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winph99 com In a small but growing community, game development in Brunei is beginning to find its footing. Among them is Wilson Siow, founder of WilKGames, an independent game development venture he established in 2020. His journey, however, began long before that. His journey in game development began in 2017 and at the time, he was transitioning from more than a decade-long career as a telecommunications engineer. Burnt out from repetitive work and uninspired by senior roles filled with meetings and presentations, Siow sought a new creative outlet and game development became that spark. Inspired by the simplicity of Flappy Bird, a game created by a solo developer, Siow realised that an individual could craft something impactful without a major studio’s backing. “Gaming has always been a big part of my life,” he said. “I grew up with the Sega Genesis and Nintendo consoles. Even during my working days, I played games like World of Warcraft and MapleStory. Transitioning into game development felt like a natural path for me.” CHALLENGES OF A SOLO GAME DEVELOPER Although the divergent path seemed destined, for solo developers like Siow, the journey comes with its fair share of challenges. “Game development isn’t a sustainable career path in Brunei yet,” he shared. As a result, Siow must balance working on his game with taking on projects that help fund his development ventures. ABOVE & BELOW: ‘Tikus Tales’ at a games event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Founder of WilK Games Wilson Siow at the SEA Awards Ceremony. PHOTO: WILKGAMES PHOTO: WILKGAMES The start screen of the game ‘Tikus Tales’. PHOTO: WILKGAMES A screenshot of the ‘Tikus Tales’. PHOTO: WILKGAMES His early steps in game creation revolved around mobile titles. Between 2017 and 2020, he published five games on the Android Play Store, treating these projects as stepping stones. “I didn’t make any money from them. My first games were more like learning projects to understand the basics – like how to make objects move. I do everything myself, from the art to the programming,” he explained. While some developers prefer genres like first-person shooters or horror games, Siow focuses mainly on action platformers that are kid-friendly and fun for all ages. “Many people have commented that my games remind them of those childhood favourites, which is intentional because they’re my biggest inspiration,” he said. His work targets a nostalgic audience, those who grew up playing classic platformers, and he has stayed true to this aesthetic. Time management also presents a significant hurdle for game developers, as they must decide whether to create assets themselves or purchase pre-made ones, constantly weighing the time spent crafting every asset against the speed gained from buying them. “Being a solo developer means doing everything yourself – art, programming, and everything in between. It’s always a trade-off between time and money,” he explained. Despite these challenges, Siow remains optimistic. Tikus Tales, his current project, marks his first venture into PC games and has already garnered attention. The game was nominated and made it to the Top 40 for the Level Up SEA Game Awards at the Malaysia Digital Content Festival this year, a milestone that earned him a sponsored trip to Kuala Lumpur, courtesy of the Brunei Innovation Lab (BIL). “The support from BIL has been invaluable,” he shared. “They’ve invited us to workshops, helped us upskill, and provided opportunities to teach others about game development.” CULTIVATING A COMMUNITY When Siow started in 2017, the game development scene in Brunei was nearly non-existent. “I didn’t know anyone else making games,” he recalled. That changed in 2018 when he met members of another local game company. Through online platforms like Reddit, he connected with more enthusiasts and helped establish the Brunei Game Developers Community in 2019. “We started small, just five or six of us,” Siow said. Today however, the community boasts over 100 members, ranging from 16-year-old students to working professionals in their late 30s. While only a small number are actively engaged, the group’s diversity reflects the untapped potential within Brunei. “Every bit of involvement matters,” he emphasised. “It’s about building awareness and encouraging more people to explore this industry.” THE FUTURE OF GAME DEVELOPMENT IN BRUNEI Siow believed that Brunei’s game development scene holds immense potential, though he recognises that the road ahead will be challenging. “Regionally, some of our neighbours are ahead of us, but even in Southeast Asia, the game development scene is still relatively young,” he explained. “In Brunei, we’re at an even earlier stage.” For local developers to thrive, he emphasised the importance of focusing on creating quality games that can showcase their talent on a global stage. “We need stronger portfolios,” he said. “Right now, it’s less about making money and more about proving that we can create something extraordinary. “It’s still too early to determine what’s needed. Our focus should be on producing high-quality games.” Only once the local game development community has found its footing should the Sultanate consider implementing policies and infrastructure to support the industry’s growth. For now, however, in addition to strengthening local capacity, the community should be encouraged to continue their projects, with a focus on establishing more consistent support systems, such as events and showcases, to keep the momentum going. For those considering a career in game development, Siow believes that there has never been a better time to dive in. “Just dive in. The tools are free, tutorials are everywhere, and the community is here to support you. If you have questions, reach out to local developers. We’re always happy to help new talent.” – Wardi Wasil

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Yankee Candle's best seasonal scents are up to 50% off for Black FridayFormer U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent more than a year in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most active and internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said the former president died Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia.

