Digital gaming to be promoted in schools for career potential

The digital games industry, which is seen as having great career potential in the future, will be promoted at school level, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Dr Salleh Said Keruak.

He said the ministry via the Malaysia Digital Economic Corporation (MDEC) would be visiting schools to expose students to lucrative opportunities in the industry.

"All this time, digital gaming has been seen as a form of entertainment, but it can actually create economic growth and provide considerable job opportunities in the future.

"MDEC will coordinate efforts to give briefings in schools about careers in this field, especially as developers and digital game creators...this is a great opportunity for Malaysia to get involved," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said this after his official visit to Level Up Inc, an elite gaming incubator to support the digital games industry in Malaysia.

He said the world digital gaming industry market was huge, and that the country's younger generation could take advantage of it.

"The young people in the country have great ability in digital gaming, of which we can be proud of, and some have succeeded internationally, by creating popular digital games.

"They are very creative, and their quality of work is on par with those involved in digital games in other countries ... so we will continue to help support the industry so that it grows bigger," he said.

He said the government would also help identify the appropriate platforms to market the titles produced by local digital game developers.

Meanwhile, MDEC chief executive officer Yasmin Mahmood said MDEC had helped launch 54 local digital game companies pioneered by youths in the past three years.

"During the period, they have managed to generate more than RM500 million in revenue...so we hope the government will continue to provide them with the help required.

"We have to look at digital gaming as a potential future career, we cannot just focus on traditional jobs, because future jobs will yield considerable returns for the younger generation, as well as the nation," she said.

- Bernama