KOM hosts e-Games conference

"This annual conference offers the Gulf's gaming, new media, animation and marketing professionals the opportunity to take part in a two-day interactive event on mobile, handheld and online gaming hosted by Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) and sponsored by Oman Mobile," commented Mohammed Al Ghassani, Director, KOM. According to the organizers, the conference is intended to be an informal and lively event where the entire games value chain comes together to discuss the burning issues at the very heart of the industry. "Leading industry players will guide and stimulate discussions to provide delegates with an insight into what is driving and hindering the gaming industry as well as focusing on how to generate more revenue from the creation and provision of games, both now and in the future," added Al Ghassani.

Today's gaming industry is big business. Recent figures confirm that the worldwide gaming market is valued at between US$30 and US$35 billion. To put those figures into context, the size of the gaming industry is now approaching the music industry, which is worth around US$38 billion and has already surpassed the motion picture industry in terms of box office revenue. In brief, gaming has emerged as a critical form of entertainment and leisure for the majority of 15 - 30 year-olds across the globe.

Hundreds of millions of consumer gamers use a variety of gaming platforms: more than 200 million play PC games, more than 140 million play console games, another 100 million play handheld games. Mobile and online gaming is now emerging, mainly through PCs, console devices and mobile phones. In addition, more than 60 percent of gamers are now over the age of eighteen. This widening age distribution means that gaming is not, as some may perceive, for Gen Y'ers only. Indeed, analysts predict that games will move very much into the mainstream - something that will see ordinary people playing games much more, particularly using mobile phones and TV sets.

The topics being covered at e-Games are:

• (2 May) Afternoon Workshop: The Handheld Market
• (3 May) Games & Popular Culture: Where Does the Middle East Stand?
• Innovation & Game Development
• Mobile Gaming
• Online Gaming
• Marketing Games to Middle East Gen Y'ers