SIPA join hand with True to open stage for game developers creating new games to support game industry in SIPA Game Contest & Award 2010, the event searching for the best game developer in Thailand. Inviting freelance game developers, students, game entrepreneurs, and individuals to submit their works in any platforms– Console Game, PC Game, Mobile Game, and Social Networking Game – to win prizes total up to 1.3 million baht, and tour package visiting G Star in Korea for 3 days and 2 nights. The submitting is opened from May 24 – July 15, 2010.

Mr.Chavalit  Saleepol, Member of The Executive Board Acting President of Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA), reveals that SIPA has a policy to support and promote gaming industry in Thailand in order to upgrade the country’s competitiveness to reach international level. Last year, it has initiated a project under TESCA called SIPA Game Award 2009 which has received wide interest among Thai game developers and accomplishment in term of business enhancement. SIPA Game Contest & Award 2010      is being held again this year in order to carry on the momentum. The event is divided into 2 activities: SIPA Game Contest 2010, and SIPA Game Award 2010. Game developers are competing in new game creation to win the 1.3 million baht prize in the SIPA Game Contest; while the SIPA Game Award will give a tour package to visit G Star in Korea as a reward to the winner game that is outstanding and currently in the market. Game developers, students, game entrepreneurs, as well as individuals are invited to send their work i.e. Console Game, PC Game, Mobile Game, and Social Networking Game to the contest. To read more information or to apply, please visit www.gsquare.tv/gca2010 and  www.SIPA.or.th or call                 02-699-5484 for project coordinator. The work submitting can be done from May 24 – July 15, 2010.  

SIPA Game Contest 2010, aiming to promote the creation of new games, has two levels of competition – student level, and freelance level. Students can choose to apply from 4 categories which are Console Game, PC Game, Mobile Game, and Social Networking Game. Freelance can choose one of the two categories, either Mobile Game or Social Networking Game. The prizes are consisted of The Winner Prize (6 winners), 3 Consolation Prizes (18 prizes), and 2 Special Prizes GCA Star. Each winner is receiving a plate, a certificate, and prize money comprising into the total value of 1.3 million baht for all winners.

Mr.Chavalit also adds that SIPA Game Award 2010 is giving another opportunity to freelances and game entrepreneurs in Thailand to submit their games that are in 4 categories - Console Game, PC Game, Mobile Game, and Social Networking Game – and are currently in the market, to the competition. The awards for each category are consisted of 1 Winner Award (4 winners) - receiving tour package to visit G Star in Korea for 3 days 2 nights, one seat per one prize, and getting a plate and certificate; 2 Consolation Awards for each category (total 8 prizes) – receiving a plate and certificate. Moreover, there is another Popular  Vote (1 prize) for the game that can pass to the final round 12 games from the first three finalists of each category, and that receives the most votes from SMS. The prize for Popular Vote is a tour package to visit G Star in Korea for 3 days 2 nights (1 seat per prize) Three rounds of judges will be done in SIPA Game Contest, and two rounds of judges will be done in SIPA Game Award. The final round will be announced in BIG Festival 2010 in the coming October 2010.

Mr.Ariya Banomyong, Chief Commercial Officer and Convergence of True Corporation Public Company Limited, said that the overall situation of domestic game industry in Thailand according to “Reports on Parameters of Digital Content Industry of Thailand, Year 2009” exhibited the total market value at  8,397 million baht, and we expect the value will be increased to  14,404 baht in the year 2013 with the growth of 8.48% for the next 5 years. The number, apparently, shows the opportunity of game industry in Thailand to grow tremendously.  Currently, Digital Content in game software is available in various platforms such as Console Game, PC Game, Mobile Game, and Social Networking Game. It takes more roles in new-generation consumers, creating competitive commercial environment within the industry to serve needs of users. As a leader in gaming business, True has a policy to support gaming industry and therefore it is joining hands with SIPA in the SIPA Game Contest & Award 2010 in order to push the overall gaming industry forward consistently.  

For the operation of SIPA Game Contest & Award 2010, True Digital Content and Media Co., Ltd is responsible in the project management such as arranging road shows to introduce the project and recruit contestants from universities around the country, marketing skill training for game industry, as well as utilizing PR media in True group to reach various target market such as gaming websites, Future Gamer Magazine, and G Square Channel in True Vision.  Thai Airways Public Company Limited is also supporting, giving development concept, and judging for the submitted works under the IT Innovation Service concept in order to take the idea as a prototype to provide extra complementary services to customers.  This effort is regarded as the first connecting point that links gaming industry to businesses in other industries in terms of value-added service, which will eventually benefit both gaming industry and new-generation game developers that there are more opportunities for them to grow and develop new games that are competitive internationally., Mr.Ariya concluded at the end.