Professor Yu-Chin Hsiao Leads Students to Win Gold and Honorable Mention at the 2024 Taiwan Digital Media Design Awards

A team of senior students from our department, including Shih Chia-Chia, Hsieh Yin-Chi, Huang Chih-Jou, Chen Shan-Ting, and Chang Kai-Ying, won the Gold Award at the 2024 Taiwan Digital Media Design Awards with their interactive game, "Adventure of Ji-Jhao". This project originated from a junior-year project course, recommended by Professor Tsao Hsiao-Yueh and created in collaboration with the Taiwan Literature Museum, under the guidance of Professor Yu-Chin Hsiao. The work aims to showcase the local cultural essence and literary depth of Taiwan through innovative approaches. The team transformed the literary works of Taiwanese writer Huang Chun-Ming into a digital game, enabling players to experience the human stories of 1950s Taiwan through interactivity and engagement, beyond mere words. This successfully highlights the unique charm of Taiwanese literature.

Another award-winning work, "464 Steps", designed by sophomore students Fan Chiang Yu-Jen, Kuo Yi-Wen, Ko Hsin-Tzu, Wu Chia-Li, and Go Fujikazu, received an Honorable Mention. This VR game integrates the folklore of Matsu, using 3D modeling to recreate the real-life scenes of the Andong Tunnel. Through interactive effects with candlelight, the game attracts players to challenge levels, allowing them to experience the historical backdrop of Matsu through virtual reality. The project was guided by Professors Tsao Hsiao-Yueh, Chuang Yu-Li, and Yu-Chin Hsiao, showcasing the students' creativity and technical expertise.

These awards demonstrate the outstanding abilities of our department's students in digital design and their groundbreaking achievements in integrating cultural creativity with digital technology.

Competition Name: 2024 7th Taiwan Digital Media Design Awards – College Division, New Media Interaction Category
Award Level: Gold Award
Project Title: Adventure of Ji-Jhao
Team Members: Shih Chia-Chia, Hsieh Yin-Chi, Huang Chih-Jou, Chang Kai-Ying, Chen Shan-Ting
Advising Professor: Professor Yu-Chin Hsiao
Project Description:
The game continues the story from the ending of the short story "Scavenger’s Child". Players take on the role of Ji-Jhao, the scavenger’s child, who develops a misunderstanding about the value of labor after a punishment and becomes afraid of going to school, wandering around the town instead. The narrative spans three days, during which players interact with other residents from Ji-Jhao's perspective and complete various tasks to help Ji-Jhao resolve inner conflicts and return to school. Besides revisiting the short story's plot, the game also includes several fun mini-games to enhance the player’s experience.

Award Level: Honorable Mention
Project Title: 464 Steps
Team Members: Fan Chiang Yu-Jen, Kuo Yi-Wen, Ko Hsin-Tzu, Wu Chia-Li, Go Fujikazu
Advising Professor: Professor Yu-Chin Hsiao
Project Description:
Matsu is rich in folklore, and we used a game to help players understand the historical context behind these stories. "464 Steps" refers to the number of steps in the staircase of the Andong Tunnel. The title symbolizes the players’ journey down the tunnel steps, leading them into a terrifying and supernatural world.

Award Announcement Link: https://tdmd2024.ntub.edu.tw/91-2/