Fighting virus from outside in

Tiếng Việt

Fighting virus from outside in

Vaccine production and virus fighting are front and centre in a newly launched video game produced by a Vietnamese game developer and RMIT alumnus.

RMIT Vietnam Diploma of Commerce and Bachelor of Multimedia Design alumni Le Duc Vu co-developed a multiplayer video game on Steam to fight viruses.

The adventure of finding viruses takes place inside a cat’s body with one player being the strategist who shows the way through the journey and the other being the adventurer who is in charge of describing the virus for the scientist to make vaccines based on viruses’ appearance.

RMIT Vietnam Diploma of Commerce and Bachelor of Multimedia Design alumni and the artist at Together Games Studio Le Duc Vu said that, “we started our business amid the global pandemic so we decided to make a game about fighting viruses”.

“But fighting virus inside in a human body is kind of serious so we developed a game about the adventure to save our beloved cat from the viruses,” Vu said.

“There are thousands of types of viruses which look very similar so players must use their communication skills to get over the obstacles.”

After three months of launching on Steam [a popular video game digital distribution service], the Outside In has got very positive feedback from players.

Founder of a 3D visualization studio – the Vie VR Studios said that video game development has been his dream for a long time and whilst the COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult it gave him the chance to focus on building his dream.

“I decided to start the Together Games Studio with a team of talented people who wanted to bring the best moments to others when playing multiplayer video games, while our business was affected during the pandemic in 2020,” Vu said.

Vu is always grateful for how RMIT education has prepared him well in starting his own businesses, not just his current project.

“There are only four to five teams did what we are doing now in Vietnam [successfully published a game on Steam], so there was so little information we could find,” Vu recalled. “As a result, it was a long trial-and-error process.”

“Game development is a complex process and requires a lot of different skills.

“With only four members we have to wear different hats at the same time which give us the chances to grow significantly.”

The ‘Outside In: The Ultimate Friendship Test’ development crew.

By enrolling in two degrees at RMIT Vietnam, Vu said he got all the concepts and basic skills he needed to start his own design or creative companies.

“The biggest takeaway from RMIT is the critical thinking and research skills,” he said.

“I was taught to solve the problem by looking at different angles. It’s more of a conceptual approach than a technical one.”

From his persistent journey of ten years doing different things to finally got his dream come true, Vu hopes to inspire other youngsters, especially RMIT students, to realise and pursue their dreams.

“Do more than you are asked in order to learn new things,” he said.

“If you have a dream but you can’t do it now. Don’t forget it, stay close to it.

“Try to experience many things so you know what you love, what you are capable of and what you are great at. And be nice and humble, no matter where you are!”

Story: Ha Hoang

Media Release

Alumni

29 July 2021