PUBLISHED ONSeptember 15, 2026 12:00 AMBYKoh Xing YingWhat if a video game could do more than entertain?
For a team of 50 students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic's (NP) School of InfoComm Technology, a four-week game development project this year became an opportunity to explore how video games can go beyond entertainment and serve as a platform for crime prevention.
Speaking to AsiaOne on Friday (Sep 11), second-year student Low Jia Shen, 18, said the project allowed him and his peers to work on real-world scenarios rather than focusing solely on game design.
"I felt that it was very important to have outside experience instead of focusing purely on games, which is what we learn in our day-to-day classes. This gives me a more rewarding final product," said Low.
For Low and his schoolmates, the Delta Challenge was a new component introduced to their curriculum this year, allowing students to work on projects centred on real-world scenarios while applying their skills in game design.
Launched in 2025 by the Singapore Police Force and the National Crime Prevention Council, the Delta Challenge is a youth initiative that encourages young people to use creativity to raise awareness about crime prevention.
Participants can take part by creating projects such as online games and artworks centred on different crime prevention themes, with cash prizes of up to $25,000 up for grabs.
While the student-developed games are intended for members of the public, they are currently not available on any platform and will only be released if sponsorship is secured.
Among the entries are games developed by NP students, featuring themes ranging from road safety and scam education to crime prevention. The games place players in real-world scenarios where they must abide by different laws and rules in order to progress and eventually complete the game.
A learning point would also pop up each time a mistake is made, explaining what went wrong and reinforcing the relevant lesson. By incorporating educational messages directly into gameplay, the students hope to help players better understand the consequences of unsafe or unlawful actions and how they can avoid them in real life.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Siti Noraini Binte Shafiee Aloweni said the challenge gives youths a chance to take a more active role in keeping the community safe.
"The Delta Challenge empowers youths to go beyond being advocates for crime prevention - it gives them the opportunity to be part of the solution," said Siti.
"By harnessing their creativity, skills and energy, youths work with the SPF and NCPC to develop innovative ideas and initiatives that contribute to the safety and security of our community."
She pointed to projects such as educational games and digital artworks as examples of how participants can translate crime prevention messages into formats that are engaging and relatable for their peers.
Module participant Lam Thong Wan, 21, saw the project as an opportunity to challenge herself and gain experience beyond conventional game development.
"I wanted to give myself a new challenge and also to raise awareness of the different types of crime," said Lam.
"I had to do my research on different areas of crime prevention, such as vaping and road safety, among others. This definitely helped me understand more about these issues and how we can prevent them."
While elements of the Delta Challenge have been incorporated into programmes at various institutes of higher learning, NP is the only school to date that has fully integrated it into its curriculum.
Professor Ryan Qin, a lead lecturer at NP who introduced the challenge to the curriculum, told AsiaOne that he decided to make it a permanent part of students' coursework to show how new media can also serve the wider community.
"This was something that I wanted to personally incorporate in my classes with the students because I want to let our students do something beyond what is typically taught," said Qin, who has been a lecturer in the school for over a decade.
"I found that the Delta Challenge was a perfect opportunity for our students not just to do a project, but also to work on a topic that affects them as youths indirectly."
For Qin, the students' games showed how familiar video game mechanics could be repurposed to educate players about crime prevention.
"This is more than just a game. It goes beyond the classroom - it is an education that comes from real-world experience and helps students understand how they can also play a part in the community," he said.
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xingying.koh@asiaone.com
