This guy pretty much sums up GDC.

I could have just as easily posted a picture of a young-to-middle-aged man-nerd with a prominent gut. A lot of game developers, it seems, could stand to lay off the puddings.

GDC is a weird conglomeration of lectures, exhibits that no one on Earth would have interest in visiting, and lines. People lined up to get the crappy food boxes they hand out everyday. People lined up to see Shigeru Miyamoto, Phil Harrison, and Eiji Aonuma. It's not quite the madhouse that E3 is (or was). And it's still struggling with whether or not it wants to be cool.

Mostly, though, it's five days of schwag and handshaking that you will never get back.