This Week Is GDC: Great News For Linux Gamers
The Game Developers Conference is from 17 to 21 March at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. GDC will feature the usual assortment of gaming sessions while from 19 to 21 is when the expo floor opens. GDC should be particularly exciting this year due to the increased Linux interest by game studios and other stakeholders.
Among the excitement we have to look forward to this week for the Game Developers Conference as it pertains to Linux gaming includes:
- Valve is showing off new Steam Controller prototypes and we will likely hear more from Valve's hardware partners about forthcoming Steam Machines.
- Valve's VOGL debugger and how it will help out game developers in porting/debugging Linux OpenGL issues. The VOGL code was open-sourced just a few days ago.
- We should learn more about Epic Games' Unreal Engine 4. Unreal Engine 4 has an OpenGL renderer and Android support and will most likely feature native Linux support. Hopefully there will be some interesting Linux-native games coming out powered by UE4 in the future.
- Crytek is finally showing off to the public their CryEngine Linux support.
- Microsoft is expected to be talking about DirectX 12.
- Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA are jointly having a session about reducing OpenGL overhead and driver improvements they are making.
- Various other announcements and wares to show by Linux-friendly game studios.
I'll be out in San Francisco on the 20th and 21st for Linux gaming coverage of GDC. Thanks to AMD sponsoring this trip and making the arrangements in order to meet with AMD representatives to talk about their Linux support and what they're doing to reduce OpenGL overhead that will affect the Catalyst Linux graphics driver.
Those curious about other events and sessions happening at GDC in San Francisco this week can visit GDConf.com. If there's anything else interesting for Linux gamers that I missed out on, feel free to let me know via our forums.
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