Balikpapan, East Kalimantan – Zaky Dio Akbar Pangestu, an Informatics Engineering student from the Kalimantan Institute of Technology (ITK), is currently immersed in a five-month industrial internship at Ozy Games, a local game studio in Penajam Paser known for its creative approach to incorporating Indonesian culture into indie games. His internship, which began in late February and will conclude at the end of July, has placed him at the forefront of a significant game development project.

Ozy Games has a reputation for developing titles that preserve local culture, such as "Pulang: Insanity," a horror game steeped in Kalimantan's traditions, and "Buramato," another work-in-progress with similar cultural themes.

Zaky leads a four-person team, taking on the multifaceted roles of Project Manager, Game Designer, and Backend Developer. His teammates from Informatics Engineering include Nopal Andrian, serving as a 3D Artist and Frontend Developer, and Diva Rajestiadi, who also contributes as a Project Manager and Game Designer. The team further benefits from the collaboration with Marcelina Agustina from the Visual Communication Design (DKV) program, specializing as a 2D/3D Artist, particularly in character design.

"Dunia Sebrang": A Dive into Kalimantan's Mystical Realm

During their internship, Zaky and his team have been directly involved in developing "Dunia Sebrang," an ambitious survival horror game with a dark fantasy ambiance. The project draws inspiration from games like "Little Nightmares" and the rich mystical tales prevalent in Kalimantan.

"Dunia Sebrang" follows Devina, a middle school student from Nusa Cipta who finds herself trapped in a school slowly transforming into a gateway to the supernatural world. Accompanied by her friend Rara, Devina strives to unravel the mystery behind a series of eerie events at her school and find Rara, who has been abducted by an in-game enemy. The game heavily emphasizes Kalimantan's culture through its selection of local ghost characters, mystical artifacts, and sacred locations serving as story backdrops. This approach not only enhances the horror elements but also introduces players to local myths rich in cultural wisdom.

Innovative Gameplay and Learning Experiences

The development of "Dunia Sebrang" integrates various gameplay elements such as hide-and-seek, chase sequences, and object interaction. A key innovation is the implementation of a dynamic lighting system based on player fear (utilizing Expanding Shockwave Lighting and Dynamic Radial Light Expansion), which is linked to enemy AI. This system allows enemies to react to the player's fear radius, intensifying the game's tension. The goal is for "Dunia Sebrang" to offer a deep horror experience while also serving as an interactive medium to introduce Kalimantan's rich mythology to a wider audience through engaging visuals and gameplay.

Zaky shared his insights on the internship, highlighting the professional production process of indie games—from conceptualization and reference research to visual asset creation, gameplay mechanics design, and the integration of audio, lighting, and AI elements. He found the team's open environment for idea exchange particularly engaging, allowing every member to propose concepts, discuss directly with mentors (Bang Ozy and Bang Rafi), and translate ideas into game prototypes.

One of the most captivating activities was the in-depth research into Kalimantan's horror culture. The team gathered references on local myths, types of local ghosts, mystical artifacts, and historical sites with mystical significance. This process was challenging, as they had to adapt cultural elements into the game's narrative while respecting local values and maintaining a thrilling experience for players.

Zaky also emphasized the significance of team discussions during progress meetings, where shared experiences and insights from the founders proved invaluable for their growth as game developers. Furthermore, he gained crucial skills in time management and team communication, especially in balancing his roles as Project Manager and Game Designer, overseeing discussions, designing gameplay mechanics, and monitoring technical progress. He learned how to meticulously structure the game's narrative and translate it into the game, along with debugging processes and seeking consultations on gameplay, 3D objects, environment, and 3D object optimization.