Illuminaria: The First Guatemalan Video Game on Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch made its debut in March 2017, and six years later, Illuminaria emerged as the first Guatemalan game to grace this platform. It not only achieves this milestone but also becomes the inaugural Guatemalan game to launch on a console.

This accomplishment raises questions about the state of the gaming industry. Is the Guatemalan gaming industry six years behind? Are there other countries, akin to Guatemala, where no titles have been shipped for consoles? What challenges do game developers face in developing nations? Let's delve into these questions.

First, allow me to introduce myself. I am Alhvi Balcárcel, a game developer from Selva Interactive, a small indie game development studio based in Guatemala. We are the creators of Illuminaria, the first Guatemalan game on Nintendo Switch. Additionally, I am a co-founder of GameDevGT, the local game development community in Guatemala.

For those unfamiliar, Guatemala is a country in Latin America, located just south of Mexico, within a region known as Central America, comprising countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Belize, and Panama.

Guatemala is characterized by significant inequality, with nearly half of the population living below the poverty line. The country is currently undergoing political turmoil, but amidst these challenges, we have a community of game developers.

Is the Guatemalan gaming industry six years behind?

Undoubtedly, the Guatemalan gaming industry lags behind by many years. The exact date of the first game published in Guatemala is uncertain to me but is likely around 2008 or 2009. During that period, established gaming companies were already thriving globally.

Numerous attempts have been made to establish game development studios in Guatemala, but most have been short-lived. The challenges include a lack of connection with the global gaming industry, limited contacts, limited funding opportunities, and overall scarce opportunities for individuals.

The issue is not a lack of talent in Guatemala; rather, it's the limited chances for individuals to explore creative endeavors, as these endeavors require substantial effort to prove profitable in our context.

Are there other countries similar to Guatemala, where no titles have been shipped for consoles?

While I am certain there are such countries, I cannot provide a specific answer. However, examining https://www.gamedevmap.com/ could reveal that most game development organizations are concentrated in Europe and the United States. It would be intriguing to have a map illustrating shipped games on different consoles to confirm this observation.

Another indicator is the absence of regional pricing or local currency options for developing regions on major digital game stores. Steam, for instance, is right now introducing regional pricing for Central America as part of the LATAM-USD region. It is also introducing a MENA-USD region, but this has not been the case for all African and Caribbean countries. Similar situations occur in consoles, suggesting a lack of conveniences for both consumers and developers.

What are the challenges for game developers in developing countries?

I have mentioned some challenges that game devs in developing countries face, and I will delve more deeply into specific examples.

Limited access to financial resources impedes funding for game projects and the sustainability of development studios. Many developing countries lack incentives or grants for game developers, and many developing countries have corrupt governments, which further complicate matters.

In some cases, doing business with other countries is difficult. For example, Guatemala does not have a double-taxation treaty with the United States, resulting in taxation in both countries. Digital game stores based in the U.S. withhold 30% of sales to U.S. customers, in addition to the store commission. Fortunately, this applies only to sales in the U.S. and not to the global audience.

Another challenge is the inadequacy of educational opportunities and a scarcity of local companies where individuals can advance their careers, contributing to skill gaps visible when competing with global creators.

Market access and visibility are constrained by a lack of exposure to international markets and distribution channels. Despite these obstacles, game devs in developing countries demonstrate resilience, creativity, and determination.

Illuminaria: A Milestone for Guatemalan Game Developers

The release of Illuminaria on the Nintendo eShop signifies a significant milestone for our game development community in Guatemala. Prior to Illuminaria, there were several attempts to develop games for different consoles, but unfortunately, none were successful. Illuminaria inaugurates the console era for Guatemalan games, and we anticipate more games from our country on consoles, with the next one being 502’s Arcade, arriving next year as the first Guatemalan game on Xbox.

About Illuminaria

Illuminaria is a strategy game that intertwines resource management, tower defense, base-building, and real-time strategy genres. Players embark on a journey to save a dying planet, commanding an army of intelligent robots to mine resources, manage and defend multiple bases, explore, and forge an army of golems to bring back light to the world. Its approachability, clear objectives, and immersive gameplay are designed to appeal to both seasoned gamers and newcomers alike.

Illuminaria is available on Nintendo Switch, Google Play, App Store, Steam and GOG