The Game Developers Conference 2006 Thread (Part I)

[Jim]

More Sony GDC info...

Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces Widespread Presence at the 2006 Game Developers Conference

Phil Harrison to Kick Off Event with PLAYSTATION(R)3 Focused Keynote

FOSTER CITY, Calif., March 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today its presence at the 2006 Game Developers Conference (GDC), held March 22-24 at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, Calif. The company will support developers and publishers in the creation of PlayStation(R) content by providing the latest development tools and technologies through conference presentations, panels and booth demonstrations. Booth demonstrations will be held at booth number 808, which will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. March 22nd and 23rd, and from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on March 24th.

The Game Developers Conference is the world's largest event exclusively devoted to game creators. GDC hosts more than 12,000 attendees and provides educational, networking, and business opportunities for the professionals driving the $11 billion videogame industry. At this year's conference, Phil Harrison, president of Worldwide Studios, Sony Computer Entertainment, will deliver the opening keynote titled "PLAYSTATION(R)3: Beyond the Box" on Wednesday, March 22nd, at 10:30 a.m. in the San Jose Civic Auditorium.

"Developers play a key role in the success of the PlayStation platforms, creating innovative content that takes advantage of our cutting edge technologies, bringing them to life," said Phil Harrison, president of Worldwide Studios, Sony Computer Entertainment. "The Game Developers Conference gives us an opportunity to collaborate with the development community, and demonstrate new technology, business models and our vision that will help fuel the growth of the computer entertainment industry."

Sony Computer Entertainment America staff will be available at the booth throughout the conference to offer a look at the latest developments in tools and technologies, including:

-- PLAYSTATION 3 kiosks, showcasing the latest hardware and development
tools for the next-generation console including Unreal Engine, COLLADA,
PlayStation Graphics Library (PSGL) and performance analysis tools.
-- PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system demonstrations, including PSP
Spot which allows users to utilize the PSP system's wireless and game
share capabilities to download game demos. The booth will also feature
peripherals for the PSP system including the PSP headset and car
adaptor.
-- Playable Titles, demonstrations of games that highlight the new and
unique features of the PlayStation platforms. Games to be featured in
the booth include Tourist Trophy(TM), Loco Roco(TM), Namco's Me and My
Katamari, and Sony Online Entertainment's Field Commander.

Sony Computer Entertainment developers, programmers, producers and technology specialists will speak on a variety of topics at the 2006 Game Developers Conference. Below is a list of affiliated speakers and their sessions. For complete session descriptions and information on how to register for the 2006 Game Developers Conference, visit http://www.gdconf.com/. Speaker times and locations are subject to change.

Wednesday, March 22nd:
-- 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.: Sergio Pimentel, music licensing and A&R manager, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, "The 7 Deadly Sins of Music Licensing," Almaden Ballroom, San Jose Hilton.
-- 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.: Chuck Russom, senior sound designer, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "Field Recording for Games," Almaden Ballroom, San Jose Hilton.
-- 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Hajime Sugiyama, lead programmer, Atsuko Fukuyama and Masanobu Tanaka, animators, and Junichi Hosono, lead game designer, all of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., "Postmortem: The Emotional Character Control of Shadow of the Colossus," Room J2/3.
-- 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Clint Bajakian, senior music supervisor, and Chuck Doud, music director, and Dave Murrant, sound design manager, and Brad Aldredge, senior sound designer, all of Sony Computer Entertainment America, "God of War(TM): Sound and Music Production," Almaden Ballroom, San Jose Hilton.
-- 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Vangelis Kokkevis, senior research engineer, Sony Computer Entertainment US R&D, "High Performance Physics Solver Design for Next Generation Consoles," Blossom Hill I/III, San Jose Marriott Hotel.

Thursday, March 23rd:
-- 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.: Chuck Doud, music director, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "Music Publishing in the Video Game Industry," location TBD.
-- 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Richard Stenson, graphics API engineer, Sony Computer Entertainment US R&D, "Collada for PlayStation 3," Room F1/2.
-- 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: David Jaffe, creative director, Sony Computer Entertainment America, and Lorne Lanning, president, Oddworld Inhabitants, "Odd vs. God: An Interview with David Jaffe by Lorne Lanning," Room J2/3.
-- 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Chuck Doud, music director, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "How to Get the Perfect Music for Your Game," location TBD.
-- 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Chuck Doud, music director, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "Music Implementation: Making Games Sound Like Interactive Movies," location TBD.
-- 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.: Didier Malenfant, president, Ready at Dawn Studios, "Half Weasel, Half Otter, All Trouble: a Postmortem of Daxter(TM) for the Sony PSP," Room J1/4.

