It's a Start

I've spent much time thinking about the question of when and how to start blogging.  I've figured out the answer:

Now and on anything.

I'm currently 23500 feet above the Earth on my way to the 2012 Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco.  Even though I'm traveling 447 miles per hour I still have 6.5 hours to go another 2670 miles.

This will be my third GDC with the first in '05 and the second last year in 2011.  By all accounts I'm lucky to go to one, let alone several.  I got tapped last minute and it was a mad rush to get a flight and a hotel, but outside of that I won't complain.

There are a few things I plan to accomplish.

One. I'd like to attend all of the highlight sessions.  These include the keynotes, the developer rants, several vendor presentations from AMD, Intel, Qualcomm or NV (not just adverts, usually pretty useful), and be present for some of the Unreal Engine 4 details.  Unreal Engine 3 and the PlayStation 3 were the new hotness when I first went to GDC.  Now there are serious rumors of an AMD-powered PlayStation 4/Xbox 720 and Unreal Engine 4 is right around the corner.

I saw Mark DeLoura talk about how OpenGL ES would allow developers leverage the power of the PS3. Now I work on OpenGL ES 2.x and the next version is not too far off.   Although in retrospect it may have been the CELL itself that was the powerhouse and not the GPU...

Two. I always peruse the exhibits in the Expo when I'm between sessions or waiting for people before lunch.  I haven't really tried many of the demos or spent much time at the IGF booths.  I think this is a mistake.  The expo is an interesting cross section of the industry.  Not every demo is great but a lot may be msised by only each exhibit a cursory look.

Three. Parties! This is more of a joke.  I'm not a big party-er but I do like to have a beer and talk shop.  I do both too much as it is, but GDC is really where alcohol and development collide in the best ways.

Yeah, I know that isn't exactly going out on a limb.  It's just a long way of saying I'm going to learn a ton and have a blast while doing it. The real prize every trip has been the inspiration I get from seeing so many crazy talented folks showing off the best the world has to offer in interactive entertainment.  

The real challenge I'm putting to myself is to focus that inspiration into action. We'll see what tangible form that action takes, but the answer to when is the same as above: Now.