CHAPTER I

The Problem and Its Setting

1.1 Introduction

With the advancement in Philippine Cinema, vfx and animation has become a

key role for successes. But with the less knowledge in this field, Philippines always

need to be dependent upon other foreign employees and firm hence major cities in

Philippines has taken initiative for developing institutes, studios etc. in the field of

visual effects, vfx and animation for the better future.

Animated TV programs and films have caught the hearts of the universal

audience. It draws the people through attractive colorful images, interesting

characters and engaging tales of different genre such as fantasy and adventure. In a

perspective of a child, animation presents a world full of possibilities. It shapes the

child’s life through creative works that depict wonderful, life-learning stories.

Nonetheless, viewing animation does not stop in the childhood. After all, animated

TV programs and films target a wider range of viewers. It creates stories that appeal

to the audience of different age. Furthermore, deeper appreciation for the creative

and technical aspects of animation can be brought with viewers coming of age.

Animation is a medium to express the animators feeling. Their works reflects

their own personality and offers a good look into their imagination. It also an effective

means to educate and create social, cultural and environmental awareness to

viewers. In this sense, animation becomes one of the keys to raise awareness of the

current lifestyle of the people.

1|Page
 However, in the country of Philippines, animators are mostly inclined in 2D

animation and the country is nearing to be left behind in terms of experience and

technological aspects as compared to the Asian competitors. With the Philippines as

one of the current emerging outsourcing countries for animation, it will be

advantageous for the Filipino animators and its animation industry if they are to

acquire the skills and experience to manipulate this kind of technology.

In this light, the Philippine animation sector needs a new venue where Filipino

animators can be trained and gain new experiences. In addition to that, the local

animation industry also needs a new pavilion in which they can promote the works of

Filipino animators and host their annual animation events such as Animahenasyon.

Another field in which Philippines lags behind is development of interactive

games for the virtual world. All the Filipino population need to be dependent on

major companies Ubisoft etc. even when most of the important developers are from

Philippines itself.

One of the rising interactive games is the Electronic Sports or Esports, have

become a multimillion-dollar business. Moreover, this year, global Esports revenues

are predicted to hit $1.1 billion, reportedly growing by 27% from 2018 due to

skyrocketing revenues from advertising, sponsorship and media rights to competitive

video gaming. In broad strokes, Esports events are competitive video game

tournaments that pit individual players or teams against one another. While

tournaments can be organized through various means, Esports has experienced a

rise in popularity in North America since a traditional sports model was adopted. For

2|Page
example, organizations purchase slots in a league for their city-based teams, which

compete throughout a season to win a title. Esports is a subsection of the electronic

video gaming, sports and entertainment industries. While the playing of video games

and gambling are both referred to as "gaming", the verb "gaming" is used here to

refer exclusively to activities related to video games that do not involve gambling.

In the Philippines, this growth is easily noticeable. Video games have broken

onto mainstream social media platforms like Facebook. Celebrity streamers and

professional gamers with thousands of followers play video games like Mobile

Legends on live video streams. And with the launch of the on-going inaugural

season of The Nationals, the first franchise-based electronic sports league in the

Philippines, sponsored by the MVP Group of Companies, Esports as a billion-peso

industry is starting to take shape.

1.2 Background of the Study

Animation deals with the rapid display of a sequence of static images that

minimally different from each other to produce an illusion of movement. It is a form of

popular culture, available in a variety of texts, easily accessible and appeals to a

variety of emotions. Its impact and influence as well as its principles and techniques

pertaining to character portrayal and story conveyance has brought a different level

of entertainment to the lives of the people, mainly children and young adults,

worldwide.

In the Philippines, the beginning of the animation industry started as early as

the 1980s. Since then, Filipino animators have created animation consisting of a

3|Page
body with original culture and artistic works applied to conventional Filipino

storytelling. Their works depict the manner of traditional and common Filipino life

and environment. Some of the Filipino animated works are Panday, Ibong Adarna,

Urduja, Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elemntalia , Sulundon, RPG Metanoia and Mutya.

