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| Game developers to benefit from Southeast Asia's first 'PlayStation(R) Incubation Studio Singapore' at the new Games Solution Centre |
SINGAPORE, Oct 28, 2011 - (ACN Newswire) - Are you an aspiring game developer looking to develop your first game but are faced with challenges from looking for a suitable development platform to commercialising and marketing your fully playable game?
The Games Solution Centre (GSC), a new facility by the Media Development Authority (MDA) and managed by Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), will lower these barriers of entries for game developers. The GSC is a one-stop resource centre that provides a rapid prototyping development environment for Singapore-based small-medium games enterprises at no cost on a first-come-first-served basis.
A centre like GSC is timely given the growth of the games sector in Singapore. According to the Department of Statistics, the game sector's value-added increased at a compound annual growth rate of 50.5% from S$7.7 million in 2004 to S$59.6 million in 2009.
The GSC was officially launched today by Mr Aubeck Kam, Chief Executive Officer of MDA and Mr Chan Lee Mun, Principal & CEO of NYP. Mr Tetsuhiko Yasuda, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Asia (SCE Asia) attended the opening ceremony as a special guest.
Mr Aubeck Kam, CEO, MDA, said: "Industry and government collaboration has always been key to growing the media sector in Singapore. MDA's partnership with industry partners such as Sony Computer Entertainment Asia, Nanyang Polytechnic, Autodesk(R) and Hewlett-Packard Singapore on the Games Solution Centre will benefit more than 500 game companies and developers over the next three years. Game developers can enjoy the resources, commercialisation opportunities and mentorship available at the Centre to accelerate the development of their games."
- The GSC is home to Southeast Asia's first 'PlayStation(R) Incubation Studio Singapore' -
With the launch of the 'PlayStation(R) Incubation Studio Singapore', Singapore game developers can now gain ready access to development tools for PlayStation(R) platforms such as PlayStation(R)3, PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) and soon for PlayStation(R)Vita. Both the PlayStation(R)3 and PSP(R) enjoy extensive reach with gamers worldwide.
Mr Tetsuhiko Yasuda, President, SCE Asia, said: "We are dedicated to providing innovative excitement and a high quality game experience to users, and that is the reason why we are fully in support of the incubation program in Asia. We are very happy to launch Southeast Asia's first 'PlayStation(R) Incubation Studio Singapore' and to have MDA and NYP with us to achieve this phenomenal mission."
Collaborations between SCE Asia and local game companies are not new and have been gaining traction. Ratloop Asia, a company supported by MDA, launched the first Singapore-made 3D stereoscopic game Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken on the PlayStation(R) Network earlier this month, and it is now available to download on the PlayStation(R)Network globally. Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken builds upon the previous browser-based game Rocketbirds: Revolution! which received three finalist nominations for "Excellence in Audio", "Excellence in Visual Art" and the "Seumas McNally Grand Prize" at the 2010 Independent Games Festival. The Independent Games Festival Awards is an annual event held in San Francisco to celebrate the best in indie gaming, attracting hundreds of high quality games submission.
- Middleware, Soft and Hardware Support -
The GSC is also supported by global leading technology partners such as Autodesk and Hewlett-Packard (HP). As a strategic partner to this Centre, Autodesk will provide its Digital Entertainment Creation solutions for game development. With this, game developers at the GSC will be amongst the first in Singapore to be exposed to Autodesk's innovative middleware tools, which will cut-down development process significantly and boost productivity. Developers will also have access to and be trained on HP EliteBook w-series Mobile Workstations, designed for compute-intensive activity. These machines are powerful specialized tools that ensure maximum reliability throughout the content creation process.
Mr. V R Srivatsan, ASEAN Managing Director, Autodesk, said: "We are honoured that the MDA has partnered Autodesk's Digital Entertainment Creation software and middleware for its Games Solution Centre. For over two decades, leading game developers have relied on Autodesk technology. Access to Autodesk's industry standard game technology through the Games Solution Centre will help more Singapore-based companies compete on a global scale, whether they are creating casual or console games."
