The "Gaming: Malta & Beyond" event featured a diverse range of industry leaders, each offering unique insights into the future of Malta's gaming industry. The panel brought together professionals from game development, publishing, education, and esports, providing a comprehensive view of the opportunities and challenges in the sector. Below are the key takeaways from the panelists:

Nick Porsche – Dorado

Nick reflected on Malta’s game development evolution over the past decade, noting significant progress and emerging opportunities for local developers. He compared the outcomes of recent successes like Helldivers 2 and failures like Concord, examining how these events shape strategies for live-service games. Nick also highlighted several international trends that bode well for Malta, such as advancements in cloud gaming and increased support for indie developers.

Dan Ghitza – Zarzilla

Dan shared his studio's approach to standing out in the saturated mobile gaming market, focusing on Zarzilla’s unique strategies for user acquisition and monetization. He noted recent trends in mobile game publishing and investment, highlighting the increasing role of analytics and personalized advertising. Dan emphasized the importance of growing Malta’s local infrastructure to support burgeoning mobile studios, calling for more investment in tech and talent.

Mark Cochrane

As a seasoned publisher, Mark provided invaluable advice on navigating the game publishing world, especially for smaller studios. He discussed common mistakes developers make when pitching to publishers and outlined strategies to avoid them. Mark also addressed recent M&A activities, such as his company’s acquisition of Ground Shatter and Extra Mile Studios, offering insights into what smaller studios should consider when looking to be acquired or merge.

Christopher Mifsud

Christopher offered a deep dive into game pitching strategies, particularly the importance of international events like Gamescom. He also elaborated on expanding his IP, Shadow City Mysteries, into a cross-media platform, providing insights into the challenges and successes of branching into new markets. Additionally, Christopher reflected on Malta’s strengths in attracting global talent and studios, while also identifying areas that could be improved to better support the local gaming ecosystem.

Industry & Academia Leaders

Daniela Said – Creative Europe
Daniela spoke about how Creative Europe is helping to fund creative and cultural projects in Malta, including game development. She discussed how Malta can leverage these funds to support independent studios and foster innovation within the industry. Daniela also emphasized the importance of international collaborations to elevate Malta’s gaming profile on the global stage.

Ivan Filletti – Gaming Malta
Ivan highlighted Gaming Malta’s efforts to position Malta as a global hub for the gaming industry. He discussed ongoing initiatives to attract more international studios and foster partnerships with educational institutions to nurture local talent. Ivan also touched on Malta's unique advantages, such as its strategic location and growing esports sector, which can help the country solidify its place in the global gaming ecosystem.

Maria Zammit Micallef – Malta Enterprise
Maria detailed Malta Enterprise’s role in supporting game developers through grants, tax incentives, and investment programs. She discussed how these resources can help local studios scale and compete internationally. Maria also emphasized the need for more public-private partnerships to further grow Malta’s gaming ecosystem and support the next generation of developers.

Simon Theuma – Startup Consultant
Simon provided valuable advice on fostering a startup culture within Malta’s game development scene. He discussed the key challenges startups face, such as funding and talent acquisition, and offered strategies to overcome these hurdles. Simon highlighted the potential for Malta to become a nurturing environment for gaming startups, provided there is sufficient government and private sector support.

Game Development & Education

John Keefe – Draw & Code
John spoke about the importance of creativity and innovation in the gaming industry, particularly for smaller studios. He discussed the opportunities for Malta to become a leader in immersive technologies like AR and VR, which are gaining traction globally. John also shared his experience working with Maltese developers and praised the country’s growing talent pool, while calling for more mentorship programs and collaborative projects between studios and academia.

Paul Pulis – MCAST
Paul represented the academic side of game development, discussing how MCAST is working to bridge the gap between education and the industry. He emphasized the importance of hands-on training and collaboration with local studios to ensure that graduates are well-prepared for the challenges of the gaming industry. Paul also highlighted the need for ongoing curriculum updates to keep pace with the rapidly changing landscape of game development.

Kersten Chircop – GMR
Kersten provided insights into Malta’s growing role in the global esports scene. He discussed the potential for esports to become a significant part of Malta’s gaming identity, citing recent successes in hosting international esports events. Kersten also outlined the challenges of building a sustainable esports ecosystem, including the need for more investment, infrastructure, and talent development in this fast-growing sector.

Networking Opportunities

Networking played a crucial role in fostering connections and collaborations during the event. Attendees had the chance to engage with one another and the panelists between Panel 1 and Panel 2, as well as during the post-event networking session. These opportunities allowed local developers, industry professionals, and guests to share insights, discuss collaboration opportunities, and strengthen relationships within Malta's growing gaming community.

Conclusion

The "Gaming: Malta & Beyond" event highlighted Malta’s strengths as an emerging hub for gaming and esports, while also addressing the challenges that lie ahead. The panelists emphasized the need for continued collaboration between industry, government, and academia to ensure Malta’s gaming sector can thrive on a global scale. From game development and publishing to education and esports, the event provided a comprehensive roadmap for the future of gaming in Malta.

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