In recent decades, the country lends its reputation as one of the stronger

Asian players in the global animation industry. Currently, the Philippines is

considered as prime candidate of the Western countries to outsource their work with

cheaper labour and abundant creative talents. According to Animation Council of the

Philippines, Inc. (ACPI), many Filipino animators have been employed by Disney,

Cartoon Network and Warner studios for the last two decades and are producing the

full-length animated films that people watch in today’s age.

Though the Philippines increase its employment in the animation sector and

has positioned itself in the global animation industry specifically as an outsourced

business, the country is losing its way to be a competitive destination given that

near-by competitors are slowly improving their services. According to Tholons, an

advisory firm, the lack of skilled animators and animation facilities became a

hindrance to the development of the local animation sector. The animation industry

does not need a large pool of workers. In fact, it needs a relatively small number for

workers with specific skills. Due to the lack of training and experience of the

employees, animation companies aren’t able to use new professionals and

graduates to produce for the company. To train these employees, the company

4|Page
normally needs an average of 6 months before they can produce for the company.

By itself, new animation graduates are often not ‘ready for production.

Over recent years, the Esports phenomenon has grown in players and

audience. Conceiving Esports gaming as Gaming Hub that updates the gamers.

This article stands on the idea that Esports gaming could be considered a sport and

it examines some reasons on that regard. First of all, the piece will elucidate what

the EGames involves and if there are reasons to consider the claim that it can be an

actual EGame Esports. Secondly, it will address the distinctive features that the

Community Esports hub as a sport may have. Thirdly, it wants to explore and

explain an example like advertisement and some videos example just like FPS,

MOBA and some EGames. And finally, it will introduce and briefly discuss some

sports issues this new sports would encounter in the near future and which might

derive into policy matters.

Esports community hub is a source for what's new and popular on the

EGames. It is also the single most entertaining place on the internet and organized

collection of links where registered community members can submit content, such

as EGames or directly links, making essentially an online bulletin board system.

Registered users can then vote submissions up or down to organize the posts and

determine their position on the sites.

There are also Filipino streamers who earn money in streaming Egames like

Mobile Legends, GTA V, Dota 2 etc. Sheila Snow, a variety-game streamer and a

mental health advocate. She is one of the most-streamed gamers here in the

5|Page
Philippines with over 121k followers on Facebook. She plays a lot of games from

The Wolf Among Us to the ever so popular Mobile Legends.  

Ian Tayao, the frontman of Queso and WilaBaliW. He is currently a streaming

partner with Rumble Royale with an over 100k average viewers and a total of 237k

followers on Facebook. He plays an unorthodox set of games from GTA V to 8-bit

games like Super Mario Bros. GLOCO Gaming the gamer with plenty of interests

including anime, fishing, gaming, and other weird stuff.  He has a total of 563k

followers on Facebook and plays a variety of games ranging from the new Final

Fantasy VII Remake, Animal Crossing, League of Legends, and a lot more.

ChoOxTV plays mainly Mobile Legends and has over 4.6 million followers on

his Facebook Page. His gameplays consist of unconventional ways of playing

heroes, meaning he experiments unorthodox builds to make things more interesting

while maintaining a unique perspective and good win-rate.

Alodia, popularly known as a cosplayer, branched out to pursue her passion

for gaming. She started streaming games like Dota2 and League of Legends on

Twitch. She is one of the pioneers of Facebook Gaming and has over 6.9 million

followers. She also co-founded a gaming agency called Tier One Entertainment,

which partnered with Lyceum of The Philippines University to help develop its Esport

Curriculum.

The project located in New Clark City, a planned community currently

undergoing development with an area of approximately 9,450 hectares and will

accommodate up to 1.2 million people. previously known as Clark Green City was

first presented by the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) under the

6|Page
administration of then president Arnel Casonova in 2012. The then-proposal was

met with scepticism from some high-ranking government officials due to the

development's proposed location being remote. Casanova envisioned a

development with wide and tree-shaded pedestrian lanes. He also envisioned the

development to be free of gated communities to discourage heavy traffic

The BCDA held a design competition for the master conceptual development

plan for Clark Green City with AECOM coming up with the winning design in 2015.

After the Casanova's tenure as BCDA ended he joined AECOM as the firm's

representative in the Philippines.

