Comments on: Reactions to a GDC Survival Guide

By: Elle Munster

Elle Munster — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:21:00 +0000

Hey I just wanted to thank you so much for spending so much time giving great networking tips. This is going to be my first year at GDC and I’ve been having quite a bit of anxiety about it, but these tips certainly do help. The thing I’m most worried about is how to introduce myself. I just started learning all about game design (programming, modeling, actual designing of the game idea, etc) this year and I’m still not 100% sure what I really want to focus on. I enjoyed the little bit of programming I have learned and have been really enjoying alot of the Maya things I’ve learned. So I’m not sure how to introduce myself besides saying, “Hi, I’m Elle. I’m currently a student of game design….” and then I draw a blank. I’d like to me somewhat memorable, but I’m not sure what to say besides, “yeah and I’m not really sure which aspect of game design I enjoy most, but as of right now, everything I’ve learned has been VERY enjoyable…” haha. Any tips?

By: Darius Kazemi

Darius Kazemi — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:23:00 +0000

I do mention roundtables in the article I linked in my post.

By: Ian Schreiber

Ian Schreiber — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:18:00 +0000

I had pretty much the same reaction reading the article.

I was also shocked when the first piece of advice involved bringing a stack of resumes. Yes, if you're spending all your time in the career pavillion this makes sense; and yes, if you hand out your resume at a party then assume it'll be lost. But shouldn't it be said that you should never bring out your resume unless asked, because otherwise it makes you look presumptuous and rude at best?

Lastly, the author says not to attend the sessions, and you counter by saying that you SHOULD so that you can talk the talk. I found it strange that neither of you mentioned roundtables, which do still count as sessions last I checked, and which are prime networking opportunities.