The Game Jam is for you. And as it turns out, by you. The 360|iDev 2011 Game Jam will take place Tuesday night, sponsored by the iOS community!

The Game Jam is a great place to build your first game, or your tenth. To share what you know and learn new things.

Check out the official page, managed by our pal (and speaker) Mike Berg.

The first time Noel Llopis suggested the Game Jam to us, we loved it. Ever since then we’ve been more than happy to have one take place.

The Game Jam starts around 7pm, and goes until around 8. It’s fully hands on, bring your laptop, we’ll supply the red bull, coffee and snacks.

Then if you like, you can show off your hard work during lunch on Wednesday at the Game Jam Review.

See you there! Make sure you register before we sell out!

This year we’re launching the 360|iDev labs. Labs work like at WWDC and other events, our awesome speakers have agreed to hang out in the new lab area and help our attendees.

The lab schedule is below the regular schedule. Take a look.

We left a few spots open for drop in lab help.

We how the labs will be a great way for the community to grow and he each other.

The 360|iDev Game Jam, sponsored this time around by non other than our awesome community members is ON! Whether you’re a veteran game maker, or newb looking to get a start at games, the Game Jam is for you! It’s a great time!

It’s simple, the game jam starts around Tuesday night 8ish. It ends, Wednesday morning, around 9ish. Anyone who’d like to present their game is welcome to join me during the Wednesday keynote to show off their game. Past Game Jam efforts have landed in the app store!

We’ll have plenty of Red Bull, and soda, and red vines and what not to keep everyone going.

Whether you’re gonna get yur game jam on our not, thank all these folks for making the Game Jam possible!

See you in Austin!!

Q: How long have you been doing iOS development?

A: Holy cow – two years this month! (That happened fast.)

Yes it did! I still remember, and just sold on Ebay, my iPhone 2G. I remember the lines, the launch of the app store, it’s been a whirl wind

Q: What do you like most about being an iOS Developer?

A: Freedom. And needing to have all the latest Apple toys for, you know, testing.

LOL, yeah it makes it a little easier to justify buying the latest laptops and iOS devices :D
Q: What’s your favorite Game?

A: Wish I had more time to play games!  I do have fun playing Doodle Jump and Harbor Master HD with my four year old daughter.  Well, actually, watching her trounce my best scores consistently is more like it.

Both awesome games by awesome folks! Love ‘em both! I can’t wait to play the FrankenDoodle update that Igor just released.
Q: What’s your favorite App?

A: Lately I’ve really enjoyed using Star Walk on the iPad when we go camping.  It’s nice to actually be able to see stars and know what you’re looking at!

That’s an awesome idea!!! Dang! Can’t wait for spring and summer to get here now!!! Stupid winter!

Q: Robots or Ninjas?

A: Hmmmm….depends on whether the robots obey Asimov’s laws. Probably robots since theoretically you can shut them off.

Well thanks to scientists, we’re now teacing robots to break the Asimov laws… why, i can’t even guess.
Q: What would change about the iOS platform if you could change just one thing?

A: If only you could merge changes to an XIB file – that would make team development a bunch easier.

Yeah I’ve noticed that Apple has a thing with binary files and files that are packages. Ever tried using SVN or GIT to manage pages files? ya can’t!!! It’d be so awesome to share and be able to merge iWork docs. Oh yeah I guess XIBs too :)

Q: What are you most excited about 360|iDev Austin?

A: Learning all sorts of unexpected new things!  And hanging out with the best iOS devs around.  It’s a great and humbling experience.

Humbling in a good way I hope :) But yeah I’ve never met anyone who left saying, “I didn’t learn anything new.”

Q: Lastly, what would you tell someone on the fence about attending 360|iDev Austin?

A: Fences are uncomfortable to sit on.  Try the nice green grass on the 360|iDev Austin side!  It’s much better.

You know it! I sat a wrought iron fence for an hour once, I was off as fast as I could!!

Don’t miss out. Register now!

Enjoy!

Q: How long have you been doing iOS development?

A: 2.5 years or so

It’s funny, that’s about how long most have been in it I’d guess, maybe a smidge longer, for the folks who were there at launch.

Q:What do you like most about being an iOS Developer?

A: I love the language, development tools and most of all the community. Without the vibrant iOS dev community, I wouldn’t be writing iOS apps. Furthermore, the level of quality demanded by the users makes every project challenging. I love that challenge!