Friday, March 24:
-- 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Oliver Wright, senior graphic designer, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, "Brand Development for Video Games," Blossom Hill I/III, San Jose Marriott Hotel.
-- 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.: Dave Murrant, sound design manager, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "Audio Production: Ideas for the Next Generation," Room A5/6.
-- 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.: Tim Moss, director of technology, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "God of War: How the Left and the Right Brain Learned to Love One Another," Ballroom III/VI, San Jose Marriott Hotel.
-- 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Jason Parks, technical artist, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "Muscle Systems for Game Production," Ballroom I/II, San Jose Marriott Hotel.
-- 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Craig Reynolds, research scientist, Sony Computer Entertainment US R&D, "Crowd Simulation on PS3," Room A5/6.

PlayStation University -- Friday, March 24:
-- 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.: Mark Vitello, product evaluation group manager, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "Developing for PSP: Year 2," Room A1.
-- 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: David Coombes, platform research manager, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "Introduction to PS3," Room A1.
-- 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.: Geoff Audy, senior developer support engineer, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "Introduction to the PS3 SPU's," Room A1.
-- 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Bruce D'Amora, Emerging Systems Software, IBM T.J. Watson Research, "Cell for Digital Media Acceleration," Room A1.
-- 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Bruno Matzdorf, developer support line manager, et al, "An Industry Perspective on COLLADA and the Asset Management Pipeline (panel)," Room A1.

[Crisis]

PSP car adapter? What the fuck?

[jarosh]

guys, it was there all along! we just didn't understand.

[dkeane]

guys, it was there all along! we just didn't understand.

Awesome.
Can we take bets on whether they actually change the name or not? I'm betting no.

[DefectiveReject]

that is one tiny tiny system.

with the DSlite, i believe its the first system to not carry the Nintendo name within viewing range.
I therefore expect them to have the Revolution do something similar (Styling of the DSlite too similar for them not to be pushed together)

so i expectsomething that can be identified as the Rev even when the NIntendo name isn't used. REMBRANDT wouldn't do this!

[John Harker]

Heh, if it were called the Nintendo WOW...

Well, hell, I'd have to get one.

By golly, I think it's CRAZY ENOUGH TO WORK!

[dkeane]

that is one tiny tiny system. with the DSlite, i believe its the first system to not carry the Nintendo name within viewing range. I therefore expect them to have the Revolution do something similar (Styling of the DSlite too similar for them not to be pushed together) so i expectsomething that can be identified as the Rev even when the NIntendo name isn't used. REMBRANDT wouldn't do this!

You mean like the Dual Screen symbol for the Lite? Yeah that could be cool.

[TekunoRobby]

