It’s no secret – GDC is becoming less and less of a media show and turning back to it’s old focus as a true meeting of the minds in the video games industry. But that doesn’t mean there is a loss of PR opportunity at the conference if the story and the product are right. This past week, we went nearly all-hands at the show, hitting the Game Developers Conference with five clients, respectively showcasing console, mobile and PC games, VR hardware, and a game engine.
After weeks of booking media, preparing the clients for their 15 minutes, and, in some cases, balancing some nutso travel plans, we hit San Francisco in full force to support Big Star Games, nWay, Pico Interactive, U&I Entertainment and, and YoYo Games – ensuring smooth interviews with booked media and pulled in any and all reporters from the show floor to check out our lineup! (though we did get a chance to hop on the show floor once or twice…or three times).
Big Star Games Big Star Games offered its first look at the Spanish studio’s upcoming PC and console game Reservoir Dogs: Bloody Days, based on the iconic Quintin Terantino break-out film, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year (what? Really? It’s been THAT long?). We embargoed press until just after GDC – and when we lifted it, the coverage rained in.
Our long time partner nWay showed off the mobile game studio’s mighty morphin’ game Power Rangers: Legacy Wars. Media got a chance to go head-to-head with nWay’s studio head for some thrilling hands-on time with the fiercest rangers in the pre-launch version. The game is set to launch later this month and we’re pumped to get ‘morph’-enomal with the game and anticipate a lot of media be morphing alongside us.
Jeff Haynes of Common Sense Media battling in Power Rangers: Legacy Wars
Over on the Moscone Center South Hall floor, Pico Interactive, Inc. blew the minds of the media and conference attendees with the upcoming completely untethered, self-contained VR headset, Pico Neo CV. With back-to-back appointments over all three days of the expo, we shuffled dozens of press through demos and delighted to see their awe of headset’s lightweight and completely hands-free design. We also pulled in some impressive unscheduled journos we saw walking the floor and got them some hands-on time, including TechRadar and MIT Technology Review.
Nick Pino of TechRadar trying out the Pico Neo CV headset
U&I Entertainment, the behind-the-scenes label and retail distributor, showed off the fourth installment of the adrenaline fueld FlatOut franchise. Reporters went hands-on with the frenetic game’s various tracks, the killer “Assault Mode” and the epicly legendary ass kicking craziness of “Stunt Mode” (Disclaimer: a windshield or two may have or may not been broken while playing).
Umberto Moioli, right, of Multiplayer.it trying out FlatOut 4.
Finally, YoYo Games… and our chance to work with one of the most acclaimed game engines for amateaur, student and professional developers around the world. With the launch of GameMaker Studio 2 around the corner, we hosted private demos under embargo to showcase the engine and give media an advanced look at the launch announcement, garnering some great coverage (example: GamesIndustry.biz). Editors got a good behind the scenes look at the game development platform in action with YoYo Games’ Chief Technology Officer, Russell Kay, sharing highlights of the innovative new features such as the signature Drag and Drop (DnD(tm)) that gives game creators of every level easy access to rapid, cross-platform development.
Whew! After tons of meetings, interviews, sore feet and a lack of sleep, it’s safe to say that 2017 GDC was a definite success. Now… PAX East and on to E3! (Our jobs definitely don’t suck.)