From Gamasutra, get all of your GDC 2017 coverage here! A sample of what they have recently posted:

Warren Spector traces Deus Ex‘s development back to a game of D&D  
by Alex Wawro [03.02.17]
“Let me tell you where it began — this is going to get a little embarrassing,” said Spector. “It all began with Dungeons and Dragons.”
Console/PC, Design, Production, GDC

One Life Left x GDC podcast: the cracks begin to show  
by Bryant Francis [03.02.17]
Another day, another podcast—the One Life Left and Gamasutra crews team up for another day of great interviews.
Console/PC, Design, Video, GDC

Reinventing a classic series through Resident Evil VII: Biohazard  
by Simon Parkin [03.02.17]
“The Resident Evil series can be thought of as a series of trilogies,” said RE7 director Koshi Nakanishi. “That meant that, with this the seventh game, we could choose to take a new direction.”
Design, GDC

How Prompto’s AI-driven selfie system in Final Fantasy XVwas built  
by Alex Wawro [03.02.17]
Prasert “Sun” Prasertvithyakarn served as lead designer on Final Fantasy XV‘s buddy system and AI; at GDC this week he took the stage to talk about how the AI-driven snapshot system was built.
Console/PC, Design, GDC

Heaven’s Vault: Inkle’s game about a nebula-riding archaeologist  
by Katherine Cross [03.02.17]
“We started from the idea of an interactive graphic novel and how that would work, bringing together an adventure game sensibility with Inkle’s text flow style.”
Console/PC, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Art, Design, GDC

Nvidia has a new tool on the way to help measure and analyze VR performance  
by Alissa McAloon [03.02.17]
FCAT VR will capture and visualize performance data for virtual reality games and headsets, effectively making it easier for devs to test and identify performance problems in their VR games.
VR, Console/PC, GDC

It’s not all about Touch: Oculus’ Jason Rubin sees a future for gamepad VR games 2
by Alex Wawro [03.02.17]
“Right now it kind of seems like that’s old-school, but it’s old-school with 40 years of evolution to get the perfect gamepad…And I believe that over the long run, people will go back to that.”
VR, Design, GDC

Overwatch nets Game of the Year at 2017 Game Developers Choice Awards  
by Staff [03.02.17]
Blizzard’s own Overwatch took home top honors at tonight’s Game Developers Choice Awards alongside a slew of other award-winning games.
Console/PC, Indie, GDC, IGF

Becoming a Nintendo Switch indie dev will be tough early on 3
by Kris Graft [03.02.17]
Game developers who want to get their games on the soon-to-launch Nintendo Switch should be prepared for a strict submission process, at least here in the console�s early days.
Console/PC, Indie, Business/Marketing, Video, GDC

Seaman designer Yoot Saito implores game devs to ‘swim against the stream’  
by Simon Parkin [03.02.17]
Game-makers should eschew making sequels to their hits and instead do their best to do something different, says Seaman creator Yoot Saito.
Console/PC, Design, GDC

Overwatch Developer Blizzard Entertainment Receives Prizes for Game of the Year and Best Design; Playdead’s Inside and Campo Santo’s Firewatch Earn Two Awards Apiece

SAN FRANCISCO – March 1, 2017 – Blizzard Entertainment’s popular and stylish multiplayer shooter, Overwatch, was honored with the prize for Game of the Year at tonight’s 17th annual Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCA) ceremony during the 2017 Game Developers Conference (GDC) at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Overwatch’s carefully calibrated balance and polished gameplay mechanics also earned the game the award for Best Design. An archive of the award ceremony, as well as the full presentation of the Independent Games Festival Awards (IGF Awards), can be viewed at http://twitch.tv/gdc.

Developer Playdead’s beautifully macabre and engrossing platformer, Inside, also earned two awards in total, for Best Audio and Best Visual Art. The awards reflect the strong artistry of the title, which depicts a dark conspiracy using a stark visual motif with foreboding lighting and haunting animation. Developer Campo Santo’s compelling first-person adventure game, Firewatch, was the final double award-winner of the night, earning the team the awards for Best Debut and Best Narrative. The game, which features the voice talent of Mad Men’s Rich Sommer, portrays a deeply engrossing tale that enwraps the player in a branching script filled with mystery, suspense, humor and longing.