Very true. I suspect iOS users are probably the most demanding as far as app quality. No offense to Google and Android, but there doesn’t seem to be much demand for high quality games/apps right now. I’m hoping that will change, and it’s good to see popular iOS titles being built for Android, I think that’ll elevate the game a bit.

Q: What’s your favorite Game?

A: Right now it is Isaac Newton’s Gravity (iTunes Link)

That looks pretty sweet! It never stops amazing me how many games and apps escape notice. Downloading now!

Q: What’s your favorite App?

A: I couldn’t live without Twitter for iPhone or News Rack/Flipboard for iPad

I tried Flipboard, and got a little disgusted. Overcapacity at launch is kind of a non starter for me. HOWEVER it does look nicely made. It’s a visually appealing app for sure! I really dig twitter for iPhone, though I think the iPad version is a little to forward thinking.

Q: Robots or Ninjas?

A: I would have to say robots because I could build a Robot Ninja to protect me from other Ninjas. It could also protect me from the coming Zombie apocalypse. Plus having an army of Robot Ninjas sounds pretty cool to me.

Someone beat you to it, but that’s fine, now you can save the R&D money and just buy two more completed Ninja Robots.

Q: What would change about the iOS platform if you could change just one thing?

A: Cocoa bindings! I started learning Cocoa and got a bit spoiled by Cocoa Bindings. Since my talk is on using Interface Builder, I would love to see more support for Cocoa Touch in IB.

Ah, interesting! I’m gonna have to pop my head into your session :)

Q: What are you most excited about 360|iDev Austin?

A: This is my first 360|iDev so I’m mostly excited to meet all the fine developers I follow on Twitter and the creators of fine apps. I’m also excited to be consumed in really technical stuff during the day and hanging out with everyone at night.

Well put. Yeah you’ll need the nights to let your brain cool down and process all the great technical content :)

Q: Lastly, what would you tell someone on the fence about attending 360|iDev Austin?

A: You can learn anything from the web, but where else can you meet the same people who write those blogs posts and create some great apps?

Exactly! The web is a great place to solve that niggling problem you’re having right now, conferences are about learning the next generation tricks, and meeting the people you may be working with someday. It’s about the face to face interaction!

Don’t miss out! Register now! 4 days, 3 parties, 5 hands-On sessions on Sunday. All for just $599! I dare ya to find a better deal!

Oh and the Marriott is dirt cheap too!! Register now!

It’s 3 days, in New York, with two incredible developers! Check out the course plan here.

Julio and Jeff are both long time speakers at 360|iDev, and great guys. Both far smarter than me :)

If you’re in or around New York, check out this course. You won’t find a better pair to teach you everything you need to know. After all Jeff’s book is one of the best intro to iPhone dev books around.

This will be an excellent way to jump start your iPhone development, and then of course, you can top off your mental tank at 360|iDev Austin! Register now for $499!

What there is, is 3-4 people working the registration desk.

You can pick up your badge all day Sunday if you want to avoid the rush. If you can’t make it to Ebay Town Hall until Monday morning, we recommend getting there by 7:30 to avoid missing the keynote by David Whatley of Critical Thought Games (You know, Geo Defense Swarm…)

The registration desk will be broken down into letter groups by Last Name.

Schedules will be printed out and in your bag.

See this post for the shuttle schedule, and general how to get around San Jose information.

Our iPhone app, has a map of Ebay, the complete schedule, and your session survey app.

It’s not too late (but it almost is) to register for 360|iDev! Don’t miss out, register now!

But when the sessions are over, the parties begin.

The evening receptions give everyone a chance to decompress after having 8 hours of insanely awesome technical information jammed into their skulls. Grab a beer, some food, maybe a root beer float (That’s right!) and just hang out. Watch Joe rock out on Rock Band, chat with Mike Lee over beers, talk icon design with Dave, whatever.  The evenings of 360|iDev are a great time to meet new folks, enjoy the great community that is the iPhone dev community.

And that’s not all that’s going on during the receptions :)

We’ve introduced the idea of BOF (Birds of a feather) sessions, which are more free form, discussion type sessions, that take place during the receptions. Something you want to talk about? Post it to the BOF site. Maybe there’s a topic not covered at 360|iDev, throw out a BOF idea. The BOFs are open to any attendee, there’s no requirements, no guidelines. Want to talk about something, put it up on the list.

