‘Nationwide competition to recognise talented app developers’

AMMAN — The Jordan Gaming Task Force will launch a nationwide competition next month to reward excelling game and application developers, Nour Khrais, its chairman, said Thursday.

The contest, which will be launched in cooperation with two partners working in the field of games and information technology, entails extending financial grants as well as support and mentorship to the winners, according to Khrais.

“App and game developers will be invited to take part in the competition, which seeks to support start-ups and ideas in this field. Several winners will be announced at the end of the competition,” he added.

Meanwhile, five Jordanian developers have won cash grants under a competition held in partnership between the Jordan Gaming Lab and Sony.

Each of the developers won $3,000 to be able to develop their games and apps.

“The winners of this competition will be able to show their apps and games to representatives from Sony very soon to apply for more grants,” Khrais noted. The competition with Sony was launched last year.

Winners will be also trained by experts at Sony to enhance their skills.

The gaming lab, Khrais said, will hold an event in June, and invite game and app developers to look into creating applications that address tourism challenges, and promote the country’s tourist sites.

Jordan is the largest producer of digital games in the region, accounting for about 60 per cent of the games in the Middle East.

Founded in 2011, the Jordan Gaming Task Force seeks to develop the electronic gaming industry in the region.