GDC 20006 Interview (con'd)

FiringSquad: The conference will also have keynotes from major Sony and Nintendo execs and there is lots of speculation about what each of them will talk about. Do the GDC organisers have any advanced word on what will be discussed at those keynotes?

Jamil Moledin: Yes. A GDC keynote is part of the editorial content of the conference, and is subject to the same guidelines. Therefore, the development of the keynote is a collaborative process that involves sharing information. This works because the platform providers know that we operate like a Swiss bank, with absolute secrecy, security, and respect.

FiringSquad: GDC will host the Independent Games Festival again this year. What can you tell us about this event and what do you think about the entries for this year's festival?

Jamil Moledin: The IGF in its 8th year is the longest-running institution devoted to independent games. This year, we’ve added a Modding Competition to the IGF, in order to properly credit a critical but seldom-recognized segment of the game development community. In the Main Competition, games have become very sophisticated in both the gameplay and the graphic polish, such as Weird Worlds. Along those lines, many of the student entries like Cloud seem to be commercial quality.

FiringSquad: GDC will also be the host of the Game Developers Choice Awards this year. What can you tell us about this event?

Jamil Moledin: The Game Developers Choice Awards carries the industry prestige that the Oscars have in film, since individual developers are freely nominated and voted upon by the members of the non-profit International Game Developers Association. The IGDA then tabulates the results, and our GDC team produces and hosts the event at GDC. This year, we’ll be honoring several important developers for their contribution to the industry, including awarding Richard Garriott, of Ultima fame, a lifetime achievement award. We’ve also planned a number of surprises that will be sure to keep the audience entertained.