The development is under the BCDA. The BCDA signed a 50-year contract

with Filinvest to develop the 288 hectares of land allocated for the project. BCDA

also managed to make partnership with foreign firms to develop Clark Green City

such as Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corp. which plans to connect

Clark Green City to Manila as well as surrounding cities by rail, and IVL Swedish

Environmental Research Institute which will assist the BCDA to come up with "smart

and disaster-resilient" features for the planned community. An agreement was also

signed between Paris-based Vivapolis.

The study entitled “TUF: The Unique Feature- A Proposed Interactive ESports

Gaming Hub and Animation Centre with Game Development, Empowering Gaming

Industry through Digital Architecture” goal is to provide a comprehensive support to

the local animation and gaming industry through the raising and training new

creative animators, gamers and game developers together, create a place that holds

7|Page
various animation and ESports events and promote the creative works of Filipino

through animation and gaming industry. It also aims to create a place wherein

children and young adults can enjoy, experience and learn the basics of animation at

the same time it will be an additional pop-cultural tourist attraction in New Clark City.

The planning process of the development will be carefully considered to make

the project resilient to any calamity. The Esports gaming hub and animation center

will be systematically planned with consideration to the environment and to the

people. Applying Digital Architecture with green landscape architecture which is

resource efficient throughout in building life cycle. It’s a way of building that fulfills

the functional and aesthetic requirements of a project with the least impact on the

environment and ensures sustainability in terms of access to, and enjoyment of,

security and safety, the natural and cultural resources of a place. The proposal will

find a place with less pollution to meet the expected satisfaction, comfort and

complexity of the project. This study will improve the knowledge of gamers and

animators because of a more conducive environment, spacious facility with

sceneries and recreational spaces to enhance and provide them activity and

amusement and the best place to develop their skills.

1.3 Theoretical Framework

“You cannot simply put something new into a place. You have to absorb what

you see around you, what exists on the land, and then use that knowledge along

with the contemporary thinking to interpret what you see.”

8|Page
 –Tadao Ando

“As an architect you design for the present, with an awareness of the past,

for a future which is essentially unknown.”

– Norman Foster

Architecture is a design process generating solutions to existing and future

problems with consideration of the history of the area. One should design creating a

distinct recognition of the area and the current time. The design should be timeless.

People should describe the place through their experience on the building/structure

itself. This is the most genuine and sincere description building could receive.

1.4 Statement of the Problem

The problems for this study included three major problems and three minor

problems which were structured to further offer insights to the major problem.

1.4.1 Major Problems

1.4.1.1 What will be the impact of having an Esports gaming hub and

animation centre with game development in New Clark City,

Capas Tarlac?

1.4.1.2 What is the best solution for planning an Esports gaming hub

and animation center with game development considering the

preservation and improvement of the environment?

1.4.1.3 Why is there a need of having an Esports gaming hub and

animation center with game development in New Clark City,

Capas Tarlac?

9|Page
 1.4.2 Minor Problems

1.4.2.1 What elements of Architecture to be considered in building an

Esports gaming hub and animation center?

1.4.2.2 What is the design concept that will be applied to the proposed

Esports gaming hub and animation center?

1.4.2.3 What are the amenities needed to ensure the security and

safety of the occupants in this project?

1.4.2.4 What are the needed space requirements for this project?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Through this study, the proposed esports gaming hub and animation center

will improve the quality of animation and game development of the Philippines and

also improve the skills and knowledge of animators, gamers, and game developers

in New Clark City. It will also benefit the following:

To the community members of Capas Tarlac, the proposed esports gaming

hub and animation center will provide digital architecture and innovative technology

with green landscape. The study will deliberately use principles and approaches that

will also improve the environment and prevent natural phenomena;

To the animation and game developers companies, this study can provide

them new options in improving the skills of their employees. The result of the study

will also provide them a new venue for their events;

10 | P a g e
 To the students of Department of Architecture and Fine Arts, they can gain

insights about the quality of animation and gaming industry that could be possibly

change the perspective of the dependent. They can use the results in pursuing

related researches and uphold better impacts. Also, this study will be a guide for the

students as they will have information regarding, they needed skills in planning,

designing, and contributing to the environment and development of the country;

To the future occupants, the study can give them a new place with best

learning, entertainment with all other leisure activities and to promote the art of

animation and game development;

To the future researchers may use the data and information and will serve as

a reference for them in conducting similar and/or related studies.