The full slate of winners at tonight’s ceremony also includes the augmented reality (AR) game Pokemon Go by Niantic, which became a worldwide sensation and earned the award for Best Mobile/Handheld Game. The massively ambitious, procedurally-generated universe of No Man’s Sky earned developer Hello Games the Innovation Award, while the grandiose production and graphics in Naughty Dog’s Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End earned that title the award for Best Technology. The charmingly off-kilter virtual reality (VR) game, Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives, received the award for Best VR/AR Game. The Audience Award is chosen among the entire selection of GDCA finalists using a public online voting process, and was presented to developer EA DICE for Battlefield 1.

The Game Developers Choice Awards honor the very best games of the year, and was created for and voted on by developers. Winners are selected by the Game Developers Choice Awards-specific International Choice Awards Network (ICAN), which is an invitation-only group comprised of leading game creators from all parts of the industry.

Every year, the Game Developers Choice Awards also recognize developers who have made significant contributions to the art, science and craft of video games with three special awards. This year, the Pioneer Award was given to Jordan Mechner, the game designer, programmer and screenwriter best known for creating the landmark series, Prince of Persia.

The Ambassador Award, which recognizes those whose actions have helped video games to “advance to a better place,” went to Mark DeLoura, for dedicating his life to the education and the productive use of technology within academia, the media and videogames, holding roles that include Senior Advisor for Digital Media during the Obama administration.

The Lifetime Achievement award was given to Tim Sweeney, the founder of Epic Games, and the creator of seminal game/creation tool ZZT and the influential Unreal Engine. Following the 1998 PC game Unreal, which Sweeney co-created, the game’s engine became the underpinning for a slew of acclaimed games, including Epic’s own Gears of War and Unreal franchises, as well as the BioShock series, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, and the Batman: Arkham series of games.

“This year’s amazing slate of winners is a testament to the diversity of experiences in games. Pokemon Go took gaming outdoors using AR, while Job Simulator showed how lo-fi aesthetics could meet cutting edge tech for a winning VR experience. Overwatch once again proved Blizzard’s uncanny ability to make a perfectly balanced multiplayer game, and Inside delved deep into our dark psyches to unearth our scariest nightmares,” said Meggan Scavio, General Manager of the Game Developers Conference. “These nominees speak to the strength of games as a medium, but also show the various textures and possible creative outlets that interactive entertainment can provide. Congrats to all of the winners and nominees for following their visions and thanks to all developers who strive to make amazing games for us day in and day out.”

The Game Developers Choice Awards winners are:

Best Audio

Inside (Playdead)

Best Debut

Campo Santo (Firewatch)

Best Design

Overwatch (Blizzard Entertainment)

Best Mobile/Handheld Game

Pokemon Go (Niantic)

Innovation Award

No Man’s Sky (Hello Games)

Best Narrative

Firewatch (Campo Santo)

Best Technology

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (Naughty Dog)

Best Visual Art

Inside (Playdead)

Best VR/AR Game

Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives (Owlchemy Labs)

Audience Award

Battlefield 1 (EA DICE)

Game of the Year

Overwatch (Blizzard Entertainment)

Pioneer Award

Jordan Mechner

Ambassador Award

Mark DeLoura

Lifetime Achievement Award

Tim Sweeney

For more information about the 17th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards, please visit the official website at http://www.gamechoiceawards.com. For information about the 2017 Game Developers Conference, please visit the official website at http://www.gdconf.com.

About the UBM Game Network

A core provider of essential information to the professional game and VR/AR industries, the UBM Game Network drives community and business partnerships through market-defining content. Its award-winning lineup of events and digital products and services include the Game Developers Conference®, the Virtual Reality Developers Conference, Gamasutra.com, GameCareerGuide.com, GDC Play, the Independent Games Festival and Summit, and the Game Developers Choice Awards. Visit www.ubmgamenetwork.com for more information.

