Tenerife is one step away, the future signing of the contract, from being Davos –Swiss city that brings together the most select of the world economy every year– from the video game industry. Gamelab, the industry forum, “has come to stay for several years.” This is confirmed by Enrique Arriaga, Councilor for Innovation of the Cabildo, who summarizes how the objectives of this industry meeting with a supranational concept have been “more than” covered, beyond the borders of the Island, the Archipelago and the state. A double success in the first balance.
On the one hand, in the private sphere. The axis of this route took place last weekend in the south of the Island, specifically at the Palacio de Isora hotel, where more than 70 senior managers from companies from 17 countries met to discuss the future of the sector. On the other hand, on the public side, satisfaction with the forum held on Monday in the Auditorium, where 600 people, including professionals and amateurs, come together to listen to the great leaders of the industry.
70
70 senior managers from companies from 17 countries meet in the South
winter rotation.
German, French or Finnish companies, up to twenty, show interest in establishing themselves here. There are even some who consider a rotating transfer in the winter season, during the six months in which they do not have sun and it is very cold. On the other side are those who gather to listen to the great gurus of this world. From John Romero to Simay Dinc and from Ian Livingstone to Richard Bartle. They are the best.
Enrique Arriaga assesses: «The private part of Gamelab 2022 has developed very well, better than expected, with a necessary group dynamic and with the leadership of all these great references that have come to the Island. Even some like John Romero , at the last minute when we hardly expected it anymore ». The counselor adds: “Many conclusions have been drawn to set the roadmap for the European video game industry and to compete with the current great powers, the United States and Asia.”
In addition, he points out, “we work from the Cabildo to make the landing of these companies a reality, with all the guarantees and not make the mistake of other times when the transfer is promoted, but then they are left alone here and they leave after a year.” On the other hand, he adds, “we have established contacts or explained what our Island offers and they have fallen in love with it.”
600
The Auditorium attracts more than 600 people between professionals and amateurs in an intense day
Long weekend.
The intense weekend culminates on Monday with an event open to the public. The two enabled areas, the Chamber Room and the exterior reserved for dynamization, the developer session, are full from early on. In the first, legends like Romero give their talks for the enjoyment of all who come to a full Auditorium. Arriaga points out: “We have many fans, but also a large number of professionals from Tenerife, from Canary Islands and from other places that come to learn from the experiences of these great leaders in the industry”. In the other area, presentations, workshops, colloquiums and sharing with video games and their environment as a center. The indie (independent) perspective, training, the industry in Spain and the Canary Islands, how to develop (create) here or the round table Why do I compose music for videogames?.
“We have shown tax advantages, infrastructure, good weather and talent”
Minister Arriaga opens the event with a sentence that sums up its spirit: «We show the tax advantages, the infrastructures and the privileged climate. But also the talent because we hope that our people, who are highly trained, can work here. Being professionals in what they like, enjoying it and also earning money. That’s the way.”
Romero opens the forum. For almost an hour, in conversation format, he recounts in English – the language of gaming – the construction process of his first-person shooter video games, from the camera’s perspective. He breaks down his professional evolution, the anecdotes and the discussions with his colleagues during the creative process until reaching the final goal. When he leaves his chat, this short man with long black hair is the center of attention, the target of selfies and requests for group photos. Idol of the masses of a world that grows in direct proportion to the generational push of the young
Organizers.
The director of HiperDino Gaming (HDG) and executive producer of Gamelab Tenerife, Antonio Cabrera from La Laguna, is “satisfied and excited”. He stresses the importance of having an event of such magnitude on the island. Cabrera points out: “We have worked hard for and for Tenerife.” He presents the act in Spanish and then goes to English, the language of gaming. He privately returns to Spanish to summarize: «Almost more as part of the industry than as an organizer, I claim that this has continuity. I think we have shared the Cabildo’s Insular Director of Innovation Plan with the business curiosity to come ».
“The response, better than expected, from companies and the general public is satisfying”
The director of Gamelab, Iván Fernández Lobo, is “voiceless due to these intense days, but very happy”. He highlights “the importance of Tenerife betting on promoting an ecosystem of talent that helps attract investment and job to the island”. According to Fernández, “the Island has enviable conditions to develop and promote the creativity that video game companies need, and it can be a place of relief for the pressure imposed by the unstoppable growth of the sector in the main European cities.” Likewise, he underlines the importance and uniqueness of the first European summit of the video game sector being held in Tenerife and ensures that the fact that “European leaders choose the Island to meet could lead to important business opportunities.” He also points out that “the economic influence of the companies represented at the summit exceeds 100 billion dollars annually.”
Fernández Lobo considers that “the commitment of the Cabildo de Tenerife for the video game sector, an act of generosity, has correspondence.” He points out that “the Island is positioned as a meeting point and world forum for video games.” He stresses that “a movement has been generated that has a future. It comes to stay.”
Multiple profiles.
The Chamber Room fills up little by little. Especially young gaming lovers. Ayose Lomba is a professor at the Universidad del Atlántico Medio based in Gran Canaria. He arrives with 25 students from First, Second and Third of the Video Game Development course. He points out: “It’s our thing, you have to be attentive to events of this level and as director of the degree I usually always enter forums and that’s why we are here.”
Oriol is from Barcelona and Gabriel from Gran Canaria, although he lives in Fuerteventura. An example of this world at a business level because Oriol is the owner and Gabriel, who works remotely, is his employee at Sandbloom Studio. The owner recalls that “it was done before in Barcelona and it is a high-level event that you have to come to.”
Lucía looks like a student because of her youth, but this woman from Porto is a teacher at IES La Guancha. She values: «If we are Image and Sound teachers, we must be here. Many students come. It is an activity closely linked to production and cinema and we cannot miss the opportunity”.
Pablo and Pablo –they have the same name– are students at the Integrated Vocational Training Center (CIFP) Cesar Manrique of Santa Cruz. One from Valle de Guerra and the other from Arico, the North and the South. They are clear about it: «We study 3D, Games and Interactive Environments and that almost forces us to come». They understand that having an event like Gamelab on the Island “is wonderful.”
Among the biggest references
john romero
- Shooting in 1st person. John Romero is the award-winning co-founder of the companies id Software and Romero Games, as well as the man behind some of the biggest first-person shooter video games, a concept of which he is the absolute creator developed into virtual concepts such as Doom, Quake and Wolfenstein.
Richard Bartle
- pioneer researcher. Writer, teacher and researcher, Richard Bartle is known for being the co-creator of Multi User Domains or MUD. He is also present at Gamelab Tenerife to bring his experience in the industry.
Ian Livingston
- Pioneer in the UK. Ian Livingstone, one of the founding fathers of the video game industry in the United Kingdom and supervisor of large projects such as Deus Ex, Hitman, Thief, the world-famous Tomb Raider and Legacy of Kain.
Simay Dinc
- feminine universe. Simay Dinc is a co-founder of Recontact Games and Women in Games Turkey. Ahead of her time and in the sector in a Muslim world always complicated for the empowerment of women. She comes to Gamelab Tenerife to talk about her work as a producer in the Turkish video game industry.
