The global video game industry is highly competitive, requiring effective marketing for success. The Hong Kong Game Enhancement & Promotion Scheme supports local startups, some achieving over $10 million in revenue, leading to impressive outcomes.
Gaming dreams
From a young age, Chris Choi has had a passion for programming and dedicated himself to developing a mobile music game while studying.
His first game is a mobile rhythm experience where players tap along to the beat. However, unlike most traditional mobile rhythm games, this one is motion-based, requiring players to spin their phones in the air to play. This innovative approach adds a physical element to the gameplay, making it more engaging and dynamic.
By chance, the game's promotional video was uploaded to a Mainland video platform. Within a week, it had garnered 500,000 views and received positive feedback.
Inspired by this success, he decided to pursue a career in the electronic gaming industry.
With little work and business experience under his belt, Mr Choi ultimately leveraged his strengths in game design to secure a grant of $550,000 from the Hong Kong Game Enhancement & Promotion Scheme for marketing purposes. He used the funding to collaborate with various music labels, resulting in great success.
Indie video game developer Chris Choi’s game downloads surpass one million with revenue exceeding $10 million.
Global sensation
The game has attracted a significant number of players from the Mainland, Hong Kong, as well as Japan, Europe and the US, with downloads exceeding one million and revenue surpassing $10 million.
Mr Choi pointed out that the scheme helped him to grow his business. At the company's inception, he had limited startup capital and experience. Through the programme, not only did he secure funding, but also gained valuable knowledge in marketing and promotion, which increased the likelihood of his game's success.
Lucrative market
As the Chinese gaming industry continues to mature, some local game developers are also seizing the opportunity to tap into this booming market.
One of them, video game producer Jacky Chou, whose game is also subsidised by the scheme, is creating a comedy-adventure computer game that showcases the unique elements of Hong Kong's culture.
“It is actually an adventure game that is heavily inspired by pop culture. It is a very funny, nonsense adventure game with a lot of different game plays and mechanics,” he explained.
Video game producer Jacky Chou says the scheme not only involves arranging game testers to provide feedback on how they can improve the game, but also offers a diverse range of training, which benefits small and medium-sized companies.
Mr Chou added that the scheme not only helped with arranging game testers to provide feedback on how they could improve the game but also offered a diverse range of training, including guidance on marketing strategies and attracting investors.
He also utilised the funding to collaborate with key opinion leaders for extensive advertising campaigns, as well as to promote the game offline at various exhibitions.
Supporting startups
The 4th Hong Kong Game Enhancement & Promotion Scheme, sponsored by the Cultural & Creative Industries Development Agency, recently held its awards ceremony.
The organiser, Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association, announced that 12 local startup game companies had been awarded reimbursement grants ranging from $450,000 to $550,000.
The association’s Chairman Gabriel Pang noted that each year the scheme has seen good results, with about one-third of the companies being profitable and one out of 12 companies usually getting over $10 million in revenue, most of the time with 500,000 to one million downloads.
“The game industry is actually a huge industry. That is why we are doing the Hong Kong Game Enhancement & Promotion Scheme. We need to help them to market their games.
“Usually in Hong Kong, we have a more diverse style. We can cope with different countries and cultures. That is one of our strengths.”
Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association Chairman Gabriel Pang highlights that each year, the scheme sees good results, with about one-third of the companies being profitable and one out of 12 companies usually getting over $10 million in revenue.
International Water Pioneers Summit convenes leaders and experts from water supply sector
The International Water Pioneers Summit was held today (April 1) in Hong Kong. The Summit convened internationally renowned leaders, experts, academicians, senior government officials, representatives and stakeholders from water supply sector to explore new opportunities and prospects for collaboration in the development of water supply sector. The Summit attracted an on-site or online participation of around 5 000 people.
The Summit, with the theme of "Smart Water‧High-Quality Development", was jointly organised by the Water Supplies Department; the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering - Hong Kong Branch; the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers - Building Services Division; and the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management - Hong Kong Branch. It is one of the celebration activities marking the 60th Anniversary of Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong.
Participants proposed high quality development characteristics including innovation, green, sharing and co-ordination to spearhead digital transformation of the water supply sector and secure wholesomeness of water to the benefits of mankind health. Hong Kong should give full play to the distinctive role of a connector between the country and the rest of the world. The Summit serves the purpose of attracting overseas professional knowledge and experience and promoting cross-boundary and cross-sector collaboration. It also demonstrates to the world the country's advanced technologies and experience in water supply aspects as well as the wisdom of profound Chinese water culture for making contributions in the joint promotion of the application of water resources, water technologies and water culture around the world.
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee; the Minister of the Ministry of Water Resources, Mr Li Guoying; the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Wang Weizhong; the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Zheng Yanxiong; Member of the Office Leadership of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Mr Xiang Bin; the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Mr Qi Bin; Vice Governor of Guangdong Province Mr Zhang Shaokang and the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, officiated at the opening ceremony of the Summit.
Speaking at the summit, Mr Lee said that the summit convened high-profile professionals and senior government officials from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Asia and around the world to celebrate together the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang water supply to Hong Kong and joined forces to ensure provision of a sustainable water supply to mankind. He pointed out that innovation in infrastructure development will power our water-secure future and Hong Kong is developing into an international infrastructure centre that serves the country and the HKSAR.
Mr Li said that the Ministry of Water Resources will resolutely strengthen exchanges and co-operation with the relevant government departments of the HKSAR Government and ensure the safety of water supply to Hong Kong. Guangdong will also actively support Hong Kong to utilise its distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, as well as a channel for sharing with the world the water management concept, experience and solutions to promote future water security, calling for a new chapter of water management to work toward a community with a shared future for mankind.
Mr Wang said that Guangdong will firmly proceed with planning of urban development, land use, population, and production based on water resources and further deepen Guangdong-Hong Kong in-depth collaboration in respect of water management to enhance the livability of the Greater Bay Area with quality for living, working and travelling. Guangdong will actively learn advanced experience and seize firmly the collaboration opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative and promote international exchanges and co-operations in the aspects of water technologies, water ecology and water security with an aim to better facilitate the high quality development of water resources.
Addressing the ceremony, Ms Linn pointed out that sustainable water resources management is crucial in facing of the challenges brought by global climate change and scarcity of resources. The summit, with the theme of "Smart Water‧High-Quality Development" timely convened different parties to explore innovative and feasible solutions together with proactive and forward-thinking strategies to combat challenges.
The Director of Water Supplies, Mr Roger Wong, thanked all guest speakers for sharing their insights and all the supporting organisations for their strong support. He pointed out that the summit has showed the win-win power of collaboration and innovation.
Topics of the summit covered high-quality development of water supply and technologies, development in water safety and relative issues on Dongjiang water. Participants also discussed building water security under the Belt and Road Initiative.
International Water Pioneers Summit convenes leaders and experts from water supply sector Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
International Water Pioneers Summit convenes leaders and experts from water supply sector Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
International Water Pioneers Summit convenes leaders and experts from water supply sector Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
International Water Pioneers Summit convenes leaders and experts from water supply sector Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
International Water Pioneers Summit convenes leaders and experts from water supply sector Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
International Water Pioneers Summit convenes leaders and experts from water supply sector Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
International Water Pioneers Summit convenes leaders and experts from water supply sector Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
International Water Pioneers Summit convenes leaders and experts from water supply sector Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
