GDC Online might have been a dying conference, but the one thing we're going to miss about it is our annual trip to Austin, Texas.

Yet, help is at hand; at least for March 2014.

It's best known for its music content, but the interactive/gaming side of the South By SouthWest festival is picking up steam.

It even has a Gaming Advisory Board.

Front of the room

The event will run 7 - 11 March 2014, and you can show your support by thinking up a suitably creative and interesting talk.

Speaker proposals are open until 26 July, with the interactive festival team particularly keen to encourage gaming-focused submissions this year.

Of course, it being SXSW, there is an innovative process when it comes to submissions.

You have to log into the PanelPicker - where you submit your idea - and then everyone gets to discuss and vote in a crowdsourcing-stylee.

Check out the details here, and get advice on innovative talks here.