Gaming geeks descend on the capital for chance to indulge their fantasies
The biggest characters from gaming and anime are converging in a cosmic alliance beneath the roof of Abu Dhabi’s National Exhibition Centre.
Thousands of gamers from around the world descended upon the UAE’s capital yesterday to kick off the gaming world’s answer to ComicCon: Middle East Games Con.
More than 15,000 people are expected to attend the convention where fans will line up to meet YouTube personalities, animation directors and even voice actors representing characters from popular games such as Overwatch and The Witcher.
Gamers who wanted to be among the first in the region to play some of the latest releases, compete in competitions for money and mingle with some of the biggest names in the industry, attended in droves.
Emirati teenager Mohamed Al Zaabi was among the first through the doors, and he had eyes for only one game.
“I am here because I want to win the Fortnite competition,” he said. “If I can win it, then it will allow me to become a professional gamer when I grow up.”
Mohamed will not have it all his own way judging by the number of young gamers congregating around the Fortnite stand, their interest no doubt piqued by the Dh10,000 prize on offer.
Cash prizes were not the only incentive for people to literally get their game on. The Red Bull Player One stand is hosting a weekend-long tournament for League of Legends players.
The winner of that tournament will be flown to Brazil to take part in the League of Legends global final next year.
Not everyone was there to compete though. Kermit Marie Jason, 16, and Oliver Stone, 15, came from Dubai dressed up as their favourite videogame characters to savour the atmosphere.
“There is a huge gaming community in the UAE but the ... opportunities to meet others can be exclusive to Dubai or Abu Dhabi,” said New Zealander Kermit Marie, who was in costume as Chiaki Nan Ami from the game Danganronpa. “Distance can be an issue if you have to come from one of the other emirates, like Sharjah.”
Oliver, who was dressed as Finn from Adventure Time, said the event was as good, if not better, than other games cons from all over the world.
Suzy Pallett, vice president of organisers Informa, said she was not surprised to see such high numbers attending this year’s event.
“The gaming industry in the Middle East represents an untapped opportunity,” she said. “In more established gaming regions like Europe and America gaming has reached a plateau of 2 or 3 per cent growth each year.
“In the Middle East it is growing at 26 per cent each year, it is an exciting time not just for consumers, but from the development side of the industry as well.”