GDC also ponders invite-only model
by Xav de Matos 
{ Mar 5th 2008 at 7:30AM }
At the close of the 2008 Game Developers Conference (GDC) this year we heard rumblings that change was in store for the industry event. After achieving a record setting 18,000 attendees, about 1,000 of which were press, event coordinators are contemplating an invite only stance to the media.
Speaking with Kotaku, GDC event director Jamil Moledina expressed his fear for the industry learning event, "I am concerned that if we don't focus on what makes GDC work we will face some complications down the road." To alleviate those fears, GDC is considering changes to who will be allowed to cover the 2009 event from the show floor.
While other industry professionals lineup to question the validity of press presence, we're reminded of the invite changes made to the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) and Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain (DICE) to streamline the event coverage.
When the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced two years ago that they would be downsizing E3, slashing the number of attendees and only allowing invited press to attend, a fear within the industry became public.
What if the invited press, which are selected by participating publishers and developers and an ESA created master list, were selected purely based on their positive coverage? Would an outlet that had been negative toward anything in the past have their invitation lost in the mail?
While, based on what we saw at E3 2007, this fear was not apparent but the recent changes to DICE and, seemingly, pending changes to GDC are making us put our tinfoil hats back on in paranoia for what it could mean for unbiased press coverage.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
AJ @ Mar 5th 2008 7:57AM
GDC was never meant to be a press event. The press has just horned in on it over the years. I personally don't think you all should be there. You have E3, PAX, E for all, TGS etc.
Notice the "C" in GDC. It's a conference, not a show or Expo. They can't do much conferring when they are constantly worrying about you dufuses in the press.
I think they should have one "Press Day" at GDC and that is it.
Boff @ Mar 5th 2008 9:00AM
On the one side I'd definitely like to continue seeing all the info and news coming out of GDC, but on the other I think it would be better (from a developer's point of view) to be behind closed doors so they can concentrate on the things that matter.
Actually I think AJ's made a good point in the post above. A press day at the end of the event would be the best way to keep everyone happy.
Dirk Dorkelson @ Mar 5th 2008 6:42PM
They already sort of do that whole "press day" thing. I went as press this year, and really, on Monday and Tuesday, there's nothing going on. It's all industry people going to industry-focused summits. I think they'd be better off splitting up the week better. The first three days should be summits and the job expo, while the last two days should be the more general-interest events (like the Fable 2 event, for example), the keynotes, the GDC awards, the expo, etc. The idea of having to attend all the keynotes, plus the GDC awards as well as trying to hit the expo floor all in one day isn't feasible for journalists.
Also, that whole, "The journalists should get out of the way and let them get their business done" doesn't really reflect how the event was organized. Microsoft, for example, had basically a whole bunch of mini-offices that are basically set off so they can talk business and interview people. It's not like we go barging in there and interrupt them.
While I don't think the event should be invite only, they need to manage the press invites better. There were a couple of industry dudes I saw wandering around there who basically just got press passes so they could have a lot of access to stuff. Their numbers for "1,000 press" are definitely padded by people who should be there with other credentials.