Gwangju GGDC Opens... From 'GTA 5' Development Insights to Trying Indie Games

Teiji Yutaka, who worked on PlayStation development, and Andy Roh, who worked on “GTA 5,” give talks
Six local indie game teams showcase works in development

The 4th Global Game Developers Conference (GGDC), where participants share game development expertise and try out games created by local developers, opened on October 22 at the Culture Information Center of the National Asia Culture Center (ACC) in Gwangju. Developers who worked on PlayStation and “GTA 5” gave talks, while local indie developers showcased games in development.

Attendees pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony of the 4th Global Game Developers Conference (GGDC), held on the 22nd at the Cultural Information Center of the Asia Culture Center (ACC) in Gwangju. Photo by Kim Wanjung.

Hosted by Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City and organized by the Gwangju Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency (GICON), the event ran through October 23 under the theme “K-GAME: From Connection to Expansion.”

Teiji Yutaka, a professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, delivered the keynote address on opening day and spoke about his experience developing the original PlayStation. He described how 3D graphics once created with expensive computer equipment were brought to home gaming consoles, emphasizing the collaboration between engineers, creators, and producers, who connect works with business opportunities.

In his presentation, he said, “When people in these three roles understand one another’s perspectives, they can create original works that compete in the market.”

Andy Roh, CEO of Moontan Games, shared his experience working on “GTA 5” and “Red Dead Redemption” at Rockstar Games. He said that while working there, he experienced a production approach that meticulously designed everything from the details of a city to each character’s narrative and the relationships between characters. He explained that a consistent fictional world provides the foundation for expanding intellectual property (IP) over the long term.

On the use of AI, he stressed that the focus should be on creating a game’s distinctive character and setting it apart, rather than on realism for its own sake.

Visitors try out games while looking around the “Indie Stars Showcase” booths at the 4th Global Game Developers Conference (GGDC), held on the 22nd at the Culture Information Center of the Asia Culture Center (ACC) in Gwangju. Photo by Kim Wanjung.

The venue also featured the Indie Stars Showcase, where visitors could try games by local developers. Six teams took part, showcasing titles including the defense-management game “Janhwa,” the card-based strategic defense game “Eojjeoda Defense,” and the cafe management simulation “Wolf and Tea Time.”

Indie Stars is a GICON support program that helps local indie game developers create games and launch businesses. With support such as mentoring, participating developers refine their games, and GGDC gave them the opportunity to introduce works in development to visitors.

Development team Kiki Recipe showcased “Wolf and Tea Time,” a cafe management game in development with a planned release in 2027.

A Kiki Recipe developer described the concept: “The wolf, who owns the cafe, prefers coffee and desserts to meat, so he opens a cafe for sheep.” The developer cited Indie Stars’ long-term development support and mentoring as advantages of the program and called the opportunity to present the game at the event “a very good opportunity.”

Attendees included not only game developers but also people aspiring to work in game development.

A university student who said they came to the venue after seeing a bus advertisement said, “I hope to become a solo game developer who uses AI,” adding, “If I get the chance, I’d also like to take part in Indie Stars.”

“It was an opportunity to see how other indie teams made their games. I also enjoyed learning about new trends through the talks,” the student said, adding, “It was worthwhile because there aren’t many opportunities to attend events like this in Gwangju.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.