These Filipino Indie Games Prove That Gaming Can Be Educational

Oftentimes we'd hear our parents or relatives ridicule our obsession with video games saying: 'Wala kang mapapala sa ginagawa mo!'

But times have changed as there are games that can lead to careers as professional esports athletes. Meanwhile, there are those who would work behind the scenes, serving as the backend staff of esports and gaming events, while there are some who would end up as game developers.

And speaking about game developers, not every title that they produce would be geared towards wowing the community in E3 or other major gaming conventions, as some can produce titles with the intent to educate the community.

The Philippine GameDev Expo was able to give the spotlight to these games and here are some of them that are worth taking a look at. Be advised that these games are currently in the development and testing phase.

SEAker

Animus Ludus Studios (AniLu Studios), is currently producing SEAker, a game with the intent to raise awareness about the protection and preservation of marine life in the Philippines.

The game encourages players to explore the depths of the ocean, learning more about the unique abilities of underwater and aquatic species, while also traversing through the dangers that these creatures encounter.

Pearls of Asia

For aspiring business-minded individuals, XCaracoa's Pearls of Asia could be the game that's worth the try as players can establish their own business empire in the Philippines.

With the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) forging a partnership with the developers, players have access to a plethora of data on local raw materials. Given the truckload of information in the hands of the player, comes a plethora of strategies to fulfill their aspirations of becoming a business tycoon.

Players need to assess the strengths of each region, while setting up trade routes to further expand their business. They're also given the chance to play as historical figures like Jose Rizal, Princess Urduja, etc.

San Fernando

A combination of anthropology and choice-driven narrative can perfectly describe Makiling Interactive Arts' San Fernando. Similar to Pearls of Asia, the game is supported by the CCP, featuring the artistic work of the Philippines' National Artist, Fernando Amorsolo.

Given its overall premise, players are tasked to learn more about the mysteries regarding the town that they'll be visiting. The game's choice-driven approach would encourage players to be wary of their dealings with the townsfolk, otherwise they'll encounter unwanted consequences.

Fire City

In partnership with the Bureau of Fire Protection, Fire City is a game that educates players regarding fire safety and protection.

The premise of placing fire protection systems such as smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and the like may seem simple, however the gameplay would reveal that things are actually easier said than done.

Through various challenges, players discover that there is a scientific method in installing these systems in order to minimize fire-related hazards.

Mister & Miss Info

With fake news and misinformation rampaging everywhere in social media, Tidbits Co. created Mister & Miss Info, a game created for students of the Quezon City Public Library.

Players who dig deep into the game are tasked to check on the information that they'll receive. Any suspicious news report or information should be flagged as untrustworthy. Failure to do so would result to the player losing their job ingame.

This isn't the only game that Tidbits has in their portfolio, as they're also working on Anyo, an action sidescroller centered on Philippine mythology.

Street Smart

There's no denying that commuting in Metro Manila is a massive headache for Filipinos given the country's transportation crisis and players can look for ways to solve this major issue through playing Capstones' Street Smart.

The goal of the game is to ease the commuter's stress by managing the city's transportation and pedestrian planning.

For players who wish to unwind after a stressful day, this Cities Skylines-inspired game could be the perfect reliever.

From: SPIN.ph