Virtual Reality (VR) incorporated in video games
The gaming industry might be the first to come to mind when thinking about the entertainment sector in Macao. The Macao entertainment sector is however diverse and has stimulated a wide range of economic activities. It includes the development of digital technologies, management systems and video games. The 4th MGS Entertainment Show – Creativity and Innovation, held in mid-November and organised by the Macau Gaming Equipment Manufacturers Association (MGEMA), has made Macao a platform to showcase to professional buyers from around the world the most up-to-date digital equipment and technology within the industry. MGS has also broadened the horizons of Macao residents and tourists in terms of how they think about the city. Apart from the exhibition, MGS organised a three-day summit that was also of great benefit to professional buyers, exhibitors and general visitors. Jay Chun, Chairman of the show’s organiser MGEMA, says he is satisfied with the overall achievements of MGS, adding that he hopes to see the trade show expand year-by-year and to enlarge its non-gaming elements. This, he says, would help other related sectors to grow in Macao. Steady development for MGS Entertainment Show The fourth edition of MGS showcased – in a single event – games, entertainment solutions, and leisure and related services. Under the theme “Creativity and Innovation”, the trade show incorporated a large range of non-gaming elements, including products and services from cultural and creative industries, and from science and technology industries. There were four main exhibition areas, covering: cultural and creative topics; future technology and innovation; visual media; and entertainment and tourism. The show attracted to Macao more than 750 senior managers and policymakers from around the world, who attended the event in order to gather information on the latest entertainment trends. The event also opened its doors to the public, welcoming 14,847 visitors during its three days. Mr Chun says that as well as hosting Macao’s six gaming concessionaires and sub-concessionaires, the show also drew exhibiting companies from several fields, including those of the entertainment, digital technology and cultural and creative industries. Such companies included exhibitors from Europe, North America, South Korea and the Philippines. There were a total of 170 exhibitors in this year’s show, a 20 percent increase compared to the previous year. Mr Chun also points out that MGS has been growing gradually, with increases year-on-year in the number of professional buyers attending the show. He hopes that MGS can continue growing steadily over the coming years. The three-day Summit at this year’s event covered three major topics, namely: “New Policy and Regulatory”; “Investment Opportunity”; and “Gaming/Creativity/Innovation/Culture”. The Summit proved to be a great platform to promote interaction and exchange among attendees. Keynote speakers at the Summit came from Mainland China, the United States, Australia, Vietnam and Macao. In addition, Paulo Martins Chan, Director of Macao’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, as well as professors from Macao Polytechnic Institute, and other industry experts, delivered speeches during the Summit. With the discussion centred on the future development of Macao’s gaming industry, the speakers focused their attention on the business model of the entertainment sector, including investment opportunities and technology innovation. Such discussion yielded benefits for all. Number of major MICE activities grows Macao is to host a number of international large-scale events in the first quarter of 2017, including the “13th China Expo Forum for International Co-operation (CEFCO 2017)”, which will be held for the first time outside Mainland China. Several international professional conferences will also be held in Macao during the first quarter of 2017, including the “International Forum for E-Commerce Industry Development” (with more than 10,000 participants expected); and the “10th International Conference on Computational Physics (ICCP10)”, which has invited a Nobel Prize winner to deliver a speech and share his important research achievements with the audience. For more information, please visit the official website of IPIM: http://www.ipim.gov.mo.
