All the galactic cities are rejoicing. People dance in the streets, fireworks explode, cruisers do fly-bys. The Ewok folk are dancing about and chattering and somersaulting around bonfires. I’m in the background playing the bongos on a row of Stormtrooper helmets. The sky is lit u–
“Sir. Sir!”
I come out of the daze. I’m in line at the Great Hall in the New Orleans Convention Center.
“Sir, here is your three-day pass. Do you have any questions?
I gaze around the convention hall. A murmur of excited conversation is traveling the room. Interactive displays glitter with cosmic color palettes. There are no Ewoks.
“Dude.” A guy behind me taps me on the shoulder. “You can’t bring a real spear in here. This isn’t Comic-Con.”
“Oh yeah?” I’m indignant. I gaze around at the exhibits, the screens, the gamers. “Then what is this?”
It’s Unreal Fest 2023, and registration is now open.
Epic’s annual Unreal Fest returns to New Orleans from October 3rd to 5th with a packed lineup of educational sessions, VR exploration, and networking opportunities. While there may not be any literal representations of your favorite cinematic creatures, there will be a whole convention center full of the people who create them. 185 listed sessions will explore everything from particle effects in Unreal Engine 5 to an hour-long class on using the Skeletal Editor for dynamic motion rigs. Experienced virtual production artists and developers from across the gaming and VFX industries will lead presentations on the technology taking virtual production into its next evolution.
I don’t wanna do school – where’s the party?
Those who don’t want to learn about the lush jungle growth of VR techniques and toolsets can wander off into another type of wilderness with the Unreal Fest Expo. Partners of Unreal will have exhibits for UE-driven tools and visitors can play at the exhibits, which include Unreal Engine tools like MetaHuman and RealityCapture. Attendees who literally want to play can camp out at the Gaming Lounge. If you really want to get practical, you can bring your work-in-progress project and ask questions at The Hub, where the Unreal Engine team can help you work through obstacles.
Photo: unrealengine.com
No, I mean the real party.
Oh, that party. Going to a giant virtual production convention wouldn’t make it a “convention” without the networking. In New Orleans, this looks like a massive jubilee at The Sugar Mill where a Second Line walking brass band will escort guests to a night of drinks, food, and dance. This headlining party will be preceded by two events: the opening night mixer, which is a casual beers and conversation event, and the “Tuesday night reception”, another evening of dining and drinks.
Conference passes are on sale for $350. Unreal has compiled a list of hotels within walking distance of the New Orleans Convention Center that can be viewed within the registration panel. Attendees must have an Epic Games account to complete the registration information.
Dressing in rustic homespun earthencloth and carrying a spear to the Unreal Fest sign-in is not recommended.