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Patrick Mahomes threw a walk-off pass to win the Super Bowl. Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam to win a World Series game. Stephen Curry said “nuit, nuit” to win an Olympic basketball title in Paris. Noah Lyles won 100-meter gold by about the smallest margin possible. And Sabrina Ionescu won a WNBA Finals game with a 30-foot heave. Depending on who you rooted for, some made you cheer, some left you crushed. Some were the sort that have never been seen before, in a good way: Shohei Ohtani, on the night he started baseball’s 50-50 club, drove in 10 runs in a performance for the ages. Some were the sort that have never been seen before, in a jarring way: Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 golfer, got arrested before the second round of the PGA Championship and taken away in handcuffs to jail — where he had a sandwich and started warming up for the tee time he ended up making. And maybe the best way to describe what we had, when all these things happened, are the words Washington Commanders right guard Sam Cosmi used after his team beat the Chicago Bears with a Hail Mary pass: “Front-row seats,” Cosmi said, “to something amazing.” Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors’ superstar sharpshooter, made his Olympic debut one to remember and saved his best for last. He hit four 3-pointers in the final minutes, each shot more dramatic than the last, to seal the U.S. win over host France for gold. Curry’s signature celebration is the “night night,” where he puts his hands together at the side of his face, as if it’s time to go to sleep. In Paris, he brought shirts that made it perfectly clear to the French what that meant — yes, the message written on the shirts was “nuit nuit.” Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes did something no one has ever done: He threw a Super Bowl-winning touchdown pass on the final play of the title game. San Francisco kicked a field goal to open overtime of Super Bowl 58, and Mahomes had 75 yards to go to try and answer. He scrambled for eight yards on fourth-and-1 to keep the drive alive — a huge play that probably very few remember. He went 8 for 8 on passes in overtime, engineering a perfect drive. The finale: a 3-yard toss to Mecole Hardman with 3 seconds left in overtime, and the Chiefs were back-to-back champions. OK, technically, the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team won the Olympic bronze medal with a kick (a conversion, they call it). But the real moment was Alex Sedrick, running the length of the field and into history. Sedrick got the ball with about 8 seconds left, ran through three Australia defenders and took it all the way down the field for a try that tied the game at 12-12 with no time left. Her kick won bronze for the Americans, a result that made star Ilona Maher — the undisputed face of the sport in the U.S. — an even bigger name, and breathed new life into the sport in a country where it still has tons of room to grow. In this case, let’s make three games — Iowa vs. UConn, South Carolina vs. N.C. State, then South Carolina vs. Iowa for the title — one moment. Maybe a movement is the better word. Caitlin Clark’s record-setting year, South Carolina’s undefeated run to the national title, UConn’s return to the Final Four, they were all part of a scintillating year for women’s basketball. The WNBA saw enormous growth — Clark, its rookie of the year, helped fuel that in a big way — and more eyeballs were on the game than ever before. Everything at an Olympics is a moment for someone; a lifetime of work typically coming down to a few seconds. But in Paris, a few stood out more than others. Start with Sifan Hassan, trading elbows in the stretch of the marathon to win her third distance medal — this one gold. Or Cole Hocker, looking like Forrest Gump in coming from nowhere to beat the two favorites in the men’s 1,500-meter run. The highlight, of course, was Noah Lyles’ .005-second victory in the 100-meter dash. He ran the fastest time of his life and didn’t take the lead until the absolute last instant, a finish that even had commentators guessing wrong about who actually prevailed. Of the 346,000 swings taken by batters in Major League Baseball this year, three probably jumped out more than the rest. There was Freddie Freeman, hitting the first game-ending grand slam in World Series history to move the Los Angeles Dodgers a step closer to beating the New York Yankees and winning the title. There was Pete