GDC
I learned quite a bit from GDC, I guess sometimes the hardest things to learn are the things that would make you a bit sadder if they were true. It wasn't too hard for me to accept the fact that publishers don't really need to play a game to tell what its worth. I kind of knew that was true already. The other thing is some of the realities of the IGF. You probably can't get into the student competition if your game is in flash. You probably can't get into the main competition if your demo dosn't run in 1080p mode. Actually at this point if your demo doesn't run on a console you are probably SOL on the main. The last part is perhaps the worst. In certain circles, the way you get your idea to work is more important than the final product. That one was perhaps the saddest truth I had to accept at this conference.
However, I'm excited to get any chance to learn. Considering what I want to do with my life I'll have to be quite tough. I've said I will make games that change the industry... in fact that declaration of war was the title of my statement of purpose here at USC. I remain just as declarative as ever on that one. The fact is that that statement sums up the indie spirit and the war continues as strong as ever.