A team of students from the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FICT) won fourth place at the Penang Young Digital Talent Game Development Competition, organised by the Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC) in collaboration with Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) Penang Branch Computer Science Society, Big Domain and Magnus Games Studio, from October 2022 to January 2023.
The team, WakuWaku, consisted of Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) students Lee Wei Song, Daniel Looi Jun Jie, Joshua Lee Zheng Jin and Tan Sin Chee; and Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours) Communications and Networking students Kum Wing Kit and Kwong Guan Yuan. The team won RM800 cash prize.
Themed ‘Hypercasual Mobile Game’, the game development competition was organised under the initiative of Penang Young Digital Talent, with the aim to promote Penang as a digital talent hub.
Team leader Lee enthused, “I believe my strengths that contributed to the team were my enthusiasm and passion for game development. I was an avid programmer in our project ‘Journey Cat’. We worked tirelessly during our semester break to complete the game in 53 days, and I am truly proud of all my teammates. I am very grateful to my teammates for their hard work and dedication. I am also thankful to receive this opportunity to participate in this competition. When I knew about this competition, I gathered my teammates and we formed a team. Although most of us had no prior experience in game development, we were determined to learn and enjoy the experience. Therefore, we are extremely happy with our achievement. The challenges we faced were worthwhile; they taught us much and we eventually overcame and secured fourth place in the competition. We are also thrilled that our first project is so well recognised.”
Zheng commented, “I was encouraged by my friends to participate in this competition. Although I was hesitant in the beginning, I realised this competition was a good opportunity for me to showcase my skills. So, I joined the team. Winning fourth place was truly a joy because it feels good to have our work recognised, and all our hard work paid off. As someone who is passionate about art, I was able to implement some unique and detailed backgrounds that complemented the artwork of the game, and I believe it also brought the artwork to life. Winning fourth place in this competition has been such a fulfilling experience, and I can’t wait to continue creating and sharing my artwork with the world.”
Looi, who was the music producer for the game, commented, “Our game was mostly designed from the scratch; I believe that was one of our winning factors. We used very few royalty-free resources that were available. From the coding to the arts and the music, most of it was very much designed and created by my team, which reflects originality. I’m glad that our efforts paid off. The competition gave us all a good experience and it also strengthened our confidence. It also further motivated us to participate in more competitions like this in the future to enhance our knowledge and skills.”
Tan, the game designer, commented, “I joined the team to gain experience in game development and learn from other participants, but winning fourth place was better than I expected. I was excited to work with like-minded individuals and contribute to the creation of unique gameplay. I helped design the gameplay and spent time testing builds to ensure they met our expectations. I wanted to ensure that our game was not only fun to play, but also polished and engaging for our audience. It was rewarding to see the project, we had poured so much time and effort into, receive recognition. Not only did we create a game that we are proud of, but we were also able to showcase our skills and creativity to a wider audience.”
Kum, too, expressed, “I participated in the competition with the team to gain experience in game development and increase my knowledge of game development. It was a competitive platform because there were many good and potential developers who created interesting games, but I believe our game’s uniqueness that stood out to the judges, was that its addictive and it caught the attention of the users. As the user advances from each level, the intensity of the challenges increases, which gives users excitement. Therefore, I am very proud of our achievement and I am very motivated to participate in more competitions like this.”
The award-winning game “Journey Cat”.
The game “Journey Cat” is a tranquil rhythm game where players embark on a journey as a small kitten, seeking to fulfil its dreams. Set in a world of beauty and wonder, the quest leads players through the search for paper cranes, traditional symbols of wishes come true.
The team explained, “We wanted to create a game that would not only be entertaining but also carry a meaningful message. We wanted to create an experience that would inspire players to reflect on the idea that life is not just about reaching the destination, but it’s about the journey as well. We believed that a game about a small kitten embarking on a journey to fulfil its dreams would be a perfect way to convey this message. The journey is not just about reaching the end goal, but also the experiences and personal growth that come from facing challenges and persevering in the face of adversity. The kitten must manage its satiety and health as it explores the world. Also, surprises wait at every turn, such as encounters with a curious tomcat, tourist destinations, and quaint stalls, adding depth to the adventure. These encounters offer players the opportunity to make choices that will impact their journey and the outcome of the game. The game is designed to be both challenging and heart-warming, and it encourages players to reflect on the idea that “life is not about the destination, it’s about the journey”. Journey Cat is a unique and immersive experience that will leave players feeling fulfilled and inspired. It is a game that truly captures the spirit of adventure and personal growth.”
Online Education Fair 线上教育展
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)
拉曼大学 (優大)
https://edufair.fsi.com.my/utar
