Google targets game studios in Latin America with fund – 08/16/2023 – Tech

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With an eye on the growth of the games industry in Latin America, Google has opened applications for its fund aimed at independent game developers. In its second edition, the Indie Games Fund will select ten Latin American studios that will receive from US$ 150,000 (R$ 733,000) to US$ 200,000 (R$ 975,000) to expand an already released game.

“Since Latin America has no tradition of game development, there is a difference in maturation not only of the developer, but of the support ecosystem itself [como empresas aceleradoras e incubadoras de projetos]”, says to Sheet Daniel Trócoli, Head of Google Play Games Partnerships for Latin America, explaining what led the company to create the program.

“Creating and launching a product, being an entrepreneur, in a place where there are so many difficulties leaves the company exhausted. So we created this fund to help them go a little further.”

counterpart

“Furthermore”, in this case, includes making the game, generally developed with PCs or consoles in mind, available for mobile applications, in particular for Google platforms.

When joining the program, the studio needs to create a version of the participating game for Android devices or extend the already published version, if applicable. In addition, the game must be available for at least two years to subscribers of the Google Play Pass subscription game service.

“We ask for this because Play Pass generates recurring revenue. So, in addition to the fund’s resources, which we ask to be fully invested in the game, what it generates is an extra resource for the developer”, says Trócoli.

Unlike what happens with other game subscription services, studios do not receive a fixed amount to integrate Google Play Pass. The amount paid by the company is calculated based on an algorithm based on engagement parameters generated by the title with users – the subscription costs BRL 9.90 per month or BRL 89.99 per year in Brazil.

Selective process

The selection of the winning studios is carried out by a commission made up of Google Play employees from different countries and is made up of three elimination phases:

1. Quantitative evaluation: The game’s popularity and evaluation indexes are analyzed on the platforms on which it is available, whether they are from Google or not.

1. Qualitative assessment: the level of polishing of the game and quality of production in general is observed.

1. Interviews: Google executives interview those responsible for the studio to get to know their profile and that of their team and identify the best candidates to receive the fund.

“One of the main pillars that we take into account is quality. No communication will improve a bad product. If your game is not ready yet, and this is one of the requirements to participate in the program, don’t bid just to sign up. That’s it. won’t put your studio in a better position and might even be counter-productive”, says Trócoli.

Of the 10 studios selected for the program last year, 5 were Brazilian: Aoca Game Lab from Bahia, with the game “Arida: Backland’s Awakening”; Mato Grosso do Sul’s Asantee, with “Magic Rampage”; Cafundó Estúdio Criativo, from “Tetragon”; Brasilia-based Glitch Factory, creator of “No Place for Bravery”, and Niteroi-based Orube Game Studio, of “Super Mombo Quest”. Besides them, two studios from Peru, two from Argentina and one from Guatemala were chosen.

Other programs

It’s not just Google that has been looking for ways to bring local content to its platforms. In March, Microsoft launched a new developer support line in its ID@Xbox independent studio program.

The ID@Xbox Developer Acceleration Program is aimed at studios and games from underrepresented communities in the industry, such as women, people of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and Latinos, among others. According to the company, 12 Brazilian studios are already part of the program.

Service

Applications for the Indie Games Fund are open until September 1st and must be submitted on the program’s website. Studios with up to 50 employees are accepted.

Developers interested in participating in Microsoft’s accelerator program should send email (in English) to [email protected]. The company will contact you with more information. Applications are accepted for both games already released and games in development

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play

game tip, new or old, for you to test

Moving Out 2

(PC, Switch, PS 4/5, Xbox One/X/S)

Released this Tuesday (15), “Moving Out 2” is an excellent game to put your friendships to the test. As with the first title in the series, up to four players are tasked with carrying objects from one point to another to make a move. Similar to titles like “Overcooked”, the game demands coordination and good communication between the players to organize the push and pull on the screen and, between achievements and frustrations, it soon turns into a fun shouting match on the sofa in the living room. The main novelties in this sequel are the possibility of playing with other people over the internet and the scenarios, even more interactive and crazy than the first game.

