The Importance of Preserving Traditional Filipino Games

 
    Magna Kultura, a Philippine based NGO that aims to implement educational, socio - cultural programs in order to strengthen the Filipino well being are responsibly vigilant with regards to the fact that Filipino children nowadays spend they childhood playtime on Internet cafes or with their handheld game consoles instead of socializing with other children playing the traditional street games that for years is a culture  and a norm for a typical Filipino child. Magna Kultura is seriously advocating such concern by holding tournaments and educating the children in their schools all focusing on traditional Filipino Games. But why do they need to go this far in promoting and encouraging young children to play the games? 

     Apparently there is indeed an obvious issue regarding the increase of children spending their playtime in Internet Cafes and the number of children that still are playing the traditional games are seen to be going downhill. Instead of the usual Patintero, Tumbang Preso, Piko, Tago-Taguan, Siato and the like many children indulge themselves with computer games such as DOTA: Defense of the Ancients, Counter Strike etc. and those children who are above the middle class are expected to own at least a PS2, a PSP , an XBox, or a Nintendo DS. As the researchers have done relevant reading about the matter, the researchers found out that a lot of bloggers and article writers who are wired on this issue agree that children nowadays that do not know how to play traditional Filipino games tend to be more laid back, unconfident, lazy, lack social skills and some claim that they also lack sportsmanship and have hard time accepting defeat. Having read these people's opinions and as Filipinos ourselves, it is one of those issues that indeed needs to take a closer look at .   

    Filipino games must at least be seen played by many children if it won't be possible anymore that it would be back in the mainstream , at least that's what these writers are trying to tell. They believe (especially Magna Kultura) that these games should be preserved not only because they prefer Filipino children play these games as like they did when they were in their childhood but they insist and believe that these games help the children grow in mind, body and character and it also helps instill patriotism and nationality in a child's mind. Aside from significant sentimental reasons others believe that it should be preserved and thought to the Filipino children for they think that Filipino games like Tumbang Preso, Sipa, Patintero and others alike help improve a child's physical and motor skills as well as strategic logic and since most Filipino Games are team games, teamwork and sportsmanship as well as self confidence and leadership skills are being emphasized on a child while playing these games. 

    Filipino children nowadays are left with a choice, to keep up with the flow of modern times ,dwell on virtual games and completely leave behind traditional entertainment or try to learn the games and simply have fun with it. But they don't have to make this choice at all if we just lay out our concerns on this matter and find a better, drastic and creative solution to create the balance that is justly needed. 

Sources 


http://bluecheese.wordpress.com/2009/05/23/filipino-street-games/
http://www.studymode.com/essays/The-Effects-Of-Playing-Defense-Of-580808.html
http://www.inter-disciplinary.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Delos-Reyes-paper1.pdf
http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/manila-bulletin/mi_7968/is_2007_March_4/games/ai_n34602762/
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=210591292325711
http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?i=10&subcat=13
http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Soc/soc.culture.filipino/2007-02/msg00863.html
http://larong-pinoy.weebly.com/index.html
http://magnakultura.multiply.com/?&show_interstitial=1&u=
http://www.slideshare.net/dickieaguado/magna-kulturas-palarong-pilipino-advocacy

