UAE set to host Lan cafe parties

Lan computer game parties, which are popular in Europe and the Far East, will soon be available in the UAE.

They are expected to transform Internet cafes into Lan cafes, attracting a larger number of customers, officials said.

"Gamers are taking this entertainment cyber sport seriously and are becoming professional cyber athletes using it to earn their living. The industry is now almost the size of the Hollywood film industry."

ATI Technologies officials who visited Dubai to host the Gulf's first Lan party, said: "High-tech gaming enthusiasts across the Middle East will benefit from the world's latest advancements in 3D graphics and interactive computer-generated special effects, and the market could grow to over $100 million [Dh367 million]."

Richard Huddy, game developer relations manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa for ATI Technologies Inc, said: "What better way to showcase our graphics technology for the general public than by hosting a Lan party, a concept we expect to meet with considerable enthusiasm in the Middle East.

"On a Lan, response time among players is much faster than the same interaction over the Internet, changing the quality of the game completely. Gaming events such as Lan Parties allow us to fulfil our ultimate objective: putting the world's best 3D graphics into the hands of cyber athletes. This will also help produce quality cyber athletes who will be able to compete in Lan parties worldwide."

Widely viewed as the world's latest evolution in entertainment, a LAN (local area network) party consists of several gamers competing against one another in computer-generated real-world challenges, such as auto racing.

The thrill, says Huddy, is that the advanced 3D graphics technology now being introduced in the Middle East means that the experience feels incredibly life-like, as real-world and computer-generated environments become strikingly similar.

"ATI, a global leader in designing and manufacturing innovative 3D graphics and digital media silicon solutions, used the innovative Lan party concept to highlight the company's pioneering position in the world's high-tech gaming sector, which executives estimate to be worth more than $100 million annually in the region," said Rauf Baig, managing director of ATI Middle East.

He said rising Internet penetration levels, an increasing number of broadband users, and the introduction of superior gaming concepts have allowed the high-tech gaming market in the Middle East to flourish.

Baig said regional trends show that graphics technology is evolving much faster than other PC components and has become a key decision making criterion for users buying a new personal computer.