More Sony GDC info... Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces Widespread Presence at the 2006 Game Developers Conference Phil Harrison to Kick Off Event with PLAYSTATION(R)3 Focused Keynote FOSTER CITY, Calif., March 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today its presence at the 2006 Game Developers Conference (GDC), held March 22-24 at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, Calif. The company will support developers and publishers in the creation of PlayStation(R) content by providing the latest development tools and technologies through conference presentations, panels and booth demonstrations. Booth demonstrations will be held at booth number 808, which will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. March 22nd and 23rd, and from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on March 24th. The Game Developers Conference is the world's largest event exclusively devoted to game creators. GDC hosts more than 12,000 attendees and provides educational, networking, and business opportunities for the professionals driving the $11 billion videogame industry. At this year's conference, Phil Harrison, president of Worldwide Studios, Sony Computer Entertainment, will deliver the opening keynote titled "PLAYSTATION(R)3: Beyond the Box" on Wednesday, March 22nd, at 10:30 a.m. in the San Jose Civic Auditorium. "Developers play a key role in the success of the PlayStation platforms, creating innovative content that takes advantage of our cutting edge technologies, bringing them to life," said Phil Harrison, president of Worldwide Studios, Sony Computer Entertainment. "The Game Developers Conference gives us an opportunity to collaborate with the development community, and demonstrate new technology, business models and our vision that will help fuel the growth of the computer entertainment industry." Sony Computer Entertainment America staff will be available at the booth throughout the conference to offer a look at the latest developments in tools and technologies, including: -- PLAYSTATION 3 kiosks, showcasing the latest hardware and development tools for the next-generation console including Unreal Engine, COLLADA, PlayStation Graphics Library (PSGL) and performance analysis tools. -- PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system demonstrations, including PSP Spot which allows users to utilize the PSP system's wireless and game share capabilities to download game demos. The booth will also feature peripherals for the PSP system including the PSP headset and car adaptor. -- Playable Titles, demonstrations of games that highlight the new and unique features of the PlayStation platforms. Games to be featured in the booth include Tourist Trophy(TM), Loco Roco(TM), Namco's Me and My Katamari, and Sony Online Entertainment's Field Commander. Sony Computer Entertainment developers, programmers, producers and technology specialists will speak on a variety of topics at the 2006 Game Developers Conference. Below is a list of affiliated speakers and their sessions. For complete session descriptions and information on how to register for the 2006 Game Developers Conference, visit http://www.gdconf.com/. Speaker times and locations are subject to change. Wednesday, March 22nd: -- 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.: Sergio Pimentel, music licensing and A&R manager, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, "The 7 Deadly Sins of Music Licensing," Almaden Ballroom, San Jose Hilton. -- 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.: Chuck Russom, senior sound designer, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "Field Recording for Games," Almaden Ballroom, San Jose Hilton. -- 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Hajime Sugiyama, lead programmer, Atsuko Fukuyama and Masanobu Tanaka, animators, and Junichi Hosono, lead game designer, all of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., "Postmortem: The Emotional Character Control of Shadow of the Colossus," Room J2/3. -- 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Clint Bajakian, senior music supervisor, and Chuck Doud, music director, and Dave Murrant, sound design manager, and Brad Aldredge, senior sound designer, all of Sony Computer Entertainment America, "God of War(TM): Sound and Music Production," Almaden Ballroom, San Jose Hilton. -- 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Vangelis Kokkevis, senior research engineer, Sony Computer Entertainment US R&D, "High Performance Physics Solver Design for Next Generation Consoles," Blossom Hill I/III, San Jose Marriott Hotel. Thursday, March 23rd: -- 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.: Chuck Doud, music director, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "Music Publishing in the Video Game Industry," location TBD. -- 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Richard Stenson, graphics API engineer, Sony Computer Entertainment US R&D, "Collada for PlayStation 3," Room F1/2. -- 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: David Jaffe, creative director, Sony Computer Entertainment America, and Lorne Lanning, president, Oddworld Inhabitants, "Odd vs. God: An Interview with David Jaffe by Lorne Lanning," Room J2/3. -- 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Chuck Doud, music director, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "How to Get the Perfect Music for Your Game," location TBD. -- 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Chuck Doud, music director, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "Music Implementation: Making Games Sound Like Interactive Movies," location TBD. -- 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.: Didier Malenfant, president, Ready at Dawn Studios, "Half Weasel, Half Otter, All Trouble: a Postmortem of Daxter(TM) for the Sony PSP," Room J1/4. Friday, March 24: -- 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Oliver Wright, senior graphic designer, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, "Brand Development for Video Games," Blossom Hill I/III, San Jose Marriott Hotel. -- 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.: Dave Murrant, sound design manager, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "Audio Production: Ideas for the Next Generation," Room A5/6. -- 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.: Tim Moss, director of technology, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "God of War: How the Left and the Right Brain Learned to Love One Another," Ballroom III/VI, San Jose Marriott Hotel. -- 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Jason Parks, technical artist, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "Muscle Systems for Game Production," Ballroom I/II, San Jose Marriott Hotel. -- 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Craig Reynolds, research scientist, Sony Computer Entertainment US R&D, "Crowd Simulation on PS3," Room A5/6. PlayStation University -- Friday, March 24: -- 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.: Mark Vitello, product evaluation group manager, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "Developing for PSP: Year 2," Room A1. -- 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: David Coombes, platform research manager, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "Introduction to PS3," Room A1. -- 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.: Geoff Audy, senior developer support engineer, Sony Computer Entertainment America, "Introduction to the PS3 SPU's," Room A1. -- 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Bruce D'Amora, Emerging Systems Software, IBM T.J. Watson Research, "Cell for Digital Media Acceleration," Room A1. -- 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Bruno Matzdorf, developer support line manager, et al, "An Industry Perspective on COLLADA and the Asset Management Pipeline (panel)," Room A1.

Holy god they went all out and I'll be there! Thank god for Nintendo's press area.

