Thailand

Catalogue of Thailand-made Video games

Thailand has experienced rapid growth with a 15% increase in 2017  and offers a diverse range of games that some are available exclusively in Thailand. ปักษาวายุ (Paksawayu) is one of video game released on Thailand, it was developed by Cyberplanet Interactive. Thailand video game market begin its international journey in 2005 when SINTHAI released The House . In 2022, Thailand considered as the top rank of Southeast Asia video-game market for the revenue of US$ 1.24 Billion.

## Game Development History

### The Origin (2000-2005)

Game development in Thailand began in early 2000s with the rise of CyberPlanet Interactive, a video game company that contributes to the early history of Video Game industry in Thailand. The Company were formed after high funding support up to US$ 676,672 . At the same year, CyberPlanet Interactive Games released **Magic Chronicle**, a strategy game inspired by popular titles Command and Conquer and Rise of Nations.

It was reported that CyberPlanet IPO had successfully sold over 60 million shares in its initial public offering, securing substantial investment based on a report from 2010 . Two years later, the company achieved a significant breakthrough in Thailand market with the release of Sim City based game with Thailand culture titled **CEO City**. CyberPlanet Interactive Games received 29 Awards from Thailand ICT Awards, SIPA Game Awards, and APAC ICT Awards .

In a different case, SINTHAI proposes a game incorporating with internet screamers. SINTHAI stated The House initially drew inspiration from video clips or chain emails that tricks people to watch a screamer videos. SINTHAI was intended to make the game creepy and scary by using the most popular game engine in 2000s Macromedia Flash. The game privately shared with his college friends. One of his friends loved the concept and in 2005 the game was released worldwide. The House eventually become an urban legend with the game spreading on internet through rumors and creating chain emails, daring recipients to play the game. The game quickly became a sensation, paving the way for its success in the international market.

### Rise of International Market(2006-)

From 2006 to 2011, the trend of MMORPGs reached their highest levels of popularity in South East Asia. In order to approach Thailand players, Debuz made an announcement that they would be developing a 2D isometric MMORPG called **ProjectONE**. According to their presentation pitch, it was described as an online game that would receive daily updates for over 10 years, making it an ongoing and constantly evolving project. In 2007 the game was launched exclusively in Thailand and gaining for over 170,000+ player count . A year later the game was re-released on Thailand titled **Asura**, making the game as the first MMORPG game from Thailand.

**CyberPlanet Interactive Games** took the lead in the global market. Between 2003 and 2011, they launched a total of 35 games on various platforms, including Windows, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, mobile phones, and Playstation 2 . In 2015, CyberPlanet Interactive Games took a different path and leaving the game industry all-together .

With the decline of CyberPlanet Interactive Games, numerous Indie developer from Thailand started to rise. In 2015, YGGDRAZIL entered the game development industry with unnamed project led by Sarut Tubloy, the game director of Home Sweet Home. The objective of Home Sweet Home was to combine elements of horror games with Thai culture into a unified concept. Having previous expertise in film post-production, they dedicated two years to the development of the project. In 2016, they unveiled a demo that received a positive reception. Home Sweet Home fully launched in 2017 on Steam and gaming consoles as a single-player survival horror experience. According to the game director Sabut Tubloy, the game heavily draws element from Thailand folklore and Silent Hill . The game creates many sequels and spin-offs based on the original installment such as *Home Sweet Home EP2, Home Sweet Home Survive*, and Home Sweet Home Online*.*

At the same year of 2015, James Primeth Wongsatyanon had a concept of a game primarily based on clever puzzles to make players think how to solve it. This game was created as part of the National Software Contest organized by the university. James, along with Kamin Kolyutsakul, Jesada Treerungkit, Achan Soonthoronarom, and Pongsatorn Santiwatanakul, formed a team of five people to develop the game, which incorporated a time-based puzzle element. By 2016 the game was completed and achieved "Best Game" award in Microsoft Imagine Cup Competition . After receiving support from Microsoft and participating in Google's Indie Games Accelerator Event, the game was successfully developed. In 2020, Timelie was released on both Steam and Nintendo Switch. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the game experienced a significant surge in popularity .

