GDC 2016 is upon us and if you’re reading this article, you’re looking to party!

Many milestones are being celebrated this year including Pocket Gamer’s 10 years of covering the global mobile game scene.

A lot has changed in the last decade. Tiny startups have grown into massive unicorns and mobile gaming now rivals console for consumer mindshare, wallets, and ad spend.

The one thing that hasn’t changed is the networking, except now you can do it in VR.

Below are happenings around San Francisco where you can meet up with friends for an evening of karaoke, pool and Smash.

We'll be adding more as parties are announced so check back frequently and if you find one to add, tweet it to me @contentnow

SUNDAY 13 MARCH

• What: Game Dev Pizza

When: Sunday, March 13, 7pm
Where: Extreme Pizza, 1062 Folsom Street, San Francisco CA 94103
How:https://www.facebook.com/events/1676350482636088
Cost: Buy your own slice
More Info: Just got into town and starving? Kickoff the week over pizza with devs.

 

• What: Dutch Courage

When: Sunday, March 13, 8pm
Where: Brewcade SF, 2200 Market Street, San Francisco CA 94114
How:https://www.facebook.com/events/930007770382501
Cost: Free
More Info: Game developers show off their games and buy your first drink!

MONDAY 14 MARCH

• What: OGA Networking Lounge

When: Monday March 14, 8am-6pm
Where: SF Green Space, 657 Mission Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94105
How:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oga-networking-lounge-during-gdc-tickets-22146185838
Cost: FREE
More Info: The OGA Networking Lounge is a space where you can come, connect and schedule some meetings. Meet with Indies, see some cool demos and sit in on some of the OGA's interactive panel discussions. We'll be having international trade groups, developers and press coming through and thanks to Cutbox Studio, the event will be live-streamed to Twitch with interviews going on both days.

 

• What: AMD’s Capsaicin Party

When: Monday, March 14, 4-5:30pm presentation, 5:30-9pm party
Where: Ruby Skye, 420 Mason, San Francisco CA 94109
How:https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/capsaicin-brought-to-you-by-amd-radeon-registration-21640696907
Cost: Free
More Info: AMD presents a spicy kick of Capsaicin. Doors open at 3:30pm for a developer presentation, and then the party kicks into high gear with libations and tasty treats. Guest DJ to be announced.

 

• What: Kiip GDC party

When: Monday, March 14, 7-10pm
Where: Harlot, 46 Minna, San Francisco, CA
How:https://gdc2016.splashthat.com/
Cost: Free
More Info: Come ready to party with DJ Kev spinning all night

 

 

• What: VR Mixer

When: Monday, March 14, 7-11pm
Where: Temple, 540 Howard, San Francisco, CA, 94105
How:http://www.vrmixer.com
Cost: Free
More Info: VRGDC opening party!

 

• What: The MIX Showcase

When: Monday, March 14, 7-11pm
Where: IGN, 625 2nd Street, San Francisco, CA, 94107
How:http://www.mediaindieexchange.com/event/gdc-week-2016
Cost: Free
More Info: 5th Anniversary Showcase for The MIX featuring some of the more imaginative PC, console, mobile and VR games at GDC. Always brimming with indie creativity and industry VIPs.

 

• What: #GodsOfMobile Mobile Dev Memo

When: Monday, March 14, 7-10pm
Where: Hawthorn, 46 Geary, San Francisco, CA, 94108
How: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/godsofmobile-at-gdc-tickets-22165199709
Cost: Free, invite only
More Info: Open bar sponsored by Yahoo!, Tumblr, Applift, Tapjoy and epam.

 

• What: Pocket Gamer GDC Party sponsored by Rovio, Gram Games & GameScribes

When: Monday, March 14, 9pm-Midnight
Where: The Grand, 520 4th Street, San Francisco CA 94107
How:http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-pocket-gamer-is-10-party-gdc-2016-with-rovio-gamescribes-tickets-21033172786
Cost: Free with business card!
More Info: Pocket Gamer is 10 years old. Come celebrate a decade of decadence and coverage of the mobile game scene. Drinks, bites and beats!

