As a result of attending GDC Online 2012, as well as generally having a busy week, I was unable to post an update to the blog on October 10th. To start off with, I began working weekends back home on an every two weeks schedule as my financial situation is looking grim and I need to make money in order to buy necessities such as food. After the weekend I had to pack and catch a lengthy flight to Austin, Texas and didn't arrive until nine o'clock Monday night. The Narrative Summit at GDC began Tuesday and a number of events filled the whole day, though I will only elaborate on the most interesting. The first panel I attended was "Writing the Romance-able NPC: ICING the Content Cake" with speaker Heidi McDonald from Schell Games. The session raised my curiosity as I haven't seen a game that I feel effectively implements a romance system. I was a little disappointed the panel didn't discuss the implementation; however, I still found the talk interesting. She explained that one importance of romance in games is that it fills at least four of Maslow's hierarchy of needs with a potential of safety as the fifth, if the game offers the need to protect the romance-able npcs. She also listed in a ven diagram traits that over five hundred players in a survey determined were attractive or unattractive in npcs; childish and helpless being two of the most undesirable traits. Clara Fernandez Vara from MIT hosted another session entitled "Environmental Storytelling: Indices and the Art of Leaving Traces". Of all the sessions I attended, this one in particular proved to be the most beneficial to Pendulum Ascension. She explained the three types as defined by Charles Peirce the first being an icon which conveys an idea by resembling it (photo), the second being a symbol in which the object and meaning are arbitrary (bio-hazard symbol or languages), and finally an index which is physically connected to the idea (where there's smoke there's fire). The session focused on the third sign, Indices, which leave traces or pieces for the player to create their own story. I'll leave the discussion of this talk to a later time as there are plans to have Clara skype in and discuss the use of indices. The rest of Tuesday I attend a few other panels and the expo floor, though the night was filled with networking events. Right after the sessions ended for the day, I headed over to the Amazon.com party at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel. The Amazon networking event was by far the classiest and lavish party I have ever attended. They offered open bar and food including caviar, artisan pizza, and delicious oriental food. There were few tables around, which greatly encouraged socializing with people as you needed a place to set your drink. I managed to engage in several conversations this way, which was far easier than other networking parties. After that I went to the GDC opening party with a fellow classmate, though I left early as the party was too loud, dark and crowded to socialize with anyone. My night ended at a place called the Gingerman in which most of the narrative summit people met. There I met Dave Mark, who spoke half of my favorite session at GDC in San Fransisco, and engaged in a very enjoyable discussion.