“Inability to do something should not stop you from attempts to do it”. The complex fate of the game industry in Kyrgyzstan

There is no video game industry in Kyrgyzstan. For 31 years of independence in the country, comfortable conditions for the origin of this complex industry did not have time to develop. However, now, at the end of 2022, the chances of the emergence of the ruders of the gaming industry in the Kyrgyz Republic are growing more than ever. Why this did not happen earlier, which gives this chance today, and why do you need a gaming industry at all? I will try to answer these questions today.

"We have not been here here in those days"

After gaining independence in August 1991, a complex and painful process of political, economic and social changes began in Kyrgyzstan in Kyrgyzstan. As in most other countries of the former USSR, the first years of independence have become a serious test for the young state. The socio-economic situation of the republic is very weakened. This led to the fact that about half of the population of Kyrgyzstan was beyond the poverty line.

In addition to material difficulties, the political situation also exacerbated the situation. The country has established an authoritarian regime in which all power belonged to the family of the then President Askar Akayev. A high level of corruption, criminalization of society and the general discontent of the current situation led to a change in the 2005 authorities.

Askaru Akayev is replaced by Kurmanbek Bakiev. His reign was marked by an even greater level of authoritarianism, corruption and pressure on the opposition. All this led to the next change of power in 2010, which followed this reform and the gradual democratization of the country. (If you want to deeper into the history of Kyrgyzstan even more, I recommend reading this article)

The economic and social development of Kyrgyzstan began to gradually improve, but the distribution of this development was extremely uneven. According to the National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2020, more than half of all PCs and Internet access points in the country were concentrated in the capital.

We have never been here in those days. Damn, beginning of the 2000s, what games? We did not have the Internet.

Andrey Gribinyuk, Indie developer from Bishkek

Andrei, also known under his pseudonym Amortiz, was one of the founders of one of the few studios in Kyrgyzstan until recently – Grimwood Team. Studio’s debut game has become The World of One, The first versions of which the shock absorbed was developed at the school at a flash.

However, unlike many other indie developers who laid out their creations on appropriate sites, Andrei did not even suspect their existence.

People come as well: “Oh, I did on a flash”, I say to them: “Oh, I am too”. They ask me: “And you laid out on Newgrounds?»And I did it on the table, I did not know about any Newgrounds at all.

Amortis

“What kind of game is this?"

Indeed, one of the main reasons for the absence of the gaming industry in Kyrgyzstan is almost everyone who spoke out on this topic, they call a common ignorance of this industry. Starting from young people who do not even think that they can develop games, ending with investors who do not see the point of investing.

They [investors] do not understand what it is. What kind of game is this? Why is he even? And how to work with it? There are a lot of questions and as I understand it, there is a very little understanding and representation here is about what it is at all and that an industry can be made from this, invest money, train, develop, and support.

Andrey Dronin, coordinator of the community of developers on Unreal Engine in the Russian -speaking space, editor -in -chief of the UE4Daily portal

Andrei has been living in Bishkek for several months and gradually establish ties with local developers. His significant experience in the gaming industry allows him to accurately formulate and determine the main reasons for the lack of this industry in Kyrgyzstan, since these reasons are not unique.

This industry is quite specific and complex. There is no education. And not only in Kyrgyzstan. […] The reasons are the same everywhere: the lack of specialists, the lack of training, the lack of support at the state and not only level. It is unlikely that Kyrgyzstan is different from another CIS here. And not only the CIS is actually – that it is there in Spain is highly developed?

Andrey Dronin

One of the very important details of the gaming industry is the active holding of all kinds of events: exhibitions, conferences, hackathons, and t. D. This gives great opportunities for establishing the contacts of developers and investors, developers with each other;To search for new employees and places of work.

The industry is to a very large extent non-working, events, some exhibitions, conferences, some kind of mutual communication of the industry with each other and its communication with states, funds, embassies.

Andrey Dronin

In 2019 and 2020, in Kyrgyzstan, a video game exhibition large by the standards of the country Central Asia Games Show. The main organizer of this exhibition was the former positioning director of Grimwood Team – Ilya Anufriev.

However, the pairs of exhibitions, of course, are not enough for sufficient attracting people’s attention to Gamdev. As the ex-head noted Stopgame Dmitry Kungurov, who made a lecture on CAGS 2019, only a very small part of the audience was involved in the game industry.

