4 Pinoy games were given the spotlight at MIX: Asian Game Showcase in the US

Four Pinoy-made video games were given the spotlight at a gaming event in the US during the week of the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2019.

On March 20, "Love Esquire," "Jack Axe," "Academia: School Simulator," and "Grand Guilds" were exhibited at the Asian Game Showcase (AGS), which was part of the Media Indie Exchange (MIX) 2019 event at IGN's San Francisco headquarters.

Event attendees were able to play these four games, as well as others from the following Asian countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and China.

1. Love Esquire by Yangyang Mobile 

Romantic comedy "Love Esquire" is a fantasy dating simulator/visual novel with a touch of turn-based RPG mechanics. You play a young squire whose personal quest is to find love – which is more challenging than it sounds, given you're nothing more than an average fellow. You'll therefore have to work hard at improving yourself, and spend quality time with each of the game's five ladies to even have a shot at the life you've dreamed of.

Founded in 2015, "Love Esquire" developer Yangyang Mobile is a Philippine indie game company specializing in creating visually striking, story-driven games around original IPs. It also develops mobile apps and outsources projects, on the side. The company is run by "a group of passionate individuals who live off creativity and pizza!"

Yangyang Mobile successfully Kickstarted "Love Esquire," which it'll eventually release via Steam. Its debut PC game "The Letter" was another Kickstarter success that's currently one of the best-reviewed horror visual novels on Steam.

2. Jack Axe by Keybol Games and Mike Studios

"Jack Axe"  is a 2D side-scrolling action platformer with a strong focus on puzzles and exploration. You play as the warrior Jack (and her sisters in multiplayer coop) whose adventures take them to colorful worlds inspired by Filipino and Norse mythology. Each warrior wields a powerful axe that can be thrown and recalled, giving them the mobility options necessary to solve challenging environmental puzzles.

Indie game developer Keybol Games was originally a one-man studio headed by Bari Silvestre. Silvestre eventually collaborated with various artists to produce games such as the award-winning "Kill the Plumber." Keybol Games worked with Mike Reñevo (a.k.a. Mike Studios) and other artists to create 2017's "Tower Fortress."

Today, Keybol Games has a physical office and a dedicated development team. Mike Studios is now part of said team, and was responsible for "Jack Axe's" key concept and much of its development, with Silvestre acting as producer and quality tester. "Jack Axe" will be published by Another Indie and released this September 3 on PC via Steam and the Nintendo Switch.

"Jack Axe" was also showcased at the Another Indie booth and Diversity Lounge at the PAX East gaming festival held from March 28 to 31 in Boston, Massachusetts.

3. Academia: School Simulator from Squeaky Wheel Studio

"Academia: School Simulator" is a game about building and running your own high school. It involves constructing various facilities such as labs, clinics, and canteens; supervising complex students who are driven by motivations such as hygiene, success, and interpersonal relationships; and managing the faculty, whose members come with their own specialties and motivations. The game is currently on Early Access on Steam.

"Academia: School Simulator" is the first self-published game by Squeaky Wheel Studio, a Philippine indie game development company founded in 2015. The studio's goal is to create "thematically unique PC strategy and simulation games" that will entertain players as well as "bring attention to current affairs in developing countries."

Squeaky Wheel Studio also developed "Political Animals," a turn-based strategy and election simulation game that serves as a tongue-in-cheek exploration of all that's weird and frustrating in Philippine/third-world politics.

4. Grand Guilds by Drix Studios

"Grand Guilds" is a story-driven, turn-based tactical RPG boasting unique card combat/deck-building mechanics that combine elements of beloved games such as "Final Fantasy Tactics" and "Hearthstone." It follows the story of a young warrior named Eliza, who, along with her companions, is on a quest to prevent the lands of Irin from succumbing to a dire and mysterious threat.

"Grand Guilds" is being developed by Naga City-based Drix Studios. Founded in 2015 by Justin Hendrix Villegas when he was still in college, the one-man studio initially made Flash-based web and mobile games. In 2015, Villegas teamed up with other developers to create "CARabaos Must Drive," the company's first 3D game for the PC. Drix Studios' current focus is developing games for the PC and consoles.

"Grand Guilds" is expecting release this August on the PC via Steam and the Nintendo Switch. The latter version will be published by Keybol Games.

"Grand Guilds" was also showcased at the Diversity Lounge at the aforementioned PAX East gaming festival. — LA, GMA News