Latest news with #HiroKoide
Biz Bahrain
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Biz Bahrain
NatsumeAtari and Bahrain EDB to develop landmark game for Expo 2025
NatsumeAtari, a leading video game developer with over 30 years of experience, has partnered with the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) to provide a casual mobile game to be showcased at the Bahrain Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. The game was developed by three aspiring Bahraini game developers who are currently training at NatsumeAtari, as part of the company's broader initiative to strengthen ties with the growing video game market in the Middle east. The three developers, who are training for one year in game development, production and marketing, worked on a game designed to highlight Bahrain's economic and tourism potential. Hiro Koide, NatsumeAtari's CEO, said, 'The showcasing of 'Ship of Time' at the Bahrain Pavilion at Expo 2025 developed by three trainees from Bahrain, is a significant milestone of our training program and shines a bright light on the future of the video game market in the Kingdom of Bahrain. We look forward to seeing their continued growth as game developers. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone at the EDB who provided invaluable support for this project.' Mohammed Al Alawi, Chief of Marketing and Communications at the Bahrain Economic Development Board added, 'our collaboration with NatsumeAtari reflects Bahrain's commitment to fostering innovation and supporting emerging talent in the gaming industry. Ship of Time is a creative showcase of the Kingdom's economic and tourism potential, blending rich history with future ambitions. We are proud to see young Bahraini developers play a key role in bringing this vision to life at EXPO 2025 Osaka, highlighting Bahrain's growing position as a hub for digital content'. The Kingdom of Bahrain's Pavilion is organised by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA). Spanning across four levels and offering a scenic view of the sea, the pavilion offers guests a comprehensive experience, introducing them to Bahrain's unique culture, lifestyle, and business offering. The Bahrain Economic Development Board, overseeing the business exhibition, has worked closely with stakeholders across Bahrain to highlight the Kingdom's numerous competitive advantages, including a strategic location at the heart of the Gulf, the region's best value-operating costs, a highly skilled bilingual workforce, and a competitive taxation system. The mobile game provided by NatsumeAtari will be available to play for the duration of EXPO. The game, Ship of Time, blends themes of tradition with forward-looking development. Through an engaging, interactive experience, players navigate a traditional Bahraini boat (dhow) through a re-imagined Bahrain Bay, discovering iconic landmarks while learning about the country's investment and business opportunities. With the support of NatsumeAtari, the game offers an immersive and educational experience that highlights the Kingdom's rich heritage of the past and ambitions and opportunities of the future. Project Manager Hasan Al Barri, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, noting: 'We're incredibly grateful to NatsumeAtari for providing us with the tools and invaluable guidance that made it possible for us to take on this unique project so early in our game development journey. We also sincerely appreciate both, Bahrain EDB and Tamkeen, for their continued support in empowering Bahraini youth in emerging industries. The team is excited to showcase this game on a global stage like EXPO.' EXPO 2025 Osaka will run from April 13th to October 13th, and Ship of Time will be displayed within the business exhibition of the Bahrain Pavillion for the duration of the programme. BNA(R)
Biz Bahrain
27-02-2025
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
Tamkeen Supports Three Bahrainis in the Video Gaming Industry in Collaboration with Japan's NatsumeAtari through the Global Ready Talent Program
The Labour Fund 'Tamkeen' has announced the training of three Bahrainis in the field of video game development at the renowned Japanese company, NatsumeAtari. This initiative is part of the Global Ready Talent Program, aimed at empowering Bahrainis by enhancing their skills and accelerating their professional growth in emerging fields through international training experiences with leading global companies. This support aligns with Tamkeen's strategic priorities for 2025, which focuses on enhancing the position and competitiveness of Bahrainis in the private sector, equipping Bahrainis with suitable skills for career development in the private sector, and prioritizing enterprise growth, digitization, and sustainability, and supporting the development of the ecosystem surrounding the labor market and private sector. On this occasion, Her Excellency Ms. Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), stated: 'At Tamkeen, we are committed to providing training opportunities for Bahraini talent in innovative and globally in-demand fields. The initiative to train Bahrainis at NatsumeAtari represents a significant step in enhancing their skills in the video game industry, one of the fastest-growing sectors worldwide. The gaming industry in the GCC region alone is estimated to be worth around USD 821 million. The Global Ready Talent Program aims to provide participants with hands-on experience at international companies, accelerating their professional growth and supporting our strategic goals for 2025, which focus on enhancing Bahraini competitiveness and fostering the growth and sustainability of local enterprises.' Meanwhile, Mr. Hiro Koide, CEO of NatsumeAtari, expressed his delight in welcoming and training Bahraini talent at the company. He stated: 'We are fully prepared to welcome and train young Bahraini professionals, as this represents a great opportunity to build fruitful ties between Japan and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Through this year-long program, we hope to share the knowledge and expertise we have gained in Japan with young Bahraini developers, contribute to the growth of the gaming industry in the Kingdom, and serve as a bridge connecting the gaming industries of Japan and the Middle East.' As part of the program, participants will gain hands-on experience in video game development and project management based on Japanese methodologies. They will also learn the Japanese language and culture, fostering cultural exchange between Japan and Bahrain. Additionally, the trainees will work on projects that allow them to leverage their cultural understanding of the Middle East's market unique needs. Founded in Osaka, Japan, NatsumeAtari has been a pioneering company in the video game development industry for over three decades. The company is known for its innovative contributions to both the local and global gaming sectors. Tamkeen has introduced various programs designed to support employment and career development for Bahraini professionals, ensuring they remain the first choice of employment in the labor market. Additionally, Tamkeen offers multiple enterprise support programs to strengthen the private sector, positioning it as the main driver of economic growth in the Kingdom.
Daily Tribune
27-02-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Tamkeen supports three Bahrainis in the Video Gaming Industry
The Labour Fund 'Tamkeen' has announced the training of three Bahrainis in video game development at the renowned Japanese company, NatsumeAtari. This initiative is part of the Global Ready Talent Programme, aimed at empowering Bahrainis by enhancing their skills and accelerating their professional growth in emerging fields through international training experiences with leading global companies. This support aligns with Tamkeen's strategic priorities for 2025, which focuses on enhancing the position and competitiveness of Bahrainis in the private sector, equipping Bahrainis with suitable skills for career development in the private sector, and prioritizing enterprise growth, digitization, and sustainability, and supporting the development of the ecosystem surrounding the labor market and private sector. On this occasion, Ms. Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), stated: ' The gaming industry in the GCC region alone is estimated to be worth around USD 821 million. The Global Ready Talent Programme aims to provide participants with hands-on experience at international companies, accelerating their professional growth and supporting our strategic goals for 2025, which focus on enhancing Bahraini competitiveness and fostering the growth and sustainability of local enterprises.' Meanwhile, Mr. Hiro Koide, CEO of NatsumeAtari, expressed his delight in welcoming and training Bahraini talent at the company. He stated: ' Through this year-long programme, we hope to share the knowledge and expertise we have gained in Japan with young Bahraini developers, contribute to the growth of the gaming industry in the Kingdom, and serve as a bridge connecting the gaming industries of Japan and the Middle East.' As part of the programme, participants will gain handson experience in video game development and project management based on Japanese methodologies. They will also learn the Japanese language and culture, fostering cultural exchange between Japan and Bahrain. Additionally, the trainees will work on projects that allow them to leverage their cultural understanding of the Middle East's market unique needs. Founded in Osaka, Japan, NatsumeAtari has been a pioneering company in the video game development industry for over three decades. The company is known for its innovative contributions to both the local and global gaming sectors. Tamkeen has introduced various programmes designed to support employment and career development for Bahraini professionals, ensuring they remain the first choice of employment in the labor market. Additionally, Tamkeen offers multiple enterprise support programmes to strengthen the private sector, positioning it as the main driver of economic growth in the Kingdom.