1.6 Objectives of the Study

The objectives of the study are sectioned into two parts such as the project

objectives and the design objectives. This matter is presented for readers to

perceive why the “A Proposed Esporst Gaming Hub and Animation Centre is

conducted.

1.6.1 Project Objectives

The proposed project aims to become an architectural symbol in terms

of leisure and business aspects while upholding the creative talents of Filipino

animators, gamers and game developers. The study objectives include:

1.6.1.1 To administer solutions to the existing and future problems that

New Clark City is facing in achieving high qualifications for

gaming hub and animation center accommodation.

11 | P a g e
 1.6.1.2 To aspire to be an environmental- friendly development.

1.6.1.3 To create esports gaming hub and animation center that can

serve as entertainment and educational to give opportunities to

the people of Capas Tarlac

1.6.1.4 To cope up with the standards and to the level of

accommodation based with the given data provide by the city.

1.6.1.5 To constitute job opportunities for the people of New Clark City,

Capas Tarlac.

1.6.2 Design Objectives

The study will provide a design that will promote and highlight the art of

animation and gaming industry and also create an architecture design that will

encourage creative collaboration among Filipino animators, gamers and

game developers in pursuit of stronger animation and gaming industry. The

following objectives include provident considerations and goals to be

accomplished:

1.6.2.1 To preserve the natural landscape and water features of the site.

1.6.2.2 To serve an innovation that would be compliment to the occupants.

1.6.2.3 To utilize the given scenery, natural resources and landscape in

the design proper.

1.6.2.4 To promote rich culture of Tarlac and create a distinct character in

architecture.

1.6.2.5 To be efficient and energy conservative with proper utilization of

natural air and day lighting.

12 | P a g e
 1.6.2.6 To apply green landscape architecture that will complement the

site making it the key element of the center to attract more

occupants who wants learning and entertainment to patronized

the gaming hub and animation center.

1.6.2.7 To show that the design approach has the best effect of learning

process of the occupants in the city.

1.7 Conceptual Framework

Problems Encountered Elements of Animation and Gaming Industry

Major Problems: Intellectual property and licensing

Design Approach Advertising and endorsement
Planning process and Rights of publicity
methods Live events
Effects of the Proposed Gambling regulation
Project Privacy Law
Sense of openness
Minor Problems: Large open space
Service offered
Security and accessibility
to the public
Finance Design Concept: \
\
A Proposed Interactive E-
Effective Connectivity Sports Gaming Hub and
of the Human Neocortex Animation Centre with
The human brain
Game Development,
connectome maybe
described in three forms: Empowering Gaming
anatomical, functional and Industry through Digital
effective Architecture

Input Process Output

Figure 1.0 Conceptual Paradigm

The paradigm in figure 1.0 shows dependent and independent variables in

conceptualizing the design of the study. The dependent variables are the Design

Concept as process and the Proposed Esports Gaming Hub and Animation Center

13 | P a g e
as the output. The independent variables are the elements of gaming and animation

industry and the Major and Minor Concerns for the existing condition of the city in

terms of institutional areas.

The project proposal will bring a new approach in terms of design and

function as well as impact and the architectural style of all the structures should be

uniform having a visual clarity to standout and features that are both stationary and

dynamic.

1.8 Scope and Limitation

The study focuses on the proposed esports gaming hub and animation center

which includes physical, environmental, social, cultural and economic aspects of the

project.

This study comprises the following:

1. Architectural Planning and Design

2. Conceptualization

3. Economic Feasibility Study of Development

4. Project Cost and Return of Investment

The studies and researches on different aspects will be discussed in this

study through:

1. Feasibility Study of the Project

2. Project Justification

3. Site Justification

4. Site Development Plan

14 | P a g e
 5. Floor Plans

6. Elevations

7. Sections

8. Space Programming

9. Exterior and Interior Perspectives

Delimitations

The proponent focused his study on the architectural aspects, but utilized vital

facts so that it supported the concept or as required. This study was limited on

details regarding engineering works such as detailed mechanical, electrical,

structural, seismic analysis on the reaction of the structure to earthquake, plumbing,

sanitary designs, and specifications writing of materials used unless supporting

details were provided to support the design concept.

