Video Game Culture in the UAE

A frank discussion about video game culture in the UAE

Join Shelter as we take the lid off gaming in the gulf, exploring an industry that is rapidly expanding, with new players and new games continually emerging. This event will be an opportunity for the gaming community to have a real, in-depth conversation about the culture that they are actively creating, as gamers, designers, hosts and promoters of gaming in the region. Going beyond the typical gaming convention, audience members will have a chance to interact with experts and leaders in the regional gaming industry, gaining insight, inspiration and motivation to inform and expand their perspectives.

A map to the venue can be found at http://bit.ly/MPDILp

About the Speakers:

Robert Fisser - General Manager Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India, Sony
As SCEE’s (Sony Computer Entertainment Europe) General Manager Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India, Robert has been appointed to drive and manage the continuous growth of the PlayStation business throughout one of SCEE’s most diverse and evolving regions. Robert joined SCEE in 1997, joining as manager of Third Party Relations. Over the following 14 years, Robert worked throughout the SCEE business in various capacities, most recently as Vice President of Sales & Commercial Development EMEA & ANZ. In this role, Robert was responsible for developing and implementing sales strategies to maximize SCEE’s market penetration and profit. Prior to joining Sony, Robert worked in a commercial capacity for two interactive media companies, based in the Netherlands. Robert graduated with an MBA in International Management from the Monterey Institute of International Studies in the USA

Ashraf Mirghani - Senior Product Manager, Tahadi Games Media
Started his gaming career at Tahadi Games Joining the company as Assistant Product Manager and worked up the hierarchy to merit promotion to the present position of Senior Product Manager. A Hardcore Gamer and an IT/management professional with 9+ years of diversified experience in spearheading major initiatives in the fields of online gaming, business development, as well as IT and administration across a variety of institutions. Currently managing the award winning game Point Blank (MENA) a growing MMOFPS title with thousands of Arabic users within few month of its launch.

Abbas Jaffar Ali – Publisher, Tbreak Media
The Tbreak team likes to call him 'founding father', having set up the Tbreak network all the way back in 1996. An Apple and Blackberry lover, Abbas tends to play fantasy and RPG games where he can escape the many perils of being a parent. His greatest achievement to date is going against the argument that 'video games make children evil' - after all, he turned out just fine.

Abbas is a UAE National who has always been a tech enthusiast. His articles have been featured locally in publications like Gulf News and international tech websites such as Engadget and Slashdot. He is also a reputed industry expert and is often invited to speak as a tech/gaming expert on local TV and radio stations.

Hitesh Uchil – Director, Tbreak Media
Hitesh started his career at the age of eighteen as a sub editor for the Khaleej Times. He later spent six years at ITP working on titles such as Time Out Dubai, ITP.net, Time Out Tickets, Ahlan! and Mumtazz.

He founded Middle East Gamers, the region’s first video games website – a project that started off as a hobby only to soon turn into a commercial entity owing to all the interest it received from the video game industry and advertisers in the region. In May 2012 Middle East Gamers was rebranded as IGN Middle East to better serve the regional gaming community. Having kickstarted the project as editor, salesman, marketing manager, web developer and designer for ME Gamers, Hitesh now overlooks the Tbreak Sales Team.