SCCyberworld

Monday, June 16, 2008

MDV Partners Codemasters Studios to Launch Malaysia’s First Locally Designed Computer Game

(From L-R) Md Zubir Ansori Yahaya, Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer of MDV and Maxime Villandre, General Manager of Codemasters Studios Sdn Bhd during the launch.

KUALA LUMPUR, Wednesday, 11 June 2008: Reinforcing its commitment to develop emerging ICT and high growth sectors, Malaysia Debt Ventures Berhad (“MDV”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Minister of Finance, Inc. partnered Codemasters Studios to launch the first-ever Malaysian-made computer game.

Entitled Racedriver GRID, the game is designed for racing enthusiasts and is available on the PC as well as PS3 and Xbox 360 gaming consoles. It is the first new-generation console and triple A rated game produced in the country.

Encik Md Zubir Ansori Yahaya, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of MDV stated that MDV is proud to partner Codemasters Studios and to play a major contributive role in a historic milestone for the Malaysian gaming industry.

“As a financier and development facilitator of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and high-growth sectors, MDV is proud to be associated with a world-renowned gaming developer such as Codemasters. To be able to finance and be an active contributor in the design of Malaysia’s first-ever locally produced computer game is a privilege and we are glad to be a part of it.”

“We believe that Malaysia has the capability and infrastructure to design state-of-the-art games as well as to nurture local talents, shaping them into world class designers. Codemasters has today paved the way for aspiring designers to step forth and we are certain that it will only be a matter of time before Malaysia’s gaming industry takes off.”

MDV has identified creative content as one of the high growth sectors in Malaysia and hopes to be able to fund many more aspiring entrepreneurs with the aim to put Malaysia in the world map as being a producer of quality creative content.

Maxime Villandre, General Manager of Codemasters Studios Sdn Bhd said, “The establishment of Codemasters Studios in Malaysia is part of Codemasters’ aggressive growth effort and we are thankful to MDV for providing us the support to expand in this region. We are also looking into other new growth opportunities which hopefully will have Malaysia and MDV collaborating with Codemasters toward future venture successes.”

To date, MDV has provided funding totalling RM283 million to 17 companies in the content industry.

Beyond financial accessibility, MDV also provides value-add nurturing services encompassing advisory services in project management, marketing conceptualisation and the adoption of industry best practices to ensure that their clients are competitive and resilient enough for the global platform.

“We want to partner and support our clients at every stage of development. Our philosophy is to ensure that they maintain full ownership of their business while benefiting from the value added services that MDV provides”, added Zubir.

Also present from the UK at the launch were Ralph Fulton, Chief Game Designer for GRID; Gavin Cheshire, Vice President of Codemasters Studios and Simon Parson, Chief Finance Officer of Codemasters Studios.

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