Hyderabad: The upcoming India Game Developer Conference (IGDC) in Hyderabad will see several states participating in the meet as they collaborate to prepare their state-level audio visual and game development (AVGC) policies.
According to the organisers, representatives from the govts of Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Sikkim, and Rajasthan will attend the conference and engage in detailed discussions with experts from various sectors of the gaming industry. Andhra Pradesh is yet to confirm its participation.
Following the Centre’s issuance of guidelines, states have also started developing their own frameworks on the gaming policies and this edition of IGDC is particularly significant in that regard.
The 16th annual IGDC will take place at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre from Nov 13 to 15. “As the largest and oldest conference in South Asia, many states are participating in it,” said Sridhar Muppidi, president of the Game Developer Association of India.
Currently, 15 states in India have either formulated policies or are in the process of doing so. States such as Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana have already announced their policies. Telangana had a policy in place in 2016 and is now working on a new one.
While Telangana finalises its new policy, Tamil Nadu’s IT minister Palanivel Thiagarajan will speak at the conference. IGDC will focus on five themes: Gaming art, policy, technique, design, and development.
“This time, we are placing special emphasis on policies, leading to discussions on gaming policies,” said an organiser.
Experts said there will be focus on extended reality (XR) at the conference. This term encompasses umbrella term for immersive learning technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR). VR immerses one in a simulated world where one can interact with objects and people.
AR enhances the real world by adding interactive digital elements via your phone, tablet or headset. MR blends physical and digital worlds using advanced technology, creating different experiences, an expert explained.
