Saudi Electronic University Launches GameOn Hackathon

The Saudi Electronic University (SEU), in collaboration with HP and AMD, has launched the “GameOn” hackathon, held under the theme “From Diriyah, the ancient capital, to Neom, the city of the future".
This event challenges participants to bridge the gap between Saudi Arabia's rich history and futuristic vision.
Hackathon supervisor Dr. Asmaa Al-Hammadi said that the goal of the event is to equip students with essential knowledge and skills in programming, game development, and e-sports management in order to foster healthy competition among university students, and drive them to excel in innovative outcomes that demonstrate Saudi culture and heritage while making a global impact, SPA reported.
She said that the registration for the hackathon is set to close on May 10, 2024. Eligible to participate are students enrolled in a bachelor's program who may register using their university email account.
Teams may be formed by students from different universities and the proposed project should be consistent with Saudi culture and heritage. A team may consist of a minimum of two and a maximum of three students; team members must have passed at least 70% of one of the self-paced learning courses.
Al-Hammadi added that the hackathon consists of three rounds. In the first round, participants submit the outline of an electronic game Storyboard with an explanation of the graphics, backgrounds, and visual elements. They must also highlight the game's connection to Saudi culture and heritage.
Moving on to the second round, the teams will start creating and programming the electronic game, making it operable on computers. During this phase, a winner will be selected for each category in the elimination stage.
The qualifying teams will then proceed to the third stage, during which SEU will incubate the winning projects, provide technical support, and establish connections with potential investors.
The hackathon offers valuable prizes in three challenge categories.
Real-World Games depict real-world Saudi cultural heritage, including historical events, traditional art, shared values, and storytelling elements. Examples include National Day and Founding Day.
Location-Based Games enhance players' experience at Saudi heritage sites, and combine gaming elements with real-world heritage exploration, offering interactive and educational opportunities to learn about cultural heritage in specific locations like Diriyah and AlUla.
Discovery Games involve physical artifacts, history, archaeology, and art, providing insights into Saudi cultural heritage through virtual museum experiences, historical sites, and archaeological landmarks like UNESCO sites in Saudi Arabia.
These games offer interactive and educational opportunities to learn about cultural heritage in specific locations, such as Diriyah, AlUla, and Asir, and aim to reveal monuments, historical evidence, arts, and costumes related to Saudi cultural heritage through virtual museums.