However, the area also has its problems, such as maintaining local talents. According to the Indonesian Game Association (AGI), games invented by local developers only receive a 0.4 percent market share in Indonesia, which is very low compared to China, South Korea and Japan, the markets of which were dominated by their own local developers.

In April, Melon, a joint venture company involving PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia, Tbk (Telkom) and SK Telecom (SKT) teamed up with Agate, a Bandung-based game development studio and company, to establish the Oolean initiative. With the name inspired by the Sundanese word ulin (to play), Oolean aims to enhance the gaming industry in Indonesia.

“By initiating Oolean, we aim to provide room for game developers to showcase their works in Indonesia,” said Dedi Suherman, president director and CEO of PT Melon Indonesia, during a press conference on Wednesday in Kuningan, South Jakarta. “We’d like to be an example for other companies as well, so together we can support our gaming industry.”

Read also: Five universities that offer gaming courses in Indonesia

Oolean provides several features, including a user platform that assists developers in creating games. “We hope other developers will be more focused in improving their quality as we’ll handle their user-login and analytics,” said Arief Widhiyasa, CEO of Agate.

The initiative wishes to establish games that can be enjoyed by the public. Among the titles they have launched are Onet Asli, Botol Ngegas, Juragan Kos and TTS Santai. These four games have been downloaded by 1 million users and are to be released worldwide in August. Oolean also plans to launch Project Atma and Meong Mart; the later was the product of a collaboration with Korean developer Noknok.

Aiming to invest in the education and incubation sectors, Oolean has paired up with PT Telkom’s Indigo, a program that supports startup development in Indonesia, and DILo, a creative camp, to establish Indigo Game Startup Incubation.

Ten selected local game developers would be able to participate in a three-month incubation program that starts in August.

“After being selected, they will receive Rp 60 million (US$4,265) to develop their games and, if the games are considered good, they will receive Rp 120 million to develop their games even further,” said Arief, adding that the participants would have mentors and opportunities to meet large-scale game publishers. Those who are interested in participating can register through Oolean’s official website.

Oolean is also to participate in Bekraf Game Prime 2019, an event that is to highlight the gaming industry from July 13 to 14 at Balai Kartini, South Jakarta. (wng)

Popular

The fragile promise of pluralism, religious freedom in Southeast Asia

Furniture exporters decry new quarantine rule

BRICS shows internal rifts as ministers fall short of joint statement