BIG Festival Celebrates Latin America’s Passion for Gaming
The BIG festival is a testament to the growing gaming industry in Latin America and the global companies taking notice. We’re reporting live from the festival, bringing you the latest news, from exciting announcements to engaging panel discussions. Here are the highlights from day three of the festival.
The Winners of the BIG Awards
One of the main events at BIG was the award ceremony, recognizing some of the best games at the festival. An Otter Game Studio’s title Sequenza took home the Best Mobile Game award. This musical puzzle game challenges players to connect nodes and create beautiful melodies. Sequenza beat out tough competition from other titles like Horizon Chase 2, SAND – An adventure story, and The Last Ronin.
Another notable winner was A Year of Springs, a multiplatform game that won the Big Impact award for its commitment to diversity. Lost In Play, a game available on various platforms and soon to be released on mobile, was nominated for Best Game and Best Art.
Beecarbonize, an environmental card game, received nominations in two categories – Big Impact: Educational Game and Big Impact: Social Matters.
Promoting Diversity in Game Development
Addressing the importance of diversity both in the gaming industry and society as a whole, BIG hosted a panel discussion featuring representatives from Tapps Games, PUGA Studios, Webcore Games, 44 Toons, and APTA. These industry leaders shared their efforts in fostering diversity in the workplace and creating more inclusive games.
According to 44 Toons’ Ale McHaddo, as creators of content, they have a responsibility to represent underrepresented groups. The games benefit from this diversity as they cater to a diverse audience.
Tapps Games’ Daniela Costa emphasized the need to think about diversity beyond gender and to consider all aspects of inclusivity. Their company promotes freedom of suggestion, allowing everyone to contribute their ideas and creativity.
Webcore Games producer Camila Malaman recognized the need for support in promoting diversity and established a CO of diversity within their company. Malaman shed light on lesser-known issues in the industry, such as marginalized communities being excluded from training and business opportunities.
Diversity committees, like the one at PUGA, create spaces where diverse voices are welcome. Debora Palhares from PUGA shared how their committee focuses on neurodiversity and ensures that the company as a whole embraces diversity and inclusivity.
Exclusive Interview with Gaming Legend Takashi Tokita
As the festival shifted to a fan event, we had the privilege of speaking with Takashi Tokita, the lead developer of Final Fantasy IV and director of popular titles like Parasite Eve and Chrono Trigger. Tokita discussed Square Enix’s focus on the mobile market, highlighting the difference between mobile games and console games.
Tokita compared game development to ramen, emphasizing the importance of balance and not overwhelming players with too many elements. He also acknowledged the potential of mobile gaming, with Square Enix releasing ports of their successful console games for mobile devices.
The Future of Interactive Cinema
Simay Dinç, CEO and co-founder of Recontact Games, took the stage to discuss the merging of video games and cinema in their mobile game series. The games combine filmed footage with interactive puzzles to create a unique gaming experience.
As a firm believer in gaming as an art form, Dinç highlighted the power of mobile devices with touch screens in enhancing the interactive aspect of games. Recontact Games focuses on creating games specifically designed for touch screens.
Dinç also touched upon the upcoming Recontact:Metaword, which incorporates blockchain technology and allows players to invest in and own in-game assets. This approach highlights the potential of gaming as an alternative exhibition platform for art and photography.
Discussing her role as founder of Women in Games Türkiye, Dinç emphasized the importance of creating communities and the positive impact gaming can have on society. She shared her work with underprivileged children through gaming workshops and hackathons.
Overall, BIG Festival showcases the passion for gaming in Latin America and the industry’s commitment to diversity and innovation. Watch out for more updates on the exciting developments in the gaming world.