About UBM

UBM plc is the largest pure-play B2B Events organizer in the world.  In an increasingly digital world, the value of connecting on a meaningful, human level has never been more important.  At UBM, our deep knowledge and passion for the industry sectors we serve allow us to create valuable experiences where people can succeed. At our events people build relationships, close deals and grow their businesses.  Our 3,750+ people, based in more than 20 countries, serve more than 50 different sectors – from fashion to pharmaceutical ingredients.  These global networks, skilled, passionate people and market-leading events provide exciting opportunities for business people to achieve their ambitions.

For more information, go to www.ubm.com; for UBM corporate news, follow us on Twitter at @UBM, UBM Plc LinkedIn

The World’s Largest Professional Game Industry Event Kicks Off 31st Edition Alongside
Virtual Reality Developers Conference, Showcasing Advancements in VR and AR

SAN FRANCISCO – February 27, 2017 – The 2017 Game Developers Conference (GDC), the world’s largest and longest-running event serving professionals dedicated to the art and science of making games, kicks off its 31st edition today at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. Following last year’s successful introduction of the Virtual Reality Developers Conference (VRDC) and the standalone VRDC in November, the event will also be returning to bring together experts from the video game, entertainment, and tech fields to discuss the latest breakthroughs in immersive virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences. GDC and VRDC are held concurrently at the Moscone Center, with VRDC running through Tuesday, February 28 and GDC running through Friday, March 3.

GDC 2017 offers five days of lectures, panels, tutorials, roundtable discussions, and networking events, the Independent Games Festival (IGF) and Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCAs) ceremony, a robust Expo, and the showcase of emerging game developers known as GDC Play.

The conference begins with two days (Monday, February 27 and Tuesday, February 28) of specialized summits on the topics of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Community Management, Game Narrative, Education, Mobile Games, Independent Games, and User Experience (UX). The first two days of the conference will also feature GDC Developer Days, immersive learning experiences led by thought leaders from influential tech companies such as Amazon, Facebook, and Google.

The returning Virtual Reality Developers Conference will provide two days of content showcasing some of the most groundbreaking and respected developers and development teams in the fields of VR and AR discussing topics relating to film, journalism, travel, sports entertainment, and more. VRDC will host more than 30 sessions presented by speakers of celebrated entertainment studios, such as HBO, Legendary Entertainment, Lucasfilm’s ILMxLAB, Oculus, Owlchemy Labs and more. There are more than 50 additional VR sessions in the GDC Summits and Main Conference throughout the week.

Following VRDC and the GDC Summits, the main GDC conference will kick-off on Wednesday, March 1. This year, the main GDC conference will feature four Classic Game Postmortem sessions, in which the creators of Sid Meier’s Civilization, Deus Ex, Oregon Trail and Seaman share their unique development processes, inspirations and lessons learned creating some of the most innovative games of their eras. Huge names from across the video game industry will also be hosting sessions during the main conference, including Blizzard Entertainment, Capcom, Eidos Montreal, Naughty Dog, Nintendo, Respawn Entertainment, Riot Games, Square Enix, and more.

The 19th annual Independent Games Festival (IGF) Awards, which honor the most promising developers and projects from the world of independent video games, and the 17th annual Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCAs), which recognize and celebrate the creativity, artistry and technical ingenuity of the finest developers and games created in the last year, will both take place back-to-back on Wednesday, March 1, starting at 6:30pm PT. The ceremonies will also feature special honors for important industry leaders, including a Lifetime Achievement Award for Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney, the The Pioneer Award, which honors breakthrough tech and game design milestones, which will be presented to Jordan Mechner, creator of the Prince of Persia series. Mark DeLoura will be presented with the Ambassador Award for his advocacy of the video game industry, education and the productive use of technology while a Senior Advisor within the Obama White House.

GDC will also host a variety of Interactive Spaces that are open to all attendees throughout the week. Independent games will be celebrated at Double Fine and iam8bit’s “Day of the Devs,” the Indie MEGABOOTH Showcase and the nature-themed lounge known as the Mild Rumpus. iam8bit will present Art Boss, an art gallery of some of the best concept and production art from celebrated video games that launched during the past year. Additional Interactive Spaces include GDC Train Jam, which presents games created by developers on a train ride from Chicago to GDC, alt.ctrl.GDC, which allows attendees to play with imaginative games that use non-traditional controllers, and more.