Ms. Serena Yong, General Manager, Personal Systems Group, HP Singapore, said, "For the past 41 years, HP Singapore has been committed to cultivating local creative talent. As a global leader in the workstation market, HP's solutions empower end-to-end Digital Media and Entertainment content creation, transforming visions into reality. HP is proud to be working with the MDA through the Games Solution Centre, to nurture the next generation of serious game developers for the world stage."
- Marketing, Mentorship and Management -
To help developers market and pitch their games to potential publishers, the GSC introduced a 3D virtual world known as the Singapore Games Village. Locally developed games can be showcased in the Village to prospective publishers who can then select the titles which they wish to license.
In addition, companies housed within the GSC can look forward to mentorship by NYP and one of the pioneers in the field of Serious Games, the Serious Games Institute from United Kingdom(1). The GSC will also organise monthly networking, seminars and developer conferences to share methodologies and best practices in games development and production. This will help ensure that game developers are more productive and will develop innovative products that are more likely to succeed in the market place.
NYP with its established track record of developing skilled professionals in leading edge technologies, has been appointed the Centre manager of the GSC. Having managed the NYP Games Resource Centre set up in collaboration with SCE Asia and Premium Agency Inc in 2009, NYP brings with it the necessary expertise and knowledge to run the day-to-day operations of the GSC.
Mr Chan Lee Mun, Principal & CEO of Nanyang Polytechnic said: "Since 1996, NYP has been complementing Singapore's efforts to grow the interactive and digital media sector through our various programmes and initiatives. Over the years, with the strong endorsement from MDA and various industry partners, we have developed our capabilities and expertise to support the game industry. Our students, alumni and SMEs have also benefited from the NYP Games Resource Centre, set up two years ago. We are pleased that MDA recognises our efforts and success, and has entrusted NYP to manage the new Games Solution Centre (GSC). The GSC, will allow us to offer more opportunities to students to broaden their capabilities in game development and for some, to experience starting up their own companies in the game industry."
- MDA Grant Schemes -
Apart from accelerating the game development process through partnership with the industry, the MDA also recently launched the new Grant Schemes to help game developers. The MDA's new Grant Schemes provide grants to promising game developers seeking to improve game-writing, story-boarding, and helping companies with innovative ideas to create game prototypes for pitching to potential publishers. Those with the backing of publishers will have the opportunity to seek MDA to co-fund the development of a fully playable game. More information about the grants can be found at www.mda.gov.sg/schemes.
(1) The Serious Games Institute at Coventry University is globally recognised as a Centre of Excellence for Serious Games, Mobile Application, 3D animation and Virtual Worlds. The Institute is a new model for industrial/ higher education partnerships, combining advanced research with business incubation, digital media prototyping, business clustering and sophisticated networking, training and demonstration facilities.
About Games Solution Centre:
-- The Games Solution Centre (GSC), an initiative by the Media Development Authority (MDA) and managed by Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), is a one-stop resource centre that provides a rapid prototyping development environment for Singapore-based small-medium games enterprises to develop their games.
-- A joint collaboration between MDA and industry members, the GSC is also supported by partners including Autodesk(R) and Hewlett-Packard Singapore (HP).
-- Over the next three years, more than 500 game companies and developers are expected to benefit from the resources, commercialisation opportunities and mentorship available at the GSC.
-- It was officially launched on 28 October 2011 by Mr Aubeck Kam, Chief Executive Officer of MDA, and Mr Chan Lee Mun, Principal & CEO of NYP. Mr Tetsuhiko Yasuda, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Asia (SCE Asia) attended the opening ceremony as a special guest.
-- The GSC is home to Southeast Asia's first 'PlayStation(R) Incubation Studio Singapore'.
-- NYP has been appointed as the Centre manager, and will run the day-to-day operations of the GSC.