Alonso, saving the season for the New York Mets with a home run to lift them past the Milwaukee Brewers in the deciding game of an NL wild-card series. And then there was Shohei Ohtani, a night like none other in a season like none other. On the night in Miami when he joined — created, really — baseball’s 50-homer, 50-steal club, he hit three home runs, stole two bases and drove in 10 runs on a 6-for-6 night. Cleveland’s Max Strus lived every kid’s hoop-in-the-driveway fantasy ... down by one, time running out, let-it-fly ... a 59-footer to give the Cavaliers a 121-119 win over Dallas. But the buzzer-beater of the year: Take a bow, Sabrina Ionescu. From just inside of the logo, her 3-pointer with 1 second left gave the New York Liberty a win over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals — and the Liberty would win the title in five games. World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler had a year of moments — most of them great (nine wins worldwide), one of them bizarre (the arrest at the PGA Championship). But the signature moment of 2024 for Scheffler might have been weeping as “The Star-Spangled Banner” played in honor of his Olympic golf gold medal in Paris. He rallied from six shots back with a final-round 62 to win the gold. On the way to winning the Stanley Cup, Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky had a save he’ll never forget. Bobrovsky — out of “desperation,” he’d say later — dove backward across the goal mouth, reached out blindly with his left wrist and somehow got his glove side in the way of Tampa Bay’s Matt Dumba’s shot to keep the game tied at 2-2. It wound up being a game-saver; the Panthers got a goal from Carter Verhaeghe 2:59 into overtime for a 3-2 win. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley used a spin move — and a leap — on the same play. The 180-degree hurdle was one of the signature moves of 2024 in the NFL. It made a 14-yard reception unforgettable. “Best play I’ve ever seen,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. They call it a “Hail Mary” in football, the desperation pass into the end zone with no time left to try and win a game. The Washington Commanders pulled it off against the Chicago Bears, Jayden Daniels’ throw going into team lore. And Virginia Tech thought it had pulled one off against Miami, only to have officials — who originally said the Hokies won — overrule the call after replay review, sealing a win for the Hurricanes. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Every year, Santa leaves his home in the North Pole to deliver presents to children living in countless homes across the globe. Whether you're young or adult, tracking Santa's journey adds to the fun on Christmas Eve. Travelling vast distances on a Reindeer-pulled sleigh to deliver all the gifts in one night is a magical feat, afterall. One of the popular means to track Santa's journey on Christmas Eve is , a tracker developed and maintained by the American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The Santa tracker website has existed for over two decades and got an in a recent update. It uses satellite imagery and computer graphics to showcase Santa's journey on a 3D map. You can see a 360-degree animated view of Santa travelling on his sleigh pulled by the reindeer. The tracker displays the last seen location, the time remaining for the next location, and the number of gifts delivered. The program was in 1955. NORAD used to supply information about Santa's whereabouts with the help of volunteers answering phone calls made by children, and this continues to this date. NORAD's tracker also inspired , which was launched in 2004. It also simulates Santa's journey on Christmas Eve, loaded with rich graphics and animation. Google's Santa tracking efforts ignited after the company acquired Keyhole (now Google Earth) in 2004 and launched the "Keyhole Santa Radar." According to its , the search giant "felt like it could have been even better if people could visualize exactly where Santa was on Christmas Eve." However, the footfall was initially limited as Keyhole was still a for-pay service. Google Santa Tracker shows the total distance covered, the number of gifts delivered, and his next location. You can click on the red cap button in the top right corner to pinpoint Santa's location or navigate the map freely to check out the places he has visited. The tracker also offers a platter of other stuff, including Santa and Christmas-themed puzzles, animated videos, and games you can play on Christmas Eve.