GDC Play and the 'Best in Play' awards return to GDC 2014

Organizers of the 2014 Game Developers Conference have confirmed the return of the GDC Play emerging/independent developer showcase to the show this year, with the 'Best in Play' awards also returning to the event. GDC Play, which is still available for potential exhibitors, is a separate area of the San Francisco show that showcases emerging and independent developers with a series of tables and meeting rooms. It will take place at a new time - Wednesday, March 19 - Friday, March 21 at Moscone Center during the 2014 Game Developers Conference. GDC Play 2014 has moved to the lower level of the North Hall in a prominent position alongside the bustling Career Center, Business Center, and ALT.CTRL.GDC exhibit - providing enhanced opportunities to target the more than 20,000 attendees at the show, in the packed latter half of the GDC week. This year, video game industry veteran Tom Russo has signed on as an advisor to the GDC Play showcase, and in addition to his Best In Play judging duties, will help ensure the attendance and meeting participation of key publishers, distributors, and investors. Russo will be leading VIP and press tours of the GDC Play area during the event. Russo is an experienced consultant in the games industry, and has years of experience working with game studios and organizations worldwide in his time serving as an industry consultant, a founding member of G4 Television, the editor-in-chief of Next Generation magazine, and more. As part of the 'Best in Play' awards program all GDC Play exhibitors will be judged on their in-development or complete games by a panel of veteran GDC organizers, Gamasutra editors, and industry veteran Tom Russo. The top 8 will be named 'Best in Play' winners, and all 8 winners will receive 2 All Access Passes to Game Developers Conference 2015. Winners for 'Best in Play' will be announced mid-February. Special 'Best in Play' designations will be attached to the honorees' GDC Play tables at GDC 2014, where their games will be playable to all GDC attendees. Existing GDC Play exhibitors become eligible for 'Best in Play' when they enter their booth information in the GDC Play Matchmaking Software. Booth space for GDC Play 2014 is still available via the UBM Tech Game Network’s information site. In addition, GDC 2014 registration is currently open.