FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS

GAMEON-ARABIA'2012
The 3rd annual Pan-Arabic Simulation and AI in Computer Games Conference
Arab Open University
http://www.arabou.org
Muscat, Oman
December 10-12, 2012

Games Development Methodology
Artificial Intelligence
Learning and Adaptation
Intelligent/Knowledgeable Agents
Collaboration & Multi-agent Systems
Opponent Modelling
Physics and Simulation/Graphical Simulation
3D Scalability
Facial, Avatar, NPC, 3D in Game Animation
AI and Simulation Tools for games design
Game Design
Rendering Techniques
Voice Interaction
Artistic input to game and character design
Affective Computing
Storytelling and Natural Language Processing
Online Gaming - Security Issues in Online Gaming
MMOG's
Serious gaming
Wargaming Aerospace Simulations, Board Games etc....
Games for training
Games Applications in education, Government, health, Corporate...
Games Consoles
Games Console Design
Mobile Gaming
Perceptual User Interfaces for Games
Poster Session
Student Session
Tutorials
Exhibition

Organised by
The European Technology Institute
and Sponsored by
AOU
EUROSIS
IEEE-UKRI-SPC
For latest information see:
www.eurosis.org
or
http://www.eurosis.org/cms/?q=taxonomy/term/328

AIM OF GAMEON-ARABIA'2012

The aim of the third annual Pan-Arabic GAMEON-ARABIA Conference (GAMEON-ARABIA'2012) on Simulation and AI in Computer Games, is to bring game developers from the Middle East in contact with local and international researchers and games people in order to exchange ideas on programming and programming techniques related to game development. Secondly it aims to steer young people from the Middle East into this industry by providing how-to tutorials and giving them the opportunity to show their ideas and demos to the gaming industry and to research facilities from outside the Middle East. Last but not least the conference aims to become the premier meeting point in the Middle East for those active in the field.
Just as its other counterparts in the rest of the world GAMEON-ARABIA will concentrate mostly on the programming and designing of games, with special emphasis on simulation, AI and fuzzy sets, and physics related computer graphics. Next to that, all of this will be fused in the topic of computer game design in stand-alone and networked games. Software providers will be able to show their latest packages and give hand-on tutorials for the participants.

Companies will also have the opportunity to seek new talent at this unique Middle Eastern event.
CONFERENCE VENUE

The conference venue for the 2012 GAMEON-ARABIA is the Arab Open University,
Oman Branch (http://arabou.edu.kw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=110&Itemid=426&lang=en)in Muscat, capital of Oman. This city is flanked by the Al Hajar Mountains which dominate the city and on the other side by the pristine beaches and cliffs of the Gulf of Oman on the Arabian Sea.
Average temperature for December is between 27 and 30 degrees centigrade
More info on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscat,_Oman
and
http://www.omantourism.gov.om/wps/portal/mot/tourism/oman/home
Invited Speaker

The GAMEON-ARABIA'2012 invited speaker will be Ken Newman of HTC, Abu Dhabi - more info to follow

Conference Themes

GAMEON-ARABIA'2012 consists of three core tracks, which cover, Gaming Methodology, Artificial Intelligence and Simulation, while the other tracks cover peripheral technologies closely linked to games design, like 3-D scalability, facial and skeletal animation, 3D in-game animation etc, Mobile Gaming and Gaming Applications...
Core Tracks
Game Development Methodology

Game Development Methodology, Game Design and Research Methods, Production Roles, Techniques and Process Management, Social and Technical Interactions in Art and Engineering, Participatory Media and Heterogeneous Development Approaches, Sociotechnical MOG Development, Communities and Sustainability, Business and Requirements Modeling for Game Projects, Software Architecture and Modeling in Games, Interaction Design and Usability in Game Contexts, Play Testing, Gameplay Experience Evaluation
Artificial Intelligence

