Malaysia

Notable video games from Malaysia(courtesy: IGN Southeast Asia)

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According to SEA digital content industry report from 2022 by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Malaysia considered as one of strong consistent government support such as talent development programs, incubation, acceleration program, and many more . Furthermore a report made by Statista stated Malaysia's revenue in Video Games market is up to $588,10m in 2023 and most of its market dominated by Mobile Games, reaching for $284,80m .

## Game Development History

### The Origin (1996-2003)

Malaysia's stepped into game development in 1990s. During that period, both Malaysia and Singapore were recognized for their outsources for overseas company to support the game development industry. In 1994, LucasArts/JVC outsourced their works to one of Malaysian studio named Motion Pixel to assist in the creation of a game known as Ghoul Patrol. According to Game Designer Mike Ebert the game was never meant to be a sequel to one of his works Zombies Ate My Neighbors and throughout the game develpoment, there are many miscommunication between publishers .

Another example can be found in GameBrains, a game development company located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. GameBrains primarily concentrated on adapting classic games for console platforms like Game Boy Color, DS, Playstation 2, and Nintendo 64. Paperboy is one of earliest works that was released as a port from the original Atari Arcades . On 19th September 2000, GameBrains released Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Game Boy Color and showcased during E3 2000 .

On 5th June 1996, The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) was established by the Ministry of Communications and Digital. Initially, its primary emphasis was on the information technology (IT) sector. In 2005, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) expand their scope to support video game, animation, and visual effect industry . Most notable video games supported by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) are SIMULACRA and Postknight.

### Local Market (2003-2011)

Due to the immense popularity of MMO games in South East Asia, many game developers in Malaysia are developing their own massive multiplayer online (MMO) games based on Asia culture and theme. One such case is from a developer called Phoenix Game Studios. A teaser announcement was released on December 1, 2003, inviting individuals to take part in the beta testing for a game known as Fung Wan Online / Storm Riders Online . The game manage to received support from MDEC as part of their attempts to increase revenue and exposure to Malaysia gaming industry . According to IGN journalist Jonric, Fung Wan Online offers players the freedom to create their own destinies in the virtual realm. It transports players into the pugilistic world where they get the chance to live out their fantasies of becoming comic book heroes, killing evildoers and saving the day . With the release of the game on Malaysia, Phoenix Game Studios re-released the game globally with different title Storm Riders Online and were published by Orchid Media International.

Flash games are one of crucial parts to rise of video game industry in South East Asia. The exponentially grow of internet has made Southeast Asia game developer to find their ways to reach global video game players. Most of the developers produce 2D flash games that released on internet browsers and can be played with internet connection, the reason behind massive flash games in 2000s is due to low production cost and easy access to the gaming industry . Many flash games were released by Malaysian game developers such as I Am an Insane Rogue A.I by Nerdook, and Life's a Game by McLelun. Both games considered as cult classic flash games coming from Malaysia.

## Fung Wan Online

### Publisher

Edenii Publisher (Malaysia)Orchid Media International (Worldwide)

### Fung Wan Online (2003)

Fung Wan Online/Storm Riders Online is a fantasy MMO developed by Phoenix Games Studio. The story of the game is based on Chinese comic book called Fung Wan. Set in Ancient China, the game featured classes called stances and elemental magic for each character. In an attempts to find supports, the team manage to received support from MDEC as part of their attempts to increase Malaysia gaming industry exposure . However a year later, Phoenix Game Studios, closed its doors in 2006 which was then followed by the discontinuation of the game.

## I Am an Insane Rogue A.I.

### I Am an Insane Rogue A.I. (2011)

I Am an Insane Rogue A.I. is a browser-based game created by Sim "Nerdook" YC and released on 21st January 2011. The game was released on gaming site Kongregate.com. In the game, the player can play as rogue AI that has decided to Take Over the World by hacking the mainframes of various facilities all around the globe. According to Nerdook the game is heavily based on AI taking over the world and inspired by famous rogue A.I.s such as HAL-9000 from *2001:* A Space Odyssey, System Shock's SHODAN, Portal's GLaDOS, and Skynet from Terminator .

## Post Knight

### PostKnight (2017)

Postknight is a RPG mobile game developed by Kurechii, a game developer based in **Malaysia**. The game was released on Android and IOS on 9 February 2017. The story follows the adventure of a Postknight - a knight assigned to delivery mail and eliminate hostiles along the way. Postknight start as experimental prototype inspired by one of Kurechii founder Yiwei P'ng trip to Tokyo . However the concept behind the game was executed back in 2009 when Kurechii joined Malaysia Intellectual Property Creators Challenge. Their first breakthrough was a game called Reachin' Pichin, a launcher game playable on browsers. On 28 Novemeber 2016, the game officially announced in the works and set to release in 9 February 2017.

