Looking Forward To GDC

I am extremely excited for GDC this year. This will be my second GDC. Last year it was the first time I ever got to speak in public (at the experimental gameplay workshop). This year is the first time I've been nominated for the IGF, and in 3 categories even [for Closure, the subject of a recent Gamasutra interview]! It is an exciting time for sure.

GDC09, PAX09, and IndieCade were some of the most enjoyable weeks/weekends of my life so far. The people I've met at these events are great and fun to be around, and even though I'm not looking for a job, all the networking I've done has helped me advance my career at a rate almost faster than I can handle. Where I am right now is definitely not where I thought I'd be at this age.

I am super excited to see what's in store this year for GDC. I'm looking forward to playing the rest of the IGF games, there's a lot of great looking ones selected. I'm looking forward to all the interesting IGS summit talks. I'm really looking forward to a fun week of hanging out with all my game developer friends. I'm looking forward to the awards ceremony and all the Mega64 IGF videos. I'm looking forward to seeing what new people I'll meet this year. I'm looking forward to all the fun after parties at local clubs-

Oh wait I forgot this stupid country's drinking laws state I need to be over 21 to even enter a club or bar. That makes me and most of my friends super angry. I don't even care that much about the drinking (it's not like it's hard for a person of my age to find alcohol), it's that I can't even enter the damn places. I'm left standing at the door while everyone else gets to go in and have fun, or end up being the reason a group has to change their plans and have to find a different place to eat (both of which have happened).

I'm still excited for GDC though, and it's looking to be even better than last year, I just wish I didn't have to wait another year and a half to "fully" enjoy it.