Doha: 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, Media City Qatar and SCALE7’s Geekend Game Jam. According to Qatar News Agency, the four-day challenge, from November 20 to 23, 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 US$363bn by 2027.
To be held at the Geekdom Building on Lusail Boulevard, the Geekend Game Jam will challenge the country’s most talented gaming developers and enthusiasts to create original video games from scratch within a limited timeframe. The special theme for the inaugural edition will be announced on the first day of Geekend, right before the Game Jam kicks off.
The four days of non-stop game development serve as the ideal environment for participants to test their skills, learn new techniques, and let their passion for gaming shine through. Participants can either work individually or in teams of up to three members, offering developers creative flexibility and freedom to create compelling video games. The games will be evaluated by an expert jury for creativity, technical execution, and adherence to the theme.
In addition to the excitement of being a part of the game creation challenge, up to five teams in the Game Jam will get the priority to apply for SCALE7 Business Incubation Program, a 12-week, designed incubation period that provides mentorship, workshops, and curated programs. This package is a tailored launchpad for entrepreneurial growth in game development, offering participants guidance from industry experts and resources to advance their creative and business skills.
There are two additional prizes to be won; a Game Launcher package which includes a c
ash prize of QR 25,000 presented by Scale7 the Creative and Culture Industry Hub under Qatar Development Bank – and a Game Start-up Package which includes a cash award of QR 15,000 presented by Geekdom and a subsidized start-up process from Media City Qatar, allowing the recipient to establish themselves as a professional company.
Abdulla Al Mosallam, Chief Administrative Officer of DFI and Founder of Geekdom, highlighted the significance of the event, stating that it offers a platform to innovate, collaborate, and showcase talents, marking the beginning of important collaborations in Qatar that will create a thriving gaming ecosystem. Thair Al Anani, Director of Business Development at Media City, Qatar, emphasized the commitment to promoting talent and fostering a robust games industry in the country. Aysha Khalifa Al Romaihi, Scale 7’s Acting Senior Manager of Culture and Creative Industries Hub (CCI Hub) under Qatar Development Bank, expressed pride in partnering on the Geekend Game Jam, underscoring the
ir commitment to nurturing the next generation of gamers and contributing to a world-class gaming industry.
The Geekend Game Jam is open for seasoned developers as well as emerging talent, with teams allowed to participate as solo developers or with up to three members. At least one team member must be 18 years old or older. All teams must follow the theme of the Game Jam, develop the game within the allocated time, and can use their own equipment and any software or engine of their choice. They can also work remotely during the Game Jam allocated time, provided they report on their progress and have proof of development. All team members must be present during the Game Jam Theme announcement and during the Game Jam Winners Announcement.
Registration for the Geekend Game Jam is now open until November 15. Interested participants can find more information and register at the Geekend Game-Jam Blog on the Doha Film Institute website.