From stepping into the staggering galactic war setting in Imperium, strategizing one’s next move through analytical skills in Tetris, to emulating the toils of a farmer in Stardew Valley, the gaming world is indeed a diverse realm for one’s entertainment and escape.
Video games have been a vessel of innovation for many, ushering in the inventive and revolutionary age of entertainment. But while gaming enthusiasts are constantly on the lookout for the video game industry’s next offer, the production and development of these games require a massive amount of collaborative effort before they can be launched to the public. Games undergo an intricate process of ideation before they can be designed and carried out by their developers.
A vessel of art expression
Despite recognizing the difficult process behind creating a game, a simple thought gave Javi Almirante, a 24-year-old game designer for Boomzap Entertainment, enough ambition to pursue game development.
“Because video games are awesome.”
For a game designer like Almirante, games are not simply a source of entertainment, but they are an engaging way to tell stories. “It can be because you’re angry about a certain thing. You’re angry at the administration. You’re angry about misogyny,” he explains how video games can be used as an avenue to discuss these emotions and themes. Ideas and inspiration behind a game can arise from experiences and observations of society, becoming subtle ways of expressing those sentiments and perspectives.
Moreover, the beauty of games, as Almirante says, is that “both the player and the developer make the story come to life.” The player is not merely a consumer, but also a fellow storymaker.
Yet, Almirante points out that, far from what most people think, one doesn’t need to be obsessed with trying to make one’s first gaming project perfect—because “a perfect project doesn’t exist.” Neither does one have to be an expert gamer in order to try their hand at creating a game, as he affirms, “If you want to make a game, just go make it.”
What’s most important in making games is being able to discern how the players could understand and respond to your game. “You don’t force [the players] to do certain things. You try to make them understand what you’re trying to do, and you play around with that,” Almirante elaborates. It is important for a game to establish a connection with its player base because this connection is what makes a game captivating and enjoyable.
Almirante expresses, however, that game development can be a double-edged sword. Creating games, in itself, is enjoyable, but it remains a huge challenge physically, emotionally, and even financially.
One misconception many have is that there is a lot of money in the gaming industry. Almirante makes it clear that “[earning] money is difficult unless [the game sells] out.” He knew upon entering the industry that this career would not easily line his pockets—and that’s part of the challenge. “You really have to want it,” he stresses.
A broader perspective
In a field where many are only beginning to learn the ropes, the gaming industry here in the Philippines can be puzzling. “Unlike other countries where there are a lot of established companies and industry culture, the gaming industry here is a bit [younger] and [is] still growing,” Almirante explains.
The confusion is further aggravated by misconceptions regarding game development itself. Almirante clarifies, “The people who do the production, planning, manager, music, marketing—they’re also game developers. But game designers are specifically the people who work in creating the mechanics, how the game works, the rules that make the game happen.”
As game development is the amalgamation of multiple art forms, it is crucial that each component complement each other in order to successfully portray the message of the game’s story. Each piece must successfully mesh together in order to create a cohesive and relatable game.
The inaccessibility of resources, the persisting misinformation, and the lack of job opportunities have made it a challenge for most Filipino game developers to successfully land on stable ground in the industry. Almirante himself admits to having a bumpy past as a game designer, “Many times it was hard to know where exactly to learn things locally, or who to go to [and] talk about specific things like game design or the industry.”
“It’s really hard to find a job [as a] game developer,” echoes Alex E. Valdez, a Filipino game developer of Good Knight, a game based on Philippine mythology. Despite the clear obstacles he faces, he chooses to rise up to the challenge. “I don’t want any other job. I love this job,” Valdez affirms.
In spite of the presence of several roadblocks in the local game industry, Filipinos have managed to create a thriving community. The collective effort and struggles of individuals like Valdez and Almirante are certainly not in vain.
Events like the Esports and Gaming Summit, held last October 24 to 27, showcase the original work of Filipino game developers while providing a venue for the community to interact and discover the industry. Gaming communities from various provinces have started to congregate in their own events as well. Among these are the Baguio Open Geek House, spearheaded by Valdez himself, and the CONQuest Festival in Iloilo, one of the biggest pop culture conventions for the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
With a warm smile and eyes filled with determination, Almirante invites everyone to join him in bridging the gap between the Philippine gaming industry and the international scene. He urges, “If there’s a time to get into making games, it’s now because the industry is still being shaped, and everyone’s still learning.”
An ability that knows no limits
Art expression indeed has a fascinating way to exhibit itself across different mediums while encouraging the development and exploration of new ideas—and game development is no different. The intricacies of game development require the ability to think outside the box of reality, while possessing determination and focus. The process itself may seem baroque and complex, yet it is an art form of extensive imagination and broad perception that breeds an orbit of extraordinary stories and adventures.
