Unite 2010GDC ChinaAsia Game Show 2010GDC 2011
The Singapore SceneWhen I asked a 15-year-old Singaporean who was in the United States attending a youth-oriented game development program at Stanford University what he thought about game development in Singapore, he said, "I didn't know that there are game developers in Singapore." He then amended himself, saying, "I know there's something there, but I just don't see it." "There isn't much of game development scene here," said KH, summing up the situation, "as there are just not enough companies here to make a scene. ...For it to grow, we need to have the people and the environment." Adrian was a bit more upbeat: "The game development scene here in Singapore is definitely growing but compared to countries like Japan, Korea, US and Europe which have...a head start, we still have a long way to go in terms of skill sets and expertise." Another possible reason for the small local scene is the lack of development funds. "Funding a game development venture is nearly unheard of here in Singapore," Adrian said. "There are many independent code warriors driven by passion but lack the funding to see their projects take off." He added that this is "probably due to the uncertainty of the project's delivery date, its success and its return on investment." As everyone in the industry knows, it's hard to know what will be a hit. And in a conservative arena like Singapore finance, such risk is generally unacceptable. "Hopefully," Adrian continued, "the mindset of investors will change over time and that they'll see the potential in funding game development projects that will put Singapore on the game development map." ConclusionThere are challenges facing game developers in Singapore, like a shortage of skilled, experienced staff, limited funds, and a culture that has historically been more conservative than creative. However, this hasn't stopped passionate developers from doing everything they can to get their games made. At its top levels too, Singapore is determined to conquer these challenges, and is already seeing progress. Add to that the island city-states's access, both physical and digital, to the huge markets of China, India, Korea, Japan, and Malaysia, and you have a potent combination. My next article dives down into the arena of young hopefuls and the issues they face getting started. Notes[1] "Of course," snapped an Indian cricket-widow I met in Singapore after I mentioned Inerworx's planned game. "Cricket. All everybody talks about is cricket." Not a fan, obviously. [2] Approximately 25% of Singapore's population of 4.2M is foreign workers with work permits. [3] In the USA, large pools of available talent usually come as a result of a game development shop having a hit, getting big by hiring talent from all over, possibly being acquired by a publisher, and then going bust, scattering experienced programmers and artists into the local workforce. Many of these displaced game developers then form new companies, get publishing deals, and repeat the cycle. There are many examples: Eugene, OR (Dynamix); Chapel Hill, NC (Microprose); Austin, TX (Ion Storm); and who knows how many there are in and around San Francisco and Los Angeles. For better or for worse, Singapore doesn't seem to have gone through this process yet. I'm not sure it's something that should be wished on them, though... About the AuthorDavid Michael refers to himself as "semi-press" because he doesn't yet have one of those nifty hats with the "PRESS" card stuck in the band. David has attended, spoke at, and covered conferences in the USA, Australia and Singapore, and repeatedly covered the Game Developer Conference for GameDev.net. David is the author of The Indie Game Development Survival Guide (Charles River Media; ISBN:1584502142) and is co-owner of Samu Games (http://www.samugames.com). |
|
