Gamers, What's More Fun Than Passing Quarantine By Creating Your Own Game?

Photo illustration (Kevin Ku / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The government continues to make efforts to educate the public so that the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia does not become more widespread. One of them, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kemkominfo), which collaborated with the Indonesian Game Association (AGI), Clevio Coder Camp and Garena to create a game creation event, "Let's Make Games at Home."

The event with the theme "Let's Together Against Covid-19: Clean, Healthy and Fun Living," aims to help socialize against, prevent and minimize COVID-19 through interactive media that can be accessed by anyone, namely video games.

"It is hoped that the video game results from this game creation event can be a complement to conventional media to socialize ways to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus," said the Director General of Informatics Applications of the Ministry of Communication and Information, Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan in his official statement.

In accordance with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) 's appeal not to do activities outside the home, the implementation of this game event can be done at home. The goal, of course, is to break the chain of spreading the virus, according to the #dirumahaja campaign. According to the man who is familiarly called Sammy, the competition is also targeted to form a games maker community in Indonesia.

"This invites the younger generation to work together to make games in their respective homes, so that the time they have is filled with the addition of work and knowledge. We hope that a community of game makers will grow and simultaneously raise awareness of healthy, clean living. and it's also exciting in dealing with COVID-19, "said Sammy.

Participants who can take part in the "Let's Make Games At Home," are divided into several categories, namely Junior for elementary, junior high and high school / vocational school students and students or general public. However, it is not known for sure the age limit that can participate in this event. What is clear, each participant is required to form a team and work together for four days to produce a game prototype that can be played.

"All activities and communication are carried out online, without having to leave the house. People are also involved in determining their favorite games by voting on the registered works," said Deputy Chairman of AGI, Adam Ardisasmita.

Later, the results of the game can help socialize clean and healthy living habits to the community in order to minimize the spread of COVID-19. "Through this event, AGI and Indonesian game developers want to contribute to help safeguard Indonesia by making games so they can educate the public regarding the COVID-19 pandemic," Adam continued.

Meanwhile, the CEO of Clevio Coder Camp, Fransiska Oetami stated that his party would provide a coach who would teach coding games through free webinars to participants who had no experience in making games. Therefore, the participants do not have to worry about the execution.

"So don't worry if you've never coded or made a game before. Even though you have to #dirumahaja, it doesn't mean you have to be alone, because children will also learn to develop their social skills by working with friends online, just like ladies and gentlemen who meet online because #workfromhome, "said Fransiska.