For I-Van Yee, now in his 40s and a prominent figure in Malaysia’s game education scene, the path to a career in games wasn’t straightforward.
“I love games, but [when I was applying to uni] there was no such thing as a games degree way back in 2000s,” Yee recalls.
So, he chose the closest subject he could find: multimedia.
Navigating to the nearest path
Yee completed his Advanced Diploma in Multimedia at Limkokwing University in Malaysia before heading to RMIT Australia for his degree in multimedia programming.
The programme offered a bridging arrangement where students could complete their final year in Melbourne — an opportunity that would shape his perspective on education and career building.
His time in Australia, however, had its share of unexpected culture shocks. “When I was in Australia, it was like this place a little bit too structured. Everything closes at 9 p.m.,” he says.
He even recalls a particularly memorable moment when a friend was getting a haircut. “Halfway through, it was closing time, so [the hairstylist] stopped halfway and then he had to go and come back the next day.”
Despite the initial adjustment, Yee made the most of his year abroad — perhaps too much. “I travelled too much when I was there. I almost killed myself in education,” he admits with a laugh.
The backpacking adventures across Australia nearly derailed his studies, but they also broadened his worldview in ways that would later influence his approach to teaching.
In 2019, Yee also attended the University of Wollongong’s campus in Malaysia to pursue a Master’s in Design (Innovation), Pixel Art. Source: I-Van Yee
Coming back to Malaysia to pursue his career
The structured lifestyle of Australia ultimately convinced Yee that Malaysia offered something different — opportunity. “I thought that Malaysia has more potential for starting up something. We are a relatively conducive country to start businesses,” he says.
His year abroad had taught him that there are definitely things overseas that are better than Malaysia, but there are also a lot of perks and benefits locally. He cites examples like Internet connectivity in rural Germany, challenging the assumption that developed countries excel in all areas. This balanced perspective would become central to his teaching philosophy.
Upon returning to Malaysia, Yee embarked on what he describes as a learning journey. “I was like, OK, I’ll learn everything,” he says of his early career strategy.
He worked at a film production company, did Flash animation at VHQ (a local post-production house), and served as a video editor at Media Prima.
“Some companies you like, you don’t like, but as long as you’ve picked up the skills already, you decide to move on,” he explains. This approach laid the foundation for his diverse skill set.
From industry to education
Around 2008, Yee landed in education by returning to teach at his alma mater in Cyberjaya.
“Funnily enough, my old lecturer called me back in as I tended to turn every multimedia assignment into something related to games back then,” Yee said. “So, when my previous institution wanted to develop a games course, I was summoned back and I found that I have a deep love for teaching as well. I have not looked back since.”
Early on in his days as an educator, he helped found what he describes as “the second game programme in Malaysia.”
“It was fun setting that up and growing it,” he reflects. But after three years, he left. In fact, much of his team also departed with him to establish a new programme at KDU, which has since been acquired and is now known as the University of Wollongong.
Yee spent nine years at KDU, where he discovered his true calling. “I found that, yeah, I actually like teaching. I like researching into stuff like games, multimedia, animation, comics, all the fun, nerdy stuff,” he says.
After stints at KDU and two years at MDEC (the government agency handling games content), Yee now serves as Ecosystem Manager for Games at Asia Pacific University (APU) — a title he acknowledges is “made-up”. “I found that lately in my past few jobs, all the titles have been kind of made-up,” he jokes. “I think I’m the only one there.”
But that, perhaps, just goes to show the kind of pioneering role he has played in the local industry.
Yee has taught in institutions such as Limkokwing University, UOW Malaysia, and now, Asia Pacific University. Source: I-Van Yee
Bridging two educational philosophies
Although Yee didn’t spend much time in Australia, it left a lasting impression on how he approaches teaching. He observed distinct differences between Western and Asian educational styles: “Western countries, they’re technically sometimes not as strong as the Asians, surprisingly. But they’re very conceptual. They’re very deep in thought and philosophy. But the Asians are more like, OK, let’s do this — anything you need to figure out how to do it.”
He believes the sweet spot lies in combining both approaches. The best place to be is to be technically strong, but at the same time, open-minded and willing to adopt the advantages of the Western way of thinking.
Like in Australia, Yee also tries to incorporate practising professionals into his curriculum.
Today, Yee runs his own studio that does all things games and even publishes card games and produces social media content — all while teaching. “If I were to teach someone about running a business in games, I would definitely want to do it myself first,” he explains. “At least the information I give to students are real, as real as can be, as opposed to just from a textbook or a hypothesis.”
