9/20/2006
Aussie Game Developer Expands Operations In Philippines
September 13, 2006 6:52 a.m. EST
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent
Manila, Philippines (AHN) - Australian video game distribution Matahari Studios has established a subsidiary office in the Philippines with the aim of tapping Filipino talents to develop arcade-style video games.
The office is located in the business district of Ortigas Center in Pasig City. Matahari's subsidiary in the Philippines would develop mostly video games for video games arcades, particularly for the popular Timezone arcade centers.
Timezone is a sister company of Matahari and are owned by LAI Games.
Matahari general manager Eric Marlow said the company already has several concept games to be developed into actual games. He expects the first game developed in the Philippines to be launched by early next year as he said it takes between 18 months and 22 months to develop an arcade game depending on its complexity.
But he said that once Matahari's exclusive clause with Timezone expires, the arcade games developed in Manila will be sold to other arcade companies both in the Philippines and in the international market.
He said, "Every month we're screening hundreds of applications but we've so far hired only 13 people. It takes a specific skill set to be in this job because we're not going to train new hires with basic video game making because they have to pick that up as they go along."
Marlow said they hope to hire at least 18 more people within the year.
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent
Manila, Philippines (AHN) - Australian video game distribution Matahari Studios has established a subsidiary office in the Philippines with the aim of tapping Filipino talents to develop arcade-style video games.
The office is located in the business district of Ortigas Center in Pasig City. Matahari's subsidiary in the Philippines would develop mostly video games for video games arcades, particularly for the popular Timezone arcade centers.
Timezone is a sister company of Matahari and are owned by LAI Games.
Matahari general manager Eric Marlow said the company already has several concept games to be developed into actual games. He expects the first game developed in the Philippines to be launched by early next year as he said it takes between 18 months and 22 months to develop an arcade game depending on its complexity.
But he said that once Matahari's exclusive clause with Timezone expires, the arcade games developed in Manila will be sold to other arcade companies both in the Philippines and in the international market.
He said, "Every month we're screening hundreds of applications but we've so far hired only 13 people. It takes a specific skill set to be in this job because we're not going to train new hires with basic video game making because they have to pick that up as they go along."
Marlow said they hope to hire at least 18 more people within the year.
