GDC was really great this year. It was interesting watching the interplay between different companies and people, and the ebb and flow throughout the show. I got some great feedback on the business plan, got to pal around the show with an old friend of mine from high school, and learned a lot about presentation. (note to self: Comic Sans is a terrible font for professional presentation) :)
Aside from the great contacts and fun meeting people, the highlights of the show for me were the exciting things happening on the Indie scene. Unity had a great booth overflowing with people the whole time, GameSpy announced their Indie technology program, and it seems like every major technology developer has free or extremely inexpensive licensing for independent developers.
Of course each year I really enjoy the Independent Games Festival finalists. The booth was packed the whole show, so I didn't get to try everything, but there were a few that really stood out in my mind:
Solace - http://solacegame.com
Solace is a blend between top down arcade shooter action and the creative experience of emotion and sound. I've never seen anything quite like it before, it's definitely worth checking out.
Helsing's Fire - http://www.ratloop.com/?games/helsings_fire
Helsing's Fire has a unique art style and interesting gameplay. I haven't played all the way through it, but it uses the tried and true method of introducing new elements as the game progresses, so the gameplay is constantly evolving.
Oh, before I forget... I met the developers of Angry Birds! Wooo! :)
I have lots of followup e-mails to send, so I'm heading out, but until next time... Cheers! :)
Good to know about your experience. I too agree that Comic Sans is a terrible font for professional presentation.It ruins the impression of the presentation even if the contents as much more appealing.I use Time font most of the time.What do you suggest?
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