Cloudy. Rainy. Cold. Tuesday, March 20 seems like a below-average day in San Francisco.

BUT. Inside the Moscone Center downtown, Game Dev Con 2018 is busy and bustling. Gamers and developers of all backgrounds and expertise have come together for the week to play, learn, and be inspired. Giant screens line the convention center walls featuring the top games of the year and advertise sessions talking about how to build them.

This is my first time at GDC. As a gamer myself, it has been quite the whirlwind to see all my favorite games broken down into programmable, customizable content. As an Alexa evangelist, all I am seeing is opportunity.

For a developer looking to add some extra pizzazz to their game, consider today Day 1. So many customers have Alexa-enabled devices in their homes. Pioneering Alexa developers have begun taking advantage of this new opportunity by building engaging voice-first games for Alexa. Some have even incorporated Echo Buttons. These skills are not only entertaining; they’re also redefining what’s possible in the world of gaming . The Alexa Destiny 2 companion skill is a prime example. The skill connects to the world of Destiny 2 with compatible Alexa devices via real-time voice commands. Customers are excited and enchanted; the incorporation of voice brings the game to real life.

At GDC, we have kicked off our week with the Alexa Dev Day hosted by Lead Alexa Gadget Engineer Chris Subagio in Moscone Center West. Chris showcased the Alexa Skills Kit, Alexa Developer Rewards, and ways to incorporate Echo Buttons into a game using the much-anticipated Alexa Gadgets API. He emphasized the importance of voice and its potential positive influence in game engines. The session featured Greg Roberts from Hasbro, who gave a deep dive into how they brought Trivial Pursuit to Alexa with Echo Buttons. When it came time to ask for volunteers to tinker with these new devices and features, dozens of eager hands shot up. The message was clear and well-received: It is time to get on board with voice as a new gaming environment.

This will not be the only opportunity to see the possibilities of developing on Alexa at GDC. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, in the Exhibit Hall in Moscone Center South, there will be a section of the Amazon Booth all about Alexa and Echo Buttons. Along with that, on Wednesday at 1 p.m., yours truly will be hosting a classroom session at the Amazon Booth, titled “Alexa in Action: How to bring the Player’s Voice into the Game.” For more details on the different Alexa sessions at GDC, check out my Amazon Alexa is coming to GDC 2018! blog post.

If you feel FOMO for these Alexa at GDC, NEVER FEAR! We have awesome content that you can use to create games for Alexa.

Check out the following resources to learn more:

• How to Enhance Your Skill with Audio Clips from the ASK Sound Library
• How to Maintain an Engaging Voice-First Experience Using Third-Party APIs
• Alexa Skill Recipe: Randomize Your Responses to Add Variety to Your Skill
• Alexa GitHub: Build an Alexa Gamebook Skill
• Alexa GitHub: Build an Alexa Quiz Game Skill

Finally, if you need even more incentive to create games on Alexa, you can earn money for skills that customers love. Every month, developers can earn money for eligible skills that drive some of the highest customer engagement. Developers can increase their level of skill engagement and potentially earn more by improving their skill, building more skills, and making their skills available in in the US, UK, and Germany. Learn more about our rewards program and start building today.