The E-Sports and Gaming Summit (ESGS) 2015 happened on October 24 and 25 at the SMX Convention Center in Manila. As a pure gaming convention, every aspect of it attracted Filipino gamers of all stripes – whether it’s e-sports, PC gaming, console gaming, mobile gaming, or even local game development.
A recognized name in Philippine e-sports, Mineski, was in charge of several e-sports tournaments at ESGS. Other local companies also hosted their own e-sports tournaments related to the MMOs they are handling at the event.
Fighting game fans had a chance to compete in the Brawl Fest. They were also treated with the appearance of 15-year-old Tekken prodigy Alexander “AK” Laverez, who is a full-blooded Filipino himself.
ESGS also caught the attention of multinational game publishers, who were generous enough to feature their games. The PlayStation 4 booth featured the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops III and even hosted a tournament. Ubisoft, meanwhile, previewed Assassin’s Creed Syndicate and Just Dance 2016. Wargaming.net also exhibited its two flagship games, World of Tanks and World of Warships.
Nightfall: Escape by Zeenoh Studios will be the first Filipino-developed game to be released on consoles.
Of course, local game development companies have their huge share of the action. One locally-produced title of note is PBA Philippine Slam, which is basically NBA Jam with the Philippine Basketball Association coat of paint, considering that it is an officially-licensed game. Another notable locally-produced title is Nightfall: Escape, a survival horror game that draws from Philippine mythology. It is also notable for being the very first Filipino-made game to be released on consoles.
Local indie game makers also had their share of the spotlight with the Indie Arena. The titles on offer were diverse, from visual novels to platformers to unique takes on existing games such as Breakout.
Other highlights of ESGS included video game cosplay, exhibits from gaming hardware manufacturers, a local store that specializes in retro gaming, and several food concessionaires.
ESGS has the potential of becoming the Philippines’ answer to E3. It has taken a step into the right direction by attracting international game companies while nurturing the budding Philippine game development scene. Of course, it brought diverse Filipino gamers together for a healthy exchange of ideas as well as fierce yet friendly competition.
Are you impressed with how the event represented Filipino gamers in general? Do tell us. And don’t forget to like our Facebook page, follow our Twitter account, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.