LOS ANGELES: Bandits, soldiers, demons, zombies, aliens and other enemies will be shot, stabbed, bludgeoned, incinerated, or even blown up on the show floor of the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.
Deadly conflicts played out with stunning arsenals in creative fictional settings remain at the heart of blockbuster action video games, with imagery getting richer and fight mechanics smoother with improved technology.
There was no shortage of bloody battles in games spotlighted at media events hosted by video game industry titans in the days leading up to E3 showcase.
A hot video game trend now is “Battle Royale” death-match games such as “Fortnite” and “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds” in which players vie to be the sole survivor.
Shooting and swordplay have long been staples in a global video game industry that the Entertainment Software Association said took in a total of $116 billion worldwide last year.
Violence in games has the trade group working to make sure politicians, including US President Donald Trump, understand that there is no link between that kind of play and what people do in the real world, ESA Chief Executive Michael Gallagher told AFP.
Trump and the ESA met earlier this year after the shootings at a US high school.
Some have blamed violence in media such as video games, rather than access to guns, for attacks.
“One thing that has sunk in to a great degree is the truth that video game violence has nothing to do with real-world violence,” Gallagher said commenting on meetings held with federal and state politicians.
“There are 2.6 billion gamers around the world, yet these outbreaks are uniquely American. It has got to be something else.”
A growing number of policy makers are “rejecting the notion outright” that video games cause people to commit actual violence, according to Gallagher.
“The tide has turned significantly,” he added.
In the US, 22 states offer video game companies economic incentives to set up and create jobs, according to Gallagher.
About 45,000 industry members are expected to attend E3, along with 15,000 gamers who bought tickets to get access to the show floor and its 200 exhibitors, the ESA said.
Deadly battles continue to power blockbuster video games
Deadly battles continue to power blockbuster video games
- Deadly conflicts played out with stunning arsenals in creative fictional settings remain at the heart of blockbuster action video games, with imagery getting richer and fight mechanics smoother with improved technology.
- A hot video game trend now is “Battle Royale” death-match games such as “Fortnite” and “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds” in which players vie to be the sole survivor.
Saudi Arabia’s NDF unveils strategic partners for MOMENTUM 2025 conference
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Development Fund has unveiled the lineup of strategic partners for the Development Finance Conference MOMENTUM 2025, as the Kingdom accelerates efforts to build a more integrated development-finance ecosystem.
The conference, scheduled for Dec. 9–11 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, will bring together policymakers, lenders and global development institutions as the Kingdom seeks to expand financing channels for key sectors.
Saudi National Bank and Arab National Bank are named Main Partners, while Riyad Bank will serve as Banking Partner, NDF said in a press release.
Bank AlJazira and Saudi Awwal Bank join as Enabling Partners, and public-sector participants include Invest Saudi, the Made in Saudi Program, and the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority.
Riyadh Municipality also joins the list as the host city partner, while Saudi Post is the logistics partner for the conference.
“Collectively, these partnerships advance the conference’s vision of fostering collaboration among public and private sectors, contributing to Saudi Vision 2030 objectives,” the release said.
Organized by NDF, this year’s conference is convened under the theme “Leading Development Transformation.”
MOMENTUM 2025 reflects the NDF’s central role as a principal enabler of development in the Kingdom and as a strategic driver of the national development finance system through its 12 affiliated development funds and banks.
“Through this conference, NDF aims to align efforts, amplify impact, enhance coordination and integration, and build meaningful partnerships with leaders across the public and private sectors. Together, these efforts are intended to ensure sustainable growth and empower strategic sectors to deliver on national and global development goals,” the release added.
The program will feature more than 100 speakers from over 120 local and international entities, further underscoring the conference’s role as a national forum supporting the leadership’s vision of building a dynamic financing ecosystem that empowers key sectors.
Several princes, ministers, senior officials, CEOs, global leaders, development experts, and economists are scheduled to attend the conference.
The event will spotlight the contribution of the private sector and small and medium-sized enterprises in elevating the Kingdom’s economic growth, generating jobs, and boosting competitiveness.
