Tropicana Magazine Jul-Aug 2017 #114: Bold & Beautiful

RICKY TJANDRA
hen you watch someone playing
WWarcraft, Clash of Clans or League
of Legends, you find them totally
immersed in the game. They can
become completely absorbed in
achieving a personal best with every
new level they reach.
Now, imagine if you could derive
this same level of engagement in the
work place and apply it to problem-solving, innovating
new products and tools, and honing new skills.
Gamification is defined as taking the main attributes of
gaming—such as engagement, transparency, teamwork
and strategising—and applying them to real-world
processes inside an organisation such as developing areas
of marketing and leadership.
Young entrepreneur, Ricky Tjandra (pronounced
Chandra) strongly believes the skills he has honed
from years of gaming complement his work ethic, and
contribute towards achieving his goals.
Ricky, a Malaysian permanent resident, of Indonesian-
Chinese and Taiwanese parentage, is an avid virtual
gamer and paintballer. Hitting his stride at 30 years of
age, he has been on a paint splattering haunt for the last 4
years – and loving it!
“Initially it did hurt and I came back quite sore,” laughs
the middle child of Hendrik Tjandra and Josephine Tien
Chin Hsiang. “I am used to it now. Once the adrenaline is
pumping, you don’t really feel the force of the paint balls.”
Ricky plays an average of once every fortnight and
regularly takes part in tournaments. Currently, Ricky is
attached to Team Kamikaze.
Ricky’s foray into the realm of gaming was mooted
by his father, who bought a Nintendo for himself and
introduced the world of Mario to Ricky as a child.
“Personally I am into Lord’s Mobile, which is similar to
Clash Of Clans,” explains Ricky of his gaming preferences.
“I have been an avid gamer since college, when the days
seemed so long and the nights where when sleep was
almost non-existent.”
“I get my gaming cue from my father,” laughs Ricky.
“His commitment towards his gaming hobby never ceases
to amaze me. Since going into semi-retirement, my father
has had more time on his hands, and more ‘hands’ to
manage multiple gaming devices at a time. Seeing him
with five phones laid out in front of him, playing one
game using different identities, is a common sight. You
can tell that he takes his gaming seriously because he
would postpone dinner just to accommodate his precious
game time!”
Whilst Ricky isn’t on his gaming consul 24-7, he does
afford some time to venturing into virtual realms.
“I cannot partake in such luxuries over long durations
when I have to run my own business,” he divulges. “As a
managing partner of VIZ Interactive Sdn Bhd, a relatively
new startup that provides Smart Home systems to
property developers and home owners, much of my time
is centred around developing the business.”
These smart home solutions include appliances and
digital systems such as air conditioning, motorised
curtains, alarms, CCTV, digital doorlocks and lighting, all
of which can be controlled remotely via voice-control.
Given the competitive nature of his business, Ricky knows
all too well the importance of staying ahead of the game.
TM | July/AUGUST 2017
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