Wow. MyRepublic just gave to a crowdfunding campaign for a Singapore-made game

These things just don’t happen, but it did. MyRepublic, an internet provider that’s in the running to be Singapore’s fourth telco, just backed a Singapore-made game on Kickstarter.

It’s a small amount – US$3,600 to be exact – but it’s the symbolism that matters. The game is Masquerada: Songs and Shadows, made by Singaporean studio Witching Hour. The game’s not released yet, but it’s already won serious praise within game development circles.

To be sure, this is a marketing stunt by MyRepublic. But it’s probably a good one. It’s hard to imagine the other telcos – SingTel, M1, and StarHub – pulling a similar move. It would be a bureaucratic nightmare to make it happen. So, from a marketing standpoint, this move sets MyRepublic apart: it has the personal touch, while the rest are corporate machines.

Now, for those of you who aren’t familiar with MyRepublic, the move might seem odd, given the telco and gaming businesses aren’t traditional bedfellows.

But MyRepublic, since it was founded, has always angled itself as an internet provider for gamers. From inception, it has a dedicated internet plan for hardcore gamers, with the aim of providing them a lag-free multiplayer gaming experience.

Recently, it launched a marketing campaign targeted at that niche group, which includes a Facebook page, and the sponsoring of an e-sports event.

For some, this gesture may seem tiny. But Witching Hour certainly appreciates it.

Converted from British Pound. US$1 = £0.68.