Tencent and TiMi Studio Group (TiMi) along with Tencent Institute of Games announced that it will be hosting the Green Game Jam for Youth. It is a global online competition that encourages youths to create games based on an environment-focused theme. The event is inspired by the broader Green Game Jam, organized by the United Nations (UN) -facilitated initiative, the Playing for the Planet Alliance.
The competition aims to bring together the biggest names in video games across mobile, console, and PC to create awareness and empower players to act for nature.
Krittee Manoleehagul, vice president of Tencent Cloud International for Southeast Asia expresses much commitment to this.
“The Green Game Jam for Youth represents Tencent’s corporate social responsibility, using games to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of protecting our planet. We are committed to leveraging tech for good and creating sustainable next generation of gaming developers in Southeast Asia to be climate-conscious and offer the tools and knowledge to raise environmental awareness through technology.”
For Tencent, Games have the power to raise awareness of environmental conservation and restoration globally. Education is key to inspire to act and create solutions needed to strengthen the response to climate threats.
To that extend, Tencent has been partnering with several universities in Southeast Asia to encourage their students to join Green Game Jam for Youth and promote environmental solutions needed to make the world a better place.
The universities that are taking part include:
- Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation in Malaysia,
- National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, and DigiPen Institute of Technology in Singapore,
- Bangkok University, Dhurakij Pundit University and Mahidol University in Thailand,
- Universitas Indonesia and Bandung Institute of Technology also in Indonesia, with more to come.
Even the spokespersons of respective universities have also expressed their agreement.
“We are honored to be given this opportunity to partner with the leading global technology company Tencent in fighting for a cause that is bigger than ourselves. At Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation, our goal is to not only equip our students with the fundamental skills required by the booming gaming industry but to also harness the power of gaming in fighting climate change.”
Assoc. Prof. Wong Bee Suan – Head, School of Computing, Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)
“At DigiPen (Singapore), we push our students to execute the kind of work that challenges their minds and excites the imagination. The Green Game Jam for Youth is an avenue for our students to apply their capabilities and skills in addressing one of the world’s biggest challenges – climate change. We see this competition as a platform for our students to demonstrate that they do not just excel in their studies, but can go on to be responsible and eco-conscious members of our global society,”
Spokesperson from DigiPen (Singapore)
The competition aims to engage with students at over 300 universities across China, North America, and Southeast Asia. The competition will allow youths to seek guidance on game development and adopting effective strategies to promote environmental responsibility via online webinars and courses from the Tencent Institute of Games and other mentors in the gaming industry.
Winners will receive awards and cash prizes, including US$10,000 for “Gold,” US$3,000 for “Silver,” US$1,000 for “Bronze” and a US$500 prize for the “Honorary” fourth-place finisher.
The result of the competition will be shared with the world in November during the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
The competition is now open for entry through TiMi’s website at https://www.timistudios.com/green-game-jam-for-youth/, until July 30.