1.9 Definition of Terms

The findings of this study were applied in a practical manner as a guide for

designing the proposed esports gaming hub and animation center. Prior to a review

of the literature relevant to the research and design project, definitions are provided

for several key terms that are used throughout this thesis.

The following terms are conceptually or operationally defined to enhance the

understanding of the readers of this study.

15 | P a g e
Amenity. According to Webster, it is the pleasant or normally satisfactory aspects of

a location which contribute to its overall character and enjoyment of residents

and occupants.

Animahenasyon. The annual animation festival held yearly in the Philippines.

Animators. - A person who animates something, especially a person who prepares

animated movies.

Animation. Is the technique of photographing successive drawings or positions of

puppets or models, to create an illusion of movement when the movie is

shown as a sequence.

Animation Studio. A company producing animated media.

Architecture. The art and science of designing buildings and non-building structure.

Connectome. The connectome is the complete description of the structural

connectivity of an organism's nervous system.

Development. It is the process of economic and social transformation that is based

on complex, cultural and environmental factors and their interactions.

Digital Architecture. It is a field of engineering that utilises digital media in the

process of its architectural design.

Edutainment. It is the act of learning through a medium that both educates and

entertains.

Electronic Games. An electronic game is a game that employs electronics to create

an interactive system with which a player can play.

Electronic Sports. It is a form of sport competition using video games.

Feasibility. It is the state or degree of being easily or conveniently done.

16 | P a g e
Finance. Is the management of large amounts of money, especially by governments

or large companies.

Firm. Is a for-profit business organization such as a corporation, limited liability

company (LLC), or partnership that provides professional services.

Game Development. It is the process of making and developing a video game.

Green Landscape Architecture. philosophy of architecture that advocates

sustainable energy sources, the conservation of energy, the reuse and safety

of building materials, and the siting of a building with consideration of its

impact on the environment.

Hub. An effective center of activity region or network.

Innovative.  Tending to innovate, or introduce something new or different;

characterized by innovation. 

Interactive. Acting one upon or with the other of or relating to a two-way system of

electronic communications, as by means of television or computer.

Land Use. It involves the management and modification of natural environment or

wilderness into built environment such as settlements and semi-natural

habitats such as arable fields, pastures and managed woods.

Natural Lighting. It is a technique that efficiently brings natural light in the building

using exterior glazing.

Neocortex. A part of the cerebral cortex concerned with sight and hearing in

mammals, regarded as the most recently evolved part of the cortex.

17 | P a g e
Popular Culture. It is also known as pop-culture. It describes the contemporary

lifestyle and items that are well-known and generally accepted, cultural

patterns that are widespread within the population.

Resilient. A Design with adaptable structures that can “learn” from their

environments and sustain life, even in the face of disaster.

Resource Efficiency. It is the maximising of the supply of money, materials, staff,

and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to

function effectively, with minimum wasted resource expenses.

Static Images. Are visual images do not move. Many of these static images

communicate by combining visual elements with words.

Stop Motion. A cinematographic technique whereby the camera is repeatedly

stopped and started, for example to give animated figures the impression of

movement.

Virtual Reality. The computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional image or

environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real or physical way

by a person using special electronic equipment, such as a helmet with a

screen inside or gloves fitted with sensors.

Visual Effects. It is the process by which imagery is created or manipulated outside

the context of a live action shot in filmmaking.

18 | P a g e
1.10 Acronyms

ACPI – Advanced Configuration and Power Interface

AECOM – Architecture, Engineering, Consulting, Operations and

Maintenance

BCDA – Bases Conversion and Development Authority

CGI – Computer Generated Images

DOTA – Defense of the Ancients

FPS – Frames per Second

GTA – Grand Theft Auto

IT – Information Technology

LOL – League of Legends

MOBA – Multiplayer Online Battle Arena

PAGCOR – Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation

TUF – The Unique Feature

VFX – Visual Effects

19 | P a g e