If you’re not into game development, you might not have ever heard of GDC, the Game Developer’s Conference held annually in San Francisco.

So, what is GDC?

It’s a conference geared wholly towards developers and the entire development process. It’s been a staple of the Bay Area for the last 30 years and brings together a slough of the worlds biggest and smallest game developers.

The Game Developer’s Conference spans five days, including the three day GDC Expo that runs alongside the last three days of the convention. The expo is more of a gaming convention than a conference and is suitable for anyone interested in gaming, not necessarily just developers.

GDC isn’t just fun and games though, it’s a serious conference where many of the brightest minds in gaming come together and share their knowledge. Unlike E3 or the Tokyo Game Show, GDC isn’t just about showing off the latest games and gadgets. Instead, it’s full of panels, discussions, tutorials and summits, all geared towards growing and advancing the global game development community in a myriad of ways.

Among the most educational aspects of the conference are a series of tutorials that span the first two days. These learning opportunities cover everything from art direction and esports to technical artistry and board game design. One of the great parts about GDC is that it’s got something for all levels and interests. 

For aspiring developers, one of the most important parts of the conference comes on the last day with the game career seminar. GDC advertises the seminar as the perfect way to kick-start your career. 

According to GDC, their conference is perfect for just about every involved in gaming; from business development professionals, venture capitalists and game programmers to studio managers, recruiters and audio engineers. Best of all, they’ve already created a “convince your boss letter” to help get you to the conference. All you have to do is fill out your bosses name and a few other missing pieces of information and it’s ready to go.

The Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco takes place March 19-23. Tickets start at $149 for a day pass to the Expo and go up from there.