TUESDAY 15 MARCH

 

• What: OGA Networking Lounge

When: Tuesday March 15, 8am-7:30pm
Where: SF Green Space, 657 Mission Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94105
How: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oga-networking-lounge-during-gdc-tickets-22146185838
Cost: FREE
More Info: The OGA Networking Lounge is a space where you can come, connect and schedule some meetings. Meet with Indies, see some cool demos and sit in on some of the OGA's interactive panel discussions. We'll be having international trade groups, developers and press coming through and thanks to Cutbox Studio, the event will be live-streamed to Twitch with interviews going on both days.

 

• What: Amazon Games & Twitch Happy Hour

When: Tuesday, March 15, 5-9pm
Where: John Collins, 138 Minna, San Francisco, CA
How: invite only
Cost: FREE

 

• What: Playphone After Hours

When: Tuesday, March 15, 5-8pm
Where: Jillian’s, 101 4th, San Francisco CA 94103
How:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/playphone-after-hours-party-gdc-2016-tickets-21689535986
Cost: Free
More Info: Sink that eight ball with friends over cocktails and hearty pub food.

 

• What: AppBoy Super Smash Bros Tournament

When: Tuesday, March 15, 5:30-8:30pm
Where: AppBoy, 580 Howard #101, San Francisco CA 94105
How:https://appboygdc2016.splashthat.com
Cost: Free
More Info: Chill out with beer, bites, Smash - byo Amiibo!

 

• What: Nite to Unite

When: Tuesday, March 15, 5:30-8:30pm
Where: Westin St. Francis, 335 Powell, San Francisco CA 94105
How:http://www.nitetounite.org
Cost: $500 donation
More Info: ESA Foundation’s annual philanthropic gala will be honoring EA’s Peter Moore and Humble Bundle for visionary leadership and charitable contributions. Worth the ticket price to mingle with industry icons who typically attend like Reggie Fils-Aime, Kaz Hirai and Cliff & Lauren Bleszinski. Seated dinner, silent auction, awards ceremony. Donations benefit youth programs across the country.

 

• What: IGDA Party

When: Tuesday, March 15, 6-9pm
Where: Children’s Creativity Museum, 221 4th, San Francisco CA 94103
How:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2016-igda-networking-event-gdc-tickets-21018379539
Cost: Free
More Info: Come early for drink tickets and munchies, stay late for karaoke, stop motion animation labs and photobooth! Sponsored by XBOX, Amazon Web Services, G2A.com, and HUB International.

 

• What: Peanut Labs Pirate Cruise

When: Tuesday, March 15, 6-9pm (Boarding 5:30pm)
Where: Pier 40, San Francisco CA 94107
How:http://bit.ly/PirateCruise2016
Cost: $627.95
More Info: Set off into the sunset with industry VIPs for a 3 hour tour of the SF Bay on a luxury 4-story cruise ship.

 

• What: 12th International Mobile Gaming Awards (IMGAs) sponsored by Rovio

When: Tuesday, March 15, 6-11pm
Where: 111 Minna San Francisco, CA 94105
How:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/12th-international-mobile-gaming-awards-imga-tickets-20012027513
Cost: FREE

 

• What: Destructoid Turns 10 Pre-Party

When: Tuesday, March 15 7-10pm
Where: Hawthorn, 46 Geary, San Francisco, CA 94108
How:http://bit.ly/DTOID-GDC-PreParty
Cost: FREE
More Info: Special performances by Grimecraft, James Landino, sponsored by GameChops and Headles Chicken.

 

• What: Chartboost GDC Party

When: Tuesday, March 15, 7-10pm
Where: Chartboost HQ, 420 Taylor, San Francisco CA 94102
How:http://www.eventbrite.com/e/chartboost-gdc-party-2016-tickets-20486167679
Cost: GDC Badge required
More Info: Chartboost’s Annual Dev Mixer.

 

• What: Github GDC Party

When: Tuesday, March 15, 7-11pm
Where: Github HQ, 88 Colin P Kelly Jr St, San Francisco, CA 94107
How: GDC Badge
Cost: FREE

 

• What: Yetizen GDC Party

When: Tuesday, March 15, 8pm-Midnight
Where: infusion Lounge, 124 Ellis, San Francisco, CA 94102
How:http://www.eventbrite.com/e/our-sweetest-gdc-bash-yet-tickets-22512786350
Cost: Free
More Info: VR showcase, DJ and drinks!

