Welcome to GDX

Peter Weishar, dean of the SCAD School of Film, Digital Media and Performing Arts, and Luis Cataldi, chair of interactive design and game development

A New Frontier: a Veteran Artist's move from AAA to Social Games

Speaker:Dave Inscore | Zynga East

Description: After accruing 15 years of AAA game development experience, Inscore started down a new career path when he moved from Big Huge Games, the studio he co-founded in 2000, to Zynga East, the social game studio behind the hit Facebook title "FrontierVille." Inscore will discuss his transition from AAA to social, what life is like as an artist on a "live" Facebook title, and where he sees opportunities for artists emerging in this rapidly evolving space.

The Technical Art of Level Design

Speaker: Matthew Steinke | Ubisoft

Description: Steinke will divulge the key skills needed to thrive in the AAA environment. Based on his most recent experiences with the "Splinter Cell" development team, he will outline the skill sets needed to bridge the gaps between level art and design. He will also discuss how to build worlds and breathe life into them.

"Gears of War 3": Building a Better Pipeline

Speaker: Jeremy Ernst | Epic Games

Description: Ernst will cover the evolution of his Maya rigging pipeline during the production of "Gears of War 3" and the "RAAM's Shadow" game add-on. Earnst will address key topics such as converting production MEL scripts to Python; using DLC as a test bed for new pipeline ideas and improving existing pipelines; and designing tools to be adaptable for future projects.

Lunch Break

ZBrush Character Creation Workflow

Speaker: Danny Williams | DreamWorks Animation

Description: During this presentation, Williams will demonstrate his workflow for sketching a character from scratch in Pixologic ZBrush and Adobe Photoshop. Learn how to create amazing characters using these revolutionary tool sets and a well-trained artistic eye.

Awesome Sauce: The Secret Recipe for Design Excellence in the Field

Speaker: Joe Maris | Microsoft

Description: Maris will outline the key ingredients to a successful design career in a live production environment: ideation, communication, expertise and temperament. Using practical examples, he will recap his experience at both small studios and large corporations to help designers instill indispensable value in their studios and their careers.

Land of Opportunity

Speaker: Frank DeLise | Autodesk

Description: DeLise will discuss the opportunities game developers have for a successful future. He will outline the game development landscape and the options available to young professionals. DeLise will also review his career path from a 3-D artist to the general manager of successful franchises.

Entelechy Presentations on the Main Stage

Closing Remarks

Luis Cataldi, chair of interactive design and game development

Closing Reception