Flop 'em Up: Project Justification

    Flop 'Em Up is a 2.5D is a proposed game project that aims to promote and uplift traditional Filipino games into the gaming scene and also aims to instill in the players especially Filipino players the essence of the traditional game itself. The researchers have observed that nowadays most people  especially the younger ones are now drawn to digital gaming and not many are going outdoors playing traditional games anymore, that is what made the researchers thought of a concept that aims to urge the Filipino youth to engage themselves once again into traditional Filipino game (in this context Tumbang Preso) and in order to make it possible the researchers have thought about creating a digital interface in order in the form of a game in order for players to enjoy the in game version of the game and at the same time instill the rules and the game play in their minds that they may once again make them play Tumbang Preso outdoors. The researchers , once the project is complete also aims to put the concept of Tumbang Preso in the game development scene, open to game developers to use the concept to come up with projects of the similar concept. Coming up with this project concept, the researchers had done research on the game itself and its rules and also other existing game with the same concept. Apparently as the researchers had sought for existing games that used Tumbang Preso as a concept, "Tumbang Preso" a flash based game came to the researchers' attention.Though it contained the same thought that the researchers had in mind the game play completely varied from the game play the researchers are trying to come up with. The "Tumbang Preso" didn't really follow the official rules of the Tumbang Preso game itself instead it is like a shoot 'em up / whack a mole type of game wherein the player shoots slippers on to the targets appearing from holes , the player must hit a can to earn points but once the player hits a tarsier no point is counted. The researchers on the other hand is trying to come up with a 2.5D game wherein the game play and majority of the rules are being referred to the official traditional Tumbang Preso mechanics. Basically Flop 'Em Up is a project that aims to promote the traditional game Tumbang Preso in the gaming world but it could greatly boost Filipino culture and associate it with digital concepts. With a very common concept to most people the researchers can assure a participative target audience to conduct necessary survey, the concept of Tumbang Preso game is known by most Filipinos so more information about the game are accessible, the right tools & technology in order to help complete the project this game project sure to be challenging and interesting to implement. 

Flop 'Em Up: A 2.5D Game Adaptation based on the Traditional Filipino Tumbang Preso Game (Tentative Storylines)

   Storyline 1:

       The Main character (Player will choose from Boom , Arv, Cram, Aki, Mej )  wants to be the best Tumbang Preso player in their neighborhood, but in order to make it possible Main Character must defeat elite Tumbang Preso players around the neighborhood, little did main character know he will be facing elite players that has the same goal as his. Each stage main character is faced with a challenger ,beat that challenger then main character proceeds to the next stage.  

    Storyline 2:

    Main character's (Player still chooses from Boom, Arv, Cram, Aki, Mej) grandfather was once a very skillful Tumbang Preso player on his youth now that he is old and can't play he could only be but an avid fan of the game. Seeing how the main character and other children in the neighborhood play, main character's grandfather decided to have a street tournament and the winner will receive his hidden prized possession, curious and determined, other Tumbang Preso players in the neighborhood are all eager to get that prized possesion and the main character shall prove to his grandfather that he is the one deserving of that prize.  


   Gameplay (more to be added):


- Each stage main character has to earn certain amount of points in a certain amount of time 


e.g: Stage 1 - 75 pts - 5:00 mins duration


failure to earn the points makes the player to repeat the stage. As player gets to next stage the points to earn increases and so as the difficulty.


-

Short Comparative Study of 2D, 3D ad 2.5D Games' Perspectives

   Games nowadays are enjoyed by gamers and non-gamers alike because of its gameplay, story, and graphics and even more enjoyed because games of different consoles nowadays come in different perspectives. Perspectives wherein gamers of different sorts can experience a game in different views and would seem like the game is on a different world, others also prefer more classic views. These viewing perspectives namely 2D, 3D and 2.5 D are perspectives that are standard for game development .

   2D Games:

    Super Mario Bros., Adventure Island, Popeye, Donkey Kong and other popular games we played on NES or more known as the Family Computer were among the leading examples of 2D games. But now in our present time games like the newer versions of Sonic and Mega Man not to mention Patapon and World of goo are the household names in 2D games But what exactly are 2D games ? As defined these are games wherein objects and elements and gameplay itself lie on the X & Y coordinates. Obviously these are games that uses side scrolling or up & down scrolling on its movements (and its projectiles if these games happen to be shooter games). So it is safe to say that once you played a fighting game , a shooting game , adventure or arcade and the gameplay takes place on a plane it is probably a 2D game. "Probably" because of the other more recent game perspective which is the 2.5D.

From top to bottom: SNK's Samurai Showdown, Patapon, Metal Slug and World of Goo

   3D Games: 

   Dominating the gaming industry nowadays , 3D games have indeed revolutionized the gaming universe by bringing state of the art graphics bringing gamers a seemingly close to reality gaming experience. From PC, PlayStation, XBox down to smaller consoles like the Nintendo 3DS and even in smartphones that are Android ready, 3D games are almost everywhere captivating audiences of all sorts. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Assassin's Creed, 2K sports games are some of the many 3D games available nowadays. Again aside from realistic graphics games in 3D perspective allows gamers to view different angles of the game environment making gameplay much more realistic and better. Imagine 3D games like counter strike didn't exist, it wouldn't be so strategic after all because everyone can see each other on a plane(assuming it's only 2D).  

