ME's PlayStation Zone at e-Games

e-Games (www.egames-online.com) - scheduled to run 2 - 3 May 2005, Muscat Inter-Continental Hotel - is being billed by the organisers, Knowledge Oasis Muscat as: 'the Gulf's official console, mobile, online games and location-based entertainment event.' Says Hisham Al Zubaidi, Head of Marketing at KOM: 'This year's event will see telcos, programmers, graphic artists, animators, producers, game designers, audio professionals, ISPs, educators and others involved in the development and use of interactive games gather to exchange ideas, network and debate the shape of tomorrow's interactive entertainment industry.'

With regards the make-up of the two-day programme, e-Games features seven in-depth workshops that will cover the various gaming platforms, including: handheld devices, mobile phones, gaming consoles and PDAs. Workshops will be delivered by industry veterans and luminaries from Sony, Nokia, Sun (Java), Arabia Anti Piracy Alliance, Gamer.tv, Macrospace, GameLab London, RealityCG, Immersive Education and the Infocomm Group.

'We're really excited about this event. Indeed, many of the world's most innovative gaming companies will be at e-Games demonstrating and talking about where the gaming industry is placed, how it's evolving as well as what'll be on the store shelves two to three years from now,' remarked Abdullah Al Balushi, KOM's Head of PR .

Mohammed Al Ghassani, Director, KOM said: 'we're indebted to Oman Mobile, Nokia, Huawei, Muscat Electronics (ME) and The Independent Games Developers Association for backing KOM in this important initiative. In fact, we feel e-Games is well timed, happening at this rapidly moving point in the gaming industry as new gaming consoles, gaming enabled mobile phones and Internet gaming start to really hit the Gulf's consumer market. A recent Wireless World Forum report values the mobile games market at US$1.9 billion in 2006, rising from US$520 million in 2003. This clearly illustrates the enormity of the global gaming business, one good reason why we've launched e-Games, an event we intend to run with on an annual basis.'

In addition to the seven workshops, e-Games will host a three-day Sony PlayStation Zone (1 - 3 May) an initiative that according to Al Zubaidi: 'is intended to attract the entire family, where the suits battle it out with the kids. It promises to deliver an experience that entertains, inspires and informs.' The PlayStation Zone is sponsored by ME, Oman's sole authorized distributor for: Sony, Supra, Ricoh, Daikin and Chigo.

Commenting on ME's involvement in e-Games, Mr. Bijlani, ME's General Manager said: 'Our commitment to Oman's gaming community is full on. Over the past 12 months PlayStation has emerged as a strong growth category for ME with even stronger prospects for growth with the soon-to-be-launched PSP (PlayStation Portable). The scope for this product is enormous given its multiple applications. In addition to gaming, it can be used to watch movies, download MP3s and listen to music. Put in simple terms, PSP is a highly sophisticated portable entertainment device. ME's PlayStation Zone will showcase the latest titles in PlayStation's arsenal. I can assure you, ME's very excited about being involved in e-Games.'