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Samreth Wajanasathien was only in his third year of study at Silpakorn University's Department of Computing when he founded Second Soft, a mobile-game developer.

"I felt like the chance to fulfil my dream of owning a game company had arrived and I did not want it to slip out of my hands," he recalls.

His parents thought he was still too young and that the company might affect his studies. But Samreth insisted on tak?ing the risk. That was in 2003.

Four years later, Second Soft has become one of Thailand's leading game companies and its developed software has won many awards from competitions such as Thailand Animation and Multimedia (TAM) and Thailand ICT Awards.

At the age of only 27, Samreth is the chief executive officer of the company.

Like other children, Samreth loved playing computer games, but the difference was that he wanted to be a programmer, not just a player.

"Instead of going to Chulalongkorn University and studying management as my parents wanted, I intended to go to Silpakorn for computer studies and to prepare myself for the job," he says.

During his time at university, Samreth teamed up with his friends and entered their developed games in many competitions. The turning point came when his mobile software game won an award organised by Siemens Mobile.

"We never expected to be the winner because the competition was aimed at mobile applications, but we decided to submit our game because it was the best thing we could do," he says.

The unexpected prize inspired Samreth to jump fully into the business. He joined with his friends to open Second Soft and developed mobile software for downloading. Samreth invested Bt30,000 in a pool.

"The money I put in as my share came from working in outsourcing. I did not ask a single baht from my parents."

Once he became a game programmer for his own company as he had always dreamed, Samreth found it was more fun than to be just a player.

"It takes a lot of time and energy for a programmer to completely develop a single game, but a player can finish the game within three or four days," he says.

Samreth explains that if he creates a game based on a set of 35 cartoon books, the programmer must read through them at least two or three times before the story and characters can be developed.

His company's first month was not a success. With only 900 downloads,

Second Soft earned just Bt18,000. With four shares in the company, Samreth earned Bt4,500, from which Bt2,000 was deducted for office rent.

But that's what he expected."Every time you start up a new thing, there will always be an obstacle. Even if I try other businesses, I believe it will be like this," he says

However, the turning point for the company came four months later when Samreth and Second Soft were selected to develop a mobile game for the Thai movie "Ma-Ha-Aut" and became a partner with Advanced Info Service to promote its Mobile Life campaign.

In one month, downloads climbed to 20,000 and the company earned Bt400,000. Samreth collected Bt100,000 as his portion.

Second Soft has kept on growing. Apart from its core business as a java games provider, it has expanded its business to providing wallpaper, logos and ring tones, as well as developing programs. The profit has been enough for Samreth to hire 16 employees under his supervision

As CEO now, Samreth says his previous experience in every section of the company has made it easier for him to be in charge.

"It made me able to understand how they feel towards the given task. I know what is a severe job and what is not. No one could lie to me," he says.

"That's made it easier for us to talk. My crew know that I will understand everything they say. There is nothing to hide whenever we talk about work."

Another key to Samreth's management is that he will never allow any unit to recruit a new worker if the current staff do not know how the new position works.

If an art team wants to add a person to do 3D graphics because nobody in the current squad can do so, Samreth will never give his permission unless they learn how to do it themselves.

"My policy is hiring new people to relieve the workload, not to fill the missing part. We would be in trouble again if the new member were to leave and the old squad could not perform that task."

For those who want to work as game developers, Samreth advises them to prepare by choosing the right educational course and taking any opportunity that would be a ladder to their dream career.

Just like he did by opening a company when there was a chance.

"If you are in the middle of university studies in a field unrelated to computer games but still seriously want to be a developer, don't hesitate to go for another bachelor's degree in computer science," he says.

"It took me eight years before I graduated just last year. Why can't you spend another four years studying something that will support your career for the rest of your life?"

 

Story by Watchara Saengsrisin

Photo by Watcharachai Klaipong

The Nation