New GDC Pitch program helps GDC Play devs hone their pitching skills

Organizers of the 2016 Game Developers Conference are happy to welcome back the popular GDC Play emerging/independent developer showcase to the show this year, with a special new event that will help select participants practice their pitching skills in front of a live audience: GDC Pitch.

A great pitch can secure the future of your studio, or ensure your game has the resources to reach the players who will appreciate it most. At the all-new GDC Pitch, game developers that register to exhibit their game in this year's GDC Play may be selected to receive pitching advice and coaching, then pitch their game an opinionated panel of investors and publishers in front of a live audience. No pressure!

GDC Pitch will be hosted by Jason Della Rocca of investment platform Execution Labs and take place Wednesday and Thursday, March 16th and 17th, during GDC 2016. 

10 selected teams will each be offered pitch prep and training, then get 5 minutes to pitch, followed by questions, advice, and feedback from the judges. The judges will declare a "Best Pitch" on each day, and award each a complimentary All Access pass to GDC 2017 next year.

This year's list of GDC Pitch judges is as follows:

GDC Play, which is still open to potential exhibitors, is a special area of the San Francisco show that showcases emerging and independent developers with a series of tables and meeting rooms. It will take place from Wednesday, March 16th to Friday, March 18th during GDC 2016.

Once again, 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 and Gamasutra editors. The top 8 will be named 'Best in Play' winners, and all 8 winners will receive 2 All Access Passes to Game Developers Conference 2017. 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 2016, 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 2016 is still available via the UBM Tech Game Network's information site. In addition, don't miss your chance to save money by registering early -- the deadline to register for passes at a discounted rate is Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016.

GDC 2016 itself will take place March 14-18th at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. For more information on GDC 2016, visit the show's official website, or subscribe to regular updates via Facebook, Twitter, or RSS.

Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent UBM Tech.