Video game developers and enthusiasts have gained a strong new platform to push their creative boundaries, collaborate with the like-minded, and develop their skills, with Doha Film Institute (DFI), Media City Qatar and Scale7’s Geekend Game Jam.
The challenge, set from November 20 to 23 at the Geekdom Building at Lusail Boulevard, coincides with popular Geekend activities at Ajyal 2024, which brings together the community for the country’s premier pop-culture event.
The activities aim to foster the skills of homegrown gaming talent and strengthen the foundations of the rapidly evolving gaming economy, which is projected to reach a global growth of $363bn by 2027.
There are two additional prizes to be won; a Game Launcher package which includes cash prize of QR25,000 presented by Scale7 – the Creative and Culture Industry Hub under Qatar Development Bank (QDB) - and a Game Start-up Package which includes a cash award of QR15,000 presented by Geekdom and a subsidized start-up process from Media City Qatar, allowing the recipient to establish themselves as a professional company.
DFI’s chief administrative officer and Geekdom founder Abdulla al-Mosallam said: “The launch of Qatar’s Game Jam is a monumental step for game developers, offering a platform to innovate, collaborate, and showcase their talents”.
Media City Qatar Business development director Thair al-Anani added: “Through our start-up package and other initiatives, we are establishing an exciting launchpad for digital content creators that will anchor Qatar as a hub for digital innovation and creative entrepreneurship.”
Scale 7’s Culture and Creative Industries Hub (under QDB) acting senior manager Aysha Khalifa al-Romaihi said: “Our Business Incubation Programme is one of our various investments in strengthening homegrown assets in Qatar’s digital economy”.
