Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Every working designer has them: unique techniques or "tricks" that they use when crafting gameplay. Sure, there's the general game design wisdom that everyone agrees on and can be found in many a game design book, but experienced game designers often have very specific rules that are personal to them, techniques that not everyone knows about or even agrees with. In this GDC 2015 session, five experienced game designers join the stage for 10 minutes each to share one game design "trick" that they use to make compelling gameplay.
GDC returns to San Francisco in March 2026! For more information, be sure to visit our website and subscribe to the GDC mailing list: gdconf.com/subscribe.
GDC talks cover a range of developmental topics including game design, programming, audio, visual arts, business management, production, online games, and much more. We post a fresh GDC video every day. Subscribe to the channel to stay on top of regular updates, and check out GDC Vault for thousands of more in-depth talks from our archives.
Every working designer has them: unique techniques or "tricks" that they use when crafting gameplay. Sure, there's the general game design wisdom that everyone agrees on and can be found in many a game design book, but experienced game designers often have very specific rules that are personal to them, techniques that not everyone knows about or even agrees with. In this GDC 2015 session, five experienced game designers join the stage for 10 minutes each to share one game design "trick" that they use to make compelling gameplay.
GDC returns to San Francisco in March 2026! For more information, be sure to visit our website and subscribe to the GDC mailing list: gdconf.com/subscribe.
GDC talks cover a range of developmental topics including game design, programming, audio, visual arts, business management, production, online games, and much more. We post a fresh GDC video every day. Subscribe to the channel to stay on top of regular updates, and check out GDC Vault for thousands of more in-depth talks from our archives.






![GDC Concert 2026: Expedition 33, Hades II, DOOM (2016), and more; feat. Austin Wintory & Troy Baker
Performed live for the [GDC] Festival of Gaming 2026, The Developers Concert is a celebration of video games through video game music. Conductor Austin Wintory takes a live orchestra through performances of iconic scores from the year, as well as personal selections of music from across video game music history.
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00:00 They Didnt Have This Yet feat. Troy Baker
04:51 Austins Hall of Fame: Space Quest, Command & Conquer, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
10:11 Rift of the Necrodancer, Goldeneye 007, & Super Meat Boy feat. Danny Baranowsky
18:57 and Roger
24:23 Undertale
28:58 [Scene + Music] feat. Troy Baker
32:04 Selections from Supergiant feat. Darren Korb, Judy Alice Lee, Ashley Barrett, and Erin Yvette
40:15 Tribute to Vince Zampella
48:48 Selections from 2025 in gaming
1:02:52 ABZÛ feat. Kristin Naigus
1:10:29 [Scene + Music] feat. Ben Starr and Jennifer English
1:18:32 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 selections feat. Laura Intravia
1:31:08 DOOM (2016) feat. Darren Korb: Rip & Tear, Olivia Pierce, Bfg Division
The GDC Developers Concert returns for its third year, bringing together world-class musicians, composers, and performers to celebrate the incredible music that shapes our gaming experiences. Grammy and BAFTA-winning composer Austin Wintory returned to the GDC Stage with voice actor Troy Baker (The Last of Us, Bioshock: Infinite) to celebrate another year of iconic game music. The blockbuster performance featured music from Rift of the Necrodancer, Hades II, ABZU, and more—not to mention some of the biggest scores and soundtracks from the past year of gaming. Stay until the end for a special surprise featuring Clair Obscur: Expedition 33!
Known for his groundbreaking scores for Journey, Abzu, The Banner Saga, Sword of the Sea, Stray Gods, and many more, Austin has redefined the role of music in games, earning global acclaim for his innovative and emotionally resonant compositions.
GDC returns this March 1-5, 2027, in San Francisco!
GDC talks cover a range of developmental topics including game design, programming, audio, visual arts, business management, production, online games, and much more. We post a fresh GDC video every day. Subscribe to the channel to stay on top of regular updates, and check out GDC Vault for thousands of more in-depth talks from our archives. GDC Concert 2026: Expedition 33, Hades II, DOOM (2016), and more; feat. Austin Wintory & Troy Baker](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xae7FYq7g2U/mqdefault.jpg)



