What I Learned Attending My First Game Conference

          I went to the Austin 2016 Game Conference last week with Zach and Mr. Lowther. I decided to go simply because it was an opportunity to learn from people outside of school. Also it’s good for networking, though I didn’t meet anyone this time. However, I took tons of notes on what the speakers had to say as well as what to remember next time I show up to a conference like this. For those of you who want to try attending a conference, here’s what I’ve got for advice:

          -Look for conferences: As obvious as it is, you can’t show up to something you don’t know is happening in the first place. Had I not heard about the Austin Game Conference, I wouldn’t have gone. There’s a site that has many conferences and conventions listed by month, day, and location. If you want to make plans for one, the site can be found here http://www.gameconfs.com/.

·         -Plan for travel: Rarely will a conference be in your local town. You may have to travel pretty far. Austin was a six-hour drive for us. Be sure to calculate costs for gas, food, and what hotels you’ll be staying at. Most conferences will reserve hotels for registered guests.

·         -Bring your resume and business cards: While I was there, several of the representatives at the information booths requested that we show them our resumes. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any printed. If you happen to have your resume on you, show it to the companies that you’re interested in and they will likely remember you later. Business cards add even more of an impression if you have them.

·         -Take notes: Every hour there was a panel with at least one person speaking. Sometimes there were multiple speakers talking about their experiences in the industry. Most have PowerPoint slideshows to summarize their talks, but writing down what you hear commits the words to memory. If you can, type up the notes via laptop. You’ll be glad you did.

·         -Try listening and talking with various attendees and speakers: This is probably the most important. If you meet somebody at the conference, they might can help you out in the future. I spoke with a woman who had built a game per week for an entire year and she had the most encouraging things to say. I also saw a small group of attendees gradually grow in size as more and more people joined in on the conversation. You might not make a ton of connections (read: friends) at your first conference, but it’s worth a shot.

          The conference was awesome. If I could, I would definitely go again. They’re great if you can attend, but it isn’t always an option. Tickets will usually run over $500 to enter (although we had a student discount). Attending every single conference or convention isn’t necessary, but you can learn so much compared to sitting in class.