## CEO City

### Release date

11 January 2005

CEO City is a city-building video game that was developed by CyberPlanet Interactive. The game was first introduced on January 11, 2005. Many of its elements is inspired by popular city building game, notable one is Sim City. Following its development, Cyberplanet Interactive received major sponsors from well known brands and the government

## The House

### Release date

2005

The House is an online flash horror developed by SINTHAI, a developer based in Thailand. The game initially released in 2005 and gained popularity quickly as part of classic flash horror. The game's development originated as a concept by SINTHAI, drawing inspiration from chain-mail screamers and "What's Wrong With This Picture" screamers, with the intention of creating a screamer game. The creator opted to utilize Adobe Flash which was a popular choice for developing flash games from 2000-2014. The initial prototype of the game was shared with friends at the university, featuring a single room. The game soon gets fully released in 2005.

## Home Sweet Home

### Platform

PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4

### Release date

27 September 2017

**Home Sweet Home** is a single-player first-person survival horror video game developed by Yggdrazil Group. The game was released on 27th September 2017 and features horror elements drawn from Thai folklore. In an attempt to find his missing wife Jane, Tim must survive and find a way to escape the place the unknown apartment building while hiding from a ghost of the past. According to one of lead project of Home Sweet Home **Zack Sarut Thaploy (แซ็ค-ศรุต ทับลอย)**, the game was being developed for over 2 years and went numerous revisions. One instance is the team plan to release the game on mobile game however it was soon later changed to PC again .

## Timelie

### Release date

20 May 2020

**Timelie** is an indie adventure time-puzzle game developed by Urnique Studio. The game was released on Steam for Microsoft Windows on 20th May 2020. Set in a future, a young woman must escape from the facility full of hostiles through various timeline. According to lead project Urnique Studio James Primeth Wongsatyanon, he stated the game is based on clever puzzles to make players think how to solve it. After receiving support from Microsoft and participating in Google's Indie Games Accelerator Event, the game was successfully developed. In 2020, Timelie was released on both Steam and Nintendo Switch. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the game experienced a significant surge in popularity .

## References

1. ↑ [1] Creative Economy Agency. 2022. *CEA Gameand Animation FinalReport.* CEA. Bangkok
2. ↑ [2] Line article "ปักษาวายุ เกมจากภาพยนตร์ไทย ที่หลายคนลืมไปแล้วว่ามีอยู่บนโลก" written by Gamingdose
3. ↑ [3] Official website of The House
4. ↑ [4] The Nation article "Thailand’s billion-dollar market driving video-game boom in Southeast Asia" written by anonymous
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 [5] Cyberplanet Interactive Financial Report
6. ↑ [6] Archived page from cpigames "CyberPlanet IPO"
7. ↑ [7] The House article "เกมบ้านผี TheHOUSE 1" written by SINTHAI
8. ↑ [8] Archived presentation of Project One, Published by Zoe Schwartz
9. ↑ [9] Mobygames.com article listing games made by CyberPlanet Interactive Public Co., Ltd.
10. ↑ [10] Cyberplanet Interactive history in Industry
11. ↑ [11] Gamingbolt.com article "Home Sweet Home Interview – A Conversation About One of the Scariest Games In Recent Years" written by Shubhankar Parijat
12. ↑ [12] Operationrainfall.com article "E3 2018 INTERVIEW: Home Sweet Home, a Thai-Inspired Horror Game" written by Quentin H.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 [13] Adaymagazine.com article "ไทม์ไลน์กว่าจะเป็น Timelie เกมอินดี้ฝีมือคนไทยที่เกมเมอร์ทั่วโลกยอมรับ" written by Karin Thanomkitti
14. ↑ [14] gamingdose.com article "CEO City อีกหนึ่งเกมสร้างเมืองในความทรงจำ ผลงานที่น่าจดจำจากนักพัฒนาสัญชาติไทย" written by BabeElena
15. ↑ [15] Archived article from adaymagazine.com "Home Sweet Home : เบื้องหลังเกมผีฝีมือคนไทยที่หลอกหลอนไกลถึงต่างประเทศ" written by Songklod Limpiphat