Game Developers Conference
The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is an annual gathering of video game developers. The conference is comprised of a variety of lectures and roundtables by industry professionals on game-related topics covering programming, design, business and law, and art.
The first Computer Game Developers Conference was organized in 1987 by Chris Crawford and supposedly had only enough attendees to fill Crawford's living room. The CGDC changed its name to "Game Developers Conference" in 1999. GDC has also hosted the Independent Games Festival since 1999 and the Game Developers Choice Awards since 2001. GDC is also used for the annual meeting of the International Game Developers Association. In 2002, the GDC reported 10,000 attendees.
GDC has added several other events in recent years. At the GDC Expo, developers display the latest products useful in game development. GDC Mobile, first held in 2003, focuses on developing games for mobile phones and other handheld devices. The first GDC Europe (GDCE) was featured at the European Computer Trade Show (ECTS) in London on August 31 and September 1, 2001. ECTS has annually hosted GDCE in London since then.