IGN Convention (IGN Con) is a

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...

movie A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

s, comics and pop culture convention held in various cities in the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (Europ ...

. The event generally includes celebrities, video game tournaments, table top games,

card game A card game is any game using playing cards as the primary device with which the game is played, be they traditional or game-specific. Countless card games exist, including families of related games (such as poker). A small number of card ga ...

s, movie previews,

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...

stalls and a cosplay competition. A number of Middle Eastern artists and game developers also showcase their work at IGN Convention. This convention is owned and operated by IGN Middle East, the Middle Eastern edition of popular video games website IGN. IGN Convention is the spiritual successor to GameFest, a biannual, smaller scale gaming gallery which was originally hosted by IGN Middle East's parent company T-break Media between 2010 and 2012, before the hosting duties were subsequently taken over by

AMD Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) is an American multinational semiconductor company based in Santa Clara, California, that develops computer processors and related technologies for business and consumer markets. While it initially manufactur ...

EMEA. The IGN Convention logo was designed by prominent Gulf based artist

Ashraf Ghori Mohammed Ashraf Ghori (born 17 September 1973), is a Dubai-based Indian comic book artist, filmmaker and entrepreneur. He is best known for creating UAE's first CGI science fiction film ''Xero Error'' a futuristic cyborg thriller which won rec ...

History

2013

IGN Convention Dubai 2013

Held on 5–6 July 2013 at Meydan IMAX,

Dubai Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics of ...

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia ( The Middle East). It is located at t ...

Special Guests:

Kevin Nash Kevin Scott Nash (born July 9, 1959) is an American actor and retired professional wrestler, currently signed to WWE under a legends contract. He is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) where he performed under his ...

, Naomi Kyle,

Royce Gracie Royce Gracie (; born 12 December 1966) is a Brazilian retired professional mixed martial artist, a UFC Hall of Famer, and a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. A member of the Gracie family, he is considered to be one of the most influential figures ...

Key Attractions: Cosplay Competition, Last of Us on IMAX screen

IGN Convention Bahrain 2013

Held on 18–19 October 2013 at Bahrain Exhibition Center,

Manama Manama ( ar, المنامة ', Bahrani pronunciation: ) is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 200,000 people as of 2020. Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very di ...

Bahrain Bahrain ( ; ; ar, البحرين, al-Bahrayn, locally ), officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, ' is an island country in Western Asia. It is situated on the Persian Gulf, and comprises a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and an ...

Special Guests:

Troy Baker Troy Baker (born April 1, 1976) is an American voice actor and musician. Baker is known for his video game roles, including Joel Miller in ''The Last of Us'' (2013) and its sequel (2020), Booker DeWitt in ''BioShock Infinite'' (2013), Samuel ...

Keiji Inafune is a Japanese video game producer, illustrator and businessman. Starting his career at Capcom in the late 1980s, his job was as an artist and illustrator. The first two games he worked on were the original ''Street Fighter'' and ''Mega Man'' in ...

, Ryan Hart Key Attractions: PlayStation 4 Preview, Oculus Rift, Cosplay Competition, Bahrain Game Developers

2014

IGN Convention Bahrain 2014

Held on 24–25 October at

Bahrain International Circuit The Bahrain International Circuit ( ar, حلبة البحرين الدولية, Ḥalba al-Baḥrayn ad-Dawliyya) is a motorsport venue opened in 2004 and used for drag racing, GP2 Series (now FIA Formula 2), and the annual Formula One Bahrain ...

Sakhir Sakhir ( ) is a desert area located in the Southern Governorate of Bahrain, near Zallaq. It contains the Al-Sakhir Palace, built in 1870. Camping in Sakhir during the winter months is a popular activity in the country. Notable sites In the ear ...

Special Guests:

Naomi Kyle

Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (; transliterated as Hafthor in English, born 26 November 1988), is an Icelandic professional strongman, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest strength athletes of all time. He is the first and only person ...

