Review of GDAP (Game Developers Association of the Philippines)

What is GDAP?

GDAP, the Game Developers Association of the Philippines, is a trade group that promotes and grows the country’s game development industry.

• It was set up in 2007 to represent local game studios and developers.
• It supports skills training, industry events, and government backing for the sector.
• It also positions the Philippines as a hub for original games, not just outsourced work.

Gaming is a booming industry in the Philippines. When you talk about gaming, it is not just about players in big eSports tournaments. It is also about the people who build these games. These games run on consoles, desktop computers, or mobile phones.

Indeed, Filipinos are not just good at playing games. They are also great at making them. For example, the 2003 PC game Anito came from Anino Games, now Anino Playlab. The mobile game Catch the Guava by 88GamePub passed 100,000 Google Play downloads just one month after release. As a result, the local game development community keeps growing in both size and ambition.

This community is what the Game Developers Association of the Philippines, or GDAP, wants to nurture. In many ways, it acts as the voice of the whole sector.

About GDAP

Established in 2007, GDAP is a trade association built to represent the country’s game development industry. The Philippines is still a small player on the world stage. Even so, game development here has grown into a real and lucrative field, with a workforce of a few thousand professionals. Because the sector is young, there is plenty of room to grow.

GDAP aims to build a lively and profitable Filipino game development scene. This scene should help the wider economy. In addition, it should support the growth of both people and companies that make games.

The group is guided by clear core values: responsible leadership, excellence and quality, and integrity and honesty. As a result, GDAP backs not just developers but also the gamers who buy and play their products.

History of GDAP and the game development scene

Many parts go into making a game. First, game design sets the core idea and how a game plays. Next, game writing covers the story, the dialogue, and the character backstories. Level editing then shapes specific parts of a game, such as mini games and bonus stages. These segments may have a different designer from the main game.

There is more to it, too. Audio engineering covers music, sound effects, and dubbing. Other roles include animation, technical art, game art design, and programming. Finally, teams handle quality testing, localization or translation, and production. Good game development trends often shape how these tasks get done.

All of these tasks sit within GDAP’s range of services, offered through its member companies. This setup helps these firms grow their client base and earn more. At the same time, GDAP works to sharpen the skills the sector needs. For example, it hosts yearly conferences, workshops, and other learning events, both at home and abroad. This is one reason many firms explore outsourced game development with Filipino teams.

The many roles in game development also open doors for people from other fields. Computer science and programming graduates are common hires. Still, there is room for creative writers, graphic designers, and even marketers. Because of this, related fields like graphic design outsourcing often overlap with the games industry.

GDAP also knows that government support matters for steady growth. So the group pushes for public programs that give everyone fair access to resources. In fact, in 2014, GDAP representatives flew to California for major gaming events. They also met the Philippine Consulate General and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Silicon Valley. Their talks covered proven business models, the sector’s needs, and ways to promote Filipino games and developers at future conventions.

The future for GDAP

Only a handful of schools here offer four-year courses in game design and development. Among them are De La Salle College of Saint Benilde and iACADEMY. However, GDAP hopes more schools will follow. The recent surge in tech and interest in games makes this more likely.

In recent years, GDAP has worked to promote the Philippines as more than an outsourcing base. It wants the country seen as a hub of innovators too. Beyond pushing for original content, GDAP also wants a level playing field. As a result, more startups may take the plunge and build their own games. This shift mirrors the wider rise of offshore game development across Asia.

This is why GDAP keeps teaming up with companies and events to widen its reach. One notable partner is the Electronic Sports and Gaming Summit (ESGS). ESGS is one of the biggest gaming events in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Its speakers and exhibitors have included Ubisoft, Unity 3D, Altitude Games, and Squeaky Wheel Studios. The lineup has also featured PlayStation, Bandai, and Namco. Meanwhile, tech and gaming brands like Wacom, Redfox, Synergy88, Kooapps, Top Draw Animation, and Stream Engine have joined in. Through ESGS, GDAP keeps promoting the craft to developers and gamers alike.

GDAP knows there is no shortage of talent here for game development. With a little support, even a simple game idea can become a big hit. So this is what GDAP hopes for: more original concepts turned into full games, made locally and enjoyed worldwide. The animation sector shares this ambition, as seen in the work of the Animation Council of the Philippines.

Frequently asked questions about GDAP

What does GDAP stand for?

GDAP stands for the Game Developers Association of the Philippines. It is a trade group for the local game development industry.

When was GDAP founded?

GDAP was set up in 2007. Since then, it has worked to represent and grow the country’s game studios and developers.

What does GDAP do for game developers?

GDAP offers training, events, and industry links. It also lobbies for government support. As a result, members gain skills, exposure, and new business.

Is the Philippines a good place for game development?

Yes. The country has skilled, English-speaking talent and lower costs. Because of this, many firms hire Filipino teams for game work.

How does GDAP support original Filipino games?

GDAP promotes the Philippines as a hub of innovators. It also pushes for a level playing field so startups can build their own titles.

Key takeaways

• GDAP is the trade group that promotes the Philippine game development industry, set up in 2007.
• It supports training, events, and government backing across many game development roles.
• The sector draws talent from design, writing, art, and marketing, not just programming.
• GDAP now positions the Philippines as a hub for original games, not just outsourced work.
• With strong local talent, even a simple game idea can grow into a global hit.