden Gate Bridge, with a spectacular drive North of San Francisco that’s worth a day trip!
  • Keep in mind that GDC will keep you busy all day. If you plan to sightsee, you might want to book an extra day before or after GDC.
• … so, is GDC worth it?
  • I like to travel, and travel frequently. I also like large events: even if they don’t fully live up to the hype, the size still makes it fun to attend. So I think it’s worth attending GDC with a cheaper pass, and enjoying San Francisco while I’m there.
  • If you’re on a budget and think of GDC as a last-chance effort to get a job or sell a game, you might be disappointed, but might pick up some good advice.
  • There may be smaller, local events closer to you than you thought, that are much cheaper to get to than GDC. Their small size might not be great for job opportunities or funding, but they’re much more effective for genuine networking. And for games or companies exhibiting, local events tend to be much cheaper to exhibit at, while getting roughly the same amount of attention (better to be a bigger fish in a small pond, as they say).
  • I think having GDC rotate cities (for example: San Francisco, then Tokyo, then London, then Montreal, then back again every 4 years) would be a great idea to change up the event and encourage more international engagement. Or having local GDC-affiliated events in each country that aren’t directly organized by GDC staff (therefore, not requiring a minimum profit return). And there’s a lot GDC could do to make their event and growing catalog of talks more accessible and affordable, instead of more expensive. But based on its popularity, there’s little incentive for them to take advice.
• Will GDC be bigger again after 2022?
  • I don’t know. We’ll see soon enough.