The BOFs are community organized. Heck, maybe a Sci Fi chat over beers BOF, skies the limit.

Our evening receptions are sponsored, so make sure you show some love to the party sponsors!

Sunday’s welcome reception is sponsored by: Double Encore

Monday night’s party is sponsored by: Ansca Mobile

Tuesday night’s party, the last official party of 360|iDev, is sponsored by: appFigures. The Tuesday night party also kicks off the Touch Arcade Game Jam!

Register now for 360|iDev San jose. Get more out of 4 days than you’ll even imagine possible!

the iPad runs the iPhone OS, so why wouldn’t we give it the attention it deserves? The best part is that we’ve already got sessions about it, which means, 360|iDev San Jose is the first/best place to go to learn about the differences between building games/apps for the iPad vs. the iPhone.

Several speakers have and are updating their sessions to address the iPad, Kendall is hosting a panel on Wednesday all about the iPad. (This isn’t like panels at other events, where there wasn’t an actual iPad present)

The iPad definitely represents the next step in the iPhone OS, and Apple’s mobile computing strategy, and app and game developers are chomping at the bit to release their wares for this awesome new device.

Get your iPad April 3rd, come to 360|iDev to unlock it’s potential.

Register now! Don’t miss the developer conference that will super charge your career! Register now!

The first conference in 2009, had several sessions, including a sunday Hands-On about Jailbreaking, and what you can do in the jailbroken environment. We also had tons of people who had just put 1 or 2 apps in the store, we had a few folks who had already gone full time, whether as indie developers for hire, or running their own agency, building iPhone apps for companies big and small. We had authors and more in attendance. Mike Lee talked about the Apple community, and why it’s so awesome. We had sessions on how to market your app, what you need to watch out for legally and more.

Then in Denver, we noticed a shift, seeing more indie game developers in attendance. Keith and Natalia keynoted, David Whatley, an awesome late addition talked about being successful in the iPhone game space. Matt Drance formerly of Apple kicked off the conference, with an incredible keynote. We had developers talking about game design and development, being successful in the app store, making a living. We had developers talking about integrating push, getting crazy with OpenGL ES,  Core Data, Core Animation, and more. We also saw the first Game Jam take place, developers spent the night churning out games. Presenting them on Wednesday. Several are in the app store now.

Were seeing the same thing as we plan for San Jose 2010 (You should register). We’re seeing tons more successful developers talking about how to succeed, how to rock the app store, even how to rock the app store with out being a “Smash hit”. We’ve got sessions that are sure to blow your mind, and be worth more than the price of admission, just for those 80 minutes. The Game Jam is back, sponsored by Touch Arcade, Aurora Feint is holding a Game Bar, to highlight games using Open Feint and talk about the added coolness of using OF in your games. We’ve got sessions, on marketing, running your business, advertising, and more.

360|iDev has proven to be an incredible mix of technical sessions, unlike any you’ll see at other events, and business and design sessions that will inform and inspire.

So to answer the question, who attends 360|iDev? Everyone.

• Developers who want to be a success in the App Store.
• Developers who want to hear about what the rest of the world will be talking about in 6 months
• Developers who want to level up their skillset
• Developers who want to meet other developers, and share experiences, and a beer.
• People looking for work (3 people who’ve spoken at 360|iDev, have been hired by Apple, coincidence? Probably, but who knows), indies looking for projects, people looking to hire developers, etc.
• People who are already a success, making their living from apps in the App Store
• Authors of THE books you’re reading to learn iPhone Development
  • From Manning, O’Reilly, and Apress
• People with new projects and products to announce!
  • Where better to announce iPhone specific things than to a very targeted group of people.
• People who want to connect with the iPhone developer community. Not the hobbyist community, not the authors for x publisher community, THE iphone developer community. The people doing it daily, making and selling apps. The people who eat, sleep and breath iPhone development.

The short answer is, the people who attend 360|iDev…

Want to make a nice living in the App Store. (Originally it was “Want to get rich on the App Store”, but I toned it down)

Want to get hired by Apple.

:)

Do yourself and your career a favor, be in San Jose April 11-14th for 360|iDev! Register now!