SEU, HP, And AMD Unite For GameOn Hackathon: A Fusion Of Saudi Heritage And Gaming Innovation

The Saudi Electronic University (SEU), in collaboration with HP and AMD, has initiated the "GameOn" hackathon, a unique event themed "From Diriyah, the ancient capital, to Neom, the city of the future". This innovative competition invites Saudi students with a passion for game development and e-sports to showcase their talents. Interested participants can register through the dedicated link: https://hpgaming.untapcompete.com. The hackathon aims to merge Saudi Arabia's historical essence with its futuristic aspirations.

Dr. Asmaa Al-Hammadi, the hackathon supervisor, emphasized that the event's primary objective is to provide students with crucial knowledge and skills in programming, game development, and e-sports management. The initiative seeks to nurture a competitive spirit among university students and encourage them to produce innovative projects that reflect Saudi culture and heritage on a global stage. Registration for the event will remain open until the specified deadline. It is open to bachelor's program students who can register using their university email account. Teams, which can include members from various universities, must adhere to themes consistent with Saudi culture and heritage. Each team should have two to three members who have completed at least 70% of one of the self-paced learning courses available on the edX platform at https://www.edx.org/school/hp.

The competition is structured in three rounds. Initially, participants are required to submit a game storyboard detailing graphics, backgrounds, and visual elements while illustrating the game's connection to Saudi culture and heritage. In the subsequent round, teams will develop and program their games to function on computers. This stage will determine winners in each category during the elimination round. The final stage sees SEU incubating winning projects, offering technical support, and facilitating connections with potential investors.

The hackathon presents valuable prizes across three challenge categories: Real-World Games, Location-Based Games, and Discovery Games. Real-World Games focus on Saudi cultural heritage, including historical events and traditional art. Location-Based Games aim to enhance players' experiences at Saudi heritage sites by integrating gaming with heritage exploration. Discovery Games offer insights into Saudi cultural heritage through virtual museum experiences and exploration of historical sites and archaeological landmarks like UNESCO sites in Saudi Arabia.

This initiative not only highlights SEU’s commitment to blending education with technology but also promotes Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage through modern digital platforms. By encouraging students to engage in such innovative projects, SEU aims to foster a new generation of talent capable of contributing significantly to both the gaming industry and cultural preservation.

With inputs from SPA