Philippines’ Thriving Game Development Industry Takes Center Stage in Unique Mixer
San Francisco, CA 15 May 2023 – GAME ON, a unique networking mixer and panel discussing the thriving independent development scene in the Philippines and the latest trends in the global video game industry, took place on 11 May 2023 at Dynamico Space in San Francisco. The event brought together some of the Philippines’ and Filipino American community’s brightest minds in gaming and technology.
Deputy Consul General Raquel R. Solano graced the occasion and highlighted the Consulate’s objective of fostering connections for all attendees of the event. “We hope to showcase the Philippines’ game development industry and establish potential collaborative efforts with the international gaming community,” she remarked.
Celynne Layug, Trade Commissioner in Silicon Valley, extended a warm welcome to all participants and introduced an interactive and immersive experience, allowing attendees to try out and play the VR game, Blacktop Hoops.
The event featured esteemed speakers who provided updates on gaming development in Silicon Valley. Erin Pangilinan, Founder of FASTER and Co-founder/CTO of Slamat, Nathan Ventura, CEO & Founder of VINCI GAMES, and Mark Acero, Studio Lead Designer at People Can Fly, shared their insights and expertise.
The GAME ON panel also comprised Vanessa Barrameda, General Manager of X3-XURPAS, and Andro Baluyut, CEO of GAMEOPS, who discussed the potentials of the Philippine video game industry. Baluyut, a board member of GDAP (The Game Developers Association of the Philippines) and the Philippine Board of Investments’ private sector Industry Champion for the country’s Video Game Industry, highlighted that the Philippines registered an impressive $818 million in gaming revenue in 2022.
Additionally, Ventura, a Filipino American and the co-founder and CEO of Vinci Games, presented an in-person demo of the virtual reality (VR) game, Blacktop Hoops, at Dynamico Space. Blacktop Hoops, an ultimate arcade VR basketball game, offers an authentic and fast-paced competitive streetball experience in the virtual world. The game is now available for free Beta access on Quest App Lab and Steam. Vinci Games recently secured $5.1 million in seed funding. Aside from basketball, a beloved sport in the Philippines, Philippine influences in the VR game, include the voiceover of Filipino American actor Dante Basco (known for his role as Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender and Rufio, leader of the Lost Boys in Steven Spielberg’s Hook).
GAME ON was organized by the Philippine Trade & Investment Center in Silicon Valley (PTIC-SV), GDAP, FASTER Filipinx Americans in STEAM, and Dynamico Space. GDAP, established in 2007, is a trade association in the Philippines dedicated to representing and promoting the country’s game development industry. END
