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New gaming studio in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Media Company and Gazillion Entertainment, a major US
developer and publisher of massively multiplayer online games (MMOG),
yesterday signed an agreement to create the region's first MMOG studio,
a purpose-built, world-class facility in Abu Dhabi.
MMOG is a video game capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously.
MMOG's are played on the internet and feature at least one persistent world.
Most
of the newer game consoles, including the PlayStation Portable,
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and Wii, are able to access
internet and run MMOG games.
The join venture is expected to
highlight Arabic-language in the online gaming industry and plans to
train local talent, create employment in the technology sector as well
give birth to innovation in the Arabic gaming industry through its
world-class studio, said ADMC.
The first game to be launched by
the studio in Abu Dhabi is the development of an Arabic-language MMOG
based on the popular character 'Majid'.
The venture is intended
to facilitate the creation of Arabic content for the Arabic gaming
market by establishing an Emirati management within the next five
years.
Online gaming is regarded as the fastest-growing media
sector in the world, expected to achieve $13 billion (Dh47.7bn) in
revenue by 2013. Despite the current economic downturn, the video game
industry has been acknowledged as one of the key growth areas of the
media sector.
In fact online gaming ranks as the fastest-growing
media sector in the world (CAGR 17 per cent between 2008 and 2013), and
analysts call the MMOG games for mass audiences to be the next big
thing.
Mohamed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of ADMC, said
:"Today, with the joint venture with Gazillion, our company is charting
new growth in the creation of digital media content and technologies."
The
joint venture will ensure that the region's talent would have an
opportunity to learn skills from the forefront of the US gaming
entertainment players.
Ricky Ghai, Executive Director, Digital
Media Group, the digital media arm of ADMC, said: "This particular
initiative takes one of ADMC's most famous and enduring brands into the
digital age and adds to the excitement at our overall efforts to
develop the online gaming sector.
"Consumers are increasingly
embracing entertainment experiences through unique and immersive
technologies, and we plan to market our brands in a number of novel new
areas.
"We are aware of the potential the gaming sector holds
around the world and are uniquely positioned to drive exciting new
platforms that engage consumers through digital entertainment", he
added.
Robert Hutter, CEO of Gazillion, said: "MMOG games are
becoming an increasingly significant part of the media landscape
worldwide, and premium MMOG experiences have the potential to command
wide audiences in the Arabic gaming market in the years to come.
"We
are pleased to have the chance to collaborate with ADMC on this joint
venture, which will help ensure that the vision of exceptional online
games for the region is fully realised."
The joint venture
aligns directly with ADMC's expansion and diversification strategy.
Edward Borgerding, CEO of ADMC, said: "Abu Dhabi Media Company
continues to evolve and maximise the potential of its brands portfolio
on a global scale well beyond the traditional media outlets. We believe
this is the right time for us to take the next step into this and other
platforms.
"It also draws on the unique combination of
Gazillion's innovation and experience in online gaming, successful
track record and tremendous industry leadership potential." In
addition, according to this deal, Emirati students and graduates from
Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) in Abu Dhabi will be given an
opportunity to engage their creativity and skills to generate relevant
games content in the market.
Students are to benefit from
employment and on-the-job internship programmes at the new joint
venture company, including training placements overseas at Gazillion
offices, with such schemes planned to launch in 2010.
"The
combined assets of our companies - ADMC's and Gazillion's - along with
the Higher Colleges of Technology provide a compelling case for
building a trusted digital media brand that engages a growing gaming
audience across the Arab world," said Borgerding.
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