GDC adds Double Fine, Journey sand tech, Capy/17-Bit talks to roster

GDC 2013 organizers are highlighting multiple new talks for the March conference, including Double Fine on 'optimizing for human performance', a panel on building indie studio culture, and Journey's refined sand technology. The talks are part of the Visual Arts, Business, Programming, and Production tracks -- four of seven Main Conference tracks to be held Wednesday-Friday, March 27-29 during the Game Developers Conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA. For 'Sand Rendering In Journey,' lead engineer John Edwards will cover thatgamecompany's approach to graphics and will review three years' worth of lessons learned refining the sand rendering technology. This will include "surprising non-physical techniques, such as an 'ocean' specular effect and a 'phenomenological' diffuse lighting model." Elsewhere, Double Fine studio technical director Nathan Martz will discuss how to build software and grow teams that are fast and flexible in 'Ideas per Second: How Double Fine Optimizes for Human Performance.' Martz's talk is "tailored for producers, technical directors, lead programmers, studio heads, and anyone else interested in cultivating software and the people who create it." Finally, XBLA portfolio director Chris Charla will head a panel of independent studios in 'Building a Great Studio Culture on a Budget.' Nathan Vella of Capy Games (Sword & Sworcery EP), Jake Kazdal of 17-Bit (Skulls Of The Shogun), and Mike Mika of Other Ocean (Monsters Love Candy) will spill their culture building secrets, including "what $250 investment can bring a studio together better than anything else on earth." GDC still offers over $100 discounts to select pass purchases made by March 20th, at 11:59pm EST, with prices increasing for onsite registration. GDC 2013 itself will take place March 25-29 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. For more information on GDC 2013, visit the show's official website, or subscribe to regular updates via Facebook, Twitter, or RSS. Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent UBM Tech.