“GDC has been at the forefront of tectonic industry changes over three decades. In that same way, VRDC is charting the exciting new territory of developments in the virtual reality and augmented reality world. This is more important than ever as developers are coming to terms with the VR and AR platforms that are now out in the wild,” said Meggan Scavio, general manager of the Game Developers Conference. “Beyond AR/VR, GDC is honored to host the global community of developers from all disciplines, walks of life and regions at GDC, we’ve always been a show that has embraced the new, unique and diverse. This year is no different.”

In total, the GDC consists of more than 500 lectures, panels, tutorials and roundtable discussions. The GDC Expo has more than 300 exhibitors and includes the Business Center, the Game Career Seminar, a variety of Interactive Spaces, and more.

To learn more about GDC and VRDC, follow @Official_GDC or visit: www.gdconf.com. Both the Game Developers Choice Awards and IGF ceremonies are available to attend for all GDC 2017 pass-holders and will be livestreamed on the GDC’s official Twitch channel.

About the UBM Game Network
A core provider of essential information to the professional game and VR/AR industries, the UBM Game Network drives community and business partnerships through market-defining content. Its award-winning lineup of events and digital products and services include the Game Developers Conference®, the Virtual Reality Developers Conference, Gamasutra.com, GameCareerGuide.com, GDC Play, the Independent Games Festival and Summit, and the Game Developers Choice Awards. Visit www.ubmgamenetwork.com for more information.

About UBM
UBM plc is the largest pure-play B2B Events organizer in the world.  In an increasingly digital world, the value of connecting on a meaningful, human level has never been more important.  At UBM, our deep knowledge and passion for the industry sectors we serve allow us to create valuable experiences where people can succeed. At our events people build relationships, close deals and grow their businesses.  Our 3,750+ people, based in more than 20 countries, serve more than 50 different sectors – from fashion to pharmaceutical ingredients.  These global networks, skilled, passionate people and market-leading events provide exciting opportunities for business people to achieve their ambitions.  For more information, go to www.ubm.com; for UBM corporate news, follow us on Twitter at @UBM, UBM Plc LinkedIn

Harpers Ferry, WV (February 22, 2017) –  AbleGamers — the leading charity and organization wielding the power of gaming to break down the barriers of economic and social isolation for people with disabilities — is thrilled to announce its first life-changing sponsored event of 2017. In partnership with Game Developers Conference (GDC), AbleGamers will provide two talented developers with disabilities an all-expense paid trip on Train Jam – a four-day train ride to San Francisco, during which the best and brightest indie developers gather to create games and learn from each other. This is followed by complimentary All Access attendance to GDC 2017, the world’s biggest annual event for developers.

For the first part of the sponsorship, Veve Jaffa, a talented developer who has chronic pain and motor difficulties, and AJ Ryan, a stupendous developer who has muscular dystrophy, will be fully sponsored by AbleGamers to participate in Train Jam. Founded in 2013 by developer Adriel Wallick, Train Jam is a four-day picturesque journey by train from Chicago to San Francisco, where some of the industry’s best independent developers and promising game design students gather to show off their game development chops. Veve and AJ will receive accessible rooms and the best amenities the train has to offer, airfare, lodging and Train Jam event tickets.

After completing Train Jam, Veve and AJ will embark on a week of networking, learning and adventuring in San Francisco at GDC 2017, the biggest annual event for video game developers. With complimentary All Access passes generously donated by GDC, Veve and AJ will enjoy everything the conference has to offer — from panels, technology showcases to demos of new and unreleased games.

These two young stars bring years of experience and talent designing games that are fun and accessible, delighting those with and without disabilities. Their extensive knowledge of blending accessibility and beautiful game design embodies AbleGamers’ mission to promote inclusivity in games.

“Providing access to the inner workings of the game industry for people with disabilities is something we are particularly thrilled to facilitate,” said Mark Barlet, Founder of AbleGamers. “We can’t wait to see what Veve and AJ cook up while touring across the country, and are eager to hear about their experiences and opportunities encountered while at GDC in San Francisco.”

