Infusing M’sian culture into video game
Designer puts local food and architecture on world map in popular RPG series
KUALA LUMPUR: As a lead game designer for one of the world’s biggest video game developers, Wan Hazmer Wan Abd Halim tried to inject Malaysian culture into the Final Fantasy XV universe that he helped to create.
He heads the Culture team, which is tasked with designing cities and dwellings for the latest instalment of the popular Japanese roleplaying game (RPG) series produced by Square Enix.
“Game designers are like the architects of a game’s fun factor.
“We craft the game experience by planning the gameplay mechanics, creating the layout of levels and even defining the intended atmosphere of a certain area or a scene,” Wan Hazmer said in an interview here.
The plot of the game centres on the trials and tribulations of the protagonist Prince Noctis, who tries to reclaim his homeland and the magical crystal that protects his people after it is seized by the Niflheim empire on the eve of peace negotiations.
“I tried to persuade the team to put in pontianak and orang minyak as staple enemies but it got rejected as they didn’t fit with the Final Fantasy XV world,” he said.
“However, Final Fantasy XV is a RPG that delivers a unique road trip experience with your best friends through both a realistic and fantastical world.
“And everyone knows that when there’s travelling, there’s always food. One of the towns that you’ll come across is Lestallum. Its food culture is inspired by our mamak stall culture.
“So yes, for the first time in Final Fantasy history, you’ll be able to see roti canai, satay and teh tarik,” he said.
Wan Hazmer cites Lestallum as his favourite town in the game. With a mix of influences such as Cuban architecture, a Middle Eastern market atmosphere and Malaysian food culture, Lestallum will function as a hub city for the game.
“While the building architecture is based on Cuba, it also looks like one of those hotels that you might see in Taiping, Perak.
“So it’s not a very grand one, it has something of a colonial element,” he added.
To make the town even more realistic, observers will notice pieces of rubbish on the pavements and a medley of disorganised items such as oil drums and stacked boxes along Lestallum’s alleyways.
There are exposed pipes travelling through the town channelling water, gas and heat.
The weather is also very hot, much like home.
A “walk” through town with Noctis proves to be quite an experience, with palm trees, food vendors, alfresco dining and cobblestone surfaces all put together under a sunny filter.
Lestallum even features Malaysian food carts with umbrella stands.
“I tried my best to expose my team to Malaysian culture. I took them to a Malaysian restaurant in Ikebukuro called Malaychan and actually got the animator to tarik (pull) the tea.
“I’m on good terms with the owner, so I asked her to bring out two big cups for us to tarik the tea.
“A lot of it spilt on the floor, unfortunately,” Wan Hazmer quipped.
Final Fantasy XV will be released on Nov 29.