Today's Edition
KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi's next generation of "game-makers" are being challenged to put their skills to the test and build the UAE's next game title.
As part of the new nationwide competition, a prize pool of Dh100,000 alongside industry leading mentorship and resources will be offered to talented developers to create new games that echo the local and regional narratives that define the Emirates.
The UAE Gamemaker's competition 2024 is a collaboration between Tawazun Council (Tawazun) and Bayanat with the US-based Endless Studios to offer an educational and motivational experience for the country's most esteemed programmers and developers.
Endless Studios CEO, Matt Dalio, told Aletihad that the new competition has the scope to meet the enormous enthusiasm and demand for learning opportunities that they had experienced in the country, further enhancing the already growing video-game ecosystem.
"In the past two years, our journey has been nothing short of remarkable as we've collaborated with nearly every university in the UAE on various game-making initiatives. The level of enthusiasm we've encountered has been truly inspiring, but we've consistently encountered a challenge: our mentorship capacity has been stretched thin," Dalio told Aletihad.
"Despite our best efforts, demand has consistently outpaced our ability to provide hands-on support. However, this competition marks an exciting turning point for us. It presents a unique opportunity to scale our programmes and meet the growing demand head-on."
Previous editions of the competition have seen some unique creations take form, including whimsical concepts like a ninja camel game and more intense experiences such as a mythological horror game that Dalio said had him on the edge of his seat.
He said the games often give insights into the rich tapestry of Emirati culture and lore, offering a new perspective on the past and future of the country, as told by its youth.
He believes that by offering young people in the Emirates the right training, many of the amateur game-makers of today could find themselves moving into the professional industry.
"We aim to empower every 17 to 27-year-old in the UAE through Endless Studios, showing them how their passion for games can translate into invaluable 21st-century skills. Just imagine the surge of digital artistry, the explosion of coding expertise, and the flourishing of entrepreneurial ingenuity that will result," he said.
"Picture a nation teeming with empowered digital creators, poised to lead their country boldly into the future."
This was echoed by Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, CEO of Operations at Tawazun Council, who highlighted how the competition was in line with the larger goals of the UAE government to see a major upskilling of the future workforce.
"Our engagement in this initiative reflects our broader goal to inspire the youth of the UAE to venture into creative and technological fields such as game development. This is pivotal not only for the technological progression of our region but also for nurturing a sense of pride and belonging among our younger generations," Al Hashmi said.
For Dalio, gaming represents the perfect conduit for aspiring creatives, and a platform for expression quite unlike any other.
He said that his company's goal is to help see as many ambitious creators find a path that allows them to continue down that path.
"Whether aspiring to be storytellers, artists, designers, or engineers, individuals find their creative instincts ignited through gaming," he said.
"But the road from wide-eyed beginner to seasoned pro is long and often bumpy. Talent and passion are a great start, but they're not enough - aspiring creators need robust, multifaceted support to navigate the technical and creative challenges ahead."
