Job opportunities seen in game processing

GRAPHIC ARTISTS and information technology professionals can soon avail of job opportunities in game development processing as the country positions itself to become an animation design destination.

“The Philippines is strategically positioned to tap into outsourced game development market due to cultural affinity, its positioning as an animation destination, the presence of gaming culture in the country, and a potential-rich labor pool,” said Jonathan D. de Luzuriaga, Southeast Asia managing director of Tholons and executive director for industry affairs of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP). Tholons is an advisory firm for global outsourcing.

In a press briefing on Friday on the prospects of the new business processing outsourcing segment, Mr. de Luzuriaga said, “Globally, the gaming software market could reach $39 billion by 2012 while game testing industry could reach $14 billion by 2012. In Asia, China, Japan and Korea continue to lead, it’s time to introduce gaming development processes in the Philippines.”

He noted that jobs available in game processing include artwork development, creative design, animation, porting, motion picture, audio and music, localization of foreign games, end-to-end game development, programming and quality assurance and testing.

“Over 60% of game development and game services related budgets are going to be outsourced to gaming development providers in Europe and Asia, while 75% of total game development requirements will have been outsourced by 2009,” Mr. de Luzuriaga said.

Citing the number of those involved in the relatively new segment, Mr. de Luzuriaga said BPAP has only 14 members involved in game processing. The group has over 260 members involved in other transactions such as contact center and medical transcription.

Meanwhile, Lyshiel Valencia, MoAnima country manager and Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP) president, cited hindrances to developing the new segment. MoAnima is a game processing firm.

“Despite having a readily available labor pool, we still have to train them within the next five years. Most of the artists have not attended formal school, that is why we still have to train them but the passion is there. Moreover, we still have to get support from the different sectors such as the government, academe and industry associations,” she said.

Ms. Valencia further said that small companies should consolidate and improve scale and capacity to catch up with new trends.

She said GDAP is coordinating with universities and colleges to make available software on gaming development.

“Purchasing original software is expensive that is why we have been partnering with software manufacturers to make these software more affordable for schools so that the students will be trained and updated in the gaming scene,” she said. — AMPD