The Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco closes today. Swiss game developers once again made a big impact at this world-class event, winning 6 out of 16 awards for emerging talents and thereby putting Switzerland to the top of the country ranking in this category. This also represents a major success for Pro Helvetia, which together with swissnex San Francisco organised Switzerland’s presence at the conference. A part of the Swiss delegation is now travelling on to the South by Southwest technology fair in Austin.

The Game Developers Conference in San Francisco is the most important professional computer game industry event in the world. Over 25,000 game creators and experts from around the globe gathered there to discuss the latest in products, platforms and technologies. For the seventh time, the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and swissnex San Francisco were responsible for organising Switzerland’s presence at the event, and their efforts have paid off royally. Particularly in the «Best in Play» category, which picks the best in aspiring talents, Swiss game developers came out top overall, winning no less than 6 out of 16 awards. A total of 20 Swiss studios were represented at the conference. Five of them are now moving on to the entertainment and technology conference South by Southwest in Austin, where Pro Helvetia, swissnex San Francisco and further partners have enabled Swiss game professionals to participate for the first time.

Swiss award winners at the GDC in San Francisco

1.    GDC Best in Play  

• Zurich University of the Arts graduates Don Schmocker, Goran Saric, Martina Hugentobler and Philipp Stern win one of the eight «Best in Play» awards with their assiduously crafted «Far: Lone Sails»
• Five out of eight «honorable mentions» go to projects created by the following Swiss studios: Blindflug, Tourmaline, Team KwaKwa, Niche, Apelab

2.    Independent Game Festival (IGF)

• «Far: Lone Sails» also received a «Best Student Game»  nomination at the Independent Games Festival (IGF), the most important festival of its kind in the world

3.    GDC Pitch
Two Swiss startups each secured one of the ten sought-after presentation slots provided by GDC Pitch, giving them an opportunity to present their projects to industry representatives.

• Tourmaline Studio presented the family game «Oniri-Islands», a mix of board and computer game
• AirConsole demonstrated a technology by which smart phones can be converted into game consoles.

Trailer and images of «Far: Lone Sails» by Don Schmocker: www.far-game.com

Media relations:
Lisa Stadler, Communication
T +41 44 257 71 51, lstadler@prohelvetia.ch

Media Release Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, 03.03.2017