Singapore gaming con Licence2Play: what’s going on in there?

The Licence2Play gaming con sure has come a long way since it first started back in 2009. Initially a bare-bones event covering just a small area in the Suntec City convention centre, it now boasts the presence of developers, publishers, retailers, and even the local gaming communities.

Last year’s Licence2Play con was arguably one of its best ever, with publishers Asiasoft and Cherry Credits both unveiling blockbuster IPs for the region. Other industry bigwigs like Blizzard and Wargaming also made appearances, replete with tanks and (human) models-straight-from-Russia on the showfloor. Bearing all this in mind, here’s what you can expect from this year’s Licence2Play.

Take note that admission this year is completely free!

The crowd at a L2P 2012 game showcase.

Games and gaming

Singapore’s Game Solution Centre, powered by the Media Development Authority, will be presenting several games we know of. Secret Base will be showcasing its game Devil’s Dare – pretty much Golden Axe but with zombies – while Daylight Studios will have Conquest Age and Spirit Horizon on display.

Also at the Games Solution Centre showcase are Springloaded Games with Tiny Dice Dungeon, Time Voyager Online who purportedly have a triple-A MMORPG in the works, Ubergames with mobile title Minox and Spark Jumpers with EndGods. Another indie game on showcase is the SUTD Game Lab’s One Upon Light, which is located at the Starhub booth.

There will also be a huge free play console arena, courtesy of St Games Cafe, which is host to several eSports events. For those of you needing more free play action, 2K Games is jumping in with PlayStation consoles and their 2K Sports games in the Starhub booth area.

Competitors at the FIFA ’12 tournament hosted at Licence2Play 2012.

eSports

There’s a lot of competitive gaming at Licence2Play this year. Singapore’s national broadsheet’s tech supplement – Digital Life – will be hosting the grand finals of its own DL King of Games competition, which boasts a total cash pot of S$45,000 (about $35,833). Dota 2, Dragon Nest, and CounterStrike Online will be played.

Not to be outdone, Wargaming also has a finger in the pie with its World of Tanks NSF/NSmen Championship, which boasts a S$15,000 cash pot and an additional S$10,000 in peripherals.

Rounding up the publisher trinity is Cherry Credits with its Dragon Nest and Avatar Star Inter-School Challenge for Singaporean students. The winner of the Avatar Star avatar design contest will also be announced, together with an exclusive new in-game Starhub avatar. A separate Avatar Star speed match will also be hosted at the Starhub booth.