By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

IN an effort to expand services to its players beyond games, online game publisher Level-Up! activated last weekend Game Heroes, a Flash-based website that highlights the best and most unique players of its games.

In an interview, Level Up! Marketing Manager Carlo Ople said the website aims to create model players from among the ranks of gamers in the five games that the company publishes in the Philippines.

Ople said Game Heroes is seen as a website where their gamers “become legends.” These players have eventually made a name for themselves as consistent winners of tournaments or contributors to online forums.

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By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Few in the gaming industry know they’re even here. GPlayon, a startup game publishing firm, however, hopes to ride the online gaming wave in the Philippines through a partnership with Amped Games.

GPlayon has been operating since last year and has even conducted a very early closed and open beta test of N-Age, long before it partnered with Amped Games sometime this year.

Watch my video interview with GPlayon Manager Mi Jin Lee (left) and Managing Director Dong Hyun Kang.

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By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippies — Two members of the Filipino gaming console forum PinoyXbox were named the Philippines’ Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVP).

The husband-and-wife moderators of PinoyXbox, Philip and Joanne Ortiz, will join the ranks of 20 other Filipino MVPs, a recognition given to the best Microsoft professionals and advocates.

In a letter to the PinoyXbox forum, Microsoft Philippines Technology Specialist Jojo Ayson said the Ortizes were recognized under the Xbox MVP category, which gives recognition to people who made significant contributions in the promotion of the Xbox gaming platform.

There are now a total of three gamers from the Philippines who have been awarded with MVP titles, Ayson said.

Overall, there are only 42 Xbox MVPs worldwide, excluding the Ortizes, and 16 awardees for the category of “Games for Windows MVPs.”

Ayson said MVPs are given certain privileges, including exclusive access to special websites that feature early releases of Microsoft products, and subscription to software support.

“In the case of Philip and Joanne, it could be game titles or some products related to the Xbox 360,” Ayson said, citing the experience of Rodriguez who gets new Microsoft PC games.

The MVP title is refreshed every year, which means all MVPs will have to continuously update their blogs and forum presence.

“Remember that this award comes after the fact that the awardees have been advocates of Microsoft products. They have to continue promoting their passion for these products,” Ayson said.

Philip Ortiz told hackenslash that their MVP status is a rare opportunity that recognizes their efforts in promoting gaming in the country.

He added that it could be a step towards the country bring recognized as a potential market for Xbox games.

“Perhaps Microsoft would finally bring the Xbox as a product in the Philippines. It may not start with the Xbox 360 but perhaps when the next Xbox comes,” Ortiz said.

Incidentally, a PC gamer, Adrian Rodirguez (Deadaimgames.spaces.live.com), was awarded as MVP for his PC gaming advocacy.

By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

MAKATI City – Industry organization Game Development Association of the Philippines (GDAP) said the local game developers should know their audience to prosper in this competitive industry.

Speaking to local academicians during an industry-academe seminar, GDAP Vice President Eric Marlow said game developers and entrepreneurs should understand the needs of their intended audience to be able to provide them what they want.

Despite increasing publicity being given to the local gaming industry, Marlow said a lot of work needs to be done to increase public awareness of the gaming industry and its benefits to potential local developers.

“Misconceptions must be addressed. Not everyone understands us and not everyone can distinguish game development from [game] publishers. It’s important to know your audience,” said Marlow who is
also the general manager of game development firm Matahari Studios in Manila.

Marlow said getting into the gaming industry entails a lot of risk for both potential entrepreneurs and employees. It may not be financially rewarding business at first but finding good focus and strategy could bring success, he added.

“Employers must find motivated people. They should start small and remember that success is measured by how well the product sells. Not all games will be hits,” he said.

Marlow said the gaming industry needs good culture and environment that values creativity, and that follows global standards.

For the academe, the challenge is to produce enough manpower to support the fledgling industry, Marlow said.

Schools must be willing to establish educational curricula that support game development, apart from just providing sufficient funding to allow for purchases of hardware and software, he said.

“Gaming is infrastructure intensive but it can be satisfying,” Marlow added.

Watch reporter Izah Morales’ interview with Level Up! Philippines chief executive officer Jane Walker who introduces new online game Crazy Kart.

Level Up! has partnered with Shanda Interactive China to bring this latest online game in the country.

In the same interview, Level Up! Marketing Head Ramon Macutay also describes the different features of the game in this video interview.