4 years on, a look at where Games Solution Center has succeeded and failed

The Games Solution Center (GSC) in Singapore, initiated by the Media Development Authority and managed by Nanyang Polytechnic, is going all out for the Game Developer Conference (GDC) in San Francisco this year. It’s not only hosting the largest number of Singapore game companies to date – 21, if you’re curious – it’s also sponsoring three different events and parties at the con.

According to its communications team from Nanyang Polytechnic, GSC’s function over the nearly four years it has been running has been to be “a one-stop resource centre that provides a rapid prototyping development environment for Singapore-based small-medium enterprises to develop their games.” Albert Lim, a member of the GSC management committee, says it also hopes to build an ecosystem for developers both fledgling and veteran.

It’s great that GSC has this noble ambition, and that it has provided both exhibition spaces for Singapore developers at GDC and sponsored events on top of the usual seminars, talks, and assistance it provides its tenants and non-GSC developers. If only all countries could be so lucky! But could its budget and resources be put to better use?

Pairing up with Pocket Gamer

On the surface, it makes no sense for GSC to sponsor three PocketGamer events at the upcoming GDC San Francisco running March 2 to 6. Attending PocketGamer DrinkUp, PocketGamer Big Indie Pitch, and PocketGamer Awards cost nothing. Getting free entry for developers doesn’t seem to be a top priority here, so what is?

According to GSC, paying guarantees that local developers – including those not tenants in the center – can pitch their games to top game reviewers attending the con, and to offer them networking opportunities with top publishers. It also guarantees that every Singapore-based developer attending the conference will be able to get into PocketGamer’s events. Free tickets do run out sometimes.

“This is our first initiative to GDC and we want to hunt in packs. Our game companies are small…if we go as a pack they are able to be seen, and then people are able to take notice and get mileage from there,” says management committee chairman Daniel Tan.

Committee member Albert Lim adds that “getting in together under the Singapore brand is a totally different thing,” he says. “PocketGamer already has an established platform on which to do this.” Lim adds that the Big Indie Pitch event – which would allow local developers access to the press – was a draw to GSC when it came to deciding on sponsorship spend as well.

Based on the sponsorship terms set by PocketGamer, Singapore studios can opt to participate in a separate pitch session with the panel, which gives them an extra boost. The Singapore Game Box brand – albeit one that has been neglected for a while – is also featured on all PocketGamer event collateral. The center will also invite “semi-government” game industry organizations from Holland and France to visit the Singapore booth.

Should non-industry folks be running GSC?