Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions concerning GDC 2009, please refer to the Contact Us page.

Event Date & Location

Q: When/Where is the Game Developer Conference 2009?
A: When

GDC: March 23-27, 2009
GDC Expo: March 25-27, 2009
Summits & Tutorials: March 23-24, 2009
Main GDC: March 25-27, 2009

A: Where

Moscone Convention Center
North and West Halls
Howard Street, between 4th & 5th Streets
San Francisco, CA 94103

About Conference Registration

Q: How do I contact a "live" person for registration help and information?
A: Please contact the GDC Registration Department at (415) 947-6926 or (866) 535-8997. The Registration Department is open Monday-Friday from 9am to 4pm Pacific Time, excluding holidays.

Q: What is the cost for admission?
A: There are a number of different passes available, depending on what parts of the GDC you want to see. For details about these passes and prices, please click here.

Q: When can I register to attend the Game Developers Conference 2009?
A: Registration for the conference is open from the end of October through dates of the conference (March 23-27, 2009). Please note that online pre-registration ends Wednesday March 18, 2009 at 1 pm PT. Now open. Register here.

Q: I registered for GDC 2009 online -- how do I get a receipt and confirmation?
A: If you registered and paid online, the final page of the registration process is your receipt and confirmation. Please make certain to make a copy of your receipt for expense purposes as well as any follow-up with the GDC Registration Department. If you printed an invoice and submitted it with your check payment, we will mail you a confirmation and receipt, once your registration is received and processed.

Online registration without payment does NOT secure the Alumni or Early registration discount. If you selected payment by check, please be aware that all check payments must be received by the Registration Department no later than Friday March 13, 2009 in order to apply the payment to your registration. If you are unable to meet this deadline, please pay by credit card by accessing your registration as a returning user and follow the prompts to pay with a credit card. Thank you.

Q: Why do I have to create a unique login and password for my registration?
A: For your privacy and protection we require anyone registering online to create a unique login for access to their registration. Having a login allows you online access to your receipt, pass selection and information about your registration, as well as use of the Schedule Builder (live on the site in mid-January, 2009).

Q: What is the International Game Developers Association's (IGDA) member discount for GDC 2009 registration?
A: IGDA members can receive a $50 discount on the price of their conference pass when they register. Enter your IGDA membership number in the registration field provided to receive the discount. Please note that the IGDA discount does not apply to the Expo, or the Student passes.

Q: I have forgotten my IGDA membership number, how can I obtain it?
A: You can obtain your membership number by contacting the IGDA via phone at (856) 423-2990 or email.

Please be aware that the IGDA is not related to the GDC Registration Department.

Q: What happened to the GDC Audio pass from 2008?
A: In efforts to simplify the GDC pass structure and add more clarity to the pass purchasing process for all attendees, GDC 2009 will feature only the following conference pass types:

The pricing for these passes is consistent with prior years, and the value garnered for each pass has been increased given the expanded offerings by the conference this year. Note that Summits and Tutorials pass holders not only have access to the Audio Bootcamp, but will be able to attend the complimentary sessions expo pass holders are able to attend during the main conference (Wednesday through Friday). These complimentary sessions will include an Audio session. We will also distribute Single Session Passes to attendees of the Audio Bootcamp. This Single Session Pass will allow entry into any session of their choice during the main conference.

Q: How do I register a Group?
A: To take advantage of our group discount of 10%, your group must consist of 10 or more attendees from the same company and they must be registered at the same time. Additional registrations from the same company added at a later date will not be entitled to the group discount unless they are submitted under the same terms & conditions described herewith:

Terms and conditions: The group discount of 10% is only valid off the current registration price, including early discount registrations for All Access Pass, and Main Conference Pass. No other passes are entitled to the 10% discount. Additional discounts, such as Alumni, Exhibitor or other special discounts are not combinable with the group discount.

To register your group, please download a registration form and complete one for each member of your group. We are unable to accept emailed or faxed lists. Please include the registrant's email address so that we can email him/her a confirmation for their records and for future Alumni discount offerings as well as full payment information. Once completed, fax your registration forms to (415) 947-6011.

Q: When do I receive my badge?
A: Event Badges - Fast Track Check-In: Four days prior to the event, on March 19, 2009, pre-registered attendees will receive an email with a confirmation letter and FastTrack barcode which should be printed and presented on-site for your event badge and materials. Present your FastTrack barcode at either Moscone West or Moscone North to check in. Short range “Touch ‘N Go” RFID badges will be in use at GDC 2009.

Q: I registered and now need to make changes to my registration, how can I do this?
A: If you need to cancel your conference registration, you may do so for a full refund, less a $150.00 service charge until Monday, March 9, 2009. Attendees who register prior to or after the deadline date, who do not cancel in writing by the deadline date are liable for the pass cost and will be charged for the full registration fee. Sorry, no refunds are available for no-shows. If you are unable to attend the event, we recommend that you send a substitution in your place. Changes to registrations must be presented in written form.

