Official sources estimate that the video game sector already represents 3% of the GDP of the Canary Islands and the regional government predicts that in the coming years it will reach 6%.
To this day there are about 40 companies that are dedicated to this sector in the Canary Islands. They generate more than 200 direct jobs and build synergies with another 56 animation and audiovisual production companies established in the region.
However, the vast majority are in Gran Canaria and Tenerife. There is still no development company installed in Lanzarote.
"It only remains for someone to dare to take the step, we have all the ingredients, we have spaces and we are promoting initiatives that encourage the creation of development teams," explains Josué Duarte, president of Toshigame, a non-profit association of national scope that was born on the island of Lanzarote with the aim of developing technological projects, but with social purposes.
"The video game sector generates more revenue than cinema and music combined"
Through the Canary Islands Special Zone (ZEC) companies in the sector pay a corporate tax of 4% and get a refund of up to 45% of the investment in development and infrastructure, among other advantages.
The Canary Islands is also the headquarters of one of the largest technology events in Spain, the 'Tenerife Lan Party', where there are sections to develop video games and show projects.
On the other hand, the training of Proexca and its campaigns around the world are generating agreements with large international companies such as the one signed between Gran Canaria's Quantum Box and Japan's Roote 24 to develop a video game in the Canary Islands that both entities will own.
Lanzarote has a plan
The Chamber of Commerce of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, through its digital coworking, where Duarte also works, and with the financing of the Department of Economic Promotion of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, recently organized a specific day with the highest representatives of the video game and electronic sports sector in the Canary Islands.
"As a result of what was discussed, the sector proposes a plan that starts from the digital coworking of the Chamber of Commerce with the help of the Cabildo. In a matter of months, a complete training will begin for professionals in the sector who want to start in the development of video games as a business model through ACADEVI (Canarian Association of Video Game Developers," explains Duarte.
"We need to diversify the economy in Lanzarote, but from the Lanzarote mentality and therefore 'cesarmanriqueña', we cannot bet on economies that deteriorate the territory and the sustainability of the island itself."
"The video game sector generates more revenue worldwide than cinema and music combined. That's a lot of money," he summarizes.
Lanzarote already shines in electronic sports competitions
Duarte is clear that Lanzarote has the potential to grow in this sector. He emphasizes that there is a subsector, that of electronic sports, in which "Lanzarote has a lot to say." Duarte himself directs the 'eSports Competition Master League', which is considered "the largest competition of face-to-face video game tournaments in the Canary Islands. It was born in Lanzarote and great electronic sports events are held on the island."
These competitions are promoted by Tohshigame, but it is a local production company, Boncho Producciones, which carries out the logistics and production part, of "up to eight events a year" on the island.
"Each of the events of this type that are organized in Lanzarote require a lot of staff," explains the director of Toshigame. "When we organize the eSport Arrecife, which is held every year, up to 30 professionals are required just for the event."
Another business way of being linked to the world of video games is the one carried out by Infinity VR, a company also based in Lanzarote, and specialized in renting equipment.
"They have consoles, they have virtual reality and what they do is rent that material at events, birthdays, etc," explains Duarte.
Work in video games
Duarte explains that there are many ways to work in video games. "You can study programming, you can study graphic design, but also music. Sometimes actors are needed, other times historical or cultural advisors. "Many professionals are needed to make a video game and from many different branches."
He also highlights the synergies with audiovisual production companies: "they are interconnected, right now almost all audiovisual productions have some kind of special effects or animation."
In addition to promoting electronic sports, Toshigame, with the support of the Arrecife City Council, also organizes workshops and related activities at the Arrecife Youth Center on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. "It is a room equipped with consoles, gaming laptops and qualified personnel."
In addition to opening up great possibilities for sustainable businesses, video game technology is a "very good tool for young people to socialize, gain security and team up," Duarte recalls.