Come 2012, the game that you play on your Sony Playstation could be made-in-Singapore. That is the vision for the Memorandum of Understanding signed today between Nanyang Polytechnic and Sony Computer Entertainment Asia.
The 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will renew the partnership between Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) and Sony Computer Entertainment Asia (SCE Asia) a year ahead of the existing agreement signed in December 2009.
Mr. Tetsuhiko Yasuda, President, Sony Computer Entertainment Asia and Mr. Chan Lee Mun, Principal & CEO, Nanyang Polytechnic at the MOU signing ceremony.
Both parties will be nurturing the first ever student-initiated Sony PlayStation Minis game, developed by 21-year-old NYP graduand Hoong Boon Wai. They will also continue their partnership in the NYP Games Resource Centre, the only Sony PlayStation games development and training centre in Southeast Asia.
Mr Hoong Boon Wai (right), Nanyang Polytechnic graduate and Founder of Dark Potato Studios, demonstrating his game to Mr. Tetsuhiko Yasuda.
The S$4 million Games Resource Centre will provide the resources and facilities for lecturers of NYP’s Diploma in Digital Entertainment Technology (Games) and Diploma in Digital Media Design (Games) to guide and mentor students from these courses. By 2015, NYP expects to train at least another 800 students and games development professionals through its two diploma programmes and Specialist Diploma Games Development.
Companies such as Red Hare Studios can also use the development tools in the centre for games development. Dr Koh Wee Lit from Red Hare Studios has developed a game – Spell Caster – in the centre that is planned for release in 2012.
Hoong’s 2D arcade shooter game, called PhaseShift, may also be launched in 2012 by his startup – Dark Potatoes Studios.
Two other local startups setting up taking advantage of the partnership include SBA Mobile Solutions and Gamma Games.
