Preserving CultureThrough Gaming
How Nilawarsa Studio took Omah Batik from TSA Game Fest to official intellectual property development funding from Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture.
Ahmad Robithoh Akmal
Co-Founder & CEO, Nilawarsa Studio
Bringing batik culture into a game
Through TSA Game Fest 2024, co-organized by Agate and Talent Scouting Academy, Akmal and Nilawarsa Studio developed Omah Batik. The game brings Indonesian batik craftsmanship and philosophy into an interactive experience that is educational and entertaining. The project earned second place in the competition.
“Ko Wim (our game design mentor) constantly reminded us about the crucial role of visual feedback, while Mbak Chandrika (our 2D art mentor) kept emphasizing color, color, and color! This intensive mentoring truly pushed our team to grow. I am immensely grateful and proud to have had the opportunity to learn from these industry leaders.”
Ahmad Robithoh Akmal
THE TURNING POINT
From competition podium to real-world investment
The team continued polishing Omah Batik as a commercial product after TSA Game Fest. Its next step was IP-NESIA, a program from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia.
Second Place at TSA Game Fest 2024
The batik-themed concept earned a place on the national competition podium.
Selected Among Three Games Nationwide
Omah Batik was selected for official IP development investment through IP-NESIA.
Learning alongside game industry professionals
Intensive mentorship across game design, 2D art, programming, and project management helped Nilawarsa Studio develop its concept into an investor-ready project.
The team learned to pay close attention to visual feedback, color, and the production details that make an interactive cultural experience work.
A cultural concept with commercial potential
Omah Batik demonstrates how local cultural knowledge can form the foundation of a distinctive game. Competition feedback and continued development helped the team prepare the project for funding beyond the initial prototype.
Growing through intensive mentorship
Akmal highlights how learning directly from industry mentors pushed the team forward:
“Ko Wim (our game design mentor) constantly reminded us about the crucial role of visual feedback, while Mbak Chandrika (our 2D art mentor) kept emphasizing color, color, and color! This intensive mentoring truly pushed our team to grow. I am immensely grateful and proud to have had the opportunity to learn from these industry leaders.”
Ahmad Robithoh Akmal · Co-Founder & CEO, Nilawarsa Studio
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