By : Bakinam Khaled – Amir Taha
Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, stressed the keenness of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to provide an environment that stimulates creativity in the digital games industry, which is compatible with the culture of society and has an educational, cultural and scientific impact. He explained that the digital games industry is a huge industry and all its elements are based on technology, knowledge, creativity and creative thinking. Referring to the ability of Egyptian youth to be creative and innovative in this promising industry; Pointing to the Ministry's efforts to enrich human resources in the digital games industry, and to develop youth capabilities in the fields of designing and programming games and digital arts; Encouraging them to manufacture electronic games that have a positive role in calling for moral values and aiming to help students acquire knowledge and cultural and moral values in an attractive manner.
This came in a speech by Dr. Amr Talaat during the conclusion of the activities of the Global Forum for Electronic Game Developers, which was hosted by the Academy of Game Development and Interactive Art of the Institute of Information Technology at the Institute's headquarters in the Smart Village for the eleventh year in a row, from 3 to 5 February, as one of the activities of the International Game Developers Association. IGDA Egypt Chapter.
Dr. Amr Talaat Ali affirmed the ministry's keenness to invest in technical training for young people in light of the state's vision to invest in minds, as it is the ideal investment to achieve renaissance in all fields; He pointed out that training courses are provided through the Institute of Information Technology in all the technologies and skills required by the digital games industry, and a digital academy has been launched through which specialized courses in this industry are available on the “Mahara Tech” platform, in addition to the establishment of a specialized college in arts. digital at Misr Informatics University; He explained that courses will be available free of charge in disciplines related to the digital game industry through the Institute of Information Technology in all branches of Egypt's Digital Creativity Centers.
Dr. Amr Talaat indicated that an initiative was launched to prepare young cadres trained in the skills required to join work in startup companies working in the field of digital games, as well as training employees of startup companies in the economic aspect, which includes developing their skills in the areas of marketing, pricing, and how to prepare a feasibility study and target markets; He explained that work is underway to develop the Telecom Egypt Club, which aims to not only be a social sports club, but will be distinguished as a castle for digital games in Egypt. Where the club will include halls specialized in digital games, and an incubator for companies working in digital games, and competitions for digital games will be held inside it. Noting that the club has a team specialized in digital games that has been able to achieve tangible successes in the competitions in which it participates.
Dr. Amr Talaat explained in his speech that there are some electronic games that are characterized by violence, which requires confronting them through raising awareness and providing a good alternative to electronic games.
This forum is the largest global event in the field of developing electronic games, as it is held at the same time in more than 100 countries. The number of registered participants in the edition of the forum this year has reached more than 500 participants who gathered together to create a game over the course of three days. As well as other lectures in the field of its marketing and the mechanisms of profiting from it, as well as sessions on designing games for children, the role of interactive media and game arts in creating effects in films, and metaverse technology and its prospects in the gaming industry.
On her part; Dr. Heba Saleh, Head of the Information Technology Institute, indicated that the electronic games industry is a promising industry. explaining the efforts made to enrich electronic content in the digital games industry, as well as the most prominent training programs offered by the Academy of Game Development and Interactive Art at the Institute in the disciplines of the electronic games industry through global partnerships; Pointing to the specialized grants provided by the institute for a period of four months in two tracks: the developer of augmented reality games, the XR Developer, and the designer of augmented reality arts, the XR Artist, at the institute’s headquarters in the Digital Egypt Creativity Center at Cairo University, in addition to new services for young people at the institute’s headquarters in Knowledge City to introduce the field of the games industry. in Egypt.
During the closing activities; Dr. Amr Talaat met with the partners of this system of electronic game developers, a number of officials of start-up companies operating in this industry in Cairo and the governorates, the institute’s grant trainees who are professionals in programming and designing digital games, models of game studio owners, and models of other technology grant trainees; Where the meeting dealt with the visions and ideas of young people and their aspirations to develop their capabilities in this industry, as well as the efforts of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to develop the electronic games industry, and support emerging companies operating in this industry.
