Abu Dhabi Media taps into gaming market with the launch of Karkadann Games

Abu Dhabi Media taps into gaming market with the launch of Karkadann Games

New gaming studio to roll-out an exciting line-up of titles starting February 2011.

February 4, 2011 12:25 by Rasha Reslan

Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC) announced today it has expanded its portfolio of digital entertainment media businesses with the launch of a new gaming studio, Karkadann Games, a world-class developer and publisher of video games. Dedicated to creating original and engaging titles for Middle East and international audiences, the new studio advances ADMC’s digital growth strategy and strengthens its position as a premium content creator.

“Our aim is to lead the development of the media industry in the region, from a business, innovation and audience engagement perspective”, commented ADMC CEO Ed Borgerding. “The future development of our company depends on broadening our offering, and leveraging our leadership position to pursue digital opportunities. Gaming is currently the fastest growing entertainment sector worldwide. Karkadann Games represents a strategic addition to our existing media entertainment offering and a new milestone of audience engagement,” concluded Borgerding.

The gaming sector is not only getting bigger, but is transforming rapidly too. Digital downloads, mobile gaming apps, and social network gaming are currently driving the growth and diversification of the industry and are creating new global revenue channels.

Online gaming is one of the fastest growing sectors in the global interactive entertainment: it represents 15% of the global video game industry and is predicted to cross $13billion (AED 47.7billion) this year (source: NPD Market Research). The sector is witnessing an explosive growth in the Middle East due to the increased internet penetration, estimated at 46.6% (source: Internet World Stats). A recent survey revealed that as many as 65.3% of internet users in Saudi Arabia play games online (source Arab Advisors Group).

“We are extremely excited to be plugging in Karkadann Games. We think the studio is going to shake up the industry and position itself at the heart of the future gaming market in the region,” said Ricky Ghai, Executive Director, Digital Media.

He further explained: “Our focus is on innovation and on developing quality content. As content drives technology adoption, we see it as a central pillar of our digital economy strategy. We’re also fine-tuning our business strategy to encompass market trends: the rapid proliferation of mobile technology devices, the rise of casual gaming on social and interactive platforms, and the emergence of online retail solutions. With Karkadann Games we are applying our gained knowledge of how to grow audiences, engage them and monetize effectively.”

By combining game development expertise, cutting-edge technology, a scalable platform and an exceptional creative pool, Karkadann Games aims to identify and develop the market segments that present the best opportunities for growth in gaming.

Taking this vision and turning it into a world-class profitable game studio lies in the hands of David Ortiz, the newly appointed General Manager of Karkadann Games. Ortiz will oversee the strategic development of the studio and spearhead an exceptional team, comprised of seasoned regional and international game designers and local talent who are passionate about gaming.

“We’re excited about the games in development. We want to bring original titles to the market with new and entertaining gameplay that fans of all ages and all levels can enjoy. We’re also excited about building an incredible team in Abu Dhabi, discovering and developing home-grown talent”, said Ortiz.

The new studio already has two games slated for release this year: Cricket Power: ICC World Cup 2011, scheduled to launch in February; followed by Manny Pacquiao Pound For Pound (working title), with a mid 2011 release date. The studio will also showcase great regional stories and characters through many of its future titles.

To learn more about Karkadann Games please visit www.karkadanngames.com