Game Design Tutorial

The past two days I spent attending the Game Design Tutorial. The focus of which has been MDA

Mechanics
Dynamics
Authentic

Coming from a web design background MDA seemed a bit of rhetoric to me. It focuses on the idea of sticking to theme/goal/and really simplifying out the gameplay mechanic without using words like FUN and GAMEPLAY. This is huge, it was a pleasure to attend this knowing that the thinking is being made more popular because even if it is an obvious, it is often overlooked and skipped.

Pre-GDC

Tomorrow is GDC you can feel it in the atmosphere. The morning started off with a wonderful chat over breakfast with man who had just finished having breakfast with his family. He let me sit at their table since seating was in short supply. After breakfast I had a very interesting conversation with him about the IT industry and the innovation revolved around Google Inc., Apple, and the rest of silicon valley. If time permits I definatly want to head up there and check it out.
After some more time spent over Calculus on the train, I bumped into an old buddy from my first GDC at King of Prussia, PA. Kevin Dunde is easily spoted with his cowboy hat and was with his friend Paul Frost both of whom came all the way from Canada for the week.
Later at Virgin Records cafe I met up with Nikki Inderlied and Jack olmsted from I4U News. I think Jack was helping Nikki advice, who was also here at GDC for the very first time. Anyways, after wraping up with soem more Calculus I'll head back out into the city and see what else I can find.

Straying into San Francisco

Awe San Francisco: The City of Grandeur and Exhilaration.
After a brutal eight hour long flight, or the sum of two, I had finally made it. Expedia.com had done a wonderful job of booking my flight and hotel. I had no problem although I was a little worried, I haven't flown or ever flown by myself before. I settled into my hotel, Good Nite Inn, and than took BART towards Powell St. in downtown San Francisco.
I didn't make it up the steps of the train station where I was blown away and forced to start snapping away my camera. I have never seen a more beautiful city in the states, and I've been around too. I've lived in Philadelphia for seven years, and I've been to New York, pre-9/11 and seen the gorgeous streets of Boston. Still nothing comes close.
On the train I met a girl who had traveled to San Fran. from Osaka, Japan. I spoke with her for awhile and soon after it really hit me. There are probably more Asians here than Caucasians, and believe me I don't mind one bit. I've always dreamt of going to Japan and seeing Tokyo and this gave me just a small insight on what it might be like. This was all made even more appetizing since 4/5 could be models.
Yep I was sold! I called my friend and exclaimed that I want to live here post graduation. I really thought that I would end up somewhere in Europe if I had a choice, but I don't think I would be unhappy living in California.
Right now I'm hanging out inside Virgin Records' Cupcake Cafe (free internet) and try to get some work done for Calculus. Afterwards I'll try and make it down to the Golden Gate and see if I can catch a picture of it in the sunset.