Greetings, fellow game designers!

It’s time to register for this fall’s Game Designers Workshop! This year we will be at MARINA DEL REY MARRIOTT, 4100 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292 on the weekend of October 15 and 16.  (Very important note: this is NOT the “Marina del Rey Hotel” which is confusingly nearby).

If you’ve never been to a GDW, read the FAQ below, to find out what wonders await you! Or visit the GDW website for boatloads of additional information.

The period, between signing the contract with the hotel and getting enough registrations to cover the minimum guarantee, is the period which gives your GDW organizers ulcers and insomnia. So be kind to us and send your checks to Bob (address below) as soon as possible.

Cost

The registration fee for the workshop is $350. This covers:

--The meeting room

--Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday (in the hotel)

--Lunch on Saturday and Sunday (in the hotel)

--Saturday dinner at a nearby restaurant

--A few miscellaneous expenses

(There are also optional dinners on Friday and Sunday for early arrivers and late departers. Payment for those will be collected in cash on the spot. We’ll ask for RSVPs on those dinners as we get closer to October. And, for early arrivers, there will be some sort of fun outing on Friday afternoon.)

Our meeting room has space for 30 people; once we get 30 payments we’ll start a waiting list, since there are usually a few people who drop out at the last minute. Last year we filled up, so register now to guarantee your spot!

Lodging

You’re responsible for your own lodging. We’ve negotiated a discounted rate on rooms at MARINA DEL REY MARRIOTT:  $229 per night (plus tax), while supplies last. To book your room use this link. 

Book your group rate for Game Designers Workshop

There are not unlimited discounted rooms, so register early!  Registration with this link ends September 23rd.  Let Bob know if you have any trouble getting the discounted rate.

What Do I Need To Do Right Now?

1. Mark the weekend of 10/15/16 and 10/16/16 on your calendar.

2. Reply to Bob right away, checking a box below so we can start getting a rough count:

     [  ] I’ll be there! I'm sending a check to Bob immediately and plan to stay at MARINA DEL REY MARRIOTT.

     [  ] I’ll be there! I'm sending a check to Bob immediately, but I’m staying elsewhere.

     [  ] I’ll probably be there. I'll let you know for sure ASAP.

     [  ] I probably won’t be there this year. I'll let you know for sure ASAP.

     [  ] I definitely won’t be there this year, but please keep me on the GDW mailing list.

     [  ] I won’t be there, and please remove me from the GDW mailing list.

3. If you’re coming, please send a check to our GDW Treasurer:

     Bob Bates

     5207 Honeysuckle Ct.

     Centreville, VA  20120

NOTE: The check, for $350, should be made out to “Bob Bates”, not “GDW” or “Game Designers Workshop”.

Thanks – we hope to see you in October!

    Bob (bobbates@bobbbates.com)

    Gordon (gordonwalton@hotmail.com)

    Steve (steve@boffo.us)

    Noah (noahf@google.com)

*Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why LA?

A: It’s our philosophy to move the GDW around to different cities. We were in Austin last year, so it’s back to the West Coast this year. Bob was hoping for Washington DC, but he was pelted with fruit and shouted down.

Q: What should I expect when I attend a Game Designers Workshop?

A: It’s like attending a two-day-long GDC roundtable, except one where the people around the table are the world’s most experienced (and good-looking) game designers. Each attendee gets to pick a topic and moderate the discussion for 1/Nth of the weekend, generally around 40 minutes. In addition to that, there’s fine food, schmoozing, drinking, and playing games late into the night.

Q: $350! Why so much?

A:  Although more expensive than last year’s workshop in Austin ($250), this is less than the previous two in San Francisco ($375 and $385).  It’s all got to do with what the hotel charges us for the meeting space and the food.

Q: Can I bring my spouse/significant other/buddy to dinner?

A: Friday and Saturday night are members-only. On Sunday, which tends to be smaller, we allow spouses and significant others (although most would rather do almost anything else rather than hang out with a bunch of inebriated game designers).

Q: I know a good game designer… can I invite him or her to the Workshop?

A: The workshop is invitation-only through a time-tested system. We are always looking for new designers to add to our group. If you know of a good candidate, send a recommendation to Noah, Steve, Bob, or Gordon – please do not just invite them yourself.

Q: Do I have to pay by check?

A:  We prefer a check, but PayPal is OK.