I go out onto the stage and ask on duty: so, raise my hands, who is generally gamdev here? … Three hands rises carefully. Oh, shi … […] worked in the hall where 15 percent know me and are not going to listen to something. So, sat down to rest.

Dmitry Kungurov

Nevertheless, such exhibitions are the necessary steps to the emergence and consolidation of the gaming industry in the country. Bishkek developer Evgeny Chichilov also indicates the importance of such events:

There [at exhibitions] the developer receives a stand. There, some publisher can approach, see some kind of robbed diamond yet and take it under the wing. Because these ideological gangs, when they are developing something, they do not look at commerce, mainly. And then the investor sees that this is something new, and possibly profitable, and he is invested in it, and therefore all this is brought to the end.

Evgeny Chichilov

Evgeny immediately found a job in Gamdev outside Kyrgyzstan. For many beginner developers, this is the most promising career path in the industry. This allows them and feel more confident in the financial issue and makes it possible to get new experience and knowledge. However, this path often beats up people with a desire to base their studios, including at home.

It seems to me that when you go through the stage of the June, then you go to normal studios for normal studios, and then to the lord or already Tim Lida, you think: “Well, what for, create your own studio, this is such a hemorrhage”.

Evgeny Chichilov

Education is also one of the most important factors forming a game industry. Gamdev does not consist of “ideological gangs” only, and narrowly focused professionals with the relevant education are also needed, especially for the development of large projects. But there are problems in Kyrgyzstan even in Kyrgyzstan. However, as already noted by Andrei Dronin, – far from only in Kyrgyzstan.

There is no normal education in Gamdev at all in the CIS almost until now. Just somewhere there are the first issues, something like that

Andrey Dronin

Many parents are today aware of the demand and relevance of programming, and they seek to write their children in programming schools. However, these schools mainly teach the most common languages ​​like Python, which are needed primarily for the development of web applications. As for the games, there is little what the parent will give his child to the appropriate courses.

It is unlikely that the parent of the Soviet era understands that there is also a lot of money [in the game industry], they earn a lot. For them, it seems to me, still nonsense.

Evgeny Chichilov

Evgeny headed for creating games on Unreal Engine on the educational platform Skillbox. In addition, he tried to launch a similar course in Kyrgyzstan, but this was unsuccessful.

I tried with the local programming school to launch a course, very light, for 3 months, the most basic things. People came, I had to take 4 seminars there. Were present only on the first two, they scored for the last two and did not do the houses. It was about 3 or 4 years ago.

Evgeny Chichilov

"You are doing something frivolous there, it’s garbage"

But what if a person Duelz Casino review still finds out about the gaming industry and decides to try himself in it? Here he will face stereotypes, misunderstanding, and, possibly, even condemnation.

Video games are still perceived as something that is not related to serious activities. In this sense, even the very word "game" contributes to such a perception. A rare parent will support his child in decision to connect his life with games.

When I started, my parents asked me: “What are you doing?" -" I am making games, sitting at the computer ". For them it is: “Ah, you play games? Seriously? This is not a job. You do something frivolous there, it’s garbage ". Probably now, there is such a stereotype.

Evgeny Chichilov

All this is also part of the overall ignorance of most people – especially older people – about the gaming industry and everything related to it.

However, in addition to external pressure, people who begin their way in Gamdev may encounter internal. Many people who want to create their games put off or completely refuse to realize their dreams because of the common opinion that this industry is only for programmers.

This is a very big stopper for beginners. That here, I do not know how to program, therefore, I, as it were, cannot. Well, as it were, in fact.

Shock absorber, which itself creates games, not knowing how to program

Indeed, programmers are far from the only people who are needed in Gamdev. Artists and 3D modeliers;scriptwriters and narrative designers;composers and sound designers;Marketers, PR specialists and journalists-all these and many other professions are also in demand in the game industry.

And if a person is primarily interested in the embodiment of his artistic ideas, and he plans to work alone, then even here for him there is no barrier. Modern game engines like Unreal Engine and Unity have a large number of ready -made solutions for a developer who does not know how to program. UE has a whole BluePrint visual programming system, which allows you to create small games on the engine quite comfortably without writing a single line of code.

