Interactive digital media industry grows

1 November 2009

The Singapore government has identified the interactive digital media industry as a key economic growth area, one it hopes will create 10,000 new, well-paying jobs by 2015. The republic's good telecommunications infrastructure, strong intellectual property regime and government support contribute to this growth.

Japanese studio Koei has invested about S$3 million since 2005 to develop its Romance of the Three Kingdoms title, launched recently. German outfit Real U and Taiwan's SoftWorld are expected to release massively multiplayer online (MMO) game titles within the next few years, according to the Economic Development Board (EDB).
To gear up for this, talent is being rapidly developed. In September, the renowned US-based DigiPen Institute of Technology, whose programmes focus on teaching skills required to create video games, set up shop in Singapore and took in its first batch of 60 students.
As for local institutions, the National University of Singapore has set aside S$11 million to start an IDM institute, and the polytechnics also provide games-related courses.
Intense Animation Academy
Intense Animation Academy opened its doors to aspiring animators in June 2004 and currently over 700 students have graduated from the Diploma and Certificate programmes. The curriculum emphasizes specialised vocational training in 3D animation and visual effects.
There is a strict maximum ratio of eight students to one teacher. Intense Animation Academy graduates are currently working in companies such as Double Negative (London), Lucasfilm Animation (Singapore), Southern Star (Singapore), Frameboxx (India) and local firms like iVLabs, Big Communications, Sparky Animation, Sixtrees and many others.
Among the courses available in 2010 is a Professional Certificate in Character Animation, which will focus on character animation techniques used in TV and movie production. Another course available is the Professional Certificate in Visual Effects which concentrates primarily on the dynamics engine of the Maya software to enable students to create effects that appear in television and the movies.
Nanyang Polytechnic – School of Interactive & Digital Media (SIDM)
With a strong 13-year track record of international and local successes, SIDM offers the most established formal Digital Media programmes in Singapore. The school has enhanced its course offerings to focus on the development of talents in new and existing areas to meet the changing needs of the industry.
SIDM courses are conducted by a team of highly qualified professionals in animation, interactive media, games design and development, visual effects, digital entertainment technology, motion graphics and broadcast design.
SIDM students attend regular in-house master class workshops conducted by international experts, benefiting from the experience of Pixar, ILM, Lucasfilm Animation, Sony CE, UBISOFT, KOEI, Double Negative and many others. SIDM students have continued their outstanding track record of excelling in local and international IDM competitions. The hilarious Barbershop 3D animation created by SIDM students took the top award – both in the DigiCon 6 Competition and Global Junior Challenge 2007, Roma, Italy. This animation also won SIDM the Public Award for Best Film School Short Battle Royal at the 14th edition 2008, Lyon Asian Film Festival, France.
In addition, SIDM has successfully worked on commercial projects such as a shooting game created for the Singapore Navy Open House 2007 and Imperial Adventures: Games on Emperor Kangxi, an industry project in collaboration with the Asian Civilisation Museum which was a production of a series of four video games focusing on the life of the Kangxi Emperor. This was in conjunction with the museum's exhibition on The Kangxi Emperor: Treasures from the Forbidden City.