SINGAPORE wants to take on the world gaming industry and it is calling those with a penchant for game design here to lock their creative ideas into high gear.

For the first time, the Media Development Authority (MDA) is calling for proposals for games with the potential to be commercialised and marketed overseas.

Winning game designs will need be versatile enough to be published on most platforms such as the web, mobile platforms like the iPhone and iPod, and desktop computers.

Their creators will be given a headstart by four local game publishers, who will partner with them to publish the games.

IAH Games, Garena Interactive,Activate Interactive and Mikoishi will also help the new players penetrate the highly competative overseas market, according to MDA.

IAH Games is known for publishing games like Fifa Online, and currently has about 20 million users logging on in Southeast Asia.

Gaming portal Garena Interactive which hosts games and launches new titles, has about 14 million users in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

Both MDA and the four developers will fully fund the games.

The move comes as the authority seeks to develop 'high value' games across all platforms. This is part of its thrust to grow its Future of Media scheme, which funds companies to develop next-generation media applications in games, television, mobile phones and virtual worlds.

The call for proposal ends July 31, and the start date for the development process will be September 1.