An early access copy of the game was provided for this writing.

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update

news, releases, business and what matters most

• The gaming market is expected to grow again in 2023 after a drop in 2022, Newzoo consultancy said in its annual industry report. The consultancy estimates that the global market will grow 2.6%, reaching US$ 187.7 billion (R$ 916.97 billion), after a 4.3% decrease last year.

• According to the survey, Latin America had the second highest growth among the analyzed regions, 4.3% compared to the previous year, reaching US$ 8.8 billion (R$ 43.19 billion). Behind only Africa and the Middle East, with growth of 6.9%, totaling US$ 7.2 billion (R$ 35.34 billion).

• Also according to Newzoo, the Chinese Tencent remains fired with the largest company in the games market, with annual revenue of US$ 7.56 billion. Sony (US$ 4.4 billion) and Apple (US$ 3.7 billion) follow, but would be overtaken by fourth place Microsoft (US$ 3.15 billion) if the purchase of Activision Blizzard (seventh, with US$ 2.3 billion) was already completed.

• Netflix published a mobile application that works as a controller for games on the TV. According to the app’s information, it will enable users to play mobile games on TV. However, the program does not currently list any compatible games.

• Nintendo has filed patents in the United States and Japan for a number of game mechanics in “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,” the Automaton website said. Some developers, however, criticized the company’s initiative on social networks for considering patents too generic or mechanics already widely used.

• Sony’s games division achieved a 33% growth in sales in the last quarter (April to June) compared to the same period last year, reaching US$ 20.6 billion (R$ 101.2 billion). The good performance was attributed in part to the acceleration of sales of the PlayStation 5 console, with 3.3 million units sold (42% more than in the previous year).

• New Zealand was the last country to approve Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. According to the president of the company, Brad Smithas a result, the deal has already been authorized by competition authorities in 41 countries.

• Dan Ackerman, author of the book “The Tetris Effect: The Game That Hypnotized The World”, filed a lawsuit against Apple and The Tetris Company accusing the companies of having adapted his 2016 work without authorization in the movie “Tetris”, released in last year.

• Activision has announced the launch of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” for November 10th. Like the last titles in the series, the game will be a kind of reinterpretation of the eponymous game released in 2011.

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Download

games that will be released in the next few days and promotions that are worthwhile

16.Aug

“The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood”: BRL 49.49 (PC)

“En Garde”: price not available (PC)

Aug 17

“Red Dead Redemption”: R$ 249 (Switch), price not available (PS 4)

“Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew”: price not available (PC, PS5, Xbox X/S)

“Vampire Survivors”: BRL 11.69 (Switch)

Aug 18

“Bomb Rush Cyberfunk”: price not available (PC, Switch)

“Madden NFL 24”: BRL 359 (PC, PS 4/5, Xbox One/X/S)

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”*: BRL 97.19 (PC), BRL 147.45 (Xbox One/X/S), BRL 199.50 (PS 4/5)

22.Aug

“Fort Solis”: price not available (PC, PS 5)

“Immortals of Aveum”: R$319 (PC), R$359 (PS 5, Xbox X/S)

“Smurfs Kart”: BRL 101.20 (Xbox One/X/S), price not available (PC, PS 4/5)

“WrestleQuest”: price not available (PC, Switch, PS 4/5, Xbox One/X/S)

*Available on Xbox Game Pass

promotion of the week

Humble Bundle has put up for sale a promotional pack of games from the “Resident Evil” series. For US$35 (R$171.96), it is possible to acquire PC copies of the 11 main games in the franchise, including the remakes of “Resident Evil 2” and “Resident Evil 3” and the last title in the series, “Resident Evil 2″. Evil Village”. Part of the proceeds from sales will be sent to charities. The promotion ends on August 23rd.