, Julia Voth
The ExperimentMohammad Fikree
Hamad Qalam Key Attractions: Cosplay Competition, Troy Baker Concert, Celebrity Q&A, Workshops in Film and Gaming Topics, DJ Session, Sumo Tournament, Freestyle Performance

IGN Convention Dubai 2014

Held on 21–22 November 2014 at Dubai International Marine Club,

Special Guests:

, Ryan Hart
Riddle
Falah Hashim, Amal Hawijeh, S.A Zaidi and Ghanem Ghubash
Mohammad Fikree
Haidar Mohammed,

Faisal Hashmi
Key Attractions: Cosplay Contest, Troy Baker Concert, Celebrity Q&A, Panels and Workshops

2015

IGN Convention Qatar 2015

Held on 26–27 February 2015 at Qatar National Convention Center,

Doha Doha ( ar, الدوحة, ad-Dawḥa or ''ad-Dōḥa'') is the capital city and main financial hub of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf coast in the east of the country, north of Al Wakrah and south of Al Khor, it is home to most of the count ...

Qatar Qatar (, ; ar, قطر, Qaṭar ; local vernacular pronunciation: ), officially the State of Qatar,) is a country in Western Asia. It occupies the Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it ...

Special Guests: Hafthór Júlíus Björnsson, Adam Harrington, Dave Fennoy, NadiaSK Key Attractions: Celeb guests, video Games showcase, retro gaming museum

IGN Convention Bahrain 2015

Held on 2–3 October 2015 at

Special Guests: Booker T
Dave Fennoy
Adam Harrington, Julia Voth
Riddle
Key Attractions: Cosplay Competition, Celebrity Q&A, Workshops in Film and Gaming Topics, DJ Session, Sumo Tournament, Freestyle Performance

IGN Convention Abu Dhabi 2015

Held on 16–17 October 2015 at du Forum, Abu Dhabi,

Special Guests:

Jack Gleeson Jack Gleeson (born 20 May 1992) is an Irish actor who played Joffrey Baratheon on the HBO television series ''Game of Thrones'' (2011–2014). Following this role, Gleeson took a hiatus from acting, but has since taken part in independent th ...

Naomi KyleDave Fennoy
Adam Harrington, NadiaSK Key Attractions: Cosplay Competition with $10,000 Prize Money, PlayStation VR showcase, HTC Vive showcase, Celebrity Q&A, Workshops in Film and Gaming Topics

2016

IGN Convention Bahrain 2016

Held on 22-23 October 2016 at

Special Guests:

Kurt Angle Kurt Steven Angle (born December 9, 1968) is an American retired professional wrestler, Olympic gold medalist in American freestyle wrestling, and former collegiate wrestler. He is best known for his tenures in WWE and Total Nonstop Action ...

Giancarlo Esposito Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito (; born April 26, 1958) is an American actor and director. He is best known for portraying Gus Fring in the AMC crime drama series '' Breaking Bad'', from 2009 to 2011, and in its prequel series ''Better ...

Alodia Gosiengfiao Alodía Almira Arraiza Gosiengfiao (born March 9, 1988) is a Filipina cosplayer, model, TV presenter, singer, vlogger, actress and co-founder of Tier One Entertainment. She is also known as ''Senpai Alodia of the Philippines''. As a celebrit ...

Key Attractions: Cosplay Competition, Celebrity Q&A, Workshops in Film and Gaming Topics, DJ Session, Sumo Tournament, Freestyle Performance

IGN Convention Oman 2016

Held on 9-10 December 2016 at Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre,

Oman Oman ( ; ar, عُمَان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman ( ar, سلْطنةُ عُمان ), is an Arabian country located in southwestern Asia. It is situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and spans the mouth of ...

Special Guests:

Kristian Nairn Kristian Nairn (born 25 November 1975) is an actor and DJ from Lisburn, Northern Ireland. He is best known for his portrayal of Hodor in the HBO fantasy series ''Game of Thrones''. More recently, he has played Wee John Feeney on the HBO Max se ...

Dave Fennoy
Adam Harrington, Key Attractions: Cosplay Competition, Celebrity Q&A, Video Games Zone, Table Top Games

References

IGN Convention Dubai in Pictures

Get your game on at IGN Convention

IGN Convention Comes to Doha

Troy Baker's Concert in Bahrain

Sky News Cosplay Report

Celebrity Ask Me Anything in Dubai 2014

Bleeding Cool Blog: IGN Convention in Dubai

External links

* {{Official website, http://www.ignconvention.com/ IGN Video game trade shows