Game Developers Conference 2009 (organized by Gamasutra parent company Think Services) is set to take place in San Francisco's Moscone Center from March 23 to 27, 2009.Third on the list is GDC's Game Design Track, which will help attendees "understand and exploit the possibilities of new technologies," and also explore the "challenges and ramifications of the interaction between new technologies and established techniques."

Notable highlights thus far announced for this track are as follows:

The 'Cruise Director of Azeroth: Directed Gameplay within World of Warcraft', Blizzard Entertainment's Jeffrey Kaplan explains the guidelines and philosophies directing the creation of World of Warcraft content, and will also provide an informative look at the popular MMORPG's "quest system and how it has changed over time, with Wrath of the Lich King being the latest evolution.The two will examine major issues encountered while building the original Mass Effect, and will share the sequel's new level-creation process.

Mythic Entertainment's ribald Paul Barnett will share how his team managed to take a beloved franchise like Warhammer and "convert it into to an MMO that's fun in its own right", as he recounts humorous anecdotes from the Warhammer Online developer's process of 'Making an MMO Based on a Beloved IP (Without Pissing Everyone Off)'. The contestants will pitch a game concept that brings the themes of sex and autobiography together, providing for a session full of "extremely innovative and uncomfortably revealing design thinking."In his 'Vast Narratives and Open Worlds, Part Deux -- Big Huge Problems' session, Ken Rolston -- lead designer of the recent Elder Scrolls games -- will talk about his new open-world RPG with Big Huge Games. Along with BHG's lead designer Mark Nelson, he'll discus the "unique and varied challenges associated with designing a vast open-world game, how to avoid them, and what to do when they inevitably occur."