Formalizing the Studios
He grabbed a notebook and jotted down the essentials:
Company Name – He needed something catchy, something professional.
Business Registration – SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), BIR, Mayor's Permit, all of it.
Bank Accounts – He couldn't keep running finances through his personal BDO account.
Legal & Accounting – He had to start filing taxes before the government started knocking.
Hiring Process – Can be done after the registration.
He leaned back, tapping his pen against his desk. The name was crucial.
Flappy Bird and Furious Birds had succeeded because of catchy branding, and his company needed the same. But one thing was certain—he wasn't using his own name. "Inigo Studios" sounded lame, and it defeated the purpose of remaining anonymous.
What defines us?
His games were fast, frustrating, and addictively fun. The entire point was to create simple yet high-quality mobile experiences that people could pick up and play anywhere.
Then it clicked.
"Flashpoint Studios."
It had a punch to it. Flashpoint sounded dynamic, almost explosive. It embodied what he wanted—games that instantly captured players' attention, games that hit hard and fast.
He scribbled it down and underlined it. That's the one.
Now, time to make it real.
He opened his browser and started looking up the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) business registration process.
Step 1: Verify Business Name Availability.
He navigated to the SEC website and entered Flashpoint Studios, Inc. into the online name verification tool.
Loading…
His heart pounded as he waited. If it was taken, he'd have to go back to brainstorming.
AVAILABLE.
He exhaled in relief.
"Alright, step one done."
Next is to choose the business structure.
Sole Proprietorship? No—too risky. If the company failed, his personal assets would be on the line. He needed a corporation—a separate legal entity. That way, Flashpoint Studios could grow without exposing him financially.
He checked the requirements:
At least 5 incorporators
Minimum paid-up capital of ₱1 million for corporations
Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws
He needed four more people to sign on as incorporators.
He had decided on a corporation, which meant he needed at least five incorporators. It was mostly a formality—he would still own the majority of shares—but the law required multiple names to register a corporate entity.
He sighed and reached for his phone. If this was just a legal necessity, the smartest move would be to bring in family and trusted friends.
He called them one by one, and fortunately, they all agreed.
With his incorporators secured, Inigo wasted no time preparing the necessary paperwork for Flashpoint Studios, Inc.
Sitting at his desk, laptop open, he downloaded the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws template from the SEC website. The document was massive, full of legal jargon, but he had no choice but to go through it.
His focus sharpened as he filled in the details:
Company Name: Flashpoint Studios, Inc.
Business Type: Development, publication, and distribution of mobile games.
Office Address: Makati, Philippines (for now, the rented office space).
Initial Paid-Up Capital: ₱1 million.
Number of Shares: 10 million shares, with 60% belonging to him.
Incorporators: Friends and Family.
With everything typed out, he printed five copies, each requiring their signatures, and they provided it promptly.
May 16, 2011.
At 9 AM sharp, Inigo arrived at the SEC main office in Makati, a thick folder tucked under his arm. The building's air-conditioning was cranked too high, but he barely noticed.
The registration clerk took his documents, flipping through each page methodically.
"Everything looks in order," she finally said. "Do you have the proof of your paid-up capital?"
"Yes," Inigo said, pulling out a certificate of deposit from his newly opened BDO corporate account, showing the required ₱1 million deposit.
The clerk nodded, stamped a few forms, and handed him a slip.
"Pay the processing fee at the cashier," she instructed.
Inigo moved to the payment counter, where he shelled out ₱8,750 in registration fees. Once paid, he returned to the clerk.
"Final step: Wait for our approval. Your Certificate of Incorporation should be ready in five to seven business days," she said.
"Thanks," Inigo said, exhaling in relief.
Flashpoint Studios was now officially in motion.
After wrapping up the SEC registration, Inigo wasted no time heading straight to Legazpi Village, Makati, where the office he had inquired about was located.
