Middle East gaming industry matures

The theme of Games12, regional Sony PlayStation head Robert Fisser told journalists, was coming of age. The regional games industry is growing up.

Both Sony and Microsoft revealed figures to back the claim. Fisser said growth estimates were moving from $540 million (Dh2 billion) this year, to $740 million (Dh2.72 billion) next year. “All the indicators in the business continue to increase,” he added. “The role of games in the media continues to grow.”

Aman Sangar, regional head of Microsoft Interactive Entertainment said emerging markets in the worldwide gaming industry showed growth of 62 per cent over the last five years, but the Middle East region recorded 167 per cent growth over the same period.

Hardware alone, he said, had grown 62 per cent in the last two years.

“That’s something we’re really, really proud of,” he said. “But coming of age isn’t just about growth. It’s about how we touch consumers in every aspect of their lives.”

The presence of representatives from the National Media Council, the government body responsible for overseeing print, films and gaming, for the first time at Games “shows the level of involvement, and how we have to be responsible,” he said. “All of that indicates how we’ve come of age.”

The industry, however, is more than simply sales of hardware and software. It’s about accessibility. An increasing number of games are becoming available in Arabic. Last year, Sony released three titles in Arabic, and Fisser said next year will see six.

A crucial aspect of accessibility is the ability to play, and communicate, against online opponents. Sangar said we can expect Xbox Live to be available in the UAE soon, but refused to be drawn on when. “Live is one of the things we are always looking to bring into the region.”

Of particular note was the presence of technology college SAE Institute, based in Dubai’s Knowledge Village. They were there to promote the UAE’s first bachelor’s degree programme in video game production.

Senior Lecturer Amir Jahanlou said the course covers every aspect of production: 3D modelling, animation, game and level design and more. Students will produce their own games, working up from simple platforms such as phone and browser games through to PC and console titles.

The two-year course starts this week. When the first graduates emerge in 2014, and start to produce games, then we might consider the regional games industry has fully come of age.