[DefectiveReject]

You mean like the Dual Screen symbol for the Lite? Yeah that could be cool.

yeah sorta.
also all previous NIntendo consoles have had Nintendo somewhere on view. The DSlite has nothing but the raised symbol.
Hopefully we just get a nice simple clean cut name
and i won't guess, as i'd be totally wrong, but i suppose i couldn't be worse than Rembrandt

Nintendo 3Dom

3D movement of control
Freedom of control and self (not tethered)

yeah i know, its bad

[Furoba]

The name is likely to reflect the nature of the system. Maybe we are looking way too far, the name could as well be 'Nintendo'.

- It's made by Nintendo.
- 'Leave luck to heaven' (= there's some risk involved)
- Nintendo is well known.

I doub it though.

[nfreakct]

It's just a lounge in the expo for surfing the web and chilling. They've done this in year's past and it's been sponsered by Nintendo before. I believe they'll also have a few DSes and whatnot hooked up to play with.

[Amir0x]

A talk of non-games, or games with open-ended goals:

"Juul's rules on games without goals."

[Doc Holliday]

GTA = Non game?

Open games like The Sims 2 and GTA: San Andreas are successful because they are rich languages with huge vocabularies and extremely flexible syntax.

I wish i could be there. The graphics seminars look really interesting this year.

[Amir0x]

GTA = Non game?

"or games with open-ended goals"

[Mrbob]

Phil is going to make my day tommorrow and announce the PS3 controller will have gyro functionality built in.

BLIEVE. :/

[Vaandaviii]

Until? Sorry, haven't been following this thread. SOMETHINGTON? SPANNUND? GDC started today right?

Until Harrison's kick-ass keynote

[xsarien]

Until? Sorry, haven't been following this thread. SOMETHINGTON? SPANNUND? GDC started today right?

GDC started yesterday morning, PST. The first two days are largely academic in nature, the real fun stuff will start hitting early tomorrow with Harrison's morning keynote.

[mckmas8808]

GDC started yesterday morning, PST. The first two days are largely academic in nature, the real fun stuff will start hitting early tomorrow with Harrison's morning keynote.

YEEESSSSSSSSS!!!

[Beowvlf]

-- Playable Titles, demonstrations of games that highlight the new and unique features of the PlayStation platforms. Games to be featured in the booth include ...Loco Roco(TM)...

Finally!!

I know it's rather unofficial, but it's very rare that anyone has showcased a game at an American tradeshow that they in turn have no current plans to localize to that market. Seems like SCEA is finally getting smart with the PSP.

I can't wait for this game!

[Doc Holliday]

"or games with open-ended goals"

Crap, i hate when I forget to add a smiley.

I wish GDC would stream some of their presentations, or provide them for download. I would gladly pay a few bucks to see some of these seminars at a decent resolution.

[saelz8]

Wednesdayton PS3 Edition, Volume 2.

March 22
10:30 AM

Are you ready?

[Kleegamefan]

Wednesdayton PS3 Edition, Volume 2. March 22 10:30 AM Are you ready?

You will say wow....

[u_neek]

Oh no, here we go again... so a water polo game will be announced?

[xsarien]

Crap, i hate when I forget to add a smiley. I wish GDC would stream some of their presentations, or provide them for download. I would gladly pay a few bucks to see some of these seminars at a decent resolution.

Almost what you're looking for:
http://www.pqhp.com/cmp/gdctv/

[Bluemercury]

Wednesdayton PS3 Edition, Volume 2. March 22 10:30 AM Are you ready?

Probably, but will my wallet be?

[Amir0x]

First post updated again with, as xsarien said, mostly academic news.

[SantaC]

should be great.

[Ark-AMN]

Tommorow is the big day. I'm pretty much set, just gotta make sure I take what I'm going to need. Lots of paper to write stuff down.

[Amir0x]

Tommorow is the big day. I'm pretty much set, just gotta make sure I take what I'm going to need. Lots of paper to write stuff down.

Paper? What is this, the 20th century!?

[Ark-AMN]

lol, I don't have anything to type this stuff down on.

My laptop is old and sucks, the battery dies almost instantly now.

[xsarien]

Paper? What is this, the 20th century!?

Always trust a computer to fail when you need it the most. Having a good, old-fashioned pen and paper as a backup is an excellent idea.

[Amir0x]

Always trust a computer to fail when you need it the most. Having a good, old-fashioned pen and paper as a backup is an excellent idea.

I don't know how to use those old-fashioned thing-a-ma-jigs. What is it, some sort of ancient mesopotamian technology? Keep that way! Trusty computer is all I need.

