Singapore’s Songbird Symphony wins big at SEA Game Awards 2018

Singapore-made Songbird Symphony swept up two trophies at the SEA Game Awards 2018, the only game to have won in multiple award categories.

The debut music platforming game by Joysteak Studios took home the Best Audio and Rising Star awards, and is also the only Singaporean submission to have made made the winning cut.

Indonesia managed to take two trophies courtesy of She and the Light Bearer (Best Visual Art) and Coffee Talk (Best Storytelling), with the remaining six awards all going to Malaysian efforts.

No Straight Roads by Metronomik claimed the highest honor that is the Grand Jury prize. The studio is a newly formed indie outfit headed by Wan Hazmer, who previously worked on Final Fantasy XV and its DLCs, and is now housed at Level Up Inc.

The winners were part of 104 total submissions from Southeast Asian developers this year, with only 40 shortlisted for a one-day judging session by an invited panel of seven (with the exception of the Audience Choice Award). Here are the categories, their nominees, and the winners:

Grand Jury Award
No Straight Roads by Metronomik (Malaysia)

Rising Star Award
Songbird Symphony by Joysteak Studios (Singapore)

Audience Choice Award
Iteno by Why Creative (Malaysia)

Best Technology
Nightstream by Streamline Games (Malaysia) — Winner
Re:Legend by Magnus Games Studio (Malaysia)
Eximius: Seize the Frontline by Ammobox Studios (Malaysia)
Simulacra: Pipe Dreams by Kaigan Games (Malaysia)

Best Visual Art
She and the Light Bearer by Mojiken Studio (Indonesia) — Winner
Re:Legend by Magnus Games Studio (Malaysia)
The Long Road Ahead by Cellar Vault Studios (Malaysia)
King’s League II by Kurechii (Malaysia)

Best Game Design
Re:Legend by Magnus Games Studio (Malaysia) — Winner
No Straight Roads by Metronomik (Malaysia)
Nightstream by Streamline Games (Malaysia)
Simulacra: Pipe Dreams by Kaigan Games (Malaysia)

Best Audio
Songbird Symphony by Joysteak Studios (Singapore) — Winner
A Dance of Fire and Ice by 7th Beat Games (Malaysia)
No Straight Roads by Metronomik (Malaysia)
She and the Light Bearer by Mojiken Studio (Indonesia)

Best Storytelling
Coffee Talk by Toge Productions (Indonesia) — Winner
Songbird Symphony by Joysteak Studios (Singapore)
She and the Light Bearer by Mojiken Studio (Indonesia)
Simulacra: Pipe Dreams by Kaigan Games (Malaysia)

Best Innovation
Simulacra: Pipe Dreams by Kaigan Games (Malaysia) — Winner
A Dance of Fire and Ice by 7th Beat Games (Malaysia)
Nightstream by Streamline Games (Malaysia)
Nettworth: Life Simulation Game by Gameka (Malaysia)

Best Student Game
Terminus Lockdown by Glenmarie Games, KDU University College (Malaysia) — Winner
Sakura no Gakkou by The Tangerine (Malaysia)
Haywire Harvest by Glenmarie Games (Malaysia)
Kaliyuga: The Dark Ages by Morningstar Games (Malaysia)

Of the repeat nominees, games such as A Dance of Fire and Ice and The Long Road Ahead were easily standout experiences.

There were a few memorable games that didn’t quite make the list either, such as the neon arena shooter Project Retrograde, the snappy and feature-complete student game Ocean Escape, the minimalist and satisfyingly challenging bullet-hell Waker, or the incredible vertical-action roguelike that is Rising Hell.

Yet the SEA Game Awards weren’t the only ceremony at Level Up KL 2018. Just before it were the winning teams of the 36-hour SEA Game Jam 2018, judged by invited guests such as PlayStation’s Michael Mumbauer.

Much earlier still were the Intellectual Property Creators’ Challenge (IPCC) 2018 winners, all of whom earned booth space, RM50,000 grant money (approx. S$16,486), and Adobe Creative Cloud licenses.

Congratulations all!

All photos courtesy of Level Up KL 2018.

Disclosure: GameAxis was an invited guest for Level Up KL 2018 and a juror for the SEA Game Awards.