Of Sponges and Witches

Before I delve into my fantastic time at GDC, I recently found out UAT was gracious enough to do a press release on Fugashu last week. While I don't expect to see a Kappa Card on the front page of anything anytime soon, I guess it's cool to see someone talking about you in the 3^rd person.

I should also give props to JayIsGames for putting Fugashu in their Friday links. They're one of the best flash and casual game review sites out there.

A couple months ago, I was lucky enough to secure a spot as a Conference Associate at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. After some audible woots and unavoidable dancing about the room, I soon sobered myself with more serious thoughts. While I am not in the industry yet, every action I was to take at GDC might send ripples throughout my future career. I knew then, many (most) of those who I would meet in the CA program would be in the same situation as me, heading, but not quite there, to be in the industry. Anyone I met could be my next boss, coworker, best friend, or any other number of social positions.

This was, naturally, exciting and a tad terrifying. So after some super secret CA training and some me-on-me pep talks, I felt ready. Or at least as ready as a newbie can be.

So, last week, I set out and joined the ranks of the Pink Shirts. Setting up, badging, helping attendees, briefing/aiding speakers and more badging, together we formed the lifeblood of the conference. Side by side, we formed an impenetrable phalanx of structure and order, the only thing between complete euphoric harmony and utter chaos; the hordes of industry developers and press marched in, practically foaming at the mouth, dry eyed from the night before full of free booze and those little crackers with odd toppings. They circled us, hoping to find a weakness, a chink in our florescent armor. Nay, not this day, for you are a mere Exhibitor and your badge does not allow entry to sessions and tutorials. You will find only the icy bite of unceasing politeness here! Back to your shwag, fiend!

But if you would like to upgrade your pass, please see guest services on the first floor.

Oh, we were good. So good, on the last day of the conference, CMP sent us John Romero and a popcorn machine. The details of such I cannot go into here, and truly I've already said too much. For what happens in the Lounge, stays in the Lounge.

As for me, I had a fantastic time, and one that I'm only now starting to truly appreciate and miss. Any lack of sleep or soreness is worth that week.

Sunday, the start of my journey, involved many hours of sitting in LAX paying too much for wireless internet. The pure excitement of which can be highlighted by my passing of Ron Jeremy in one of the terminals. The original flight I was suppose to board on to SFO was grounded due to weather in Kansas, where I'm assuming it ran into a tornado (or possibly Toto).

Eventually, after receiving misguided direction from a bum who was planted outside the transit station (no quarter for you!), I somehow found myself inside the Moscone Convention Center. And, after being given more unfortunate misdirection (apparently "bagging" and "badging" are far too similar of words), I was stuffing and organizing a few hundred CA badges. Soon, Ian MacKenzie, one of the all-powerful leaders of the Pink Shirts, found me downstairs; realizing I was a CA and not an employee, he explained I was actually suppose to be up helping stuff bags, but he thanked me for doing the badges (a job that was not suppose to be ours, apparently).

The rest of the day consisted of helping a couple hundred other CAs stuff several thousand conference bags, and then orientation.

Monday involved working and attending a few sessions and tutorials. One of which it was my job to brief a round-table moderator who was less than nice to me, and because of this, I am now prepared to say that he has a silly, silly mustache.

Tuesday was about the same, though the night was a little more interesting. After attending the Linden Labs party, I soon found myself wandering the streets of San Francisco in search of my hotel at around 2:30am. Now, when I have told this story before, many have assumed I must have been too drunk to know where I was going; but let me set the record straight, I am more than able to get myself lost while being completely sober, which I happened to be. A singing/dancing bum, a call to my sleeping savior of a girlfriend back home and some google mapping later, I reached my hotel.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday involved some more working, a couple of interesting keynotes and sessions, and a few more heavily populated parties. Wow do developers like their free booze...

All in all, I met some wonderful people, which was my number one goal for the trip. From day one I again realized how much I have to learn and how far I still have to go.

In every conversation I was in, I tried my best to become an information sponge. Every person I met I attempted to soak up as many experiences and as much advice as I could. I was aware from the start that I was still a newcomer, unblooded, with not much to offer anyone yet.

I came home with an overflow of information and a to-do list as long as my arm. But, I'm more excited for the future than I have ever been.

This year is going to be full of work, but by next GDC I will be ready. I will have at least a few projects to show off, my skills will be honed and I will be prepared to find my way into the industry.