[Jonnyram]

I know it's rather unofficial, but it's very rare that anyone has showcased a game at an American tradeshow that they in turn have no current plans to localize to that market. Seems like SCEA is finally getting smart with the PSP.

There's a big difference between "not having plans" and "not announcing you have plans" :P

[Danydrunk]

Im starting to think that nintendo will give the revolution a pop culture kind of name. Something trendy, and uncommon for videogames, but that will help the mainstream remember the name. I know I sound like a complete idiot who doesnt know what he is talking about but, wait until they reveal the new name, I think it will surprise us all.

[mckmas8808]

Tommorow is the big day. I'm pretty much set, just gotta make sure I take what I'm going to need. Lots of paper to write stuff down.

Can't wait to read your GAF report?

What time Eastern (New York) time will Phil Harrison be speaking? Is this thing in California?

[Scrow]

I don't know how to use those old-fashioned thing-a-ma-jigs. What is it, some sort of ancient mesopotamian technology? Keep that way! Trusty computer is all I need.

you of all people should realise that technology can't be relied upon or expected to be consistent. *cough*56k*cough* :P

[OG_Original Gamer]

The bomb Iwata will drop, will be the unveilling of the controller shell, and a redesigned Revolution console shell.

Remember, you think you read it here first.

[Vaandaviii]

you of all people should realise that technology can't be relied upon or expected to be consistent. *cough*56k*cough* :P

In fact paper and ink are among the first "tecnologies" developed by human beings. They don't fall from the trees.

[Wollan]

Hyper Nintendo. Master Nintendo. Nintendo Max. Nintendo 5. Nintendo 128. Nintendo Cool. NinStation. Ninjatendo. Nintendomon. Nintendo 720(do it!). N. N5. Nintendo Core.
Nintendo Pepper. Nintendo Drive. NBomb. N.Asa. Nes 5. Nintendo Home.

My guesses.

[Endymion]

nm

[sorryaboutdresden]

Saw this on another forum, sorry if this has info has been posted before, its hard to keep up with this thread.

Hi yall' just got back from an MS press event.... 99 nights and all that good stuff ... hands on later this week... anyway I was told a few nuggets of possible GDC info from sources while there.... Word is Factor 5 is going to have some amazing stuff to show at the Sony key note. One person I talked to also mentioned they saw some stuff specifically and while factor 5 and a few other titles look great on the system ... the overall viewpoint is that its not THAT big of a difference between 360 and PS3 titles.... On top of all this word is we may get a demo of how the Revo controller will work.... Not gameplay footage per' say but a demonstration of the basics... Tune in to AMN for video and more of the event! -Sean out-

http://forums.**********.com/showthread.php?t=15131

Not sure what to make of it all, glad 99 nights was shown and the Factor 5 and Rev tidbits are definitely intriguing. Can't wait to see what happens these next two days.

[Vaandaviii]

It's one hour and twenty minutes from now.

No way. It's twelve hours and a quarter from now, sadly. It's at 10:30am in US West Coast's time. 7:30pm for us.

[Endymion]

No way. It's twelve hours and a quarter from now, sadly. It's at 10:30am in US West Coast's time. 7:30pm for us.

Ops, sorry I confused locations.

[Vibri]

Er, they're going to have PS3 KIOSKS?

[TekunoRobby]

PDA, keyboard, pen, and notepad. I'm set. Bring it on Sony, I can't wait for this keynote.

[Wax Free Vanilla]

Er, they're going to have PS3 KIOSKS?

[Ihateyouchris]

Hyper Nintendo. Master Nintendo. Nintendo Max. Nintendo 5. Nintendo 128. Nintendo Cool. NinStation. Ninjatendo. Nintendomon. Nintendo 720(do it!). N. N5. Nintendo Core. Nintendo Pepper. Nintendo Drive. NBomb. N.Asa. Nes 5. Nintendo Home. My guesses.

Diet Nintendo?
Nintendo with Lime?
Nintendo Zero?
Crystal Nintendo?

[Vibri]

Ooh, realtime demos? Any other pics out there?

[TurtleSnatcher]

oh gdc started? wtf?

[gofreak]

More Pics plz

Cheers Wax! Did you take this yourself, or grabbed it from a site?

Kind of weird seeing a windows environment under a PS3 banner ;) Makes sense, though I'm sure that screen ain't running off the PS3 kit! Note the dualshock, also..