## SIMULACRA

### Platform

PC, Mobile, Xbox One, Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch

### SIMULACRA (2017)

SIMULACRA is a "mobile" horror game developed by Kaigan Games - a studio based in **Malaysia**. The game was released in 26 October 2017 on both PC, consoles, and mobiles. SIMULACRA obtained award as "The Best Mobile Game" award in 2018 Indie Prize Casual Connect USA . The story begins with the player stumbling a lost phone and in attempt to unlock the phone, the player received a message from IRIS OS. In an effort to recover lost information and data, the player starts scavenging around Ann's phone to find clues. After receiving overwhelming success from Sara is Missing, Kaigan Games made the decision to expand the game's horizons and fully transform it into a game with intricate backstory and enigmatic elements, all while retaining the fundamental gameplay elements from Sara is Missing . While keeping the same tone to previous game, Lead UI artist LeeYing Foo said the initial concept of SIMULACRA revolved around fear of meeting with someone that you've only interacted with on the internet .

## Rhythm Doctor

### Rhythm Doctor (2021)

**Rhythm Doctor** is a rhythm game created by 7th Beat Games. In an attempts to heal your patients, you must match with their heartbeats with the instrument of defibrillator . Rhythm Doctor was originally a free Flash game inspired by Rhythm Heaven, made during college summer breaks from 2011. The flash version was released at the end of 2012 . After graduating from college, the team decided to develop the game further into stand-alone game. In 2014, 7th Beat Games participated in IGF Festival 2014 and managed to win as best student showcase award.

## Malaysia

### Platform

Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, and Series S, Xbox One

### Gigabash (2022)

Gigabash is a multiplayer arena brawler developed by Passion Republic Games, a developer from **Malaysia**. The game based on gigantic film-inspired creature such as Godzilla, Ultraman, and Gundam. After a long period of dormancy within the depths of the earth, the primordial beasts referred to as Titans finally awoke from their slumber. At present, they find themselves engaged in an epic struggle against both humanity and each other to reach total control of the world. According to game Co-Director of Passion Republic Games Mel Law Sheng Li, the game is based on idea of fighting monsters and heroes from their childhood TV Shows. The team managed to showcase its demo during Tokyo Game Show 2019 and Level UP KL 2019. Many attention is given to the game and during LevelUP KL 2019, the team nominated ten along with the Grand Jury award . In August 4 2022 the game released publicly on PC and consoles, garnering over very positive reception from players and public.

## References

1. ↑ [1] MDEC. 2022. *SEA Digital Content Industry Report 2022.* Cyberjaya : Malaysia.
2. ↑ [2] Statista report of Video Game Industry in Malaysia 2023
3. ↑ [3] Hardcoregaming101.net article "Ghoul Patrol - SNES, Wii Virtual Console (1995)" written by Sam Derboo
4. ↑ [4] IGN.com article "Paperboy Review" written by Robert A. Jung
5. ↑ [5] Archived IGN article "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Review" written by IGN Staff
6. ↑ [6] Kementrian Komunikasi dan Digital website article "MDEC Celebrates Silver Jubilee, 25 Years Of Driving Malaysia’s Digital Transformation" written by Bernama
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 [7] Archived IGN.com article "Fung Wan Online Beta Announcement" written by Jonric
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 [8] LinkedIn.com article "An ode to Phoenix Game Studios" written by Tzu Chjeh Wu
9. ↑ Peichi Chung. 23 November 2015. *The globalization of game art in Southeast Asia from: Routledge Handbook of New Media in Asia Routledge*.
10. ↑ [9] RockPaperShotgun.com article "HeyDOS: I Am An Insane Rogue AI" written by Alec Meer
11. ↑ [10] Gamerbraves.com article "Postknight: An interview with Kurechii" written by Healer\_BKnight
12. ↑ [11] Myboxeduniverse.wordpress.com article "Kurechii Interview" written by MBU
13. ↑ [12] GamerBraves.com article "Postknight from developer of Tiny Guardians launching soon" written by Healer\_BKnight
14. ↑ [13] Unpause.asia article "Malaysian Studio Wins Big At Indie Prize, USA" written by anonymous
15. ↑ [14] Gamematters.com article "Level UP KL 2019 – Interview with Kaigan Games CEO" written by Danial Hasri
16. ↑ [15] Medium.com article "Coffee Shop Interview: — LeeYing Foo of Kaigan Games" written by Eristarisis
17. ↑ [16] Rhythm Doctor Presskit
18. ↑ [17] Gamematters.com article "Gigabash Is A 4-Player Kaiju Brawler Brimming With Potential" written by Amirul Ashraf