LOC09:00
06:00 GMT
By Eman Al-Awadhi (with photos)
KUWAIT, July 11 (KUNA) -- The growing interest of Kuwaiti youth in online
interactive games has prompted some to "modernize" popular games by adapting
them to the cyber world.
Koutbo6.com is one such website, offering its 250,000 members registered
from different countries the chance to play the popular "kout bo 6" card game
at any time of day with others who may be miles away. The game is usually
played at Kuwaiti "Diwaniyas" (social male gathering places) by men of all
ages and backgrounds.
Ahmad Al-Ibrahim, the manager of the website, told KUNA that this website,
which was first launched in 2000 and saw many amendments over the years, "is a
source of pride to all Kuwaitis, thanks to the many local, regional and
international awards that it has attained."
The website has won "Kuwait e-Award" for the entertainment category, as
well as the "Arab e-Award" for the e-entertainment category, and the "World
Summit Award" of the UN Global Alliance for ICT and Development (UN-GAID).
"These awards are an achievement for Kuwait and Kuwaitis, and they are the
result of efforts of the website's members, who contributed to its
construction and launch in 2000, and went on to point out problems and make
proposals that helped make the website even better and more enjoyable," he
said.
He recounted how he and two of his friends -- Hamad and Mohammad Al-Marzouq
-- came up with the idea of creating an online card game, thus taking the
traditional card game to the world of the internet world. It then evolved into
nine different games, where users all over the world are able to play in teams.
Users can also add friends and chat with them publicly or privately using
the instant messaging application in addition to updating their respective
profiles.
Al-Ibrahim explained how this transition "broke traditional social
boundaries" through allowing women the chance to participate within the gaming
community. "Kout bo 6" requires six players to play at a time, and through the
web, a player can join any other available group to complete the required six
members and start the game.
"This demonstrates the beauty of connectivity with online multi-player
games, as in reality it is not always easy for an individual to find five
other people to get together and enjoy the game. On the website, there are
also artificial intelligence players who can join the game to complete the
group of six players," he said.
The website, one of the largest in the Middle East, now has some 250,000
members, and holds regular tournaments. In Ramadan of last year, 2,000 players
took part in the contests, and the number is expected to be even larger this
year.
Al-Ibrahim said that registration of this year's Ramadan contest would
begin in late July, adding that sponsors had been lined up for the games.
"Sponsors were attracted by the huge traffic comprising youth and even the
older generation -- who were taken by how technology has translated an aspect
of their past -- and also by the number of registered players competing to
break the record of highest scores around the clock," he noted.
He called on innovative and creative youth to maintain contact with the
website's webmasters, and expressed readiness cooperate and assist with them
on whatever e-projects they were working on.
Asked how the website was financed, he explained that this was a "hybrid"
business model involving both subscription and advertising.
"Although playing the game is free, a subscription is required for premium
membership allowing a user to participate in tournaments and have his or her
own personalized profile, historic records and game statistics," he said.
Moreover, he said that the website advertised for companies targeting the
large customer base. Sponsorship of tournaments is another source of income,
and Ramadan is the peak season.
Al-Ibrahim grasped this occasion to underscore the importance of government
support for such youth activities, and expressed his appreciation to Kuwait
Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS), headed by His Highness the
Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, for sponsoring Kuwait e-Award.
He also thanked Bahrain's Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Higher
Committee for IT and Communications Sheikh Mohammad bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa for
sponsoring the Arab e-Award.
"Such support for creativity is what youth need in order to display their
talents, and we hope that this would be an incentive for greater innovations
in Kuwait, the Gulf, and the Arab world," he said.
Al-Ibrahim revealed plans to expand to the Gulf region and then to the
Middle East, adding that an English interface for the website would be added
soon, as well as a focus on personalized and social web content. (end)
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