From top to bottom: Call of Duty, NBA 2K13,Mario Galaxy,Madden 2013

   2.5D Games:

   Now with both 2D and 3D games present in today's gaming market developers have seem to innovated a concept wherein gamers can enjoy both. Because some gamers may find 3D games too good and others may find 2D games too classic developers came up with the idea of having games in 2.5D perspective. A 2.5D game is widely defined by sources as actually a 3D game in nature but is being viewed in a 3/4 camera projection or in orthographic perspective. Some simpler definitions suggest that a 2.5 game is a game wherein a 2D sprite in placed in a 3D environment. Quickhit Football, a simulation browser game is one example, most strategy games and Viewtiful Joe are games fit to be called  2.5D games.

From top to bottom: Dragon Ball Z: Revenge of King Piccolo, Conquest: Divide and Conquer, Smash Brothers Brawl, Marvel Vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds 

   Sources:

   http://www.giantbomb.com/2d/92-1427/
   http://www.giantbomb.com/25d/92-660/
   http://www.giantbomb.com/polygonal-3d/92-1430/
   http://www.giantbomb.com/stereoscopic-3d/92-1204/
   www.eastcoastgames.com/design/glossary.html

Flop 'Em Up: A 2.5D Game Adaptation based on the Traditional Filipino Tumbang Preso Game (Overview - As of July 3, 2012)

Title: 

Flop 'Em Up: A 2.5D Game Adaptation based on the Traditional Filipino Tumbang Preso Game

Main Menu/Interface:

• Story Mode

             - Choose character

             - View Game Map

             - Story takes place

             - Play Game

             - Proceed to Next Level

• Quick Play

              -  Choose character

              -  View Game Map

              -  Play Game

• Mini Games (To be unlocked on certain levels; mini games either helps you earn points or unlock certain level)

               - Guessing Game

               - Takyan/Sipa Game

               - Marble/Jolen Game

• Shop (Choose flip flops that varies from weight, size and design)
• Exit (Exits application and closes the game)

Fundamental Rules/Mechanics:(Still subject to minor changes in order for the researchers to enhance effects and other features)

Rules according to :
http://classes.dma.ucla.edu/Fall10/157A/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/DRUBRAMLETT_OneofaKindGame.pdf

                - Begin by drawing circle on the ground and a straight barrier line +20ft away. all players will THROW their "pamato"(the flip flops) towards the circle. those who throw the pamato too far or not far enough will repeat until one person is left. this person is the “Taya”

              - The “Taya” will guard a milk can in the aforementioned circle while the other players will attempt to knock it over with their pamato from the barrier line.

              - Players after throwing their pamato , will have to retrieve it without getting tagged. 

                - If the milk can is standing, the “Taya” can tag anyone attempting to retrieve their shoe only if the milk can is standing upright in the circle.

              - If a player hits the milk can and pushes it out of the circle, but it doesn’t fall over, other players may proceed in throwing their pamato at it until it does fall over. It makes no difference if you knock it over within the circle. however, the “it” must place the pamato back into the circle in order to tag anyone once it falls. 

                - Once a player is tagged, they become the new “Taya”.

Point system:

+10 pts: If the main character gets the "pamato" and did not get tagged
+5 pts: If the main character is the "Taya" then he/she gets a tag. 
- 5 pts: If main character gets tagged. 


-Game has 5 levels. On each level the player must earn the most points against fellow opponents in order to proceed to next level.
-Certain levels when completed unlocks an item from the shop or a mini game. 

Sources 

http://classes.dma.ucla.edu/Fall10/157A/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/DRUBRAMLETT_OneofaKindGame.pdf 
http://www.angelfire.com/games4/pigssai/tradrules.htm