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Another event that hosts game tournaments is Malaysia’s annual convention AniManGaki which is an event to connect communities who share interests in anime, manga and games. It was started by Yvonne Sing Yee Wen in 2009, who was also the founder of Sunway University’s Anime Club and has since been part of the team who until today are actively involved in this yearly event.

As a platform for gaming, anime and manga fans and communities to connect, this event has a variety of activities to appeal to the crowd. Here, artists and cosplayers come together and showcase their skills and sell their wares to attending fans. AniManGaki also boasts appearances by guests, themed activities and stage performances for attendees to participate in and enjoy. 

There is also a Video Games Arena that features esports, mobile and console games and participants have the opportunity to win prizes and earn championships. The existence of a Creators Space also allows for animation studios and game developers to network, mingle and share their work.

Additionally, attendees are spoilt for choice with the carnival games and exhibition booths as well as panel/workshops where industry players can showcase their work, to educate and inspire as well as shine light on their company, products or services.

AniMangaki has partnered with many brands from a wide range of industries spanning from electronic brands, cinemas, photography studios, F&B brands, board game cafes, cultural foundations and so many more to make this event happen yearly.

She was a high school dropout but she eventually became an entrepreneur, TV host, singer, actress, a computer science & IT valedictorian and 4.0GPA Merit Scholar. You’ve most likely seen Hannah Tan on your TV and the big screen, but here’s an inside look at the introvert who’s cried behind closed doors and fought battles that no one has known about.

Podcasts have been experiencing a huge popularity surge in recent years and current trends indicate that its listener base will continue to grow. In a world where flashy and instant visual marketing is the norm, it may seem odd that this long-form audio format has caught on. In fact, podcasts boast a 90% listen-through rate. The following 3 factors largely contribute to this success and shows why advertisers should start paying attention to podcasts. 

1. Listeners can multitask
   Research has shown that a majority of podcast listeners do so while engaged in other activities, like running, commuting, or running errands. Unlike watching a video or scrolling through social media, listeners don’t feel as pressured when committing to an entire podcast since they don’t have to sacrifice other tasks. Besides saving them time, listeners of current events or educational podcasts may view it as an efficient way to learn on the go.
   
   What this means for advertisers: There is a higher likelihood that the ad you pay for will be heard even if it’s wedged in the middle of a podcast.
   
2. There is a wide and varied selection
   Due to the relatively low production costs, podcasts can be started by people with unique interests from all walks of life. As such, no matter how obscure their interests are, listeners are more likely to find podcasts that cater to them.
   
   What this means for advertisers: Advertisers are able to reach highly engaged listeners in niche consumer markets.
   
3. People are experiencing screen fatigue
   What’s screen fatigue? It’s exactly what it sounds like. Basically, many users are now exhausted by screens. Podcasts are a refreshing change for people who spend most of their waking hours staring at screens for work. With podcasts, users can consume content that interests them while giving their visual system a much needed rest.
   
   What this means for advertisers: The fact that screen exhaustion exists means that visual ads may no longer be as effective. Audio ads on a podcast may reach a much more responsive audience.  

It is the biggest annual Malaysian gaming event by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) that has been held annually since 2015 and is typically a 5 day event consisting of workshops, talks, business connection meetings and opportunities for people to network. 

Credits to MyGameOn and Level Up KL

This event serves as a meeting place for the SEA game development industry to connect and learn from game industry giants & practitioners, providing them the opportunity to connect with key industry stakeholders and level up with tool makers.

All are welcome but it is especially targeted towards visual artists, game programmers, game designers, business developers and VCs, Head of Studios & Managers, Producers & Team Management, VR & AR Producers, Sponsors, Career Seekers & Recruiters as well as Audio Professionals. Any person involved in any aspect of the game industry is welcome to be a part of this event.

Due to the stay at home requirement in 2020, Level Up KL adapted and took itself online with separate events under the same umbrella namely:

Level Up Spacebar 

Credit to GamerBraves.com

• Targeted towards businesses and game publishers
• Online edition of LEVEL UP KL’s Biz Day with 2 days of business meetings and conferences, participants include big players in the industry like Unity and XBox Game Studios.
• An online platform for recruitments, business meetings and other professional connections to happen

Level Up Play-One – gaming festival that is open to the public

• An online game festival targeted more towards the general public with webinars on topics by industry leaders surrounding opportunities and challenges during the pandemic.
• Latest game showcases by malaysian studios, tournaments, exclusive live stream content and more.
• Lucky draws and game promos by game developers

Aaron Sarma is the distinguished guest for Cut the BS episode 2, where Found8 asks about his life aside from work, his passions in building cool stuff and his experiences from being a startup founder, non-executive director in AirAsia, to general partner at Scaleup.my in his working lifespan. Find out more over on Found8 and subscribe to Cut the BS!

Found8’s 1st episode features #Wife / #Mom / #Boss / Serial #Entrepreneur Michelle Yong, as she shares her reality of life on the show. From taking care of a newborn, family commitments, to hands-on site visits at work, we’re fascinated by how she does it all. Find out more over on Found8 and subscribe to Cut the BS!

With all this chatter about the gaming industry, it’s impossible to exclude the discussion of mobile games! The prevalence of smartphones has made convenience a key aspect in the popularity of games, and what’s more convenient than a mobile game? It can be easily obtained on the App Store or Play Store, it doesn’t take up much storage, and it can be accessed wherever you go. Now in 2020, mobile games make up more than 40% of the market, so learning how to develop a mobile game could be an invaluable skill as the rapid growth makes it a lucrative venture. 

However, it’s understandable to hesitate to invest in expensive software since a majority of beginners will just be testing the waters. Well, we’re in luck! There are a number of free highly-rated mobile game development software available for all budding developers right now! 

1. Unity

Unity is a cross-platform tool by Unity Technologies that helps you to create your own game using 2D and 3D development features. Unity allows you to utilise assets from 3D applications like Maya or Blender. In addition, there are additional assets that can be purchased from the Unity store. It’s perfect for beginners as Unity provides helpful materials such as tutorials and guides. It is one of the most used and recognised game development software among both novice and experienced game developers. There is also free publishing support for iOS, and the free download comes with the Unity Pro free trial. 

2. GameMaker: Studio 2

GameMaker is easily one of the most popular game development tools in the industry. It’s especially useful for users who have never written a line of code as it runs on a drag-and-drop system, allowing creators to make games many times faster than if they were coding it. Game logic and variables can be implemented using the design features provided by the software. There is also the option of upgrading to the Professional or Master Collection versions for access to more tools. The free version can be used indefinitely but has limitations on how complex your games can be. 

3. Construct 3

Like GameMaker, Construct 3 uses a drag-and-drop interface for variables and game logic. There are hundreds of tutorials that can help beginners with basic to advanced concepts. They also have an active forum community that can provide assistance. Construct 3 has a Scirra Store where those without any animation or art skills can purchase ready-made assets for just a few dollars. Games can be exported to HTML5, Android, iOS, Microsoft store, and more.