The First Philippine Game Development Festival, a three-day convention held by Game Developers Association of the Phils. (GDAP) at the UP Diliman campus, featured different game-related summits, exhibits, and activities to showcase the world-class work of local developers, and present young gamers with viable career opportunities in the industry.
Among the highlights of the convention was the Summit for Students, which targeted gaming enthusiasts from various schools and universities, and the Summit for Professionals, attended by many game designers, artists, and developers from both here and abroad.
The Summit for Students attracted more than 2,700 IT students who were treated to various presentations and discussions on myriad game-related topics, such as Digital Arts, The Life of a Game Developer, and career opportunities in video game development, which piqued the interest of the audience.
The Summit for Professionals featured lectures and presentations from local and foreign game development experts, covering industry-related topics such as the high potential of the Philippines as a game development hub, various trends in the global gaming industry, and the creation of an undergraduate degree program for budding game developers.
“œThe 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,” said Lyshiel Valencia, president of GDAP and country manager of MoAnima, a top motion capture and animation studio.