Monday, February 24th 2020
GDC 2020 On Schedule Despite COVID-19 Concerns, No Change in Computex Schedule, Either
The 2020 Game Developers Conference (GDC), the largest annual gathering of the video game and interactive art industry, is on schedule for its mid-March unveiling despite concerns over the COVID-19 global epidemic (aka novel-Coronavirus outbreak). The epidemic is believed to be largely responsible for the cancellation of the 2020 edition of MWC (Mobile World Conference) held in Barcelona, Spain. GDC 2020 will hit the road on March 16th, with its seat at Moscone Center in San Francisco, USA. Unlike MWC, which is fueled primarily by large mobile firms based out of Asia, GDC is a bit more democratized, and largely attended by independent (indie) game developers. Indie delegates use GDC mainly as a networking platform.
In related news, the 2020 Computex expo, the largest annual gathering of the PC and allied electronics industries, is on schedule for its June 2nd unveiling. This is particularly important as Computex is held in Taipei, situated in proximity to South- and Central Mainland China, which have the biggest clusters of COVID-19 cases, with its epicenter in Wuhan, Hubei province. The last major epidemic to ravage this part of the world, the 2003 SARS outbreak, had forced a postponement of the year's Computex to late-September. Organizers TAITRA will institute special measures for the show in compliance with local regulations, which include a mandatory requirement for on-site workers to wear face masks capable of filtering out NoCV, a "no handshake" policy, easy access to hand-sanitizers, possible medical outposts and additional presence of emergency personnel.
Sources:
Android Central, Computex Taipei, AnandTech
In related news, the 2020 Computex expo, the largest annual gathering of the PC and allied electronics industries, is on schedule for its June 2nd unveiling. This is particularly important as Computex is held in Taipei, situated in proximity to South- and Central Mainland China, which have the biggest clusters of COVID-19 cases, with its epicenter in Wuhan, Hubei province. The last major epidemic to ravage this part of the world, the 2003 SARS outbreak, had forced a postponement of the year's Computex to late-September. Organizers TAITRA will institute special measures for the show in compliance with local regulations, which include a mandatory requirement for on-site workers to wear face masks capable of filtering out NoCV, a "no handshake" policy, easy access to hand-sanitizers, possible medical outposts and additional presence of emergency personnel.
15 Comments on GDC 2020 On Schedule Despite COVID-19 Concerns, No Change in Computex Schedule, Either
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I being searching "google" how this is spreading, but I have yet to find the answer.
However, if you fly via several countries to get to Taiwan, you have to agree to be quarantined for two weeks, or you're not let into the country.
Also, if you travel on a PRC passport, you're not allowed in to Taiwan at all.
Supposedly Computex will have a review of the situation mid-April.
Some numbers here, not sure they're reliable though, especially when it comes to China.
gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1r_yWVpnlrp3_70FzQnRCbk2V8KixRon6g-vhqtH-SfJMg-XONr2sV1qo#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
if I had to walk down a busy ass street thats elbow to elbow touching everyone along the way... I'd think about, seriously. Being at a busy convention of this kind, its close enough to either not go or send down the robots with cameras.
Kojima, EA, Oculus... and most likely Square Enix and Sony. They already pulled out of PAX so GDC isn't out of the question as well. Capcom also...