Magic Planet and Index Conferences and Exhibitions (ICE) have partnered to organise the World Game Championship 2009 which offers top prizes up to Dh100,000 ($27,200).

Taking place over the next six months around the GCC, six heats will find the best gamers and simulator experts, who will then go on to compete in a final showdown at the Dubai World Trade Centre in October.

The grand finale will take place during the Dubai Game Expo, an event being held under the patronage of Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.

“We aim to make this competition a favourite annual event and a world class show for gamers and spectators,” said Silvio Liedtke, general manager, Magic Planet.

“This partnership gives us a great platform and combines our strengths so we can deliver the best arcade contest in the world, in terms of player skills and the prizes up for grabs. The popularity of gaming events is soaring and we expect this to be a fantastic event.”

Starting in Muscat, Oman, in April and lasting throughout the summer, the elimination rounds for the World Game Championship 2009 will take place at Magic Planet outlets in Bahrain City Centre, Sharjah City Centre, Ajman City Centre, Deira City Centre and Mall of the Emirates.

Following the inaugural event in 2008, Magic Planet and ICE are expecting contestants from more than 50 countries to compete this year playing a number of arcade favourites combining skill, strength and simple good fortune.

The official media partner MTV Arabia will be broadcasting the tournament eliminations as segments on their show.

Gamers, for example, may fancy their chances against the machine in ‘Deal or No Deal,’ a contest that involves a huge amount guess work. Players who have honed driving skills on race simulators can test their talents in ‘Sega Rally,’ a simulated contest that emulates the thrills of the circuit.

Gym regulars wanting to prove their upper body strength will no doubt be queuing up for the American High Striker contest and aiming to send the puck the furthest up the scale.  Basketball and soccer simulations are also expected to be popular.

Eng Anas Al Madani, vice president of ICE, added: “Our achievements last year were beyond expectations; it was our maiden event and for a debut, we had very ambitious objectives, especially when it came to gathering thousands of gamers.

“This momentous first year gave us vital information about the gaming industry in this part of the world, the most significant being that the Middle East is now the most potent gaming market globally – it is clear we have emerged from being conservative to competitive,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service