Alumni Story

From Course Project to Publisher Deal

How Ali Zulfikar built Ariverse Studio and secured publisher funding for a game that began as an Agate Academy prototype.

Ali Zulfikar
Co-Founder, Ariverse Studio

A drive to learn the whole ecosystem

When Ali Zulfikar set out to learn about the video game industry, he didn’t stop at just one class. Driven by a desire to understand the complete game development ecosystem, Ali consistently participated in multiple Agate Academy programs.

2023

Agate Game Course
Regular Class ↗

2020

2024

Studi Independen
Kampus Merdeka

2021

2025

Agate Game Course
Unreal Engine Class ↗

2022

“I joined multiple Agate Academy programs because I knew it was the right place to learn. The insights you get are top-tier, and I really wanted to understand what real industry-standard pipelines and workflows look like.”

Ali Zulfikar

THE TURNING POINT

The Turning Point: Hands-On Experience in Game Development

While every program provided valuable skills, the AGC Unreal Engine Class and the Studi Independen Kampus Merdeka program proved to be Ali’s biggest turning points. His perspective on the gaming industry expanded dramatically through hands-on production experience.

Managing Teams as a Game Producer
Stepping into leadership roles to coordinate production workflows.

Mastering Pipeline Management
Learning art direction, narrative flow, and structured production pipelines used by professional studios.

Securing a Game Publisher Deal

During his time in the Studi Independen Kampus Merdeka program, Ali developed a prototype titled Nightwatch at the Gallery. Believing in the game’s potential, Ali and his team at Ariverse Studio continuously refined and polished the concept, eventually transforming it into Nightwatch at the Museum.

With thorough pitching preparation and mentorship, the team presented their game at IGDX 2025 (Indonesia Game Developer Exchange), successfully securing an official funding deal with a game publisher.

Nightwatch at the Museum — Demo Trailer · Watch on YouTube ↗

The Birth of Ariverse Studio

Armed with a deep understanding of industry-standard production pipelines, Ali co-founded Ariverse Studio with his university peers. Rather than sticking to traditional games, Ariverse Studio also offers interactive educational media creation, gamification systems, and Extended Reality (XR) development.

Ali’s Advice for Beginner Game Developers

For those just starting out in game development, Ali offers a piece of advice:

“When starting your career in game development, focus on finishing small games repeatedly to explore mechanics and test your ideas. One finished game teaches you far more than five abandoned projects sitting on your hard drive. Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals through small projects, you’ll be ready to build your dream game.”

Ali Zulfikar · Co-Founder, Ariverse Studio

Build Your Dream Game with Agate Academy!

Ready to learn game development with a comprehensive curriculum and direct mentorship from industry experts?

Join the Agate Game Course and gain the skills and portfolio needed to thrive in the video game industry.

All company names, brand names, trademarks, logos, illustrations, videos and any other intellectual property (Intellectual Property) published on this website are the property of their respective owners.
Any non-authorized usage of Intellectual Property is strictly prohibited and any violation will be prosecuted under the law.