Completion Ceremony of STOVE Supporters 2024-10-22

STOVE Supporters:, A Joyful Career Experience for Future Game Developers

On September 3, the “STOVE Supporters” completion ceremony was held at the First Tower Lecture Hall in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do. The STOVE Supporters program consisted of high school students aspiring to work in the gaming industry. Around 30 students were selected at the end of June by Smilegate Megaport in collaboration with Gyeonggi Game Meister High School and Seoul Digitech High School. 

From July 8, the students participated for about two months as members of two teams: the Game Analysis Team and the Reporter Team. The Game Analysis Team played over 60 indie games listed on STOVE Indie, identified noteworthy titles, and created content to introduce them to users. Meanwhile, the Reporter Team produced video content documenting the activities of the Game Analysis Team.

At the completion ceremony, Supporters looked back on their experiences and encouraged each other.  Newsroom team visited the event to capture and share the lively scene. 

A Special Lecture on the Present and Future of AI

The first session of the ceremony featured a lecture by Lee Yong-cheol, Team Lead of the Content AI Team at Smilegate Megaport. Under the theme "Games, AI, and Present," he explored the types of AI technologies that can be applied in games and introduced the current developments in this rapidly emerging AI era. 

Lee Yong-cheol, Team Lead of the Content AI Team at Smilegate Megaport 

Lee stated, “Recently, AI technology has advanced to the point where, when a user inputs a request, the AI can produce an output that matches the intent. For example, if you input ‘create a sound suitable for an epic battle,’ the AI will generate several versions accordingly. Thanks to AI, work productivity is increasing.” He added, “AI has become more useful by gaining the ability to learn on its own. When a user asks about a field they’re unfamiliar with, AI provides an appropriate answer based on its prior training.” He emphasized, “From a user’s perspective, AI significantly enhances work efficiency.” 

STOVE Supporters Focuses on Lee Yong-cheol’s Lecture “Games, AI, and Present” 

Various AI technologies are also being used in areas like game balancing, operations, and marketing. Lee explained, “AI is applied in recommending strategies based on user play styles, responding to churned users, fixing bugs during gameplay, and checking for balance issues. The use of AI has become widespread, and it will likely expand into even more areas in the future.” 

Toward the end of the lecture, Lee pointed out that there are still many challenges to solve when using AI technology. He noted, “Despite its remarkable advancements, AI still faces issues like inaccuracy, copyright, security, and human rights violations. There are many obstacles to overcome for AI to become fully commercialized.” His talk provided valuable insight into the future of AI in the gaming industry.

A Fierce Game Battle for School Pride

Indie Game “BiPed” Team Match

In the second session of the completion ceremony, students competed fiercely by playing the indie game BiPed.  

Biped, featured on STOVE Indie, is a puzzle adventure game that emphasizes teamwork between players. Two players work together strategically to clear a variety of terrains, with visually stunning stages set in forests, waterfalls, and ancient ruins.

Gyeonggi Game Meister High School Wins the Final Match of the Game Competition

Students formed teams of two for the preliminary matches, and the winning teams advanced to represent their schools in the finals. After a heated competition, Gyeonggi Game Meister High School claimed victory with a score of 2:0. 

Kim Min-hyuk, a sophomore at Gyeonggi Game Meister High School and a member of the winning team, said, “Since BiPed is a game that requires cooperation, teamwork was crucial while playing. Thanks to the friendships we developed during our Supporters activities, our coordination was spot on, which helped us win.” He added, “The experience of exchanging ideas and communicating with other students during the program was also helpful. I'm happy we won the competition.” 

STOVE Supporters: Soaring Toward Tomorrow’s Dreams

The final session of the ceremony was the awarding presentation. During the two-month STOVE Supporters program, schools that showed outstanding performance were recognized. While both schools performed exceptionally well, Seoul Digitech High School was selected as the final winner by a narrow margin. The winning school received a trophy, certificate, and a prize of 2 million KRW. Additional awards were given for specific activities such as game analysis, content planning, and content creation. Every student also received a certificate of completion.

Seoul Digitech High School Selected as the Winning School of STOVE Supporters

Yang Sung-yeol, Head of Platform at Smilegate Megaport, stated, “The Supporters program introduced a variety of games from the students’ perspectives, offering users fun and useful information. I hope this activity provided both direct and indirect experiences for students exploring careers in the gaming industry.”

Interview with Student from the Winning School

Ha Jung-heon, Sophomore at Seoul Digitech High School

Ha Jung-heon, Sophomore at Seoul Digitech High School

How do you feel about being selected to represent your school?

All of us, including myself, were exploring career paths in game and video-related fields. I joined the Supporters program hoping it would be helpful. The journey was enjoyable, and I’m happy with the positive outcome as well.

What was the most memorable part of the two-month Supporters program?

The preliminary round of the game competition stands out. During the preparation, we made a promotional video, and there were many conflicts among team members. We had different experiences and viewpoints, so aligning our ideas wasn’t easy. However, we respected each other's opinions and communicated actively to reach a reasonable conclusion. In the end, we were satisfied with the outcome. It was a meaningful experience that taught me the importance of communication.

How did the Stove Supporters program help you?

I’ve long been interested in working in the game industry, which is why I enrolled in a high school focused on gaming. I believe this program was very helpful in exploring my career path. Through the Supporters program, I got to analyze indie games and create promotional content myself. This process helped me objectively assess my abilities. Also, working with friends to create content gave me a renewed appreciation for the importance of teamwork.   

Do you have any advice for students who want to join Stove Supporters in the future? 

I think the Stove Supporters program has two major strengths: first, it helps you discover your interests and improve your skills; second, it allows you to understand the value of teamwork as your role contributes to the team’s performance. While you could work on projects like indie game analysis on your own, doing it as a team creates synergy and leads to even better results. If you’re considering a career in the gaming industry, I highly recommend trying it out.