Coalition formed to drive its local development

Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaica intends to carve out a piece of the international video games industry worth US$220.79 billion by developing its nascent industry.

While there is no “formal” industry in Jamaica, the country through local developers such as Glen Henry intends to benefit from the projected compound annual growth rate of the global market of 12.9 per cent from 2022 to 2030. These local games developers have formed themselves into a coalition comprising individuals making games independently, both as full-time or part-time projects, or as hobbies.

The coalition named, the Jamaica Game Developer Society (JGDS) is highlighting games from the Caribbean and its diaspora. Henry, who is a chief architect to its formation has been making games in Jamaica for 10 years. Henry, founder of Spritewrench Studios, has worked for years to bring the JGDS together.

It represents a coalition of projects and people in support of Jamaica’s video game communities.

Speaking in an interview with Polygon, Henry explained that the coalition started out as a handful of friends with the Internet-connected and in-person community growing to more than 300 members, not just in Jamaica, but regionally. Members come from Trinidad, Cayman Islands and beyond.

Showcasing regional talent

To showcase this group of talented and creative developers, Henry and the JGDS dreamed up what they are calling “Windies Direct”, which, according to Polygon, is a gaming and entertainment website and a play on Nintendo’s indie-focused Directs, but for the West Indies.

The first annual Windies Direct debuted yesterday showcasing a number of games from the Caribbean and its diaspora. The group has been collecting submissions for months, spotlighting the diverse creations from a breadth of developers.

Graham Reid, who’s making arcade space shooter, Super Space Club, points to the wider impact an initiative like the Windies Direct will have on the video game industry saying…..”the games industry needs to see more developers of color in general, and seeing them come from the Caribbean is a great place to start.” Alongside the broadcast, the JGDS is running a Steam sale featuring Jamaican- and Caribbean-made games.

This will go from today (October 18) to October 22. Games included in the Windies Direct and the Steam sale span size, scope, and genre, something that’s important to the JGDS. There is no one type of game or perspective coming out of the burgeoning Caribbean games industry.

Beyond sharing the region’s creations with the rest of the world, Reid hopes it inspires people in the Caribbean to show others that making games is an option, and that there are many ways to contribute.

“People both back home in Jamaica and in the industry at large need to know that there are creatives, artists, designers, programmers, musicians, and every other role in between, all either living in or originating from the Caribbean… . Oftentimes people think that you need to leave the country to get ahead in the industry, but, in today’s world, that’s simply not true,” Reid said.

JusDev Studios founder and JGDS meet-up coordinator and host, Zane Francis commented that video games are a “pivotal” way to tell stories and share experiences.

“There are so many riveting stories to tell, which could bring more diversity with authentic voices to the global industry,” Francis added.