So I’m recharging my batteries, both literally and figuratively, in the press room at the annual Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. Turns out, GDC could just as easily stand for Geeks Descending on this City. Despite the fact that probably 90 percent of all game developers work on the West Coast, my connection from Atlanta last night included passengers wearing “Turok,” “Rock Band” and “Super Mario Bros.” T-shirts, plus a guy carrying a Sony Online Entertainment bag.

I laughed to myself at those guys, but I guess I fit right in. My carry-on was stuffed with my Sony PSP, a few UMD discs, my Nintendo DS with some games, my digital camera, my LG Voyager, my iPod, my Xbox Live profile on a memory card, two power supplies, three battery chargers and, of course, my laptop computer. I guess I should also mention that my business card holder features a PlayStation logo. Only at GDC can I pull that out and not set off a dork alarm.

And on the way home, I’ll be just like them: I’m now sporting a GDC ‘08 logo jacket, after I stupidly left my coat at home. (San Francisco isn’t exactly the fabled “sunny California” this time of year.)

Day One has been pretty chill so far. Everyone’s still filing in, lining up to collect their badges or credentials (along with sacks of PR loot—no doubt we’ll figure out a mischievous use for these ping pong balls) and gulping down massive amounts of coffee. (In other words, it’s a typical Monday morning.) I’ve met a handful of other journalists and longtime industry contacts, and it’s nice to finally have faces to put with their names.

The WiFi access here at GDC is surprisingly spotty and extremely slow, but I’ll do my best to fill up this photo gallery and update the blog as the week goes on. But now it’s time for some serious business. I need to go check out some video games.