Shopping for last-minute Christmas gifts? Check out these amazing Singaporean creations
What does a game about a Venetian-mask wearing protagonist have in common with a palm-sized karaoke machine?
Answer: They are both the products of fine Singapore craftsmanship, and they were successfully brought to life by the people — crowdfunders on Kickstarter.
So, for those looking for a unique gift for themselves or to showcase Singapore’s talents to friends and family this holiday season, look no further. Among the five diverse entries below, there will definitely be one that will make this Christmas extra joyous.
Masquerada: Songs and Shadows
For a roleplaying (RPG) game to be considered a ‘timeless classic’, it has to be equal parts grand storytelling and deep gameplay. Very few games have attained that coveted status; some have pulled it off only to see their subsequent releases struggle to hit the mark. (I’m looking at you, Square Enix.)
Nowadays, it is the major game studios with large budgets that can dream of creating a classic. Triple-A games like CD Projekt Red’s Witcher 3 and Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim are some recent examples that come to mind.
Witching Hour Studio‘s Masquerada: Songs and Shadows looks like it was built by a lean, independent studio who loaded up on steroids and partook in all manners of witchery (pun intended) to pass their game off as a triple-A title.
Masquerada is set in a renaissance steam-punk world, where armies and rebel fighters wield mysterious Venetian-style masks called “Mascharines” to wage wars and skirmishes against each other. The story begins when an exile of the dominant faction is called back to investigate a case of a missing researcher.
Like most role-playing games, this game is chock-loaded with lore, as well as exhaustive journal entries. And this is a fairly linear game that is about 20 hours long tops.
Then, there are long dialogue scenes that gave me enough time to brew a tea, sit back and let it cool before sipping it; sometimes, I felt like I was reading a book or an encyclopedia.
I think there are actually more cutscenes than actual gameplay in the whole game. Even the roleplaying bit is significantly less exhaustive and customisable than its counterparts — because as mentioned, it is very linear and there are no optional quests at all.
Also Read: Singapore’s iCandy set to purchase 318 mobile games from Animoca at US$3.8M
So why am I recommending this game? Well, first off, that was the cynical part of me talking.
To tell the truth, for a humble gaming studio, Witching Hour has pulled off an impressive feat. To some players, the lore may be a tad excessive for a game of this length but I think the studio is laying some really solid foundations for a long franchise.
The story is rich with deep, complex — and sometimes tormented — characters (although occasionally their storylines seem a little too convenient). The voice acting is top-notch, allowing the player to really empathise with the characters’ struggles.
And without giving away too much, the plot has enough intriguing twists and turns that will make players want to binge the game in one or two sittings.
Yes, you may have to temper your expectations because it is 1) an independent game 2) it is the studio’s debut RPG, but that shouldn’t put you off from buying it. I will list down its merits:
- For time-stretched adults like yours truly, sometimes we just want to enjoy a grandiose, multilayered story without having to put ourselves through long hours of grinding, puzzle-solving, item-collecting quests.
- Witching Hour is definitely setting this franchise up for something bigger. So don’t miss out on what could be a future triple-A franchise, and maybe even a classic.
Oh, and it only costs S$20.00 (US$15) on the Playstation 4 store.
Avertigos – South China Sky
The Singapore chapter of Ubisoft recently announced the development of its first triple-A game: a pirate-themed RPG called Skull & Bones.
But before that is released, those looking for a local pirate adventure can cast their spyglass on local entrepreneur Siddharth Jain.
As its name suggests, Tabletop specialises in developing tabletop games, also known as board games. This year, the company successfully developed and crowdfunded Avertigos – South China Sky, a strategy board game that takes place in a world where two factions of flying battleships called the Dynastic naval armada and the Singasari League battle for dominance over trade routes and islands.
If you have played similar games such as Warhammer 40,000, picking this up would be easy. But those with no experience with this genre would find this quite daunting. Tabletop games require players to invest a lot of time, effort and brain matter into understanding the rules and devising strategies to best their opponent.
The payoff can be quite rewarding if you and your pals pull it off. Also, it comes with 388 minatures including little pirate ships and cannons which you can custom-paint.
Avertigos comes with a base set is priced at S$127 (US$93.70). Players who would prefer a quick and easy set up can purchase the duelling kit, which costs S$67 (US$49.40). Modular add-ons are also offered at extra costs.
