GDC 2024 is where the game dev community comes together for content and connections—and what better way is there to connect than by having fun? Check out this year's specialty Community Spaces—including the debut of two galleries dedicated to game art and game history.
GDC's community spaces are a place to unwind during the day, as well as the perfect spot to network with industry colleages and prospective employers. Check out some exciting games to play, learning exercises to try, and new ways to engage with the game dev community.
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Here are some of the spaces you can check out:
Game History Gallery (Video Game History Foundation)
GDC has partnered with the Video Game History Foundation to bring to light, and celebrate, lesser-known developers and games in history with the interactive Game History Gallery. Play these games firsthand and learn more about the developers by viewing artifacts related to their history and their games' history. The gallery will also feature a display on "What Video Game Preservation Looks Like", as well as information on how to preserve your part in video game history.
Game Maker's Sketchbook Gallery
Join the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, iam8bit, and fortyseven communications—with generous support from the Game Developer's Conference—for a special art gallery celebrating this year’s Game Maker's Sketchbook finalists.
Game Maker’s Sketchbook celebrates all forms of art related to the craft of making games and each of the 2023 winning selections will be on display. Prints will be for sale through the iam8bit store for a limited period. All proceeds benefit the AIAS Foundation, a 501c3 that offers various scholarships to game students and early to mid-career gaming professionals.
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.
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.
Day of the Devs (iam8bit)
See the greatest indie games, devs and players the universe has ever known.
Head to our Floor Plan to see our community spaces throughout the Expo Floor, including our interactive spaces 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 2024
GDC returns to San Francisco this March 18-22, 2024—and registration is open! For more information, be sure to visit our website and follow the #GDC2024 hashtag on social media.
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