Please download the Registration Change Form located here and fax your cancellation, changes or substitution request to (415) 947-6011, or mail your request to:

UBM Events Registration Department
GDC 2009
600 Harrison Street, 6th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94107

Written requests for a downgraded pass must be received no later than Monday, March 9, 2009 for a full refund on the difference of registration fees between the value of the original and downgraded pass. Requests received after Monday, March 9, 2009 will not be accommodated. Upgrade pass requests must be submitted in writing and faxed to (415) 947-6011 along with payment information for the difference in value.

Q: Where can I mail my registration payment or changes?

A: UBM Events Registration Department
GDC 2009
600 Harrison Street, 6th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94107

Q: Where can I place a request for a change?
A: Please fax your requests to (415) 947-6011

Q: What is the address of the Moscone Convention Center?
A: The Moscone Center is on Howard Street, between 4th and 5th Street in downtown San Francisco. For further directions to the convention center, please contact the facility directly at (415) 974-4000.

Q: What are the 5 classes included with the Expo pass?
A: The 5 sessions included in the Expo pass will be announced in early 2009. Please check back then for more information.

(back to top)

Show Hours

Q: What are the registration hours?
A: The tentative hours for registration are:

Registration Hours - Moscone Center West Lobby:

Sunday, March 22: 5pm–7pm: Early Registration for all pass holders
Monday, March 23: 8am–4:30pm: Early Registration for Upgrades, All Access and Summits & Tutorials Holders only please.
Monday, March 23: 12–4:30pm: All Conference Pass Holders Welcome
Tuesday, March 24: 8am–7pm
Wednesday, March 25: 8am–6:30pm
Thursday, March 26: 8:30am–6:30pm
Friday, March 27: 8:30am–3pm

Q: What hours will tutorials, sessions, expo, and expo suites be open in 2009?
A:
Tutorial Hours:

Monday, March 23: 10am–6pm
Tuesday, March 24: 10am–6pm

Sessions hours:

Wednesday, March 25: 9am–5pm
Thursday, March 26: 9am–6:30pm
Friday, March 27: 9am–5pm

All GDC Summit hours:

Monday, March 23: 9am–6pm
Tuesday, March 24: 9am–6pm

Expo hours:

Wednesday, March 25: 10am–6pm
Thursday, March 26: 10am–6pm
Friday, March 27: 10am–3pm

Expo Suite hours:

Wednesday, March 25: 9am–6pm
Thursday, March 26: 9am–6pm
Friday, March 27: 9am–3pm

Career Pavilion hours:

Wednesday, March 25: 10am–6pm
Thursday, March 26: 10am–6pm
Friday, March 27: 10am–3pm

About The Conference Curriculum

Q: When will the conference curriculum for the Game Developer Conference 2009 made available?
A: The conference sessions will be added to this site in the Winter of 2008 as speakers are confirmed, so check back regularly.

Travel and Hotels

Q: How do I reserve a hotel room for the GDC 2009?
A: Please check the travel section of the website for hotel information.

Q: Is there a discount available for housing or travel?
A: Yes, discount details are provided in the travel section of the website.

GDC Proceedings

Q:Where can I access GDC Proceedings (also known as "Speaker Presentations" prior to GDC 2004)?
A: GDC Proceedings are available here.

Speaking At The GDC

Q: I would like to speak at the conference. How do I submit a proposal?
A: The Call for Submissions for GDC 2009, Worlds In Motion, GDC Mobile, and Serious Games Summit have closed. Please check the respective pages for further information.

Q: Are there specific subjects that I should submit speaking proposals for?
A: Yes. The Call for Submissions form has an extensive list of topics that the GDC would like to cover. Click here for more information.

Q: When do I find out whether my speaking proposal for the 2009 conference was accepted?
A: Notifications for the main GDC 2009 have been distributed. Notifications for the GDC Summits will be distributed in December 2008. Notifications for Summits at GDC will be distributed in December 2008.

If you have any questions regarding GDC 2009 proposals, please contact Evelyn Donis. For questions regarding the Summits, contact Jennifer Steele.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Q: Are there volunteer opportunities at the GDC 2009?
A: Students may be eligible for the GDC 2009 volunteer program. Please click here for more information.

If you have a question and can't find the answer on the site, please let us know. Chances are, someone else will have the same question. Send questions to Contact Us page.

(back to top)

Frequently Asked Questions

Event Date & Location:

Conference Registration:

Show Hours:

Conference Curriculum:

Travel & Hotels:

GDC Proceedings:

Speaking At The GDC:

Other Questions:

Volunteer: