Yogyakarta has become the venue for the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the Development of the National Board Game Ecosystem. This event, organized to encourage the growth of the national game subsector, particularly non-digital games, took place at The Alana Hotel & Conference Center Malioboro on Saturday, September 7, 2024.

The discussion was initiated by the Directorate of Applications, Games, Television, and Radio of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, in collaboration with the Indonesian Board Game Industry Association (APIBGI).

"We are gathering ideas and input from various stakeholders, such as board game enthusiasts, communities, and associations," said Iman Santosa, Director of Applications, Games, Television, and Radio, at the event’s opening. He emphasized that the discussion is crucial in developing a robust and sustainable board game ecosystem, encompassing communities, developers, publishers, distributors, retailers, and event organizers.

Insightful Presentations

Participants received insightful presentations, including an overview of the board game industry in Yogyakarta by Ryan Sucipto, followed by a discussion on the role of board games in community and education by Adhika Widyaparaga.

"What’s exciting about this FGD is that in addition to presentations from experts, we also held a Play Test session featuring local board games," Iman added.

Approximately 25 local board games from various publishers were showcased during the event, and participants had the chance to play these games. Some titles included Wilah by Game4change, Papat by Gurubumi, Sutasoma by Sebangku, Marica On Time by Marica, Bahtera Nuh by Impian Studio, Superfood by Feiratochi, Match Cat by Hompimpa, and Sekata by Tabletoys.

"This event aims to serve as a platform for discussion and collaboration between game developers, creative industry players, and academics in building a stronger board game ecosystem in Indonesia," said Iman.

Gathering Feedback

Speaking to reporters, Iman explained that similar discussions have already been held in South Tangerang, Banten. The FGD in Yogyakarta was designed to gather feedback from local board game developers.

He acknowledged that not many cities in Indonesia have established board game communities. "We hope to see these communities grow in various locations," he said.

"Board games have great potential, but the industry remains underdeveloped. Through this event, we want to learn more about the local developers and communities in Yogyakarta. While digital games are well-established, we’ve only been focusing on board games for the past two years," Iman explained.

He also noted that several cafes in Yogyakarta now offer board games for visitors, indirectly supporting tourism in the region.

Enhancing Tourism Experience

"Visitors can relax in cafes, enjoy beverages, and play games, which extends their stay in Yogyakarta and enhances their experience. This contributes to promoting quality tourism," Iman said.

Regarding content, Iman highlighted the presence of both international and local themes in board games. "Some board games are even being developed for educational purposes, such as games teaching about animals and other subjects," he added.

Iman concluded that board games offer numerous benefits beyond entertainment, particularly in education. This FGD in Yogyakarta is part of a broader effort to map out strategies and solutions for the growth of the board game industry in Indonesia.