 

• What: POWx5 concert hosted by 8bitsf and Monobomb Records

When: Tuesday, March 15, 8pm-2am
Where: DNA Lounge, 375 11th Street, San Francisco CA 94103
How:https://www.facebook.com/events/821881857940381
Cost: $10 with GDC badge, $20 at door
More Info: Indie games + Chiptunes featuring Minusbaby, The Kevin Gnartinez Band, Chisel, and Yppah

 

• What: Upload Collective Launch Party

When: Tuesday, March 15, 8-10pm VIP Mixer, 10-Midnight Open House
Where: 1535 Mission, 2nd Floor, San Francisco CA 94103
How:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/upload-collective-launch-party-tickets-21572146872
Cost: Free
More Info: It’s VR-o-rama at this incubator of the future. Have a drink, pop on a headset, and experience GDC like you never have before.

 

• What: Destructoid Turns 10 Party/Homefront: The Revolution

When: Tuesday, March 15 10pm
Where: Secret Location
How:http://www.murderpalace.com, code: Revolution
Cost: FREE
More Info: Deep Silver's Party of Show

 

WEDNESDAY 16 MARCH

 

• What: Burning Man Ticket Registration

When: Wednesday, March 16, 12pm
Where: La Playa @ IGDA Booth, GDC Show Floor
How: GDC Badge, http://www.facebook.com/events/988703861177943
Cost: FREE
More Info: Join other burners as ticket registration opens for Burning Man. Meet other burners who are gamers and get tickets together! Don't go it alone - join Oded's Burner Game Developers group.

 

• What: Skillz Live eSports Tournaments + Free Beer

When: Wednesday, March 16 3:30-5:30pm
Where: GDC Show Floor, Skillz Booth 424
How: GDC Badge
Cost: FREE
More info: Top Twitch streamers will be hosting mobile eSports tournaments LIVE from the GDC floor at the Skillz booth. All GDC attendees can enter for free to compete for awesome prizes. First place wins an iPad Pro 128GB. Plus free beer and swag for stopping by!

 

• What: BIG sponsored by Xbox

When: Wednesday, March 16, 4-7pm
Where: Hotel Zetta, 55 5th, San Francisco, CA 94103
How:https://biggdc2016.typeform.com/to/XMhMJi
Cost: Free
More Info: Blacks in Gaming networking mixer hosted by Gordon Bellamy!

 

• What: NCSoft GDC Party

When: Wednesday, March 16, 5-8
Where: the Chieftain Pub, 198 5th, San Francisco, CA 94103
How: RSVP amadden@ncsoft.com
More Info: Food, drinks, swag, recruiters.

 

• What: GDC Rooftop Chillout @ the W

When: Wednesday March 16th, 5-8pm
Where: W Hotel, 4th floor Social Terrace, San Francisco, CA
How: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gdc-rooftop-chillout-the-w-tickets-22292443298
Cost: Free with badge and RSVP
More Info: Open bar, light appetizers, DJ, great view. Brought to you by Treasure Data, Fifth Column Games, and Datadog

 

• What: F2P Forum GDC Mixer

When: Wednesday, March 16, 6-8pm
Where: 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, CA 94105
How: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/f2p-forum-presents-gdc-mixer-2016-tickets-22556997587
Cost: FREE
More info: The Free2Play Forum's 9th annual networking mixer at the beautiful 111 Minna Gallery. Come for networking, drinks and conversation with key players in the free to play gaming industry.

 

• What: IASIG Audio Mixer

When: Wednesday, March 16, 6-9pm
Where: Thirsty Bear, 661 Howard, San Francisco CA 94105
How: http://www.iasig.org/gdc/2016gdc-sched.shtml
Cost: FREE for game audio professionals
More Info: Are you on the music production side of the business? Then mix it up with your fellow game audio peers. They’ll be raffling off gear, chatting about awards, and making sure you're happy and fed.

 

• What: Humble Bundle Rivals of Aether Tournament

When: Wednesday, March 16, 6pm-Midnight
Where: The Foundry, San Francisco CA
How: http://www.rivalsofaether.com/blog/?p=608
Cost: FREE
More Info: Presented by Humble Bundle, ID@XBOX and Showdown will be livestreamed on Twitch: http://www.twitch.tv/showdownsmash

 

• What: 16th Annual GDC Awards & Independent Games Festival Awards

When: Wednesday, March 16, 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Moscone West Hall, 800 Howard, San Francisco CA 94105
How: http://www.gamechoiceawards.com
Cost: FREE with GDC badge
More Info: Hosted by Robin Hunicke, the GDC awards celebrates the best in gaming as selected by the International Choice Awards Network.

