Anyone going to this next week?

I fear I may be all on my lonesome.  I know... well, I online-know one other person that's going, and know of a few others, but that's about it.

In Brighton? I went last year and it was terrific, not going this year as I'll be on holiday but the conference is great. Definately go to all the networking events at the end of the day :)

I created this conference in the events section - people can RSVP there as well. 

Emily - see those are the ones I'm worried about. In my experience people turn up to those at least in pairs, and network in pairs, and I'm going to be sat on me tod.

I know Kieron Gillen's going, so I'll probably try find him, but even he is someone I've only ever spoken to across an internet connection before.

I'm dead shy, basically!

Kieron was showing off his published comic last year, I recall. =)

But I was on my own last year for the most part - people are still pretty friendly. =)

It's a good place to interview developers...I dunno what sort of coverage you're doing, or for whom, but I find interviews help me get into a chatty mood. In fact, I was pretty much chatting up everyone last year, but then I was freaking out, 'cos I'd just lost my job, and was in networking overdrive, as a result. ^_^

Although having calmed down this year, I sadly also won't be attending. =P Mainly because I don't currently have a remit to do any reporting - am all about business plans and boring stuff like that atm, so no valid reason to be there.
But I've been to every Develop since inception, it's very nice, and people are very friendly and approachable. =)

Bumped into Adam Mccann and his lunchbox in 2007, accidentally sat next to a writer from EDGE too same year and had a bit of a natter, and spotted GameSpot and Eurogamer writers having a beer together last year, O_O...much to my astonishment. Also saw Jeff Minter just sitting down on his own, and went and spoke to him for a wee bit. <3.
Emily was part of the yellow-t-shirt posse, who help out at the event. They're always super friendly, and I remember one year (was it 2006!?), they dragged me off to have a meal with them, and we got into all sorts of fab discussions about games and life, and stuff.
If you're daring, you can also gate-crash the awards....which I've done too many times, =/. It's morally wrong to steal someone's seat and eat their paid-for meal, but you can stick your head round the door and chat to some famous developers whilst people are still turning up and finding their seats. Or nip out to socialise with all the people who didn't get tickets - a more modest bunch, but uber friendly.
That said, I recall now there is usually a fab programme of stuff happening in the evenings ....I remember Nick Burton from Rare was super friendly to me one year, and invited me along to a http://www.nevermindthepolygons.com event, which was just like Never Mind The Buzzcocks but for videogames, so was kinda sweet.

In short, you'll be fine. =) It's full of really friendly geeks.

Anyway, enjoy it - =), it's been cool for me most years, and it's a shame I won't be there this year. =P ^_^ So jealous in a way, but also confident you'll be fine. =)