Entertainment & Game Industry in Bulgaria – podcast discussion by Georgi Ivanov from DEVCAST

Are you interested in game dev and the development of the technology business in Bulgaria and want to know more about them? Today we offer you a DEVCAST podcast, in which Georgi Ivanov, CEO and founder of NobleHire, brings together Anthony Christov and Andrey Bachvarov in a conversation about creativity, gaming and the future of the game dev industry in Bulgaria.
Podcast timeline:
- Part 1 – Entertainment & Game Industry in Bulgaria
14:30 How do you see the future of the game industry in Bulgaria and how to become competitive with other Balkan countries?
18:59 What is the potential of Bulgaria to attract companies like ProSieben?
- Part 2 – Entertainment & Game Industry in Bulgaria
04:40 What is the future of television?
18:04 What is the profile of the students at ARC Academy?
30:30 What needs to happen in order to improve the industry in Bulgaria?
1) The future of the game industry in Bulgaria
In recent years, the development of the game dev industry in the country is great, and this is due to the organization of various hackathons, Sofia Game Jam, but also the ARC Academy, which provides training in game dev. Anthony Christov and Andrey Bachvarov told us about their projects and how they support this development. ARC Academy aspires to become an ecosystem in which students are the source of ideas for games, solve various problems and help these ideas later become a reality. The core in this ecosystem are major game dev companies that have offices in Bulgaria and help the country to develop its potential on the international scene of the game industry.
2) Bulgaria’s potential to attract companies such as ProSieben
Bulgaria may still not be one of the leaders in Europe in technological progress and innovation, but the hundreds of startups here provide a huge opportunity to recruit new labor, but also for large investments from other highly developed countries. Tech companies in Bulgaria work as an ecosystem that offers two options – to buy or create. Game dev companies are part of those companies that help develop the market in the country. Creativity and product thinking is what is sought after in this field, and ARC Academy is one of the places that help people develop exactly these two qualities.
3) What is the future of television?
Companies like Netflix have the growing potential to take over traditional television media and bring about technological evolution in everyday life. Interactivity, functionality, high-quality content, all this is offered by Netflix, and in the near future, VR sets will be available. When it comes to television, statistics show that the divide between the young and old generation is clear – young people prefer online platforms, and adults still watch TV more. Of course, in all this evolution, dev companies have a major role to play as they all create this technology.
4) What is the profile of the students at ARC Academy?
The academy is expanding rapidly, and this year more than 50 students are expected to fill the ARC hall. The profile is very different. There are young talents as young as 18 who are ready for the Game program, but the age varies and we have quite a few candidates looking for a change and a second career as well. Motivation is one of the most important qualities we look for in students, as is thirst for problem-solving. These are the qualities we look for in the Academy.
5) What needs to happen in order to improve the tech industry in Bulgaria?
Understanding the ultimate goal, education, courage to impose vision and brand, and the functioning of all small startups – these are just a small part of what is needed to improve the industry. The problems facing the economy, especially technology, are more pronounced in small towns where for some people the goals in starting a business are different from those in the capital. Which one of these is better – to open a small shop or a technology startup? There is an opportunity for development for both, but if we want to encourage the smaller cities to develop their innovation potential, then dev projects are of much greater importance and greater value.