When he arrived at the 16th-floor office building, he was greeted by the leasing agent, a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes and a professional smile.
"Mr. Borja?" she greeted.
"That's me," Inigo replied, shaking her hand.
"Please, follow me. I'll show you the space."
She led him to a 1,500-square-foot unit—not too big, but more than enough for a starting game studio. The interior was minimalist: white walls, gray carpeting, and large glass windows that overlooked the Makati skyline. It had a meeting room, a small pantry, and an open space perfect for workstations.
"This should be enough for now," Inigo muttered, pacing around the empty room.
"You're looking at ₱140,000 per month, inclusive of utilities and maintenance," the agent stated. "Of course, you'd need to sign a one-year lease, with a two-month security deposit."
Inigo nodded. Furious Birds was still raking in millions per week, so the cost wasn't an issue. If anything, he was willing to pay upfront just to get things moving.
"I'll pay for the first six months in advance," Inigo said, pulling out his checkbook.
The agent blinked, clearly surprised. "That's… quite generous."
"I just want to focus on work, not monthly rent," he said plainly.
She smiled and handed him the lease contract. "Well, Mr. Borja, Flashpoint Studios officially has an office."
Just like that, the studio had a home.
May 17, 2011.
With the SEC approval pending, Inigo turned his attention to the remaining legal requirements. If he wanted to operate smoothly, he needed to register Flashpoint Studios with the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) and secure a Mayor's Permit.
He spent the next morning at Makati City Hall, submitting documents, paying fees, and answering the usual bureaucratic questions. It was a tedious process, but by midday, he had obtained:
Barangay Clearance – Proof that the business was legally recognized in the area.
Mayor's Business Permit – Approval to operate legally in Makati.
BIR Registration & Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) – To ensure Flashpoint Studios could legally issue receipts and pay corporate taxes.
Books of Accounts – For tax filing and compliance.
After securing all the permits, he made his way to BDO Makati to finalize the studio's corporate bank account.
The bank officer guided him through the process, verifying Flashpoint Studios' SEC Registration, TIN, and Articles of Incorporation before approving the account setup.
Within an hour, he had an official corporate checking account under Flashpoint Studios, Inc.
Everything was now legally in place.
May 18, 2011.
With all legalities out of the way, Inigo's focus shifted to the next major step: setting up the office with state-of-the-art equipment.
Sitting in his empty workspace, he pulled out his notebook and began listing everything needed.
Workstations – High-performance desktops with powerful GPUs and processors.
Data Servers – To handle player accounts, microtransactions, and cloud saves.
Networking Infrastructure – Routers, switches, and high-speed internet.
Peripherals – Mechanical keyboards, ergonomic mice, and dual monitors for each developer.
Soundproofing Materials – To reduce noise and make meetings easier.
Whiteboards & Projectors – For brainstorming game ideas and planning updates.
Break Area Setup – Coffee machine, mini fridge, and a lounge area for the team.
He grabbed his phone and called PC Express in Gilmore, one of the best suppliers of gaming and development hardware in Metro Manila.
"Hello, I'd like to place a bulk order for high-end workstations."
"How many units are we talking about, sir?" the salesperson asked.
"Ten, for now. Each one should have an Intel Core i7 processor, at least 32GB of RAM, and an RTX 3080 GPU."
"Understood. That would be ₱150,000 per unit. Would you also need peripherals?"
"Yes. Dual 27-inch monitors per unit, mechanical keyboards, and ergonomic mice."
The salesperson chuckled. "That's quite the setup. You running an eSports team?"
"Something like that," Inigo replied, smirking.
By 5 PM, delivery trucks arrived outside the building, unloading boxes of computers, monitors, and networking equipment. Inigo personally oversaw the setup, arranging each workstation meticulously.
By midnight, the empty office had transformed into a fully operational game development hub.
Flashpoint Studios was ready to operate.
With the infrastructure complete, the next step was hiring his core team.