Saudi GFX
Saudi GFX is a project funded by the US Embassy in Riyadh
Goals
- Nurture the game development ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and the MENA region
- Create commercially viable, Saudi-based, interactive games and media
- Establish new game development companies in the Saudi/MENA region
- Strengthen existing game development companies in the Saudi/MENA region
- Encourage people from around the world to come to live and work in Saudi Arabia/MENA
- Build relationships between the Saudi and US game developer ecosystems
- Create games that celebrate and share with the world elements of culture, history, geography or life in general in the Saudi/MENA region
- Craft narrative experiences that highlight women and minority empowerment in the region
Participant Rewards
- Free webinars led by US games industry professionals
- Free training in how to make a game product pitch
- Two teams of six developers will move on to Phase II and receive...
- All expenses paid travel and lodging to the 2025 Game Developer Conference (GDC)
- All access pass to GDC 2025
- All expenses paid travel and lodging to Purdue University
- Four weeks of Masterclass instruction by professional US game developers
- Monthly remote mentoring sessions
- A completed, market ready game or vertical slice publisher pitch
- Experience working in diverse, mentored teams
How It Works
Phase I
Webinars
Webinars open to the public.
Judging Panel
Two Teams Can Win
A panel of judges decide which two teams move forward.
Phase II
GDC
The two winning teams go to the GDC conference, all expenses paid.
Phase III
Masterclasses in the US
The two winning teams will fly to Purdue University for four weeks of masterclasses, all expenses paid.
Phase IV
Mentoring Workshops
The two winning teams will complete their projects with coaching via monthly online workshops.
Overview
GFX PROGRAM
December 16, 2024 - December 31, 2025
- Teams of six compete for a chance to join the SaudiGFX incubator program
- Each team develops original game idea. Either:
* Finish game and release game to market
* OR
* Create vertical slice publisher pitch
- Learn how to operate a successful studio
- Focused on teamwork, monetization, market realities
- NOT focused on technical game making skills
- How to build successful teams
- How to build successful products
- How to build scalable teams that last
- How to work in diverse teams
- Create games that celebrate the Saudi/MENA region and its people
- Create games that celebrate free expression and women's empowerment
PHASE ONE - WEBINARS
December 16, 2024 - January 23, 2025
- The program begins with six webinars that are open to the public.
- Participants mix and mingle to assemble a team of six members
* Six team members: no more, no less
* Gender ratios of 3:3 or 4:2 are acceptable
- The teams work together to create a PITCH PACKET consisting of:
* A slide deck promoting their game idea, and their team
* A video of the team making their presentation
* A small prototype of their game's core mechanic
- Pitch packets are submitted via the Submit Via Purdue Online Learning Portal
- If you do not have a passport APPLY FOR ONE NOW (it takes weeks to receive)
JUDGING
January 23, 2025 - Feb 2, 2025
- A panel of judges from the US and Saudi Arabia will judge the Pitch Packets according to...
- GAME criteria:
* Defined target market
* Product differentiation within that market
* Identifiable Unique Selling Points (USP)
* High potential market viability
* Monetization model
* Marketing plan
* Game highlights an aspect of the Saudi/MENA region
* Game highlights an aspect of freedom of expression and/or women's empowerment
- STUDIO criteria:
* Production, project management, and progress tracking plans
* Interpersonal conflict resolution plan
* Industry-standard plans for digital asset and source code management
* Development pipeline plan
* Industry-standard plans in place for digital asset and source code management
* Defined quality assurance (QA) protocol
* Indication that team can scale up team size in the future as needed
* Indication that team are capable of completing the game they proposed
* Team has either a 3:3 or 4:2 gender distribution ratio
* Evidence that team has gender diversity and a plan to protect all team members from being marginalized or otherwise underutilized
- TWO TEAMS WILL BE SELECTED TO MOVE TO PHASE TWO
PHASE TWO - GDC
March 16, 2025 - March 21, 2025
- The two winning teams from Phase One
- Twelve individuals total: two teams of six people
- Fly to San Francisco
- Attend the 2025 Game Developer Conference (GDC)
- Visit game companies
- Attend the Game of the Year Award Ceremony
- All expenses paid
PHASE THREE - PURDUE UNIVERSITY
May 19, 2025 - June 9, 2025
- Twelve individuals total: two teams of six people
- The two winning teams from Phase One
- Four week-long Masterclasses
- Led by four different industry professionals
- Both teams work intensively on their games
- Work in the Purdue Games Innovation Laboratory
- Weekend field trips
* Indianapolis 500
* Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (weather permitting)
* Game studio (TBA)
- All expenses paid
PHASE FOUR - REMOTE MENTORING
June 16, 2025 - Dec 31, 2025
- Monthly mentoring meetings
- Teams continue to work on their projects
- FINAL GOAL
* Release game to market
* OR
* Create vertical slice publisher pitch
- Project ends
Webinar Links
Webinar Series With US Game Industry Professionals
December 16, 2024 - January 20, 2025
All webinars at 7:30PM Riyadh Time
Zoom Meeting ID: 920 353 7573
Webinar 1 : December 16, 2024
Introduction, Brainstorming and Monetization
Webinar 1
View at Purdue Online Learning Portal
Webinar 2 : December 23, 2024
Cultural Elements as Game Mechanics
Webinar 2
View at Purdue Online Learning Portal
Webinar 3 : January 6, 2025
Game Narrative Design
Webinar 4 : January 13, 2025
Game Production and Project Management
Webinar 5 : January 16, 2025
Game Development Pipelines and Enterprise Processes
Webinar 6 : January 20, 2025
Pitching Your Game and Studio
Pitch Submission : January 23, 2025
Final Pitch Submission
Submit Via Purdue Online Learning Portal
WhatsApp Groups
WhatsApp GFX Announcements WhatsApp GFX Network
Purdue Online Learning Portal
Speakers
All Saudi GFX Program speakers are seasoned developers with deep experience in the games industry in the US and around the world.
