The digital media entertainment and gaming industry in Asia is seeing good growth, and Singapore is set to ride the wave and be the centre of attraction with a slew of activities including a new initiative to promote locally developed games.
Called the Singapore Game Box, it is a one-year programme by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore and the Media Development Authority of Singapore to promote awareness of Made-By-Singapore game titles, and will create platforms for local game developers to test and develop their prototypes.
RADM(NS) Lui Tuck Yew tours Games Convention Asia. |
“In order for our games development companies to grow, it is also important that they have access to a platform to launch and showcase their games,” said RADM(NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, at the opening of the Games Convention Asia 2009. “It also acts as a one-stop location to showcase locally developed games to potential publishers and other trade visitors.”
The first manifestation of this initiative is the Singapore Game Box@E3Max located at Orchard Cineleisure, and it will allow gamers to try locally produced titles at no cost. For a start, there will be 20 Singapore-based companies showcasing their wares including NexGen Studios, Razer, and Media Freaks.
Five Game Ambassadors have also been appointed to promote the Singapore Game Box initiative. The five are game community leaders who have represented Singapore in MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) competitions such as the Asia World Cyber Games.
The Singapore Game Box is the latest of many activities happening locally that is driving the industry forward. RADM(NS) Lui also announced that the Interactive Digital Media Research and Development Programme Office (IDMPO) and Razer, a leading brand in gaming peripherals, will create the Razer IDM Lab in Singapore with an initial investment of about S$30 million.
“Besides developing cutting-edge interactive gaming interface technologies, the Lab also aims to improve the core competencies of local video gaming startups through mentorship activities,” he said.
Other recent developments include two Games Resource Centres that have been established this year by respective gaming leaders - Sony Computer Entertainment Asia and Epic Games China - to work with local polytechnics to develop competencies in leading edge technologies and catalyse the industry. The first resource centre which was set up at the Nanyang Polytechnic is the collaboration between the institution and Sony Computer. Whilst the newly launched second centre at the Singapore Polytechnic is established with Epic Games.
Collectively, these activities bode well for gaming in the region and according to the Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2009-2013 report from PricewaterhouseCoopers, the video game market in the Asia-Pacific region will be the fastest growing region over the next five years. The report forecasts a 9.4 per cent compounded annual growth rate, increasing from US$15.7 billion in 2009 to US$24.7 billion in 2013.
It also speaks well of Singapore as the hub of activity for regional collaboration. “These announcements show Singapore’s huge support for the industry,” said Mr Bob Wallace, Chief Strategy Officer of gaming developer Sidhe. “There is a commitment to develop the industry, and it is poised to be a regional hub for developers.”
“Unlike big industrial markets, this region has to work co-operatively to reach its full potential,” he added. “With Singapore as a regional hub, it enhances its chances.”
Dr Tim Philippi, Executive Director, Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, was also optimistic about Singapore’s competitive positioning as a result of these initiatives.
“These initiatives are all good for the digital industry,” he said. “Geographically, it makes sense that Singapore be a regional hub, and it also has strong information and transport infrastructure, highly qualified workforce, and proven reliability. These are the advantages why companies come here.”