Are you (really) ready for GDC?
Game Conference Guide Insights - March 2025
This one is going to be more personal than I imagined. The countdown for GDC is on and I was supposed to be squeezing the last free slots out of my schedule and preparing for the trip. I was supposed to fly on Friday to San Francisco. But that has changed.
After few years of running events and organizing them, Game Conference Guide is a form of therapy for me. I am staying close to events while not getting the hands dirty from day-to-day organization. The website is a delicate bridge; it allows me to stay in touch with fellow organizers, while providing knowledge and insights to everyone interested in events and on top, I see what events I should attend. And I do hope it will stay that way for years to come.
If you haven’t missed the last month’s update, you already know the website is doing well, number of visitors is increasing steadily and the reader base is being expanded each month, which makes me beyond happy.
Game Conference Guide is not my primary income, it occupies majority of my free time, and I enjoy updating it. You see, I do have a regular daily job, or better yet, I had a job. The layoffs within our industry are continuing and sadly, I ended up redundant.
Last couple of weeks were very stressful, and the whole situation took most of my attention resulting in lack of concentration, depression and not enough mind-space for side projects. And it had a massive impact on this very short blog post, which you are reading now. For this I apologise and thank you for understanding.
To be without a job, is a new thing for me. It will take a while to figure out what to do next. Worry not, this won’t have any impact on running the website or keeping up the database fresh and updated.
In the meantime, I will be looking for opportunities. And I you would like to help with your events strategy, or you would like to pinpoint events / conferences / summits you should not miss, do let me know. I would be more than happy to advise and help you out. Just reach out.
With the imminent GDC around the corner, this month I am focusing on all the activities happening virtually and on-site in San Francisco while bringing forward deadlines in completely new section. You can find both sections below partner’s message.
Give it a look and let me know what you think.
PARTNER OF THE MONTH
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🗓️Tune in for the upcoming showcases and broadcasts during GDC
GDC is not just hanging around Yerba Buena Gardens, running around hotel lobbies for meetings or waiting in line to get into the rooms and listen to a lecture.
In March there are multiple showcases, plus additional side events tied directly to GDC spread around the whole week.
Get all showcases beyond GDC here.
16 Mar, Day of the Devs, on-site showcase, entry: free
16 Mar, Courage XL, on-site showcase, entry: free
17 Mar, MIX Spring Showcase, broadcast & on-site showcase, entry: free
17 Mar, Games Industry Gathering (GIG), networking event / party, entry: valid membership (free)
17 – 18 Mar, PG Connects San Francisco, conference, entry: starting from $330
17 & 20 Mar, GDC Nights, networking event, entry: valid GDC pass
18 Mar, Game [4Diversity] Showcase, on-site showcase, entry: 22€
18 Mar, Community Clubhouse, conference, entry: valid GDC pass
19 Mar, European Game Showcase, on-site showcase, entry: Free
19 Mar, IGF Awards, Awards Ceremony (broadcasted), entry: valid GDC pass / free (Twitch)
19 Mar, GDC Main Stage: The Concert, on-site, entry: GDC pass / Free (Twitch)
20 Mar, Future Game Show Spring Edition / Future Games Live, virtual showcase broadcast, entry: Free
And of course, meetings throughout the week are best handled by MeetToMatch.
If your calendar is still not full, there are obviously couple of great GDC party lists. Check this one and this one.
🏆New Deadlines on the horizon
This is a brand-new section for the blog post. So far, I haven’t been putting deadlines in the spotlight apart from events and showcase.
Each month I would like to list deadlines for awards, showcases, various festivals, where you can submit your projects and exhibit. And each month you will get additional reminder (on top of those in the calendar) about upcoming important calls for projects.
Get all deadlines here.
Deadline: 20 Mar, virtual broadcast + Steam event, entry: free
Deadline: 21 Mar, on-site showcase, entry: conference pass
Deadline: 31 Mar, Steam Showcase, entry: free
Deadline: 31 Mar, on-site showcase + awards, entry: conference pass / free
Deadline: 31 Mar, on-site showcase
Deadline: 1 Apr, on-site showcase, entry: 350€ after acceptance
Deadline: 4 Apr, awards, entry: free
Deadline: 9 Apr, onsite showcase + Steam event, entry: from 3000€ per booth
This is it for this month.
Once again thank you for understanding and I do wish you a productive GDC!
See you all in April.
[Game Conference Guide is helping you find your next games industry events & showcase.]
Thank you for reading and supporting Game Conference Guide. Consider sharing it with your peers, colleagues, and community.
Pavol Buday, curator @ GCG