Today launched the Armenian Open Championship of Developers of Computer Games, organized already the second time by the Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE) and “Orange Armenia” CJSC. This championship aims to develop the sector of computer games design in Armenia, which, in its turn, will enable to create a new business environment, reveal and motivate new young talents, who will have the opportunity to bring to life their ideas and participate in implementation of projects at the best IT companies. Karen Vardanyan, the UITE Executive Director, said: “The sector of computer games is one of those domains not yet sufficiently researched and implemented in Armenia. Last year’s results in terms of the number of participants and the quality of presented projects exceeded all our expectations. The development we noticed with most of the participants was really amazing; among the participants were even schoolchildren. We are glad to announce the launch of the second championship and we expect that the projects for this year will be more interesting and original”. Bruno Duthoit, the CEO of Orange Armenia, said: “The sector of computer games already has its stable role in the IT and telecommunications domain. In 2011 we witnessed many wonderfully performed projects, which are already fully ready to enter the market. We are happy to cooperate with the UITE this year again to support implementation of new and interesting ideas. This year we have put the main stress on mobile software, as it is a domain which develops and grows dynamically both in Armenia and in the world. We are waiting with great interest to see the projects for this year’s championship”. The championship will be held in 4 stages and will have 9 nomination categories: Best Game, Best Mobile Game, Best Scenario, Best Innovation, Best Design, Best Junior, Best Social Mobile Application, Best Entertainment Application and Best Communication Application. During each stage the Jury will consider the projects, will reveal the defects and will set performance specifications per each project. The Jury is composed of professional game developers, programmers and designers who will help the participants with their professional advice during the contest. The contest is held by the support of Sourcio, Teoken, Tx Systems, Triada, MicroSoft-RA companies and Association of Modern Technologies Professionals, National Professional Cybersport League (NPCL). “Open Game” Championship of Developers of Computer Games is not limited to age, project type and technical capacities. Those who wish to participate should register by sending their requests to shushanik.vardanyan@uite.org until 30 September. Those who will register until 30 April, will have the chance to participate in seminars, dedicated to design and development of computer games, thus gaining additional professional skills until the launch of the championship. During the final stage of the contest an exhibition will be held, where the games developed by the participants and the works of other companies, representing the domain of computer games will be displayed. The first “Open Game” Championship of Developers of Computer Games was held in 2011 with 25 participants, representing both graphic studios and groups of students and even schoolchildren. The championship was closed by an exhibition during which all visitors could play already ready games. About Orange Armenia Orange Armenia, 100% subsidiary of France Telecom, launched telecommunication services in Armenia on November 5, 2009. Since the start of its activities in Armenia Orange has made 186 million Euros investments including 50 million Euros of the license of services and now the company provides a full range of voice and data services in 600 cities and villages of Armenia available to more than 95% of the population. Orange is an innovative and friendly brand in Armenia and within the short period of operation has leaded a range of innovations in the country, such as HD voice, which made Armenia the second country in the world equipped with this technology. Orange wishes to make the world innovations accessible to the largest part of the Armenian population. Orange was the first operator in Armenia having organized public demo of 4G technologies, making possible for everyone to see and touch the LTE. In Armenia Orange has also stimulated the market of smartphones, being the first to officially introduce iPhone, Android-based HTC, and by making them accessible to a large part of consumers through special offers. Orange is also the first and still the only operator in Armenia having implemented a mobile station operating exclusively with solar energy, which is ecologically clean. Orange has its own and very important contribution in the country thanks to high quality services, innovative offers, flexible price policy and a wide sales network. The company offers to its customers the best services based on modern technologies, as well as its know-how and knowledge accumulated in the five continents of the world. As of the first quarter of 2012 Orange Armenia has 600.000 active customers. About UITE The Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE) was founded in 2000 as a non-profit, non-governmental association of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) companies of Armenia. UITE includes 52 local and international companies which operate in Armenia as well as abroad. UITE members are involved in software product development, Internet technologies and E-commerce, IT services, R&D, chip design etc. Several UITE members take advanced positions in international markets. Within the frames of its activities UITE organizes a number of events tend towards the development of favorable business environment. The events organized by the Union are: annual DigiTec ICT/HighTech Expo, DigiTec Business-Forum, ICT leaders meeting-forum, Armenian Robots Open Championship (ArmRobotics), Armenian Open Game development Contest, IT to Business thematic meetings.

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