“We’re extremely grateful to GDC for partnering with us on this sponsorship,” added Steve Spohn, AbleGamers COO. “They truly understand that our vision isn’t limited to granting special game controllers to people with disabilities; we’re changing the industry from within by getting people with disabilities employed as developers.”

“We are thrilled to partner with AbleGamers for this cause,” said Train Jam founder, Adriel Wallick. “Train Jam’s main focus is to foster an adventurous and inspiring environment where developers from diverse backgrounds and cultures can pursue new ideas in a safe, accessible and empowering way. We’re super excited to work with developers to create more accessible games!”

If you would like to arrange an interview with the sponsorship winners, AbleGamers Executive Director Mark Barlet or Chief Operations Officer Steven Spohn via email, telephone or Skype, please contact Mario R. Kroll and CJ Melendez at pr@uberstrategist.com.

About AbleGamers

The AbleGamers Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity that wields the power of video games to break down the barriers of economic and social isolation for people with disabilities. Through received support and donations, AbleGamers provides disabled gamers with assistive technologies (including their Expansion Pack program) that allow those with limited real-world mobility to experience what it is like to walk, run, climb, drive and even fly – in a virtual world.

Via their Includification initiative, AbleGamers additionally advises developers and publishers on how to best incorporate accessibility options so that their video game titles may reach and appeal to the widest and most diverse audience possible. To read AbleGamers articles, or to find out how your support or donations can help them positively impact an even greater number of individuals with disabilities, please visit www.ablegamers.com.

About Train Jam

Founded in 2013 by independent game developer Adriel Wallick, Train Jam is an annual experience that takes developers beyond their comfort zone and pushes for creative inspiration outside of a regular office environment. Train Jam strives to meet this goal by fostering an adventurous and inspiring environment where developers from diverse backgrounds and cultures can pursue new ideas in a safe, accessible and empowering way.

Train Jam invites the best and brightest game design students and independent developers to travel to Game Developers Conference via train, creating games during the roughly 52-hour journey. Train Jam 2017 begins February 23rd, 2017. For more information about Train Jam, please visit http://trainjam.com.

About GDC

The Game Developers Conference® (GDC) is the world’s largest professional game industry event. The 2017 conference marks the 31st edition of GDC, making it the longest-running event of its kind. Presented every spring in San Francisco, it is the essential forum for learning, inspiration, and networking for the creators of computer, console, handheld, smartphone, tablet, mobile, and online games and creators of virtual and augmented reality for games and entertainment.

GDC attracts over 27,000 attendees, and is the primary forum where programmers, artists, producers, game designers, audio professionals, business decision-makers and others involved in the development of interactive games and virtual reality gather to exchange ideas and shape the future of the industry. GDC is produced by UBM Game Network, a division of UBM Americas.

Announcements and New Information to be Revealed on PC Gamer Stage

and Game Developers Conference in San Francisco

Torn Banner Studios, the creators of Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, will bring their upcoming multiplayer magic ‘n melee combat game Mirage: Arcane Warfare to the PC Gamer Weekender on Feb 18-19, 2017 at the Olympia London. PC Gamer Weekender will mark Torn Banner’s European debut at a games expo and is the first public showing of Miragesince the game entered its current private Alpha in September 2016. In addition to the exclusive 6 vs 6 playable experience, Torn Banner’s Brand Manager, Alex Hayter will join the PC Gamer Stage with further game details and announcements on Feb 19 at 3:30PM GMT.

Torn Banner also announced that additional new Mirage: Arcane Warfare hands-on content and announcements will be revealed during the GDC Expo held March 1-3, 2017 in San Francisco.

Torn Banner at PC Gamer Weekender

The exclusive PC Gamer Weekender hands-on experience of Mirage: Arcane Warfare, will be available on 12 playable PCs connected via local network at Booth: C37-C48. Selecting from 5 of 6 available classes, warriors will be able to enter the fray in 6 vs 6 combat on either the never-before-seen Falcon Ridge Team Deathmatch or Sunken City Capture Point maps. Playable classes include: Vypress along with the Taurant, Tinker, Vigilist and Alchemancer powered with moves previously not shown to the public. Tournaments featuring Mirage will also be held on both days in the gaming area.

