By Pinky Marcelo
Some of the country’s brightest and most promising e-sports developers will be going head-tohead as they compete for honors and bragging rights at the Level Up Esports Game Dev Challenge, which is scheduled on November 28, 2024 at the University of Science and
Technology of Southern Philippines. The competition is one of the highlights of this year’s National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week of the Department of Science and Technology.
Thirteen finalists, ten in the student category and three in the professional category, have taken on the challenge of designing and creating a game that incorporates traditional games and sports or other games that promote science, technology, culture, and the creative arts.
Participants are allowed to use any platform that allows the game prototype or game demo to be played on a browser, personal computer, or mobile phone device without the need for any subscription or license. The platforms can include, but are not limited to, game development tools such as Flash, RPG Maker, Stagecast Creator, Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot, and GameMaker Studio.
The competition has a dual purpose: to provide a platform for budding game developers, as well as serve as a talent search to find potential game developers who can then start their own techno enterprise. DOST’s partnership with the eSports World Federation (ESWF) will also be helpful in helping Filipino game developers to network with potential domestic or foreign investors.
Big prizes await the winners at the awarding ceremonies which will be held on November 29, 2024 at the Limketkai Center Atrium. For the Student Category, the grand prize winner will receive P50,000.00 and a plaque, the second placer gets P25,000.00 and a plaque, while the third prize winner gets P15,000.00 and a plaque.
For the Professional Category, first place winner will receive P75,000.00 and a plaque, second place winner gets P50,000.00 and a plaque, while the third prize gets P30,000.00 and a plaque. The DOST National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week will be held from November 27-December 1, 2024, at the Atrium, Limketkai Center, Cagayan De Oro City.