Features of the Games Solution Centre:
-- The GSC will provide shared or discounted licenses and development kits, which are otherwise only available to large established companies, to companies working within the GSC. Local game developers will now have ready access to development tools such as PlayStation(R)3 and PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable). Autodesk will provide their Digital Entertainment Creation solutions for game development. With this, developers can access and evaluate various tools, before deciding on the final platform to use for their game development.
-- The GSC will house a shared library of reusable code bases and graphic object libraries. By properly creating and documenting, these components can be shared and reused across different applications. With this, the productivity of game developers will be enhanced.
-- The GSC will organise monthly networking, seminars, developer conferences and tool kit/software training to share methodologies and best practices in games development and production. In addition, NYP will provide a dedicated team of experienced mentors to share their knowledge and expertise with game developers and guide them from start-up to commercialisation. Game developers can also look forward to working with experts from one of the pioneers in the field of serious games, the Serious Games Institute, United Kingdom, which has set up an office next to the GSC. Developers will also be trained using HP EliteBook w-Series Mobile Workstations, which are designed for intensive computer activity. With this, the standard of the industry will be enhanced. Game developers will also be more productive and develop innovative products that are more likely to succeed in the market place.
-- The GSC will create a business zone where investors, legal and business advisors can gather at regularly. With this, companies can come together to share their ideas, and at the same time sharpen their business acumen, and learn how to protect and monetize their intellectual properties, as they take their products to market.
-- The GSC will provide fully furnished game development studios, shared meeting rooms, testing stations, and seminar rooms for training and presentation. These facilities come together to make the GSC a one-stop resource centre for game developers to develop their games.
About Media Development Authority (MDA)
The Media Development Authority of Singapore (www.mda.gov.sg) promotes the growth of globally competitive Animation, Broadcast, Film, Games, Interactive Media, Music and Publishing industries. It also regulates the media sector to safeguard the interest of consumers and promotes a connected society.
About Nanyang Polytechnic
Established in 1992, Nanyang Polytechnic (www.nyp.edu.sg) is a premier tertiary institution that offers quality education in Engineering, Information Technology, Design, Interactive & Digital Media, Chemical & Life Sciences, Business Management and Health Sciences. It offers 50 full-time diploma courses and a suite of customised courses for continuing education.
Nanyang Polytechnic's School of Interactive & Digital Media (SIDM) supports Singapore's vision to be an Interactive & Digital Media hub. SIDM offers 6 unique courses that integrate art, design, entertainment and technology for the digital age - the Digital Media Design (Animation), Diploma in Digital Media Design (Games), Diploma in Digital Media Design (Interaction Design), Diploma in Digital Visual Effects, Diploma in Entertainment Technology (Games) and Diploma in Motion Graphics & Broadcast Design. In addition, SIDM also offers a successful part-time Specialist Diploma in Games Development with a focus on training the participants to develop games on the PlayStation platforms. Together, these courses prepare students for the exhilarating world of animation, games design and development, interactive media, visual effects, advertising and the entertainment industry.
For more information, please contact:
Chua Xiao Ying
Executive, Industry Communications
Media Development Authority
Tel: +65 83220337
Email: chua_xiao_ying@mda.gov.sg
Justin Chow
Corporate Strategy Office
Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong Limited
Tel: +85 223025540
Mobile: +85 260387281
Email: justin.chow@sceh.sony.com.hk
Jayanthi Gopal
Manager, PR & Editorial
Nanyang Polytechnic
Tel: +65 65500223
Mobile: +65 96657817
Email: Jayanthi_gopal@nyp.gov.sg
Ginny-Ann Oh
Consultant for Nanyang Polytechnic
Asia PR Werkz
Tel: +65 65366881
Mobile: +65 96267277
Email: ginny@asiaprwerkz.com
Topic: Construction of Facility
Source: Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA)
Sectors: eSports, Gaming
http://www.acnnewswire.com
From the Asia Corporate News Network
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