My Sessions at GDC 2007

The first iteration of the GDC 2007 schedule was just announced, and it looks like I’m on it (twice!) Check it out.  🙂

PC Gaming in an Age of Connected Consoles
Speaker: David Edery (Worldwide Games Portfolio Planner, Xbox Live Arcade), Warren Spector (President, Junction Point Studios), Soren Johnson (Designer & Programmer, Firaxis Games), Michael Capps (President, Epic Games, Inc.)
Track: Business and Management
Format: 60-minute Panel

The PC game industry is in flux. While sales of casual and massive multiplayer games are rising, sales of traditional AAA titles are reportedly declining. The panel will discuss how PC games should evolve to compete with and complement console titles, and identify promising areas for ongoing PC game development. Issues include: is the decline real (and, if so, what is behind it), how will MMOGs continue to impact the market, which business models are most appealing for PC game development and distribution, and how should PC game design evolve in response to the capabilities of modern consoles?

Sharing Control
Speaker: David Edery (Worldwide Games Portfolio Planner, Xbox Live Arcade), Raph Koster, Ray Muzyka (Joint CEO, BioWare Corp.)
Track: Game Design
Format: 60-minute Panel

This year’s GDC theme is “Take Control”, but this next generation of gaming should be equally remarkable for its emphasis on broadband-enabled social systems, multiplayer games, and user-generated content. This panel will grapple with the benefits and challenges of *sharing control* with gamers. Issues include: how can developers involve consumers in the design process, how can user-generated content help and harm a game, what are the best ways to prevent “low quality” UGC from frustrating the community, and how can user-driven marketing be encouraged?