previously mentioned, more than 9000 visitors attended to share, interact and learn knowledge together with local and international key players in video game industry all under one roof."> previously mentioned, more than 9000 visitors attended to share, interact and learn knowledge together with local and international key players in video game industry all under one roof." /> previously mentioned, more than 9000 visitors attended to share, interact and learn knowledge together with local and international key players in video game industry all under one roof." />

Level Up KL 2018 Day 1: Beyond Entertainment

The Level Up KL 2018 Conference and Expo started today and as previously mentioned, more than 9000 visitors attended to share, interact and learn knowledge together with local and international key players in video game industry all under one roof.

Sony PlayStation’s Michael Mumbauer on stage to deliver the keynote speech

Anchored on the theme “Beyond Entertainment”, the conference invited PlayStation visual arts director Michael Mumbauer to deliver the keynote speech about virtual production — the amalgamation of film and video games techniques into creating more cinematic, narrative-driven games.

In his talk, Mumbauer referred to the films like The Adventure of Tintin and the game-inspired film, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within have emerged a brand new trend known as virtual production that blurs the line between animation, film- and also video-making at the same time.

Extrapolating the uncanny valley

He also highlighted that improving technology helps to create exceptionally realistic characters in both films and video games using live-action motion capture technology. Having worked in the first feature film that adapted to this technology such as The Polar Express and Beowulf, it sparked the hypothesis known as ‘uncanny valley’ where people experience unsettled feelings towards something that appears to be human, which is similar of watching digital characters mimic the real-life humans.

The unique fusion of virtual production could transform the way digital films, television, video game cinematics, and many entertainment entities are made. More and more video games IP are churning into film and TV series like the work-in-progress Netflix The Witcher series, Castlevania, the upcoming Little Nightmares TV show and many more.

He pointed out that virtual production extends this avenue when Netflix set up a job posting for a Director of Virtual Production, which the entertainment streaming company is looking for someone who has worked many years in feature films, TV shows and video games as well as highly skilled in real-time video game and motion capture engines such as Unity and Unreal.

He said that the audience is ready for the expansion of video games IP where people want to play and watch at the same time. Albeit he admitted the virtual production is fairly new in both industries, Malaysia is situated in a special position where our country has the best of both worlds where we consume contents from the West and East. Mumbauer believed the emerging virtual production would open jobs that cater people from either industry in Malaysia.

From left to right: Aik Wee & Hasnul Hadi Samsudin from MDEC, Jeremy Choo from Ammobox Studios, Wan Hazmer from Metronomik, Stefan Baier from Streamline Games, CEO Datuk Yasmin Mahmood from MDEC, Abu Huraira from NightMorning Studios, Desmond Lee from iCandy Interactive and Mohan Low from MDEC

Level Up KL 2018 also saw the launch of an upcoming blockchain-powered game inspired by iCandy’s previous title, Crab War: CryptantCrab, which the game seeks to widen the understanding and acceptance of blockchain via collecting, customising and trading your crab. Today, we witnessed the MoU signing between Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and iCandy Interactive to accelerate the use of video games development in exploring and learning the blockchain technology.

Meanwhile, several local studios also took their game-making capabilities to the next level by unveiling their latest intellectual properties (IP) such as Metronomik Studio’s No Straight Roads, Ammobox Studios’ Eximius: Seize The Frontline, Streamline Games’ Bake & Switch and NightMorning Studios’ Datum Tap.

These creative local IPs can be played in the Level Up KL 2018 Expo from today until tomorrow and it’s open for public! So, come and experience the plethora of video games made by Southeast Asian developers at Connexion Convention Centre & Exhibition Centre (CCEC).

MGO’s Streaming Lounge host Keanu Azman with YB Howard Lee

Moreover, esports track in Level Up KL 2018 invited notable speakers from esports background to discuss and explore the future of esports in Malaysia. According to CEO of MDEC, Datuk Yasmin Mahmood, esports is getting recognised as being in line with the Youth & Sports Minister, YB Syed Saddiq’s push to develop a vibrant gaming culture alongside with the booming developers and industry community.

To further demonstrate the dynamic esports scene, MyGameOn is having the iconic Streaming Lounge live throughout the two days of Level Up KL 2018. Find out who’s our next guest for MGO’s Streaming Lounge by tuning into our Facebook and YouTube. You can view all the images from Tuesday in the gallery below.

To find out more about the exciting happenings on Day 2, check out here.

Level UP KL 2018 Conference & Expo will take place from 30 October to 31 October 2018 at CCEC, Bangsar South. For more announced talks, head over to the conference section for schedules and other details.

To keep up-to-date on Level UP KL 2018 happenings, which runs 27 October to 31 October 2018, be sure to follow the event’s official website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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