GDAP to hold PHL’s largest game development conference on Oct. 25-26

(Manila, Philippines, September 23, 2013) — In its bid to promote the country as a premier destination for game development, the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP) is organizing the Philippine Game Development Festival (PGDF ‘13) from October 25 to 26 at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) in Manila. The event is in partnership with DLS-CSB and the Department of Science and Technology’s Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO).

“We have what it takes to be a strong key player when it comes to providing high-quality game development services to clients as well as coming up with strong intellectual properties,” says Alvin Juban, GDAP president.

Fully aware of the potential of local talent in the game development industry, GDAP has invested in training future and existing professionals. “The Philippines is home to many creative and hardworking individuals who are only waiting for an appropriate platform where they can exhibit their products,” says Juban.

PGDF ‘13 will open with the launch of an Inter-School Game Competition and will feature a series of lectures, conferences, and knowledge-sharing by local and international speakers who are authorities in their respective subfields. The various perspectives of global leaders are essential in furthering the growth of the sector.

Every year, the Festival has been attended by participants from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, coming together to celebrate and take advantage of the networking opportunities and healthy exchange of ideas. “It is the most attended conference for professionals and students in the game development field. This year, we are expecting about 2,000 delegates to participate,” Juban says.

On the first day, key topics in the program will be about the state of the Philippine game development industry, protecting creative rights, and a look on mobile game users in the country. It will also tackle topics on management such as running game development companies and potential partnerships between government and the private sector.

Workshops will be conducted on the second day, which will focus on design, art, programming, and business, among other tracks. Resource persons such as Tom Stratford, Creative Director of iACADEMY, and representatives from Mages Institute of Excellence, Gunship Revolution, and iAcademy will be present to facilitate the activities.

“All that’s needed is for us to stir the interest further, get everyone on the same place discussing ways to improve, collaborate, and help one another. We’ll put the experts, professionals, students, publishers, investors, and key government officials on the same room talking. I’m curious about what happens after that. With the recent successes of Pinoy developers in the international scene, everyone seems to be pretty hyped up,” says Juban. “Now is certainly the right time to be in the game and we’re just happy to be part of it all.”

The Philippine Game Development Festival is also made possible by GDAP’s partner association, the Animation Council of the Philippines (ACPI). Other participating companies are Elance Philippines and Cherry Mobile. For more information, log on to www.gamefestival.ph.

With the theme “A World in Your Hands”, this year’s Philippine Game Development Festival will happen on October 25-26, 2013 at the De la Salle-College of St. Benilde . Check out www.gamefestival.ph to register!

About the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP)
The Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) is the enabling association for the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry in the Philippines. IBPAP serves as the one-stop information and advocacy gateway for the industry. With approximately 300 industry and support-industry members, including five associations—the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc., Contact Center Association of the Philippines, Game Developers Association of the Philippines, Healthcare Information Management Outsourcing Association of the Philippines, and Philippine Software Industry Association—IBPAP plays a pivotal role in sustaining rapid growth of the IT-BPM industry by working to ensure an enduring supply of high-quality labor, supporting service innovation, and providing country visibility.

IBPAP assists investors in setting up operations easily and quickly in the Philippines. Relevant research, introductions to key government and industry officials, and a series of briefings at each step of the investment process ensure a seamless development process. On-going support is provided through a wide variety of initiatives, including programs for HR development, business development, and on-going knowledge sharing and networking opportunities.

About the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP)
Established in 2007, the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP) is a leading trade association in the Philippines that represents and promotes the country’s game development industry. Its members create and publish interactive games and entertainment content for various platforms. GDAP is supported by various affiliate member organizations including schools and universities, game talent agencies, publishers, as well as retailers, all of whom play key roles in the country’s thriving game industry. GDAP is a member of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines.