The Game Developers Conference is where the game dev community comes together to learn, connect, and build their careers–but it's also a place to relax and have fun! Check out some of our specialty Community Spaces—including the return of Day of the Devs and Shut Up and Sit Down—featuring fun games to play, learning exercises to try, and new ways to engage with the game dev community.
Community spaces are returning to GDC 2023! Not only are they a place to unwind during the day, they're also the perfect spot to network with industry colleages and prospective employers. Arcade Play is back at GDC 2023, and we're excited to announce a new community space focused on climate issues: Climate Resilience Through Game Technologies. More information below.
Here are some of the spaces you can check out:
Arcade Play (The Made)
GDC Arcade Play features over a dozen classic games to play and enjoy between those sessions. GDC Arcade Play is curated by the Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment (MADE) in Oakland, and features their community partner Civic Design Studios. It's a community space dedicated to giving GDC attendees a spot to relax, chat, and check out some incredible games that helped shape the industry.
Find at: GDC Expo Floor
Shut Up and Sit Down
Good news, analog game fans: Game Developers Conference organizers are pleased to announce that the Shut Up & Sit Down board game lounge is back this year and open to all passholders at various points during GDC week. This is a perennially popular part of GDC that's curated by the keen minds behind tabletop game enthusiast hub Shut Up & Sit Down, so it's a great place to hang out with your fellow attendees and check out some of the latest and most intriguing tabletop games on the market.
Find at: West Hall Level 3
Day of the Devs (iam8bit)
See the greatest indie games, devs and players the universe has ever known.
Find at: West Hall Level 2
Climate Resilience Through Game Technologies (Adrienne Arsht - Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center)
The Arsht-Rock Gaming Team is hosting a booth to connect game developers with life-saving interventions and resources, building community resilience to global climate change. On-site will be an innovative VR experience which allows participants to experience the impacts of climate change firsthand and take action to protect the world's most vulnerable communities. Additionally, developers will have the opportunity to connect with Arsht-Rock's Center of Excellence - the go-to center for learning how to leverage the power of play to build actionable skills and a deep understanding of the climate crisis.
Find at: West Hall Level 2
Head to our Floor Plan to see our community spaces throughout the Expo Floor, including interactive spaces for certain disciplines and the GDC Play Lounge.
Of course, the only way to visit these spaces, and see so much more, is to sign up for GDC!
Register for GDC 2023 Here
We can’t wait to see you at GDC 2023, taking place March 20-24, 2023 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California. Head here for information on booking a hotel and other travel inquiries, and follow the #GDC23 hashtag for the latest news and updates for this year’s exciting event.
GDC returns to San Francisco this March 20-24, 2023, and registration is now open! For more information, be sure to visit our website and follow the #GDC23 hashtag on social media.
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