Dr. David Whittinghill
Head of Game Development, Purdue University
Senior Programmer
John Szeder
Vice President of Engineering, Game Data Pros
Director of Engineering, Zynga
Ali Alshammari
Dean of e-Learning and Distance Education
CEO, DynamicX
Deborah Chantson Writer/Narrative Designer, Sticky Brain Studios
Jennifer Campbell
Senior Narrative Designer, Sledgehammer Games
Narrative Designer/Writer
Erin Cook
Art Outsource Producer
That's No Moon, PlayStation
Christopher Donley
Senior Project Manager
Ghost Story Games, Volition Games
TBA TBA
Topics Covered
The program assumes participants will have a variable degree of game development experience. It is not meant to be a comprehensive program that teaches everything one needs to know to make games.
Each team should have at least one: Designer, Programmer, Artist, Producer, and Audio. A team can have multiples of these roles or an individual who does more than one, but every game team needs at least these roles filled.
Program topics are not focused on specific competencies (e.g. programming, animation, optimization, etc.) but rather on how teams work together to get games SHIPPED and to make sure they SELL!
- Monetization
- Cultural Elements as Gameplay Mechanics
- Ideation, Blue Sky, and Brainstorming
- Finding the USPs
- Narrative Design
- Production for Small and Large Teams
- Production Pipelines and Enterprise Tech
- Building a Pitch
- Networking for Introverts
Timeline
- Week 0 - 12 dec 2024
- Week 1 - 16 dec 2024
- Week 2 - 23 dec 2024
- Week 3 - 30 dec 2024
- Week 4 - 6 jan 2025
- Week 5 (Webinar 4) - 13 jan 2025
- Week 5 (Webinar 5) - 16 jan 2025
- Week 6 - 20 jan 2025
- Week 6 (PITCHES DUE) - 23 jan 2025
- Week 7 - 27 jan 2025
- Week 8 (WINNERS ANNOUNCED) - 3 feb 2025
- Week 8 (VISA PROCESS BEGINS) - 3 feb 2025
- Week 8 (PHASE II BEGINS) - 3 feb 2025
- P2: Week 2 - 10 feb 2025
- P2: Week 3 - 17 feb 2025
- P2: Week 4 - 24 feb 2025
- P2: Week 5 - 3 mar 2025
- P2: GDC Final Prep - 10 mar 2025
- P2: GDC - 16 feb 2025
- Break
- PHASE III BEGINS (P3)
- P3: Masterclass Prep I - 7 may 2025
- P3: Masterclass Prep II - 14 may 2025
- P3: Masterclass 1 - 19 may 2025
- P3: Indianapolis 500 - 25 may 2025
- P3: Masterclass 2 - 26 may 2025
- P3: Dunes Ntnl. Park - 31 may 2025
- P3: Masterclass 3 - 2 jun 2025
- P3: TBD - 7 jun 2025
- P3: Masterclass 4 - 9 jun 2025
- Break
- PHASE IV BEGINS (P4)
- P4: Mentor Workshop 1 - 16 jun 2025
- P4: Mentor Workshop 2 - 14 jul 2025
- P4: Mentor Workshop 3 - 18 aug 2025
- P4: Mentor Workshop 4 - 15 sep 2025
- P4: Mentor Workshop 5 - 20 oct 2025
- P4: Mentor Workshop 6 - 17 nov 2025
- P4: Mentor Workshop 7 - 15 dec 2025
- P4: Final Deliverable/Project End - 18 dec 2025
-
Week 0 - 12 dec 2024
-
Week 1 : WEBINAR 1 - 16 dec 2024MONDAY 16 dec 2024 - (8:15AM PST = 11:15AM EST = 7:15PM Riyadh Local Time) Program Launch
Introduction to the program.
