THE Apple iPhone is fast becoming a popular gaming platform because of its touch-screen capabilities, motion detection and unique software development kit. Experts attending the eServices conference urged local startup developers to consider developing games for the iPhone.
Watch this video report by INQUIRER.net reporter Alex Villafania.
THERE’S a “weird” situation in the game development industry today. Sales of games and consoles have gone up in the last few months but new projects are being held back as the financial crunch is affecting game development firms.
Indirectly, the Philippine game development industry is experiencing the crisis as outsourcing projects are postponed due to banks squeezing credits to companies.
Game Development Association of the Philippines President Gabby Dizon said the entertainment sector, where the game development industry is under, is supposed to be more resistant during these times. More people tend to purchase entertainment-related items that could help them cope with the current economic crunch.
“There are more games being sold during these days but companies are not creating new titles. This would have negative effects on companies offering outsource services,” Dizon said.
By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.net
QUEZON City, Philippines — After developing the first Filipino online game, VITAS Development is delving into game development outsourcing but will be focused mainly on the Philippine market.
VITAS is both the developer and publisher of the online side-scrolling fighting game Bangu-Bang Mania! currently being beta tested.
In an interview, VITAS President Ranier Umali said the company is targeting existing game publishers in the Philippines that are looking to have their own licensed property apart from publishing Korean, Chinese and Japanese online games.
Although the main market is the Philippines, Umali said they can still offer their services to foreign firms.
He said VITAS is ready to provide development for full-scale online PC games, both on 2D and 3D platforms.
Umali said that even if they have so far created just one game, they could develop games equal to the quality of Ragnarok Online and even the graphics-heavy Granado Espada.
He also said that VITAS can prevent many issues and bugs plaguing online games such as player kills, bots, farming, and game master abuse.
“We’re hoping to promote development of original games from the Philippines. There are companies that would want to have their own games that they could promote to the Philippines but they don’t have the capabilities to do it. We’re coming in with the necessary tools to make those games for them,” Umali said.
