Prof. Joseph Saulter's Digital Game Design and Development Conference - US$112 Billion Video Gaming Industry may be Jamaicans Next BPO

“Game designing and development is never going away. One per cent of the gross revenue will change the whole economics of Jamaica. If you are creative and are looking to do something, why not do something that brings your creativity where you can play in?”

Founder and CEO of Entertainment Arts Research Incorporated, Professor Joseph Saulter during the first Digital Game Design and Development Conference, held at the CARIMAC (Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication) at the UWI (University of the West Indies)

Apparently it takes a foreigner with a PhD and actual experience in the Video Game industry to finally convince the GOJ (Government of Jamaica) that there is potential money to be made in Video Game Design.

This is the conclusion that I draw from founder and CEO of Entertainment Arts Research Incorporated, Professor Joseph Saulter, during a presentation on Video Game design and Video game development, both of which can contribute significant funds to the Jamaican Economy as stated in the article “Prof: Game Design Could Boost Economy'”, Published Monday October 20, 2014 by Kemisha Anderson, Gleaner Writer, The Jamaica Gleaner.

He was speaking at the CARIMAC (Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication) at the UWI (University of the West Indies), Mona Campus during the Digital Game Design and Development Conference, which is actually the first in the Caribbean.

Kinda reminds me of the Inaugural opening of the KingstOOn Animation Conference and Film Festival that was launched on Friday June 20^th 2013, also held on the grounds of the UWI as reported in my blog article entitled “Inaugural KingstOOn Animation Competition a boost to local Animation Industry - State Minister Julian Robinson give Graphic Artists the chance to Feel this Moment Pitbull and Christina Aguilera Style”.

Education and E-sports – Video Games Potent Cocktail that Education Minister likes

His intention is to start something similar in Jamaica, possibly with a focus on Education Games, as they present a potential market that's less fickle and with a lower upfront capital investment than designing Console Games as noted in my blog article entitled “Animation after KingstOOn - How to make a Video Game for PC, Smartphone and Tablet”.

Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites, who was also in attendance at the Digital Game Design and Development Conference, sees the educational potential of Video Games, quote:  “The technology and educational games are extremely important, as they serve as mediums through which learning and all its aspects can take place, and also a means by which those who are unable to be attracted to formal educational pursuits can learn”.

In fact, Console Gaming is dying, being slowly replaced by Cloud Gaming as detailed in my Geezam blog article entitled “Console Gaming’s Downfall – Future is up in the Clouds”. The future is in developing Video Games for Education and which encourage team play as opposed to individual excellence.

A trend that’s developing with the rise of E-Sports as noted in my blog article entitled “The E-Sport Phenomenon and Amazon's Twitch Aquisition - How Amazon’s Twitch creates Video Gaming Celebrities and jumpstarts Jamaican Game Development”, where the emphasis is more on Teams than individual Gamers.

Casual Gaming on smartphones has potential, already being exploited by a local independent Developer and one-man Developer 24 year old Stephen Williams owner of Pandosoft and Developer of the Google Android Game TapKat Fiesta as I'd reported in my blog article entitled “Stephen Williams' Android Game TapKat Fiesta - Social Media Marketing even as VoIP for Corporate and Enterprise untapped Telecoms Opportunity”.

A very simple argument I’m sure, but evidence that there is Game Development in Jamaica that just needs more encouragement…..and some VC (Venture Capital) Seed money would be helpful as well!

Digital Game Design and Development Conference - US$112 Billion Gaming Industry is open to Jamaicans

Professor Joseph Saulter, a twelve (12) year African-American veteran in the in the Video Game Industry in the US of A, pointed out that as far back as 2011, analyst Gartner Inc had projected earnings of US$112 billion by 2015 as stated in the article entitled “Global games business to hit $112B by 2015”, published July 6, 2011 1:21 AM by Dean Takahashi, Venturebeat and “Video game spending set to hit $74 billion this year”, published July 6, 2011 5:21 AM PDT by Don Reisinger, CNET News.

These projections are clearly bang on target, as he's pretty much reiterated what I'd already been saying on my personal blog; Video Game Design (making of characters and backgrounds) and Development (the actual programming of the Video Game), is a potential source of foreign exchange for Jamaica.

In fact, those Gartner projections aren't too far off, as analyst Netzoo and their Newzoo’s Live Interactive Data Resource puts it at US$82 million for 2014 already as per my blog article entitled “Netzoo's 2014 Global Games Market Report - Developed World idle time Opportunity for Jamaicans in Video Gaming Design”. Currently it's clocking some US$82 billion has been spend up until June 2014 of this year, making 2014 the year that revenue from Casual and Console Gaming could pass the US$100 billion mark.

Investment in Video Game Development in Jamaica – Animation poor ambitious stepchild

Investment from Multi-lateral agencies is potentially available, as Animation isn’t very far off from Video Game Development, requiring basically the same type of gear as noted in my blog article entitled “Animation after KingstOOn - How to make a Video Game for PC, Smartphone and Tablet”.

With the World Bank investing some US$20 million over the next five (5) years in Animation to develop it into the next BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) as predicted in my blog article entitled “Animation after KingstOON - World Bank Invests US$20 million in Jamaican Animation BPO Brother from another Mother with Great Expectations”.

Video Games deserve equal attention. Especially as there is extra money coming from the very SAME World Bank in a total package of US$105 worth of loans that also covers SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) as reported in my blog article entitled “Jamaica's World Bank's US$105 million Loan – All My Children Animation, SME VC's and Public Sector get Second Chance at Economic Redemption” that can be used as VC (Venture Capital)  Seed money to develop Video Gaming Industry in Jamaica.

Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites sees the educational potential of Animation. Perhaps a Joint Video Game Competition will be in the works as well, this time involving the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining and the Ministry of Education in much the same way they’re both supported Animation since June 2013?

This is definitely worth following, as potentially founder and CEO of Entertainment Arts Research Incorporated, Professor Joseph Saulter may be the one to jump-start Video Game development in Jamaica, hopefully with some VC (Venture Capital) funding, training and support from the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining and the Ministry of Education.