Gamers8 fest welcomes Ithra鈥檚 Creative Solutions program

Ithra鈥檚 initiative introduced in tandem with the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) to build a market for both consumers and developers. (Supplied)
Short Url
  • As the extended reality market is set to balloon, Saudi creatives work to make their mark

RIYADH: A new creativity program from the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has taken the Gamers8 festival in Riyadh by storm.

The center鈥檚 latest endeavor is a leading initiative in innovative and interactive content creation: the Creative Solutions program.

Creative Solutions is a yearly program based in the Kingdom that gives a platform to creatives eager to take part in an emerging industry saturated with immersive and innovative technologies, creating an ecosystem of collective learning. It was launched in 2021 to enrich economic growth and provide a platform for innovators to pursue their creative ideas, from an idea to a working prototype.

Ithra鈥檚 collaboration with Gamers8 brings an educational approach to the e-sports industry, with a focus on its design and technology aspects, while also developing a more balanced approach in the e-sports and gaming creative industry.

Ithra鈥檚 initiative has been introduced in tandem with the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) in an effort to build a market for both consumers and developers. It will also create greater local job opportunities. Instead of outsourcing, Saudi companies in e-sports will be able to produce and consume locally.

鈥淲e see this sector as important as other sectors,鈥� Miznah Al-Zamil, the head of the Creativity and Innovation department at Ithra, told Arab News.

鈥淕amers8 is the first and the largest event in this industry, to be specific, and we wanted to be participants as a knowledge beacon and the role that we have in the culture and creative industry,鈥� Al-Zamil added.

Ithra鈥檚 collaboration with Gamers8 includes an exhibit showcasing the five innovative winning projects of last year鈥檚 Creative Solutions cohort, all falling under the extended reality (XR) umbrella in relation to arts, culture and education. The exhibit will run alongside the festival until Sept. 8.

鈥淚 was really surprised when I learned that the consumer market for games and e-sports, Saudi is in the top five in the world. It鈥檚 mind blowing,鈥� Filipe Gomes, head of the Creative Solutions program, told Arab News. 鈥淭he question was how can we connect our value and showcase it 鈥� not just what we can do locally through a consumer perspective, but also from a production perspective.鈥�

The program鈥檚 first round onboarded 60 creatives, selected out of approximately 2,000 applicants, who went through 12 masterclass sessions in a range of topics, including narrative storytelling, 3D production, virtual reality headsets, augmented reality, and others.

The program is currently running its second round, and 15 selected creatives鈥� ideas will be presented at Gamers8 on Aug. 21, allowing participants to pitch their ideas to Creative Solutions partners, vendors, the media and more stakeholders.

鈥淲hat is obvious to all is that gamers usually, if you鈥檙e (into tech), have to do a lot with esports. But on the contrary, it has a lot to do with design, it has a lot to do with creatives. There鈥檚 a lot that goes into development. Here is where Ithra comes in and technically contributes to such a growing industry,鈥� Al Zamil said.

Three years ago, the XR market was valued at $27 billion and is expected to reach $300 billion by 2024.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a global phenomenon, and it鈥檚 a huge opportunity,鈥� said Gomes. 鈥淭he program is a gate for Saudi to the world, and the world to Saudi. We work with partners all across the globe, so why not bring some of the key content around games and virtual reality to Gamers8 through these connections.鈥�

Additionally, an XR-centered panel discussion will take place, joined by leading experts and specialists in the field, including the head of the SEF, Faisal Bin Bandar, and the dean of e-learning and distance education at the University of Tabuk, Ali Alshammari, coming together to shed light on data around the topic and the future of the field.

鈥淭he Saudi XR ecosystem is developing. There is a huge potential worldwide, to be honest, and Saudi needs to have its mark,鈥� Al-Zamil said.