Intel at Austin Game Developer Conference - It's a Wrap!

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October 14, 2009 12:00 AM PDT


by Joel De Guzman, Intel® Software Network

How is Intel supporting PC gaming? The answer is through great platforms, developer support and outreach, and development tools. Intel reached out to Game Developers and Gaming ISVs by sponsoring the Austin Games Conference (in Austin, Texas of course) last September 6-8, 2006. The event attracted 2400 attendees and was billed as "the definitive conference" for online and networked game development, including massively multiplayer online games, casual games, online PC, and console games.

We had a booth with Intel® Core™ 2 Duo desktop and laptop platforms showcasing the winners of the Game Demo Contest. More than $80,000 in prizes were awarded to the following entries:

Best Threaded Game
  1. Prize of $30,000 and a Dell Inspiron* E1705 laptop: Panzer Command: Operation Winter Storm, http://www.koiosworks.com *
    Download demo (ZIP 260MB)
  2. Prize of $2500: Gun Dragon, http://www.avocadooverboard.com*
    Download demo (ZIP 21MB)
  3. Prize of $1250: Tiki Lounge Blackjack, http://www.jellyfilledgames.com*
    Download demo (ZIP 6.8MB)
  4. Honorable Mention: Insanipaint
    Download demo (ZIP 17MB)
  5. Honorable Mention: El Condor Pasa, http://www.sweetmobility.net*
    Download demo (ZIP 9.8MB)
Best Game on the Go
  1. Prize of $30,000 and a Dell Inspiron* E1705 laptop: Toblo, http://www.toblo.net/*
    Download demo (ZIP 11MB)
  2. Prize of $2500: Insanipaint
    Download demo (ZIP 17MB)


Event attendees checking out game demos on a Core 2 Duo Laptop

People are asking if we're going to have more contests like these for developers. Even the INQUIRER gave a thumbs up to our efforts, and encouraged us to go international. The official word is that we're considering it -- as this is a great way for developers to showcase their work, so stay tuned.

Intel Software Network also featured the newly launched Intel® Multi-Core Developer Community and the Intel® Mobile Developer Community at the event. The Multi-core developer community introduced the site through a "community treasure hunt" with our eventual winner, Mike Greene, taking home an Apple Video iPod*.

Intel's Kristen Wair helping a participant with the Treasure Hunt

Treasure Hunt Winner Mike Greene is now a proud owner of an Apple Video iPod

The Mobile software developer community showed off the Laptop Gaming TDK - which provides an easy interface to help extend your games by adding mobile-aware features such as remaining battery power and wireless signal strength. If working in mobile games is your trade or hobby, go ahead and download this neat freeware (it includes source code) at the link above. Our good ol' friends at the INQUIRER again picked up this story and wrote a positive article on it.

Valve* Half Life 2 Mobile MOD showing the Laptop Gaming TDK in action.

My colleague Brad Werth did a presentation that summarized Intel's offerings for game developers such as our tools (TDKs, SDKs), developer communities, and the games-enabling team for commercial developers and ISVs. The funny thing is, there was an announcement for free beer at some booth a few minutes before his talk. That's tough to compete with :)

If you were at the conference tell us what you think of our booth, demos, promotions, and presentations. We're always here to listen. See you at the next developer event!

* Other names and brands may be claimed as property of others