Designing (Extensible) AI Engines with Built-in Machine Learning Technologies, Using Adaptive Markov Models, Using Decision Trees, Production Rules and Learning, Using Fuzzy Logic for membership functions and inference procedures, Using Rule Based AI or a Finite State Machine (FSM), Using Fuzzy State Machines (FuSM) or Cascaded FuSMs ,Using Artificial Life and layered AI Techniques, Level-of-Detail AI, Using scripting languages to govern NPC Bots, synthetic characters, or believable agents, Controlling simulated characters (Group Behaviour control) using f.ex. flocking algorithms based on extensible scripting systems, Cognitive Modeling: (combining geometric models and inverse kinematics to simplify key-framing. physical models for animating particles. Bio-mechanical modeling, behavioral modeling), Domain knowledge specification and character instruction, Creating AI Networks using supervised learning and genetic algorithms, and pathfinding, Using Databases using the winnowing algorithm, Using Multi-user Data Management.
Physics and Simulation

Collision detection, contact resolution and manifold generation (methods Lin-Canny, OBB Trees, I-Collide and Ray Tracing); Calculation optimization between objects; The closest point algorithm by Gilbert Johnson and Keerthi (GJK) between convex and union-of convex objects; Contact equation formulation (point-plane, edge-edge and sphere-plane); LCP (Linear Complementary problems) Based contact resolution; Iterative constraints and penalty methods for contact resolution, Micro-Collisions, Software Object Interaction.
Peripheral Tracks
3-D Scalability

MRM (Multi-Resolution Mesh) Technology and the Messiah and Lith Tech Engines; Scalable level of detail-oriented rendering ; Methods for scaling animation quality; Scaling animation quality, new animation steps, on interpolated key-frame animation or key-frame morphing; Bump mapping: emboss-dot product and environment mapped bump map (EMBM).
Facial Animation

Facial animation for Real-Time, Model Behaviour of 3D Modeling; Modelling the bone structure of faces, facial hair etc...
Skeletal Animation and Fully-Scaled Rendering

Physical Simulation, 3D Character Animation and physical controllers; Simulation performance; Rigid body physical animation and rigid body dynamics; Polygon Character Design and level of Detail under Technical Constraints; Particle systems, full polygonal models or sprites; Smooth rendered skins, soft skinning, head animations and full body animation (Skin, extrude and boolean, Design, composition and anatomy); Skeletal, skinning, single skin meshes; Creating Character Animation Assets; Real-Time motion Synthesis, Kinematics and Dynamics, Animating the real-time run cycle; T-Buffers and motion blur; Motion Capture Techniques.
3-D In-Game Animation

Creating and scaling special effects in Real-Time 3D: environmental weapon effects and general pyrotechnics, software used to produce single frame and animated textures, booth looping and linear, and the pivotal role of alpha channels. Modeling an animation of the geometry needed and the system used to encode additional engine-specific timing and trigger data into the files. The use of the engine particle system and scripting capabilities, Weighted vertices, Streaming SIMD Extension Overview (floating point instruction) ;Pre-rendered cinematics ; Scaling of special effects and texture tricks: particle systems for generating smoke and fire, texture tricks, for volumes, lens flares and onscreen pyrotechnics, Animation Blending.
Modelling of virtual worlds

Due to their complexity and size, virtual worlds used in next-gen games will have to be automatically generated, to a large extent, whether based on real data or fully imaginary. Representing objects and their relations in these worlds needs to take into account more data than simply their geometry or appearance. In addition, most objects in such worlds will typically require a high degree of adaptivity, in order to avoid most current rigid behaviours, as well as to cope with the need for really adaptive game-play in both entertainment and serious games. This theme focuses on tools and methods for achieving such goals.
AI and Simulation Tools

Silicon Graphics (MAYA, as a game prototyping environment), 3D Programming for Rage Programmable Shaders (Renderman), 3D Studio Max, Scratch, XNA, Delta 3D and other Open Source Games Software.
Design

Game Engine Design and game environment creation; Using rapid prototyping (NEMO-DEV) and generic technology (generic world building engine), portable code; Using Math for Game programming by solving simultaneous Equations; Using Modularity and isolation abstraction, data hiding, functional independence, cohesion and coupling; Using Java as an embedded Game scripting engine ; Procedural content placement, level design, enemy and entity placement; Using Databases in online Games; Programming in Linux, C++ and Visual Basic ; Programming Web Games in Java Scalable 3D games; Creating large 3D worlds; Creating Multiplayer online Games; Techniques for scaling game content, and approaches to scaling game content; C++ optimization Strategies and Techniques; 3D Engine optimization; Optimizing games for the MIPS RISC Architecture; Game design: User set set according to hard limits, pre-runtime profiling and runtime profiling History of Game Design.
Rendering

