Sitara Shefta: The local development community continues to grow in the Canary Islands. There have been announcements of more game dev teams establishing here, which is great news for the local industry, and also for local talent or for those looking for opportunities to relocate here.
Amina Abdien: The local studios are very nice to us and we are trying to share work with them. People who were here before us, like Rising Pixel or Play Medusa, have been very collaborative and open, which has been very welcome, of course. Both the work we can share, and the
contacts they have from years of being here, is certainly very helpful and we hope to be able to contribute a lot to others in the future as well.
Mauricio García: The local game development community, while currently modest in size, is poised for significant growth. This is largely due to the increasing interest in game development among students and enthusiasts. Additionally, there’s a clear and strategic commitment from the local government to not only attract more companies but also to support local entrepreneurs in the field. Local studios are already engaging in preliminary
discussions to form an association aimed at advancing our shared goals. This collaboration is focused on nurturing the sector locally, leveraging all available resources and expertise. Moreover, the island hosts several trade shows
annually. These events have been instrumental in attracting companies from the mainland and abroad, allowing them to discover the island’s potential – including its appealing tax incentives.
Luca Contato: Interestingly, much of my interaction with other studios, even those based in Spain, often occurs during events held abroad. It’s a quirk of the industry, but it’s always great to connect and share experiences with peers in different settings. These encounters abroad reinforce the importance of community, no matter where we find ourselves. Additionally, I believe it’s crucial to engage with
adjacent industries like animation, music, and film. In the Canary Islands, we facilitate this through various activities such as game jams, ‘beerworking’ sessions, and meetups. These events are not just about staying in touch; they’re about creating a vibrant, interdisciplinary
ecosystem where ideas can cross-pollinate, leading to innovative collaborations. These interactions enrich our work at Rising Pixel and contribute to the dynamic growth of the local development community.
What networking organisations and events are there? Sitara Shefta: Tenerife GG is an annual event which has seen great success here, with opportunities for networking, to developer talks, and LAN parties.
Luca Contato: Island Game Jam, ANIMAYO, Startup and digital nomads events. If you start following some of the associations – SPEGC, ZEC, LiveItUp, WIC, AJE Canarias, Canarias Destino Startup – you’ll never be bored!
Mauricio García: Additionally, there’s Acadevi, a highly active entry-level association. They organise meetups and game jams, often participating in the Global Game Jam, which provides a great platform for emerging talent. As previously mentioned, we’re in the early stages of
forming a local association of development companies. Our aim is to have this association operational within the year, further solidifying our commitment to the growth of this sector on the island.
How would you describe the business infrastructure within the region and the connectivity beyond it? Can you get the resources, space, services, etc that the studio might need easily enough? Luca Contato: The Canary Islands boast a robust business infrastructure (that’s why we are on top 10 on Digital Nomad list!), with good connectivity both locally and internationally. The region offers the necessary resources, space, and services for studios like
December/January 2024 MCV/DEVELOP | 39
The Game Kitchen’s Tenerife outpost is focusing its efforts on All on Board, a VR boardgame platform that will offer licensed, modded and player-created games.
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