It is like in the 60s, when the electric guitars have become available and almost free. The engine is free, unreal is free – take it and use. That’s all, the point is not in the tool, not in your programming, but in the idea, in creativity, in your ability to take and do. This is much more difficult now than in programming. […] The path is now open to Gamdev more than ever. It’s easy and affordable.

Andrey Dronin

Why are there a chance now?

We figured out the main reasons why the game industry in Kyrgyzstan was unable to originate. But now she has good chances. What has changed?

As Andrei Dronin noted, the main problems are a lack of specialists, training and support. And if the last two still exist, then the first has every chance of abyss from radars.

Since the beginning of the "special military operation", many developers and even entire studios leave Russia. Someone rejected to Western offices of companies, and someone leaves for neighboring countries. A particularly strong stream began after the announcement of partial mobilization at the end of September 2022.

Some specialists from the game industry and not only moved to Kyrgyzstan. Someone considers the country as a transit stop, but some see the potential in the opportunity to stay. They gradually start new acquaintances, make plans and discuss the possibilities of interacting with each other, as well as conducting various events.

In June 2022, information appeared on the registration of Alavar.Cage ". Alawar Entertainment – One of the largest video game Russian companies, and the opening of her office in Kyrgyzstan is a very enthusiastic news. Ilya Anufriev, the same native of Grimwood Team and the main organizer of the Central Asia Games Show, took the position of the director in the new Suo.

Today there is a chance to create conditions and an environment for the interaction of local investors and indie developers with recently arrived specialists from Russia. The industry begins primarily from the contacts of people with each other, their interest in common purposes and the exchange of experience with each other.

Now she [the game industry] has a chance to appear when people have already come to us with experience because of the war and are trying to discover something here. For example, we opened the Alawar office. It can be assumed that there is a chance that it will all be fixed here and they do not use our country as a transit to leave somewhere to Turkey. If they stay here, then perhaps it can already be said that the game industry has originated.

Amortis

In addition, more and more local developers appear, many of which are engaged in solo development. Andrei Amortiz, who himself is now engaged in solo development, had the opportunity to chat with Nikolai Dybovsky, founder and head of Ice-Pick Lodge. According to Andrei, Nikolai also noticed the advantage of work alone.

His words: "Now is the time of talented loners". If you have talent, desire, then it may make sense to try one thing, because the teams are risky, dangerous, they fall apart, etc. D.

Amortis

Why do you need a gaming industry at all?

I encountered this issue when discussing the topic of this article with my colleagues, who are not very aware of the industry as a whole. I admit, at first I was very surprised by such a question. However, then I realized that this is one of the fundamental problems – the lack of constructive dialogue between misunderstood and understanding people. Therefore, in this section of the article, I will try to give several answers to this question.

It is profitable

The game industry today is the fastest growing entertainment industry. In 2021, the cost of the video game market amounted to more than 195 billion. dollars. About 3 billion. People around the world play games. Large gaming companies pay large taxes and create a large number of highly paid jobs.

A country in which comfortable conditions for the existence and work of the gaming industry are created can be significantly benefit from this.

This is a manifestation of art

In addition to the financial side of the issue, there is an artistic. Many games set by their goal not to entertain the player, but to raise important topics for their subsequent understanding. Despite the stereotype that the games are "stupid" entertainment, there are many reverse examples.

In some countries, the games especially valuable from an artistic point of view are already being introduced into school programs along with the usual literature.

Video games are also the most complex type of art that combines text, music, fine art, acting, as well as the strongest involvement in comparison with other forms of narrative.

I came to Gamdev out of interest in telling stories. I used to write stories, tried to draw. But all this was somehow not that. And Gamdev is, suddenly, such a thing that combines all types of creativity in itself

Amortis

This is relevant

Since the game industry is part of the IT industry, its relevance will not go anywhere in the near future. This is a fast -growing industry, in which specialists with experience and education are valued for gold. With sufficient perseverance and desire – this is a great way to arrange your life.

Parents who give their children to programming courses should think and ask their child if he wants to make games. In addition to the fact that this is an extremely profitable industry, it also gives great space for creativity and creativity.

"Inability to do something should not stop you from attempts to do it"

Although Andrei Amortiz said this phrase during a discussion of development without programming skills, I believe that it is perfect for the topic of the whole article.

