Lebanese Woman Changes Gaming Industry in the Middle East

BEIRUT - March 10, 2013 - PRLog -- “The future is not a place that we go to. The future is a destination that we create”.

These are the words that mother, wife, teacher and creative art director Reine Abbas ended her Tedx Beirut talk with; leaving everyone who listened, with a sense of empowerment and a will to take initiative towards writing their individual life story. Because that’s what she did.

Gifted with a limitless appreciation for self-expression, Reine Abbas possesses all the tools to craft her own art of life. That’s why 2013 marks yet another giant step that Reine has taken towards being an image for women empowerment, in a world that almost lost sight of the tremendous contributing female role in shaping our very existence. The voting opportunity of the people, along with the panel of professionals from different corners of life and the Middle Eastern region agree. Reine Abbas from Wixel Studios is the winning recipient of the WOW award for artistic expression 2013 presented to her at the 6th New Arab Woman Forum (NAWF). Under the theme of “Unlocking the Potential of Arab Women Entrepreneurs”, the WOW award is the new initiative launched under the umbrella of NAWF in an effort to recognize the success of Arab women entrepreneurs. The event was held at Under the High Patronage of the First Lady of Lebanon, Mrs. Wafa Sleiman on March 1st and 2nd, 2013 at the Hotel Movenpick in Beirut. The WOW Award is an event managed by Iktissad Wal Aamal and Hasnaa Magazine.

Reine Abbas is presently the co-founder, partner and head of the art department of Wixel Studios. Reine works alongside a group of young professional Lebanese achievers who excel at the craft of game building. The team is currently working on releasing a new mobile game application  “Abu Ahmad the Arabian: Life or Power Plants”, which will be released to the world by April 2013. In addition to the 3D visual excellence that AAATheGame provides, the richness of the gaming content, their creation also includes an underlying climate change awareness message, as the storyline takes place in a post-global warming Middle East. Reine is also currently a professor at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, ALBA and the Lebanese University.

Reine Abbas is the former head of the DigiPen Art Department/AKE. She is the winner of Women in Technology Award 2010 (WIT) and has also been selected by Executive Magazine as one of the Top 20 entrepreneurs of 2012. Reine Abbas was chosen by to be a part of IVLP, the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program in 2011 for current and emerging foreign leaders. Reine Abbas and the Wixel Studios team, are also the creators of the original “Douma” (Muppets), My Balls and Masr 3ayza Meen (Who Does Egypt Want? - inspired by the Egyptian Elections) games.