Dr Yong Bang Ming recalls his experience of creating a video game called Kelvin’s Birthday using an RPG maker for his friend’s birthday when he was 14 years old. The game, set in his school, became popular among his classmates, and Dr Yong realized the joy of creating something that brought happiness to others. He has always been fascinated by game development and believes that well-made games can transport players to different worlds and evoke various emotions. As a child, he played games like Disney’s Aladdin, Street Fighter, and Age Of Empires 2.
Dr Yong is now the managing director and lead engineer of Bang Technologies, an indie game studio in Lumpur. His company is currently working on a virtual reality game called Donjon Fauna, where players act as veterinarians to treat injured or sick fantasy creatures. The game requires players to diagnose the creatures’ conditions, administer treatment, and even perform open-heart surgery. The target audience for the game is teenagers.
To ensure realistic creature designs, Dr Yong collaborated with veterinarian Dr Eve Foong, who provided specific feedback on creature adjustments and the treatment process. The narrative of the game revolves around a world where helping creatures is illegal, drawing inspiration from historical events like the British occupation of Malaya. Dr Yong sought the assistance of Dr Farhana Abdul Fatah, a senior lecturer well-versed in history, linguistics, and gaming, as a narrative consultant.
Donjon Fauna received the People’s Choice Award at the Develop: Brighton’s Indie Showcase, gaining international recognition. Industry experts who tried the game were impressed with the demo created by Dr Yong’s small team in six months. Government support through a Prisma grant from Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) helped accelerate the initial prototype development.
Dr Yong emphasizes the importance of understanding that game development is a business. Compromises may need to be made to meet deadlines and budgets, and marketing and publishing are essential aspects of the process. He plans to release Donjon Fauna in late 2024 or early 2025 and hopes to create Kelvin’s Birthday 2 in the future, with the skills and knowledge he has acquired over the years.
In an interview, Dr Yong describes his gaming setup, gaming experience, favorite titles (including Doom Eternal, Dota 2, and The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild), and a retro gaming title he wishes to revisit (SkyRoads). He also mentions playing Wolfenstein 3D with his father at a young age and how it both thrilled and scared him.