 

• What: That Party sponsored by ID@XBOX

When: Wednesday, March 16, 7pm - 2am
Where: Public Works, 161 Erie, San Francisco CA 94103
How: http://that.party
Cost: $22.09 waitlist only
More Info: Venus Patrol’s epic rave is back with all the same shenanigans, just don’t call it Wild Rumpus. This time they’re partnering with Austin’s indie game collective Juegos Rancheros. You’ll start dancing the minute you click on the invite. Go ahead, click: http://that.party

 

• What: Annual GGP @ GDC

When: Wednesday, March 16, 8-10pm+
Where: Codeword SF, 917 Folsom, San Francisco CA 94103
How: https://www.facebook.com/events/1718361321730894
Cost: FREE
More Info: Gay Gaming Professionals celebrates 10 years. Meet the legendary Gordon Bellamy and gang!

 

• What: AppsFlyer & Vungle Party

When: Wednesday, March 16, 9pm+
Where: Harlot, 46 Minna, San Francisco CA 94105
How: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/appsflyer-vungle-gdc-2016-party-registration-21536888413
Cost: FREE
More Info: Optimize your GDC with open bar and noms.

THURSDAY 17 MARCH

• What: Big Indie Pitch with Chillingo, Mobilize & Singapore Gamebox

When: Thursday, March 17, 12-4pm
Where: Harlot, 46 Minna, San Francisco CA 94105
How: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/big-indie-pitch-gdc-2016-with-chillingo-mobilize-singapore-gamebox-tickets-21256196857
Cost: FREE with business card
More Info: Indie game developers are invited to pitch mobile, VR and wearable games to the editors of Pocket Gamer, Droidgamers, Cult of Mac and AppSpy. An incredible opportunity to secured coverage for an indie game and win valuable prizes. Spectators welcome.

 

• What: Skillz Live eSports Tournaments + Free Beer

When: Thursday, March 17, 3:30-5:30pm
Where: GDC Show Floor, Skillz Booth 424
How: GDC Badge
Cost: FREE
More info: Top Twitch streamers will be hosting mobile eSports tournaments LIVE from the GDC floor at the Skillz booth. All GDC attendees can enter for free to compete for awesome prizes. First place wins an iPad Pro 128GB. Plus free beer and swag for stopping by!

 

• What: 3D Games Happy Hour with Sketchfab & Substance Painter

When: Thursday, March 17, 5-6pm
Where: GDC Show Floor, Allegorithmic Booth 316
How:https://www.facebook.com/events/765544620245294
Cost: FREE
More Info: Beer stop on the show floor!

 

• What: Zynga GDC Happy Hour

When: Thursday, March 17, 5-7pm+
Where: Zynga Cafe, 699 8th Street, San Francisco CA 94105 (Zynga shuttles depart Moscone)
How: https://www.linkedin.com/company/167907?trk=hp-feed-company-name
Cost: FREE
More Info: Fun and games at Zynga. Open to all.

 

• What: Pocket Gamer DrinkUp

When: Thursday, March 17, 6pm+
Where: Barbarossa Lounge - 714 Montgomery St San Francisco, CA 94111
How:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pocket-gamer-drinkup-gdc-2016-tickets-21380611986
Cost: FREE with business card
More Info: What better way to end GDC than with your good friends at Pocket Gamer. Drinks will be flowing and there will be savory delights. 

FRIDAY 18 MARCH

• What: Pocket Gems GDCompression

When: Friday, March 18, 6-10pm
Where: Pocket Gems HQ, 220 Bush, Suite 750, San Francisco CA 94105
How:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gdcompression-2016-tickets-21349492908?aff=eanddiscsear&ref=eanddiscsear (request passcode from gdcompression@pocketgems.com)
Cost: FREE
More Info: It’s the end of GDC, time to collapse with pizza, beer, Smash and Mario Kart!

 

Many thanks to the Fellowship of GDC Parties and the countless other crowdsourced party lists that make it possible for all of us to find each other at the show!