AMD changes the game in Malaysia

THE AMD FOUNDATION is taking its "Changing the Game" education initiative on the road to Malaysia, sponsoring the Malaysian Cybergames Festival and introducing impressionable youths to the wonders of game development.

Sponsoring a game developers' workshop for primary school children might sound strange, but you've got to admit that's when their imagination and creativity are at their peak. The outfit will host a "Dare to Create" workshop as well as a seminar that "encourages innovation and creativity by teaching students how to design and develop digital games," that is, learn the technical skills to become a useful and productive member of an IT-driven society.

This is the first time AMD's Changing the Game has appeared outside the US. Chimpzilla's initiative aims to inspire the wide-eyed school children of Malaysia, putting them on a scientific roller-coaster of all things game-designish while bringing to the fore pressing global issues such as the environment, energy consumption and public health. This is the first and from the looks of it by no means the last non-US location to benefit from the AMD Foundation's guidance.

Of course, after taking a workshop and seminar, the youngsters will be allowed to enjoy themselves when they are finally unleashed on the 80 or so PCs the company is supplying for the gaming event.

We've come a long way from paranoid "gaming causes attention deficit disorder in children" fears to a wiser and more nurturing view that games are not only how children learn, but they also broaden their horizons and provide a healthy outlet for their creativity.

Indeed, and if the kids get to have a little bit of fun while they're at it, why not? µ