The first time after gaining independence to Kyrgyzstan, the truth was not up to the games. Two shifts of power over five years, authoritarianism, a difficult transition to a market economy and other problems were more important, and without solving them there was no point in discussing the gaming industry.

After gaining relative stability and the beginning of gradual development, it was already possible to start talking about games. However, the problems typical of the vast majority of countries in the form of a common ignorance of the gaming industry, the lack of education and the lack of support from the state did not allow Gamdev to take roots in Kyrgyzstan.

Today, when many specialists with rich experience leave Russia, including Kyrgyzstan, there is a chance that this will give an impetus to the emergence of the gaming industry in the country.

It has not yet been possible to create a game industry in Kyrgyzstan, but if it should stop it from attempts to do it?

The best comments

“Inability to do something should not stop you from attempts to do this”-sometimes it should, but in this case everything is true.

The main problem of novice developers – they do not see other developers. Then it is just right to recall the old joke about "Chukchi is not a reader, Chukchi is a writer". Games wagon, what to get there to eat. Even if the games stop doing tomorrow, then what is there is enough until the end of life. Trying to squeeze into this ocean of information slop because “I don’t want to at the plant, I’m smart, I don’t have to work for my uncle” Well, this is how it is for myself.

Like this youthful romanticism about the "work of dreams". Most games earn money due to the loneliness of people and parasocial parasitization, turning people into mental cripples. I would have played much greater pleasure with someone together in a dandy than a cool aaa-to-group alone. It is much more useful and more fun than spending years on creating information garbage, which only strengthens the cult of loneliness in people.

No, there are, of course, geniuses that will not be created thanks, but contrary to, but such geniuses are not needed by such geniuses. And their work will always be a cut above the youthful romanticism “ah, now if I had all the conditions, I would have started to make such games!".

I am to the fact that the strategy to get your head on the wall as a ram for means:

In the end, this is a direct definition of madness. Better to realize and think about the situation. People are not experienced in games. What they really need now – this is a society, not a lonely autistic in the next project. And the simple clone of the Contrays for two on the non-Maker and the family, made in three months, will be much more valuable than the AAA-project, which you will dream about for decades. Better yet, the creation of their computer-antticafe, in which people could unite and enjoy living collective gaming than trying to look for communication on soulless streams.

I hope I gave the author food for thought.

People come as well: “Oh, I did on a flash”, I say to them: “Oh, I am too”. They ask me: “And you laid out on Newgrounds?»And I did it on the table, I did not know about any Newgrounds at all.
Andrey Gribinyuk, Indi-developer from Bishkek

repeated literally through the paragraph. only with another author.

And so, a great blog. Good luck to the creators.

Damn, comrad, thank you!

Industry metapostmodern is just a consequence of this misunderstanding. Everyone continues to rivet content like schizophrenics, although it is already trillions. We need such content that would unite people, and not force them to aut in solitude.

But in fact, all this has the reason and it is always the only one – money. Content riveting the only way available to a wide range of people is a way not to go to the factory. And if you make content under the pipe of investors, you must also be guaranteed to be guaranteed for profit.

But here you can already reduce everything to communism.

And, yes, you’re right, people now purposefully go to the game, without really playing games, just not to go to the warehouse to work. And you cannot become a specialist if you waste time on games, and not on training.

In fact, the main problem is that the developers are often not players. That is, they do not understand how it should be so that it is interesting. Purely in my experience. And therefore, there are situations that the simplest, obvious jambs are not corrected. Although formally it seems to be tested.

I go to the factory, rivet content (so far only reviews). One does not interfere with the other. Almost ripened to make games, but I don’t really want to.

By the way, an interesting trend is loosening – again we need MMORPG, and an old school. There with Socialka is more and more excellent.

So first I play, then a review. An unreal amount of time has been played in recent years)

Then it turns out to watch a movie or listening to music is also "Auting alone"?

No, it is better to buy Nesmaker, download Famistudio, order a dandy and flash cartridge on Aliexpress, make a game for two, invite living people home and arrange a retro party.

The key point is live communication. MMORPG give only a simulacrum of communication.

And could have spent this time to play games. When making reviews for games, you narrow your horizons automatically. The paradox of the writer, yes.