Speaker : David WhittinghillBlue Sky, Brainstorming, and USPsExercises for creating interesting new ideas - that sell!
Speaker : David WhittinghillMonetizationEstablishing your monetization strategy early.
Speaker : John Szeder -
Week 2 : WEBINAR 2 - 23 dec 2024MONDAY 23 dec 2024 - (8:15AM PST = 11:15AM EST = 7:15PM Riyadh Local Time) Cultural Elements as Game Mechanics
Exploring how elements of culture can make compelling game mechanics.
Speaker : Deborah Chantson -
Week 3 : BREAK - 30 dec 202430 dec 2024 NO EVENTS
No events for holiday break.
-
Week 4 : WEBINAR 3 - 6 jan 2025MONDAY 6 jan 2025 - (8:15AM PST = 11:15AM EST = 7:15PM Riyadh Local Time) Game Narrative Design
Game narrative and storytelling within and across cultures
Speaker : Jennifer Campbell -
Week 5 : WEBINAR 4 - 13 jan 2025MONDAY 13 jan 2025 - (8:15AM PST = 11:15AM EST = 7:15PM Riyadh Local Time) Game Production and Project Management
Maintaining schedules, project focus, and team cohesion.
Speaker : Erin Cook -
Week 5 : WEBINAR 5 - 13 jan 2025THURSDAY 16 jan 2025 - (8:15AM PST = 11:15AM EST = 7:15PM Riyadh Local Time) Game Development Pipelines and Enterprise Processes
Game developers never develop alone. Practices and technologies that keep teams organized.
Speaker : Chris Donley -
Week 6 : WEBINAR 6 - 20 jan 2025MONDAY 20 jan 2025 - (8:15AM PST = 11:15AM EST = 7:15PM Riyadh Local Time) Pitching Your Game and Studio
Strategies for perfecting your project pitch to SaudiGFX and anywhere else.
Speaker : TBA -
Week 6 : PITCH DUE - 20 jan 2025THURSDAY 20 jan 2025 - (1:00PM PST = 4:00PM EST = 11:59PM Riyadh Local Time) Pitch Submission Due
Final submission of your team's pitch. Pitches should be uploaded to the Purdue Online Learning Portal
Closing RemarksClosing remarks for the webinar series. Q&A.
-
Week 7 : Judging - 27 jan 2025Judging
A panel of judges from the US and Saudi Arabia will judge the submitted pitch packets.
-
Week 8 : PHASE 1 WINNERS ANNOUNCED - 3 feb 2025Phase 1 Winners Announced
Two teams will go forward to Phase II. The winners will be announced at this time via the WhatsApp GFX Announcements channel.
Project Sponsors
Do I have to have a lot of technical game development knowledge?
No, but somebody on your team does. Every team needs a programmer, artist, and designer - all of these roles are technical You can however serve effectively as the project's producer or writer/narrative designer without strong technical skills.
Can we have a team of greater or less than six members?
No. The greatest risk to a game's failure is not technical but logistical and/or interpersonal. The Saudi GFX program is specifically focused on providing you the training to function in team environments, as this is how nearly all successful modern game teams exist.
Do we have to have three women and three men?
Team gender distribution can be either a 3:3 or 4:2 ratio. As in question 2 above, working effectvely in diverse teams is required to make a modern game. A game team is composed of specialists (e.g. artists, programmers, designers, etc.). Gaining experience working on teams with diverse backgrounds is essential in being able to utilize each team member's capabilities to their fullest.
Can I work with my previously established team?
Yes. However your team may need to add additional members to mirror the gender distribution of the program (e.g. 50/50, 75/25, 60/40, etc.)
If I do not have a team, can I participate in the program?
Yes! Teams will be established by the SaudiGFX project leads. All efforts will be made to ensure that these project teams have all the required skill specializations while reflecting the program's gender ratio.
I already have an established team of less than (or greater than) six members that is stable and works well. Do we have to add (or reduce) our team size to equal six members?
Yes. The reasons are both educational and practical. An important goal of the program is to establish companies in the Saudi/MENA region that will provide new jobs in game development; a studio that can only function at a small size does not fulfill this program objective. Teams cannot be larger than six simply because the program is quite expensive and is budgeted to fund a maximum of 12 participants in total.
Can I work on multiple teams?
Yes.
What is the minimum age for team members?
All ages can attend the webinars, but to be eligible for Phase II, every team member
If I am under 18, can I be eligible for Phase II if a parent or guardian accompanies me?
No.
Will this program run again next year?
At present there are no plans to run this specific program again. BUT, if the program is successful and there is sufficient community interest the Embassy will examine the possibility of offering the program again in future years.
Are there any other programs for participants under 18 years old?
Not at this time. However depending on the program's success and community interest, an under-18 program may be considered for future sessions.
Didn’t find what your are looking for?
help@saudigfx.org or visit the WhatsApp GFX Network.