Tabletop games are great fun because there are almost limitless ways to customise the gameplay rules and styles — it’s only limited by your imagination. Being able to play with friends and families in the same physical space is also a more fun way to bond; there is definitely more satisfaction in yelling at your pals in the face as opposed to over a mic.
BOLDR Expedition
In the era of smartphones and smartwatches, the traditional ‘dumb’ mechanical wristwatch industry has, surprisingly, remained evergreen.
Beyond its utilitarian appeal, luxury mechanical watches are a fashion accessory and a status symbol. Just look at the number of celebrity endorsements on major luxury brands such as Tag Heuer.
You can’t wear smartphones on your wrist, and smartwatches, being a nascent technology, are not as hardy, practical and stylish as a good old Omega Speedmaster, for example.
Here is my definition of a top grade watch: It should be able to withstand category 5 hurricanes, 50-storey drops, tiger claws and grizzly bear teeth.
Also Read: Apple Watch Series 3 rollout hits speed bumps in China as carriers still not ready
Ok, I’m exaggerating, but you get my point. Buying a watch is a little different from buying a phone. Yes, new models of luxury mechanical watches are released regularly, but when people invest in them, they are investing in not just a status symbol, but also in longevity and durability (it also helps that these brands usually have long, unblemished track records).
Which is why BOLDR’s new Expedition model received about S$230,000 (US$171,000) in crowdfunds. The automatic field watch, with its stainless steel case and monochrome colours, looks like it was made with military personnel in mind.
It has a “high-contrast dial design, superluminova 3D lume markers and numerals for legibility in any condition” and “a multi-function inner bezel used to mark countdowns, time elapsed, a second-time zone or for use as a compass.”
What that all means is that if you survive a chopper crashlanding in the jungles deep in a territory called “what-the-hell-is-this-place”, this little guy might help you orient yourself and lead you to salvation.
At US$599, BOLDR’s Expedition is also relatively cheaper than models with similar designs.
“Swiss-made Sellita sw200-1 (the contraption that keeps the dial ticking) is used by big brands, but we are more affordable, more value for money,” Co-founder of BOLDR, Leon Leong, told e27.
“Mechanical watches can be passed down for generations … it’s like a piece of art, you like it, you buy it, wear it, and tell a story with it.”
“We have wearers who told us they wore our watch to scale certain mountains, for weddings, and some even met with accidents and scratched their watch as a result – that add character to the watch.”
Card Adapter
Travellers who have been to many countries would know what I’m talking about. Many universal adapters – including reputable ones – may have trouble staying attached to their sockets because of their bulk, which would cause the adapters to tilt and lose the connection.
This problem is exacerbated when there is a hefty device like a Macbook Pro charger attached to it.
CARD has raised S$80,068 (US$60,000) to make a more user-friendly adapter. They have attempted to make the adapter as slim as possible and yet still incorporate all the pin standards from different countries.
Depending on the type of pin used, CARD can connect to the wall either on its side or the more commonly-used upright position.
There are a few models to choose from. One offers four USB ports and another offers three USB ports and one qualified USB Type-C charging port.
The latter is interesting because this technology is used by newer laptops such as the latest Apple Macbook Pro iterations. Not many universal adapters offer Type-C charging at this stage so this could be useful when users retire their older Macbooks and purchase newer models.
Popsical
It is easy to see how Popsical gained so many backers.
Karaoke is really popular in Asia, but most people visit pubs or rent karaoke lounges to sing their hearts out. This is because most karaoke machines designed for home use are not only bulky, but they are also expensive.
In contrast, Popsical’s palm-sized, donut-shaped karaoke device are not just portable but there also cheaper, ranging from S$249 (US$185) to S$499 (US$371). There is also special bundle price for S$399 (US$300) with the POPXMAS code.For an additional S$200 (S$140), users can get a set that comes with two wireless microphones and a soundbar.
Popsical connects to the TV using an HDMI cable. It streams and adds new songs via the cloud using a WiFi or ethernet connection
There is also “Spotify-esque” service that streams over 120,000 songs in thirteen languages including English, Chinese, Malay, Hindi and Tamil. By paying a premium subscription which costs S$9.99 per month (US$7.00), subscribers can get access to the latest songs as well.
Now this could be the perfect Christmas gift. I hope there are Christmas carols in there.
[Correction: The article previously stated that Popsical costs S$199 and had 13,000 songs]
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Image Credit: gilc / 123RF Stock Photo
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