GDC^2: Austin's Video Game Conference

GDC^2 is a localized industry speaker event that brings the essence of the Game Developers Conference (GDC) straight to UT's Gates Dell Complex (GDC) for professionals and students who cannot attend the main event. The event welcomes all disciplines interested in the game and related industry and brings UT talent and professionals together for information exchange, networking, and recruiting. Here’s what to expect:

• Free Food and Gaming After-Party
• Game Pitch Competition
• Indie Game Showcase and Art Alley
• Industry Talks and Panels
• Networking and Recruiting Opportunities

Keynote Speaker (Fri 5:00pm - 6:00pm): Gordon Walton, SciPlay

GDC^2 2026 Agenda
Friday, March 6, 2026
GDC Lobby (GDC 2.100)

• 3:00pm - 8:00pm: Check in and registration
• 3:00pm - 5:00pm: Alienware and EGADS merch

Avaya Auditorium (POB 2.302)

• 3:00pm - 3:45pm: From Student to What the Heck? Alumni Panel

GDC Lobby (GDC 2.100)

• 3:45pm - 5:00pm: Characters to Careers (costumes encouraged)
  Alumni panel table
  Career Centers representatives tables
  Photo booth
  22nd Century Toys table
  Texas Immersive Institute table

Avaya Auditorium (POB 2.302)

• 5:00pm - 6:00pm: Gordon Walton, SciPlay - 12 Life Lessons
• 6:00pm - 7:00pm: Tim Garris, Serenity Forge - Finding Your Game Audience

GDC Lobby (GDC 2.100)

• 7:00pm - 7:30pm: Dinner sponsored by Zynga
• 7:30pm - 8:00pm: Personal Networking Event led by Matt Kayrouz, Pocket Worlds

Avaya Auditorium (POB 2.302)

• 8:00pm - 8:20pm: Closing Event + Next Day Informational

Saturday, March 7, 2026
GDC Lobby (GDC 2.100)

• 10:30 - 7:30pm: Check in and registration
• 10:30 - 7:30pm: EGADS merch

GDC 2.216

• 11:00am - 12:00pm: Will Sords - More to Audio than Just Sound
• 12:00pm - 1:00pm: Mario Rodriguez, Gearbox - Interactive Q&A on Game Production

GDC Lobby (GDC 2.100)

• 1:00pm - 2:30pm: Lunch sponsored by Pocket Worlds
• 1:00pm - 4:00pm: Indie Games Showcase

GDC 2.210

• 1:00pm - 4:00pm: Tummydrops VR Showcase
• 4:00pm - 4:45pm: Tummydrops - Motion Sickness in Games

GDC 2.216

• 4:00pm - 5:00pm: Arthur Dale and Adam Eckert, Dragon Fractal Games - One Month Game Project to Indie Studio
• 5:00pm - 5:30pm: Pitch Contest of Showcases
• 5:45pm - 6:15pm: Ian Drayer, SciPlay, How Testing Analytics Inform Game Design
• 6:30pm - 7:30pm: Drew Kenady and Ian Costello, Pocket Worlds - Day in the Life of a Pocket World’s Engineer

GDC Lobby (GDC 2.100)

• 6:30pm- 7:30pm: Game Dev Relay - Shirt Reward
• 7:30pm - 9:00pm: Dinner sponsored by SciPlay and GDC^2 Awards

Alienware Longhorn Esports Lounge & Arena at UT Underground
9:00pm+: Gaming Afterparty sponsored by Longhorn Gaming

There are multiple ways to get involved with GDC^2.

• Participate in networking and/or recruiting
• Register to attend the event
• Sign up to exhibit in the Indie Game Showcase or Artist Alley
• Make a generous donation to help support the event and our student organization at our Venmo @Texas-EGaDS