Conference Talks

GDC

Beyond NPCs - AI for Game Operations

Explore how AI supports mobile game operations through user-acquisition propensity modeling and personalized player experiences.

• YouTube
• 30 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

Root - A Usability Postmortem

A postmortem of Root’s development exploring rules writing, component and graphic design, usability research, feedback, affordances, and cognitive load.

• YouTube
• 41 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

2D Animation for Games - A Primer

Learn core principles and techniques for creating readable 2D character animation in games, including timing, exaggeration, smears, and skeletal animation.

• YouTube
• 56 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

Interactive Wind and Vegetation in 'God of War'

A technical breakdown of an interactive wind and vegetation system that makes environmental motion respond to player actions in God of War.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 1 minute
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

One More Run - The Making of 'Spelunky 2'

A postmortem of making Spelunky 2, from procedural level generation and high interactivity to the challenges of sequel design and online multiplayer.

• YouTube
• 58 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

Growing Your Code Library with Each New Project

Learn to build and maintain a reusable code library, turning scripts into shareable systems that support larger games and more ambitious projects.

• YouTube
• 56 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

Creating Feudal Japan from Across the Pacific

How cultural experts and direction techniques shaped Ghost of Tsushima’s vision, authenticity, and player experience.

• YouTube
• 51 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

Take Control of Animation

Remedy built Control’s animation technology from scratch, using motion matching and animation-driven movement to improve player responsiveness.

• YouTube
• 40 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

Lessons from Duolingo - How to Make Learning Hard Things Easy

Learn how Duolingo balances teaching difficult subjects with user engagement through metrics, scaffolding, practice, and game mechanics.

• YouTube
• 1 hour
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

Honoring the Blade - Lethality and Combat Balance in Ghost of Tsushima

A GDC talk on designing lethal, balanced combat in Ghost of Tsushima through player behavior, data, defensive and offensive systems, and duels.

• YouTube
• 25 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

King Me - A Defense of King-Making in Board Game Design

A defense of king-making as a deliberate competitive multiplayer design choice, exploring disruption, storytelling, consent, victory conditions, and winning.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 1 minute
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

The Calm in the Storm - An Introvert's Guide to Success

An introverted game developer shares strategies for succeeding, leading, and communicating at work while helping studios create more inclusive environments.

• YouTube
• 52 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

Keyframes and Cardboard Props - The Cinematic Process Behind 'God of War'

Explore the unconventional animation and previs workflow behind God of War’s cinematic sequences, from rough mocap and props to polished scenes.

• YouTube
• 54 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

Red Pill Blue Pill - Narrative AI for Deep Emotions

Explores how film and game stage mechanics, conflict, and emotion architecture can expand AI-driven narrative beyond branching stories and dialog mazes.

• YouTube
• 30 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

Disintegrating Meshes with Particles in God of War

Learn how God of War used particle emission to disintegrate mesh-based corpses and extend the technique to other visual effects.

• YouTube
• 23 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk