DCS Students Attend Gaming Forum
By Phillip Kimpo Jr.
Students from UP Diliman's Department of Computer Science (DCS )took part in the CyberPress Third Annual Forum entitled Plug & Play: A Forum on the Philippine Gaming Industry,held last January 28, 2005 at the Hotel Intercontinental Makati. The DCS and UP CURSOR representatives,including staffers of The UP Parser were treated to a wealth of information on the local gaming industry, the pioneers responsible for its inception, and the companies behind its impressive rise. Chairman Virgilio L. Peņa of the Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT), in his keynote address, expounded upon the Philippine government's support for the growing gaming business. Peņa also explained various government policies and regulations regarding the gaming industry. Ben Colayco,Chief Operating Officer of Level-Up!, shared his company 's experience,from the phenomenal success of Ragnarok to their efforts in turning gaming into a social event. He also cited their study-first, play-later stand regarding gamer-students. Raymond Ricafort, President of Digital Paradise Inc., discussed the reasons behind the success of their Netopia chain of Internet cafes. Netopia, the largest computer rental chain in the country,has 131 branches and over 6000 terminals. Niel Dagondon of Anino Entertainment, the company behind the award-winning Anito: Defend a Land Enraged,shared his insights on their enviable status as the Philippines' first and only homegrown PC game developer. Dagondon also offered some suggestions to budding game development firms. Ranulf Goss,Chairperson of the International Game Developer Association (IGDA) Manila Chapter, tackled past and future local gaming events, including the UGotGame Game Development contest.Goss also revealed the imminent release of a groundbreaking fighting game called Away Agila, which uses smooth, cell-shaded 3D animations. Other speakers included Dennis Manzano, Philippine General Manager of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications,who focused on the wireless gaming arena; Ricky Banaag, Country Manager of Intel, who shared Intel's take on the gaming industry and how the business is changing the way processors are developed; Manuel Ravago, IDC Research Manager, who reported on the prospects of the Philippine gaming industry; Tjader Regis, Philippine team leader of the World Cybergames, who cited the various gaming contests in the world and the various business opportunities in gaming. Local media outfits also covered the afternoon event, which was organized by CyberPress / Information Technology Journalists Association of the Philippines (ITJAP).
By Phillip Kimpo Jr.
Students from UP Diliman's Department of Computer Science (DCS )took part in the CyberPress Third Annual Forum entitled Plug & Play: A Forum on the Philippine Gaming Industry,held last January 28, 2005 at the Hotel Intercontinental Makati. The DCS and UP CURSOR representatives,including staffers of The UP Parser were treated to a wealth of information on the local gaming industry, the pioneers responsible for its inception, and the companies behind its impressive rise. Chairman Virgilio L. Peņa of the Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT), in his keynote address, expounded upon the Philippine government's support for the growing gaming business. Peņa also explained various government policies and regulations regarding the gaming industry. Ben Colayco,Chief Operating Officer of Level-Up!, shared his company 's experience,from the phenomenal success of Ragnarok to their efforts in turning gaming into a social event. He also cited their study-first, play-later stand regarding gamer-students. Raymond Ricafort, President of Digital Paradise Inc., discussed the reasons behind the success of their Netopia chain of Internet cafes. Netopia, the largest computer rental chain in the country,has 131 branches and over 6000 terminals. Niel Dagondon of Anino Entertainment, the company behind the award-winning Anito: Defend a Land Enraged,shared his insights on their enviable status as the Philippines' first and only homegrown PC game developer. Dagondon also offered some suggestions to budding game development firms. Ranulf Goss,Chairperson of the International Game Developer Association (IGDA) Manila Chapter, tackled past and future local gaming events, including the UGotGame Game Development contest.Goss also revealed the imminent release of a groundbreaking fighting game called Away Agila, which uses smooth, cell-shaded 3D animations. Other speakers included Dennis Manzano, Philippine General Manager of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications,who focused on the wireless gaming arena; Ricky Banaag, Country Manager of Intel, who shared Intel's take on the gaming industry and how the business is changing the way processors are developed; Manuel Ravago, IDC Research Manager, who reported on the prospects of the Philippine gaming industry; Tjader Regis, Philippine team leader of the World Cybergames, who cited the various gaming contests in the world and the various business opportunities in gaming. Local media outfits also covered the afternoon event, which was organized by CyberPress / Information Technology Journalists Association of the Philippines (ITJAP).