GDC Highlights: Engine action, VR pricing, and effective advocacy

Day 2 of GDC is complete!

Day 2 of GDC is complete! With another huge day of sessions, demos, and design tips under our belt, we’re taking another break to catch you up on some of the day’s social highlights, both from attendees at the show and our own coverage here on Gamasutra.

Be sure to follow us @Gamasutra on Twitterfor live updates during GDC, and check out our Vine pagefor developer tips from attendees at the show!

CryTek just announced "CryEngine V", new engine optimized for VR development. #GDC16

— Gamasutra (@gamasutra) March 15, 2016

Unity adds certification program for developers https://t.co/yxgrEzhtam pic.twitter.com/jthpYM6AMy

— Gamasutra (@gamasutra) March 15, 2016

Crytek and Unity both shook up the engine game this morning with announcements on their new engine plans—Crytek announced that their next engine will be pay-what-you-want, and Unity introduced plans for developer certification that will undoubtedly shake up the hiring field.

PlayStation VR: What's in the box pic.twitter.com/GRqYrDvwWV

— Gamasutra (@gamasutra) March 15, 2016

PlayStation VR launches October 2016 for $399/€399 pic.twitter.com/cTWO2yC8YK

— Gamasutra (@gamasutra) March 15, 2016

And VR still remains a HUGE talking point, with Playstation holding a separate press conference to announce the pricing of their VR headset. though the price of the headset may rank the lowest currently, multiple developers pointed out the Move and camera costs will still raise the price of the overall rig.

How about "decks"? https://t.co/OtEAMtx1xy

— Nick Capozzoli (@NickCapozzoli) March 15, 2016

Or “Deck” if you’re feeling so inclined.

One of the results of 3rd romance survey. @Death_Bowwas braced for backlash but found support. #GDC pic.twitter.com/37ZGcbAzqz

— Tanya D @ GDC (@cypheroftyr) March 15, 2016

"Character choices, even when they're not narrative driven, can get people to try your game"-- @cattsmall #GDC16 pic.twitter.com/5jBCjmFQ0o

— Gamasutra (@gamasutra) March 15, 2016

. @Rhoulettediscusses how women's events cannot be one-off occurrences. They need to be a series so narratives can be interwoven. #GDC16

— Lil | Milktea @ GDC (@_lilchen) March 16, 2016

The advocacy track continues to be popular with attendees on the floor, with lines and crowds showing up for several talks providing practical advice for building inclusive environments in games.

Dan Adelman: 'the indie games community has a responsibility when it comes to pricing its games' #GDC16 pic.twitter.com/pVqJwhEGGb

— Etienne Michon @ GDC (@e_michon) March 16, 2016

Dan Adelman: 'the indie games community has a responsibility when it comes to pricing its games' #GDC16 pic.twitter.com/pVqJwhEGGb

— Etienne Michon @ GDC (@e_michon) March 16, 2016

A lot of talk about impostor syndrome at #gdc16talks this year

— VF6's real, right?!? (@Zerochan) March 16, 2016

Temkin: Worry about selling your game to the people who already like your type of game, not the undecideds. #GDC16

— Soren Johnson (@SorenJohnson) March 16, 2016

#gamedevstudents should study classics, philosophy, psychology while working on tangeble projects #GDC16 #gamedev

— Ashlyn Sparrow (@AshlynSparrow) March 16, 2016

And as the day closed out, the 2016 Indie Soapbox provided lesson after lesson from indie developers who’ve survived all kinds of challenges while trying to make it as game developers.

That’s it for Day 2, stay tuned to Gamasutra.com for further coverage and announcements straight from GDC 2016!