Portable Agenda: GDC Edition

Modojo is coming to you this week from (not so) sunny San Jose, California - its GDC week! We made the trek in order to provide you, our loyal readers, with all the news that's fit to print from this year's Game Developer's Conference Mobile on Monday and Tuesday, as well as GDC proper Wednesday-Friday. Well that, and the after-hours parties. They might have motivated us to come, too.

Don't think that just because we're working out of press rooms and hotel lobbies we don't have a heaping helping of portable content to serve up, though. This week we'll have a review of Nintendo's other big game of March, Metroid Prime: Hunters. PSP enthusiasts weren't forgotten, with Metal Gear Acid 2 and Daxter both coming under the Modojo microscope as well. An even half-dozen mobile reviews will also be going up, including Taiko Drum Master, Driver: Vegas, and Mega Man.

We'll still be giving the conference all the proper attention, of course. GDC has been growing in stature and importance for several years now, to the point that it's almost a can't-miss event, like E3. Microsoft last year used GDC as a vehicle to blow the lid off of many of the Xbox360 features, and this year it seems likely that Sony and Nintendo might be prepping similar presentations of their own.

It's unlikely that we'll see much major portable-related news, but stranger things have happened. Besides, there are still a handful of things portable enthusiasts need to be sure to look out for. Mitch Laskey, (the head-honcho at the newly-combined Jamdat/EA-mobile) is giving a keynote speech to talk publicly for the first time about the company's roadmap, for one. Why should you care? With Jamdat's experience and EA's deep pocketbook and numerous licenses, it wouldn't be the least bit surprising if the company unveiled plans for a whole line-up of mobile titles with PS1-era graphics and gameplay.

Perhaps that's wishful thinking. Regardless, EA-Mobile, thanks to acquiring Jamdat, is now the most powerful mobile game maker in the world. What Laskey has to say will undoubtedly shape the course of the market for years to come. Exciting!

Look for a full rundown on GDC Mobile on Wednesday, and a recap of the entire week on Friday. As always, 24-hour news coverage will keep you up to date with breaking GDC-related news.