Uruguay wants to position itself even more among the most influential countries in Latin America with respect to video games and that is why this 6, 7 and 8 December the first edition of the video game forum LevelUY will take place at the Torre de las Telecomunicaciones de Antel.
Co-organised by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM), ANTEL and the Global Services Programme of Uruguay XXI, with the support of the Uruguayan Chamber of Video Games (CAVI), this is the first country branding event to be held in Uruguay.
In this context, Antonio Carámbula, executive director of Uruguay XXI explained that Level UY is part of a series of activities that the platform has been promoting for some time: "We have been implementing a global services programme with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). One of the sectors we have prioritised is precisely that of Information Technologies (ICTs) and everything to do with IT. In this sense, we have focused on everything to do with video games," said Carámbula.
In this regard, he stated that "in 2013, Dinatel began to convene the state of the sector and today there is a public-private roundtable comprising DINATEL, ANII, Antel, Dinapyme, Uruguay XXI and also the business chambers, CUTI and the Chamber of Video Games".
The registration and knowledge of the industry made it possible for an international event to be held in Uruguay: "We managed to bring an event from abroad, Gamelab, which was held here for two years, 2015 and 2016," said the director of Uruguay XXI, but he explained that after two editions it seemed that something else was missing, so LevelUY was born.
"We began to see that it was necessary to have our own event," he said, adding that "the idea is to have our own brand that promotes Uruguay as a reference, which in fact it already is, but to try to promote it more".
He also assured that the objective is to "consolidate this first edition for video game developers in the Latin American region" and thus attract more players so that Uruguayan companies can generate contacts and strengthen themselves.
"The idea is to generate networking and exchange with those who come from abroad, to try to position it as an event that takes place in Uruguay but as a regional event," he said.
Level uy.
From this morning at the Torre de las Comunicaciones de Antel, Uruguayan and Latin American videogame developers have what is set to be the first of many events to come in the future.
Uruguay XXI expects the event to be well attended as it will offer excellent work and networking opportunities.
Among the attractions of the event are Game Design Free to Play guests Ricardo Carretero from KING (Candy Crush Saga); User Experience guests Jason Schklar (Microsoft, Big Huge Games, Zynga). Self-publishing and marketing experts Luke Icenhower from Raw Fury Games (ex-EA and Square Enix) and brothers Sam and Seth Coster, who will share their experience producing, publishing and self-substantiating their own video games.
Uruguay will welcome developers from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Mexico, as well as representatives and members of their respective associations. Lévan Sardjeveladze, president of the French National Video Game Organization, France's video game development organisation, will provide the event's European contribution.
During LEVELUY, attendees will have the opportunity to attend talks, workshops and business rounds.
In addition, a matchmaking/business area will also be available on 6 and 7 December, where attendees will be able to request business meetings with the various companies that will be present at the event.
Three days to attend workshops and roundtables
Tomorrow, Wednesday, from 10:30 a.m., the business area will take place in the Telecommunications Tower. From 13:00 hours, the workshops will be held in groups of three at the same time and will continue until 16:30 hours.
From 7 p.m. onwards, two talks will be given and from 9 p.m. onwards, the opening party will take place.
Thursday 7 will be the day of the round tables and talks, with 11 in total to be held between 9.15am and 6.30pm. The day will close with an award ceremony organised by Dinatel.
On Friday 8th there will be an afternoon workshop, which will take place between 15:00 and 17:30.
The event will close with a closing party at A+ Escuela de Artes Visuales from 21:00.
IN BRIEF
Objective. It seeks to position itself as a benchmark country
The objective of creating a country brand event at the video game level and oriented to the region is to improve Uruguay's positioning in Latin America as a reference in the field.
Candy Crush. Designer conducts a workshop
Spaniard Ricardo Carretero, one of the designers working for King, the company that owns Candy Crush, will be giving a talk and workshop on premium and free to play game design.
Experts. From all over the world
Jason Schklar (Microsoft, Big Huge Games, Zynga). Luke Icenhower from Raw Fury Games (ex-EA and Square Enix) or the brothers Sam and Seth Coster will be present at the event sharing their experience.
Source: El País
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