Player preferences are changing. They want less grind, more rewards, lots of ways to express themselves, and faster advancement curves. As designers we need to reach a broader audience and find ways to keep them playing. How will we break out of the sub-500 thousand market and into the global market reaching tens of millions players?

Learn how designers at Bioware, Cartoon Network, Disney Interactive Studios, Rebel Monkey, and Sony Online Entertainment are reaching a broader audience and finding ways to keep them playing.

---

Featured Sessions

Sustaining Player Engagement by Designing for Intrinsic Need Satisfaction
Speaker: Scott Rigby (President, Immersyve, Inc.)
Session Description
This session presents specific motivational needs that, when satisfied in the MMO player, are proven predictors of enjoyment, value, and sustained subscriptions. Read More.

Interactive Actors That Express Emotion
Speaker: Gerry Seidman (CEO, ActorMachine), Ken Perlin (Noise Machine)
Session Description
In order for games to get more of the sort of character buy-in we associate with linear narratives, it requires simulating an actor's inner process. Read More

Endgame (How to Build High-End Gameplay for Your Most Devoted Players)
Speaker: Damion Schubert (Lead Combat Designer, Bioware Austin)
Session Description
One of the most crucial aspects of massively multi-player is also one of the maligned – what gameplay is available for your most devoted players once they finish your primary gameplay arc. Read More


Don't forget to check back regularly for updates.
To view all Online - Design sessions, click here.
To view all Austin GDC Sessions click here

---

Meet the Austin GDC Advisory Board

The Advisory Board is comprised of 20 seasoned industry professionals volunteer their time to help develop the numerous sessions at Austin GDC. They work to ensure that the quality of the content provided to attendees is high-level, relevant, and timely. Their dedication and passion for the game industry is critical to the success of the conference.

Read about the members of the Austin GDC Advisory Board