Mula kaliwa: Eric Tamayo (DFA), James Rodney Romana (CITEM), Martin Macalintal (French Embassy), Dr. Jaime Caro (Director-UP ITTC), David Tene (Supinfo Games, France), CICT Sec. Ivan Uy, Lyshiel Valencia (GDAP President), Freddie Ayala (BPAP- Chairman of the Board), Gigi Virata (BPAP), Dir. Trish Abejo (CICT), Ms. Marife Villanueva (Embassy of Canada), Mr. Raymond Lacdao (BPAP)
Matagumpay na itinanghal kamakailan ng Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP) and kanilang kauna-unahang game convention. Ang First Philippine Game Development Festival, isang tatlong araw na convention na idinaos sa UP Diliman campus kasabay ng taunang annual Y4IT (Philippine Youth Congress in Information Technology).
Kasama sa mga patimpalak ang mga sari-saring game-related summits, exhibisyon at mga aktibidades na pinagpupugay ang world-class na produkto ng ating mga local na mga developers. Para maenganyo ang mga kabataang manlalaro ng electronic games na pumasok sa industriya ng game development ipinakita din ang maaring maging mga oportunidad sa pagpasok sa carera na ito.
Dinaluhan ng lampas 2700 na estudyante ang Summit for Students. Ipinakita at tinalakay ang mga maka-manlalarong mga paksa tulad ng Digital Arts, The Life of a Game Developer, at mga career opportunities sa video game development.
“The Philippines is home to a large and vibrant gaming community, made up of both kids and adults, and this Festival gives the perfect venue for game developers to get together and share their love for games,” sabi ni Lyshiel Valencia, Presidente ng GDAP at Country Manager ng MoAnima, isa sa mga pinagkapitagang motion capture at animation studio. “The Festival allows us in the industry to present what we are all about. It gives us a platform to discuss and showcase our work, and convey the message that the Philippine game development industry is quickly on the rise, and ready to make a strong impact on the global gaming scene,” dagdag ni Valencia.
“We want young people to know that there is more to video games than fun and recreation,” ani ni Valencia. “There are viable opportunities for those looking to make a career out of their love for gaming, and for us game developers, I think we all agree that video game development is probably one of the most exciting jobs in the world." Samantala sa Summit for Professionals ay tinampok ang mga panayam at pagtatanghal ng mga lokal at banyagang mga experto ng game development. Kasama ang mga paksa tulad ng potensiyal na pagusbong ng Pilipinas bilang isang game development hub, mga uso sa global gaming industry at ang pagbuo ng isang undergraduate degree program para sa mga bagong game developers.
Bilang pagpapakita ng supporta si Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) Chairman Ivan Uy ay nagbigay ng talumpati sa Summit for Professionals. “The CICT and the rest of the government are one in expressing full support to the local game development industry,” sabi ni Uy. “This business sector has shown great potential as a top-flight offshore destination, and already, there are Filipino studios and companies that have been tapped by well known game publishers in developing A-list titles. This is welcome news indeed; the industry is priming itself for a significant boom much like what the BPO industry accomplished in the past decade.”
Kaanib ng GDAP ang Independent Game Developers Association (IGDA), Commission on Information Communications Technology (CICT) at Business Process Outsourcing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) sa paghandog ng patimpalak na ito.
