Hi there! My name is Alhvi Balcárcel, and I’m a game developer from Guatemala. I’ve always loved video games and that passion led me to co-found Selva Interactive, a game development studio that aims to create original and innovative games.
I studied computer science, and I’m also a teacher of game programming. Sharing my knowledge and experience with others is something I’m passionate about, and I’ve given numerous talks about game development in my local community and at online events. I’m part of the founding group of the local game development community in Guatemala, GameDevGT, and I’ve also volunteered as Regional Organizer for The Global Game Jam for North Latam (Central America and the Caribbean) from 2017 – 2019 and as the Country Lead for Guatemala for Latinx in Gaming.
When I’m not working on games, I love spending time with my family and my partner. We enjoy lively conversations, and we often watch movies and play board games together. I have a wide range of music tastes from cumbias to heavy metal. I’m also curious about science and love learning new things every day. Currently, I’m learning Portuguese.
I enjoy playing strategy and resource management games like Frostpunk, Civilization, and Anno 1800, as well as puzzle games like Portal and indie titles like Stardew Valley, Slay the Spire, and Vampire Survivors. Video games are particularly special to me because they combine so many of my interests: programming, art, and music.
I’m also passionate about information security and math, and I’m always looking to expand my knowledge. As a curious and passionate person, I enjoy exploring new things and sharing my experiences with others.