The game’s success could open the doors for future developments, including map expansions and additional characters, says Nur Naquyah. — ART CHEN/The Star
One of the pioneering forces behind Malaysia’s animation industry, Les’ Copaque Production, is set to make waves once again with a console game of its beloved TV series, Upin & Ipin.
After 17 years of captivating Malaysians with its animated content, the company is venturing into new territory with its upcoming game IP, set to debut on the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.
Nur Naquyah, the creative content director of Les’ Copaque, said that the team realised many children today haven’t experienced the village vibe or know what a kampung is like, so they decided to develop an open-world game to introduce them to it.
“The goal of the game is to give players the impression that they are actually living in Kampung Durian Runtuh,” says Nur Naquyah, the daughter of the company’s CEO, Haji Burhanuddin.
Building bonds
As the game is designed as open-world, it allows players to engage in activities such as fishing, farming, cooking and cycling in Kampung Durian Runtuh, just like the characters in the show.
The game will feature only two playable characters: the titular Upin and Ipin. Upin will control the camera, given his role as the older twin.
“If one of the parents is playing the game with their kid, they should play as Upin because he will be the leading character in the game to guide the other one,” says Nur Naquyah.
This design ensures that the twins always play together, reinforcing the show’s theme of sibling camaraderie.
“We will not split the screen for them to do different tasks. Upin and Ipin are twins; they should always play together.”
This approach also aims to preserve the essence of Les’ Copaque by fostering bonding sessions between parents and children. The game will present an original storyline, complete with a main quest accompanied by side missions, providing players with diverse gameplay options.
“It’s going to have three blocks: the main adventure, side quests, and free play,” Nur Naquyah says.
Explore Opah's house, Upin and Ipin's grandmother's place, at different times of day, with dynamic weather to make the game feel even more real. — Photos: Les’ Copaque Production
Players can choose to follow the main storyline or engage in other activities, such as helping Kak Ros sell nasi lemak or playing traditional games like gasing with friends.
“When we decided to do the game, it was from a fan-based view. Most of the fans will already know the settings in the series, such as Tok Dalang’s house and Tadika Mesra,” she adds.
She also notes that the game is designed to be enjoyable for new players unfamiliar with the Upin & Ipin series.
“The players don’t have to know the series to play this game, it will still be fun for you to play,” she says.
The kampung life
It has been a long journey for the company, with the plan to create a game based on the hit show being in development for a considerable time, according to Nur Naquyah. The concept was initially proposed back in the PlayStation 2 era.
The game aims to balance traditional Malaysian culture with global appeal by incorporating local flora and fauna.
The game will feature only two playable characters: the titular Upin and Ipin.
After years of meticulously designing the game’s map and infusing it with authentic Malaysian elements, players will finally experience a world complete with ikan patin, pokok pisang, and pokok getah.
“An open world requires you to create a large map, and creating a map needs a lot of hard work,” she adds.
To further enrich the environment, features such as a buaian, tarik upih (a game where children ride on a palm frond), and double-seat bicycles are included.
Additionally, players can collect points represented by fish, grasshoppers, and iconic Malaysian foods like nasi lemak, adding an extra layer of local flavour to the gameplay.
“My favourite is the tarik upih game. It’s really fun, and I would play it over and over. It’s so nostalgic and brings back my childhood. As for my favourite quest, it’s definitely fishing,” she shares.
The game will have dynamic aspects to boost realism and immersion, like variations in weather, and will allow gamers to explore the various activities freely.
It will also feature characters such as Tok Dalang and animals such as geese who will act as guides in the game, ensuring that users get a helping hand in the open world.
The game characters will resemble their animated versions but have subtle enhancements like bigger eyes for added cuteness.
When it comes to character designs, Nur Naquyah explains that the game will maintain a close resemblance to their animated counterparts, with subtle enhancements like slightly larger eyes for added cuteness.
“It’s a balance between the 3D game and the 3D animation in the series,” she says, as the team had to offer familiarity with a touch of novelty for the players.
“And the good news is that the original voice actors will reprise their roles in the game,” she says, particularly for the Bahasa Malaysia version.
This, Nur Naquyah said, will maintain the series’ authenticity and connection while promoting Bahasa Malaysia, though an English version will also be available for a broader audience.
Regarding the game soundtrack, she stresses the importance of integrating familiar music and sound effects from the show while also introducing fresh tracks to distinguish the game.
“We do have a lot of music. What we do is sort of mix the recent theme songs and original jingles, or create something new based on them, using the original as inspiration,” she adds.
Setting the stage
Les’ Copaque has partnered with Malaysian-based Streamline Studios for the project.
The collaboration allows both companies to exchange knowledge and technologies while enhancing character modelling, animation, and rendering.
Voice actors from the show will be featured in the game, especially for the Bahasa Malaysia version.
“Weekly updates and close communication ensure the project stays on track,” says Nur Naquyah.
The company chose Unreal Engine 5, widely popular among developers, due to its impressive graphics capabilities.
“The reason we’re choosing this engine is because it’s powerful software and excels at rendering backgrounds. We can see the realness in the village scenery,” she elaborates.
From deciding on a name and logo to balancing Malaysian cultural elements with global gaming standards, the company also faced numerous hurdles, says Nur Naquyah.
As it worked with a partner that is more familiar with western games, the game required adjustments to reflect Malaysian environments accurately for the gameplay.
“They used standard golf grass in the gameplay, like in any other normal IP game, but that is not our Malaysian grass. Ours is very tall, like lalang, so that is the real struggle,” Nur Naquyah says.
The team at Les’ Copaque is already planning for future expansions.
“That’s why we are choosing a console game – if our game is successful, we can expand the map, add more characters, and create more magical worlds in the game,” she says.
The view of Tadika Mesra's backyard in the upcoming Upin & Ipin console game. — Les’ Copaque Production
The potential plans include adding customisable characters and multiplayer options to expand the game’s reach.
“Let’s do what we are happy with. It’s okay about the outcome because we can’t really control the market’s fluctuations. For now, we just focus on creating this game first to see if people like it or not,” she says.
“The success of this game could pave the way for further developments and enhancements in the future.”
Final countdown
With a development budget of around RM15mil, the company is also navigating the complexities of publishing and marketing costs to ensure that its groundbreaking project reaches full potential.
“Although the game will be ready by the end of the year, the process of publishing involves an unnamed third-party publisher and some additional steps,” she says.
However, she adds that the high cost of publishing on PlayStation is due to stringent anti-counterfeit measures, which makes console development more challenging for Malaysian companies.
“The game is not delayed, as we are ready to submit it to the console maker by this September, but the public release depends on the publisher,” she says, noting that the timeline could range from two to six months after submission.
Also, the price for the game has yet to be fixed, with Nur Naquyah stating, “We need to test the final game before deciding how much.”
Les’ Copaque is hoping to make a lasting impact on the gaming industry. Whether the game becomes a global success or remains a beloved local treasure, it represents a significant step forward for Malaysian game development.
The company’s venture into console gaming marks a significant milestone, offering fans of Upin & Ipin an exciting new way to interact with their favourite characters while allowing the beloved animated series to reach a wider audience.
As the game nears its completion, the anticipation within Les’ Copaque is palpable.
“Our team is so excited about creating this game. We’re creating something special that brings Malaysian culture to life in a new, interactive way. We’re excited to share this journey with players and see where it takes us,” she concludes.
