Into the gaming world: Exciting modern gaming-arena projects in Dubai.

Digitization has changed the landscape of our world, by creating a parallel plane of virtual reality. While its contributions in shaping the world and society have been immense, it has offered the gift of digital gaming to the realm of recreation.

Open world games have standards that were set by Grand Theft Auto III in 2001 and have been evolving at a promising pace. The player gets to experience a whole simulation of the world rather than confining them in a small (virtual) space. 

To classify a game as an open world, the autonomy of the player in the game and the extent it is able to push, to give its users freedom, is what matters. Games also differ in the ways they provide this freedom, as customization of every attribute of a game is important to ensure good quality.

Gaming technologies have advanced today, in terms of their concept, presentation, and hardware, but the current spaces that accommodate these gamers and their equipment require an upgrade.

How can the designers help in making the gaming arena as relevant to gamers as possible?

The inception of open-world games came with the need to provide the players a degree of individualism to their roles. But this freedom is only available on a virtual plane interface when in reality, they were inevitably tied down to a chair.

Virtual Reality (VR/AR) technology has helped the industry make quantum leaps, by enabling hyper-realistic gaming experiences. They have creatively challenged our previous conceptions about open-world games and other online experiences.

As the intensity of gaming has surged, it has become a sport, played by esports athletes (players) and witnessed by crowds of spectators, online and offline. The competition is viewed in real-time venues, along with events and activities hosted to bring the gaming fraternity together. 

The facet of gaming that is currently backlogging, is the ability of players to convene at a place and enjoy their experience in a conducive environment.

Most of the gaming conventions and markets do not have dedicated spaces to conduct their events. Designing spaces curated for such events is the next step in the gaming world.

Brief: Challenge was design a modern gaming arena where gamers can convene for competitions and casual gaming bouts. 

The facility is mainly focusing on digital gaming sets and activities, allowing multiple gamers to gather in groups and enjoy their sessions. Basic amenities such as snacking counters, lounging, and other recreational facilities must be included to provide a better gaming experience. 

The spatial organization and material palette of the facility must be suited to gamers and spectators. The center must have a flexible design to accommodate attractions and fairs temporarily, along with a regular setup for daily gamers. The occupancy of the center will also change with this.

The spaces must predominantly be oriented to fit in the different types of open-world games, with a variety of user interfaces.

The designer has the freedom of imagination for the ambiance, providing functionality and feasibility in design for the next couple of decades.

The jury for the competition consisted of esteemed designers, professionals, and academicians from around the world. The Lead Jurors for the competitions were as follows: 

Ermis Adamantidis, Co-founder, Not a Number Architects, Greece

Dominiki Dadatsi, Co-founder, Not a Number Architects, Greece

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Some of the Best competition projects are as follows:

Winning Project: Dopamine Gaming Center

By: Elaheh Askari

^{Fig: 1 Site and Section Plan}

Description: Nowadays the concept of gaming has been completely changed, when we think about gaming we think about the digital and virtual world. A world that is intangible and can’t be physically felt. As a group of youths who enjoy video games and had enough knowledge about this field, we decided to design a building suitable for all kinds of gamers.

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People’s Choice: Amorphous Gaming Center

By: Joud Alsaht, Hanan Alsahin & Fatima Almagboul

^{Fig: 2 Night time views}

Description: A digital universe that takes you away from the ordinary gaming field to live a whole image of the world rather than limiting you within a confining space. It is here for everyone not only gamers to come and visit to have an opportunity of experimenting with a new adventure. Join the journey!

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Institutional Excellence: PXL Gaming

By: Ibtihal Mkouboi, Menatallah Aly & Sumaia AlShamsi

^{Fog: 3 Elevation and Section Plan}

Description: Sharpen the gaming resolution.

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Institutional Excellence: Y-Cloud

By: Ola Wahoud, Malak Abdalla & Noor Antakia

^{Fig: 4 Floor and Section Plan}

Description: Imagining the public, gaming enthusiasts as player 1 and the professional gamers as player 2, the fusion of two different and independent individuals, or pure colors like red and green, creates a yellow fusion in an unbounded and something intangible like a cloud that symbolizes "The Game", that has no limits!

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Editor’s Choice: MetaPixels (MPX)

By: Ragd Alharbat & Malak Majed

^{Fig: 5 Exterior renders and elevations.}

Description: This project symbolizes the main process of creating the digital world created by gamers to gamers. The concept represents how pixels assemble to create an image on the screen of any electronic device using the eye’s rational veins that connect millions of tiny pixels to generate a clear view. Composition of pixels converted from 2 dimensional to 3 dimensional starting by a dimension of 0.5m3 and connect them by connective tissues. 

                            

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