MDeC To Develop Right Framework For ASEAN Games Industry

By Nor Baizura Basri KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- The Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) is looking at creating the right framework for the development of the region's games industry. MDeC Creative Multimedia Division Director Hasnul Hadi Samsudin said the framework could spur collaborations among ASEAN games developers, given its huge potential moving forward. "We're looking at creating the right framework for these developers next year for future collaboration. "Given that 60 per cent of the ASEAN population comprises young people, who are largely involved in the industry as players or developers, this idea is something that can (bring) benefits in the long run," he told Bernama in an interview in conjunction with the 27th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits here. The Southeast Asian games industry is projected to grow 30 per cent within the next five years, driven by rapid rise in internet access and ownership. At the moment, MDeC is leading the ASEAN Game Network Connection, a formal alliance among member states dedicated towards bringing the Southeast Asia games industry to the next level, Hasnul said. He said for a start, they have to come up with a detailed report on the games industry in ASEAN and its potential, taking into account the experience and progress of 111 companies involved in the industry in the region. This report, which will be issued on an annual basis, will likely be a benchmark for other games developers in terms of future development in the region, he added. "Malaysia has a huge potential to be a games hub in this region with the majority of games companies (61 per cent) in the industry being games developers," he said. Hasnul said as Southeast Asia is an important region for games export as games produced by companies from Malaysia would resonate well with other regions due to its cultural and language familiarities. In conjunction with the ASEAN Entrepreneurship Summit, MDeC hosted the two-day Level UP KL 2015, one of the Southeast Asia's premier games conferences which ended Thursday. The event was aimed at bringing together prominent international and local players in the games industry. Attended by over 350 local and international games industry players, they were able to interact, educate and share knowledge on a wide range of subjects from content development to fundraising, business development and marketing. Level UP KL 2015 is part of ongoing efforts led by MDeC to build a world-class online games ecosystem in Malaysia. -- BERNAMA