GDC (Game Developers Conference) Talks & Presentations

GDC

Designing Radically Non-Linear Single Player Levels

Explore non-linear design techniques for single-player sandbox levels, their unique value and challenges, and how to adapt them to linear levels. Learn from industry expert Aubrey Serr's insights.

• YouTube
• 28 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

GDC

End-to-End Procedural Generation in Caves of Qud

Explore procedural generation techniques for creating immersive village environments with unique histories, cultures, and quests in roguelike games.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 4 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

GDC

Taking an Axe to God of War Gameplay

Explore God of War's gameplay design evolution, from camera changes to combat mechanics. Gain insights into character development, enemy interactions, and innovative features that shaped this iconic action-adventure game.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 1 minute
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

GDC

Three Steps to Becoming a Better Artist Immediately

Discover three actionable steps to instantly enhance your artistic skills, focusing on visual design, expression, and effective communication in game development.

• YouTube
• 28 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

GDC

Crafting a Tiny Open World - A Short Hike Postmortem

Explore game development insights as Adam Robinson-Yu shares his journey creating "A Short Hike," discussing design choices, technical solutions, and lessons learned in crafting a small open-world game.

• YouTube
• 31 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

GDC

Exploring the Tech and Design of Noita

Dive into Noita's innovative physics engine, exploring falling sand simulations, destructible rigid bodies, and emergent gameplay in large continuous worlds.

• YouTube
• 31 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

GDC

Making Games That Stand Out and Survive

Discover strategies to make your game stand out and thrive in a competitive market, with insights from Monomi Park founder Nick Popovich on game development and marketing.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 2 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

GDC

The Making of Divinity - Original Sin 2

Larian Studios' strategies for improving Divinity: Original Sin 2, covering game design, development challenges, and innovative features that enhanced the sequel's success.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 3 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

GDC

Into the Breach Design Postmortem

Explore the design journey of Into the Breach, from early concepts to final balancing, as Subset Games co-founder Matthew Davis reveals insights on constraints, iteration, and challenging design decisions.

• YouTube
• 59 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

GDC

Stop Getting Lost - Make Cognitive Maps, Not Levels

Explore cognitive science and urbanism to design game spaces that prevent player disorientation. Learn techniques for creating intuitive, memorable environments that enhance navigation and player experience.

• YouTube
• 26 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

GDC

Fast, Cheap and Flashy - An Indie Art Direction Adventure

Explore the visual design process for Tooth and Tail, learning indie art direction techniques that are fast, cost-effective, and visually striking from Chickadee Games' Adam DeGrandis.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 5 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

GDC

Stress-Free Game Development - Powering Up Your Studio With DevOps

Discover how DevOps practices can revolutionize game development, boosting productivity and reducing stress. Learn strategies to streamline workflows and enhance team efficiency in this insightful talk.

• YouTube
• 1 hour
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

GDC

Between Tech and Art - The Vegetation of Horizon Zero Dawn

Explore the technical and artistic challenges of creating Horizon Zero Dawn's lush vegetation, balancing visual richness with performance optimization on PS4.

• YouTube
• 58 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

GDC

Cursed Problems in Game Design

Explore four design paradigms to tackle challenging game design issues, presented by Riot Games' Alex Jaffe in this insightful session on overcoming development obstacles.

• YouTube
• 52 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

GDC

No Time, No Budget, No Problem - Finishing The First Tree

Discover tactics for completing indie game projects while balancing full-time work and family life, as shared by a successful developer who overcame time and budget constraints.

• YouTube
• 32 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk