By Devakumar A/L Robert William, Senior Executive, BAC College and Nevash Nithi, Content Writer, BAC College

On Wednesday, 28th October 2026, UNIMY’s School of Computing, Games and Immersive Technology (SoCGIT) hosted “Level Up: Navigating the Modern Game Development Industry” at Menara BAC. The free tech talk was held in collaboration with Streamline Studios, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), and Malayan Tech Labs.

Emcees Ryan and Niamot kept the energy high all afternoon, welcoming attendees with an interactive duck race QR challenge, an introductory UNIMY showcase video, and live quizzes throughout the session.

What the Speakers Shared

• Mr. Arif Abdullah (QA Manager, Streamline Studios): Emphasised that Quality Assurance is the whole journey, not just a final release check. Drawing from Streamline’s work on major releases like Upin & Ipin Universe, Armored Core VI, and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, he demonstrated how early QA prevents exponential rework costs. He detailed the six asset checkpoints (Concept, Model, Texture, Rig, Engine Setup, Build Context) and explained under-the-hood engine optimisation—highlighting how replacing heavy Complex Collisions (50,000 polygons) with Simple or Custom Collisions in Unreal Engine saves crucial CPU and runtime performance. Functional builds then undergo a strict Smoke Test → Test → Retest → Regression cycle.
• Dr. Nazreen bin Abdullasim (Lecturer & Researcher, UTeM): Highlighted how game technology has crossed the “simulation threshold” to become real-time computational infrastructure for Industry 4.0 and 5.0. Having researched in China, New Zealand, and Taiwan, he explained that Unity and Unreal Engine are no longer just for simulating characters, but entire industrial systems. He showcased real-world applications including Halal Hub VR training, alongside UTeM’s Tele-IVR (cross-platform gesture capture) and MixCollab/TwinArm projects—where VR and MR users remotely control a physical 6-DOF robotic arm in real time.
• Mr. Mohammad Alwi Yahaya (Technical Game Developer, Malayan Tech Labs): Shared practical mobile workflows behind titles like Didi & Friends Playtown and Rainbow Iqra’, advocating the core philosophy: “Make it exist first, make it good later”. He encouraged developers to validate core loops (Action → Cause → Effect → Progression) early using greyboxes, placeholder art, or AI coding tools. He outlined four pillars for project success: organising project structure, building one feature at a time, playtesting regularly, and tracking changes via version control (Git/GitKraken). For mobile, he stressed comfortable touch controls, readable UI, and testing directly on physical hardware.

Tips for Students 

• Agree on “Done” early: Define naming rules and scale specs upfront, review work at blockout milestones, and submit clear, reproducible bug reports (Mr. Arif).
• Think beyond entertainment: Master spatial computing, as real-time rendering and physics skills directly align with national Industry 4.0/5.0 workforce mandates (Dr. Nazreen).
• Build through repetition: Mastery is an outcome of continuous practice. Start small, validate mechanics, and commit stable versions frequently (Mr. Alwi).

Strategic MOU Exchange
Following the panel presentations, UNIMY and Streamline Studios Malaysia Sdn Bhd officially celebrated an MOU partnership. The agreement provides UNIMY game development students with:

• Internship Placements: Direct pathways at Streamline Studios for Diploma and Bachelor in Game Development students.
• Studio Exposure: Educational company visits, including international participants from UNIMY’s Summer Camp programmes.
• INNOVERSE Mentorship: Professional guidance and evaluation for Final Year Projects by Streamline industry veterans.
• Industrial Adjunct Professorships: Appointments of Streamline senior management to strengthen industry-academia integration.

Through initiatives like Level Up and strategic industry partnerships, UNIMY continues to bridge the gap between academic learning and commercial studio production—equipping the next generation of digital creators to thrive in the global tech ecosystem.