The PC Gamer Stage session titled “Chivalry + Magic: Making spells feel like melee in Mirage: Arcane Warfare” will be on Feb 19 at 3:30 – 4:30 GMT. Torn Banner Studios’ Alex Hayter will join PC Gamer’s Tom Marks in an in-depth discussion about how Chivalry’s melee-centric gameplay has been translated to ranged-based magic combat. The session will feature concept art, screenshots and brand new gameplay footage and announcements.

Torn Banner at GDC San Francisco

Attendees of GDC will have the opportunity to meet with Torn Banner Studios, March 2 – 3, between 10AM – 12PMon the show floor. On both days, they will be located at the Ontario Media Development Corporation booth in the Moscone Center, North Hall PL4629 & PL4631.

Torn Banner Studios will be hosting journalists with exclusive hands-on content for Mirage: Arcane Warfare. This will be the first opportunity to experience new maps and character abilities, as well as a tour of many of the tweaks and improvements borne out of the game’s closed Alpha. [Sessions are available behind closed doors and by appointment only.]

With over 5 million players, Chivalry: Medieval Warfare was a cult hit thanks to its immersive, bloody medieval theme and complex combat system that caters to a high skill ceiling. Mirage: Arcane Warfare takes Chivalry’s deliberate combat and layers in brand new magic abilities, along with a fantastical setting and blistering graphics and performance in Unreal Engine 4.

Learn about Mirage’s characters in the new Instruments of Death video series. The Vypress, Taurant and Vigilist have been presented in videos so far, with remaining class trailers to follow in the lead up to the upcoming 2017 launch ofMirage: Arcane Warfare.  For more information please visit MirageArcaneWarfare.com. Like their game’s Facebook page and follow it on Twitter @MirageGame for future news and updates.
About Torn Banner Studios
Torn Banner Studios is a small indie games studio that makes BIG games. Based in Toronto Canada, Torn Banner Studios was founded in 2012 by a group of passionate game developers who are dedicated to creating powerful and unique games for a dedicated audience of fans. The nucleus of the team first came together from a group of modders who created a well-known Half-Life 2 mod called Age of Chivalry. Their first full game, Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, was a critical and commercial success and has driven the dedicated team at Torn Banner to continue to develop great games and ongoing content for their passionate community of fans. For more information visit TornBanner.com or follow @TornBanner.

Gamasutra is just as excited about Game Developers Conference 2017 as all of you are! We’ll have reporters on-site at GDC 2017 covering the show all week. We recently put our heads together and picked some of our most-anticipated GDC sessions (in no particular order), with topics ranging from designing sex scenes in games to math(s) to…a grouchy fish who lived on the Dreamcast.

Join us at the Moscone Center February 27-March 3 for GDC 2017 (and if you see us around, don’t be afraid to say “hi!”)

Read more at Gamasutra

From Gamasutra: As we’re getting ready to put on Game Developers Conference once more (it’s Feb. 27th to March 3rd in San Francisco!), thought it might be a good opportunity, as a co-organizer, to point out some of the new things we’re doing this year – many of which i’m QUITE EXCITED about.

And yes, although we’d love you to get a full GDC 2017 conference pass, a number of these new things can be viewed/played with by Expo Pass holders. More neat things for more neat people! Here’s the highlights:

– Art Boss is a new collaboration between GDC & iam8bit to showcase some of the most gorgeous 2D concept and production art from video games! We got a load of amazing entries, the winners were just announced, and will be viewable on site in a special gallery located next to the Moscone North Expo area. There’s more info about the winners – which span DOOM & Edge Of Nowhere to Toy Odyssey & ArcheAge: Revelation – on the iam8bit Art Boss site, too…

– The inaugural GDC Movie Nights allow you to “discover hidden secrets & amazing truths” via evening movie screenings in GDC conference rooms. There’s free popcorn and a (not free, but you can buy beer!) cash bar, yay.

The ‘Mysterious Game Mysteries’ theme includes screenings of the delightfully bonkers Clue!, starring Tim Curry, Michael McKean, Christopher Lloyd & myriad others, and the sinister, San Francisco-set The Game, the ARG-like ride directed by David Fincher & starring Michael Douglas. All GDC passholders are welcome.

Read more at Gamasutra