THE Philippines once again showcased the industry’s competitive advantages by highlighting the home-grown games of the country’s independent game developers at Asean Services Exhibition: Global Game Exhibition G-Star 2018 from November 13 to 18 at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (Bexco) in Busan, South Korea.
Organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)—Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), in partnership with Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Korea, supported by the Game Development Association of the Philippines and the Asean-Korea Center which provided free accommodation and inland transfers for participants and free booth for the Philippines as part of the Asean pavilion with other Asean countries, 14 delegates representing 10 companies, Audacity Studio, Indigo Entertainment, Synergy 88, Gumi Games, Komikasi, Monstronauts, Ranida Games, Redbana, Red Trident and ThinkBit participated at G-Star 2018 in Bexco.
The major component of the EMB’s OBMM was the conduct of the business-matching activities (B2B) between the Philippines and her foreign counterparts. The mission showcased Philippine games in South Korea aimed to further establish partnership/collaboration between the Philippines and South Korean companies and other foreign companies that joined the event. Total business-matching meetings conducted reached 175.
The Philippines has made a name for itself in the business-process outsourcing arena. Apart from besting other countries as the top destination for voice-based processes, Filipino BPO workers are being recognized for their work in the health care, back office and even game-development segments.
As the demographic of computer users becomes expansive, game-development companies look for other ways to market to each niche. There are educational games, games that are based on sports, strategic ones and the war game where players will be required to strategize to eradicate opponents.
The Outbound Business Matching Mission included activities like Asean-Korea cooperation workshop for game-development services in Seoul, South Korea, with representatives from 10 Asean countries, business-matching activities, exhibition, business meetings and market sensing of companies in Busan at Bexco.
The mission started with a courtesy call to Consul General Christian L. de Jesus of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, and a meeting with Special Commercial Counsellor Jose Ma. Dinsay of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Seoul. The Philippine game development delegation’s participation to the Asean-Korea Business Seminar on Game Industry at Ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Yongsan, in Seoul, South Korea.
Each ndividual company of the Philippine Game Development Delegation was introduced after the Asean-Korea Business Seminar on Game Industry at Ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Yongsan, South Korea where they presented briefly each of their company expertise and unique selling preposition along with their objective of establishing business contacts and generate possible business during their participation.
Notable was the Big Indie Awards competition held at the Bexco during the G-STAR event held November 17, 2018, two entries from the Philippine delegation participating at the G-STAR garnered the first and second prize namely Brawl Quest game by ThinkBit under the mobile game category (first) and Bayani Game of Ranida Games (second) in the PC game category. The two entries in the Big Awards toppled the rest of the other entries and will be given exposure and media mileage at the prestigious Pocket Gamer.biz through Steel Media Publications and promotions globally.
Brawl Quest is a free to play mobile game that takes inspiration from those old arcade “beat ‘em ups” like Double Dragon, Streets of Rage, and Golden Axe. Game was optimizing it for a casual mobile experience. The game can be played with just one hand. The setting is heavily inspired by modern-day Philippines and its characters are inspired by Philippine pop-culture.
Bayani Fighting Game is a one-versus-one indie fighting game that draws heavily on the Philippines’s rich and colorful history and culture where characters are based on real Philippine heroes, landmarks, and events. These are coming soon on PC via steam early access.