Rendering Equations and architectures; Image Based Rendering (polygon counts (throughput) and overdraw (filtrate); Photorealistic rendering using Open GL and Direct 3D ; Multi texture tricks like gloss mapping, dynamic environment mapping, detail texturing and bump mapping Spatial aliasing and Anti-aliasing and accumulation buffers; Setup, Rendering and Transforms ; Full floating point setup ; Perspective-corrected texture mapping, multiple filtering modes, sophisticated texture blending for special effects and effective looking transparency ; Classical local illumination equations and colour theory; Creating Reflections and shadows with stencil buffers and Z-Buffers; Light maps and changing texture coordinates, shadow maps, projected shadow maps; Methods for scaling lighting and shadows, lighting calculations ; Equation on a per pixel basis, pixel path and voxel animation; Procedural Texture Methods and Theory and Real-Time; Procedural Texture Implementation; Parametric Surfaces, Deforming surfaces, Curved surfaces and tri-linear flip-flopping Using NURBS (non-uniform rational B-splines) and other parametric surfaces for representing 3D Geometry; Matrix Manipulations; Methods for scaling geometry using parametric curves and surfaces in relation to polygonal models; Progressive meshes and subdivision surfaces.
On-line Gaming and and online-gaming security

As online gaming becomes more and more popular security issues now come into the forefront of secure game play using public key cryptography, symmetric key cryptography, digital signatures, authentication and available cryptographic toolkits. If you are designing or working on these issues you can,
Web Based Games

Creating and delivering web based games using HTML5, Flash etc..without the need for platform based software.
Voice Interaction

Using Intelligent Speech Synthesis Algorithms, Speech Processing, Voice Interaction, Speech Synthesizer; Interaction with AI-NPC's, Voice-Over Net Technology (one to one, and one to many).
Cognitive Psychology

applied to games, based on player to game interactions and biometric data analysis.
Affective Computing

affective gaming
affective user modeling
player emotion recognition
Artistic Input

Artistic input to game and character design.
Storytelling

Storytelling and Natural Language Processing.
Applications

Wargaming methodology and techniques applied to strategic game design using Campaign managers, character generators, terrain generators. Multiplayer wargaming and Web Wargaming
Serious Games applications
Aerospace Simulations, Board Games etc...
Games for training
Games Console Design
Gaming with Robots

Handheld Gaming Devices - Mobile Gaming

Gaming with WII, U-WII, Playstation Move and other devices such as Kinect, phones, Virtual Sat-Nav Gaming. Focusing on the man-machine interaction part.
Perceptual User Interfaces for Games

Humans communicate using speech, gesture, and body motion, yet today's computers do not use this valuable information. Instead, computers force users to sit at a typewriter keyboard, stare at a TV-like display, and learn an endless set of arcane commands -- often leading to frustration, inefficiencies, and disuse.

The idea behind PUI is that a computer system "hears" users' voice commands and "sees" their gestures and body positions. Interactions are natural, more like human-to-human interactions. PUI use here machine perception to allow users to interact with computergames and within computer gaming environments. By reading gestures, motions and speech we should be able to in a much more natural way interact with the games.

But sensor systems deliver only raw position and pose information. For interface use, these are not the desired quantities we need to understand the abstractions appropriate for a natural interface and consider how the various perceptual input degrees of freedom should relate to available commands and options.

TUTORIALS

Tutorials can be proposed in the following three categories:
T1- Introductory tutorials
T2- State of the Art Game Tutorials
T3- Game Software and Modelware Tutorials
Tutorial proposals should be emailed to Philippe.Geril@eurosis.org before AUGUST 20th.

POSTER SESSION

The poster session only features work in progress. Next to the
actual poster presentation, these submissions also feature as short
papers in the Proceedings.

STUDENTS SESSION

This session is for students who want to present their work in
progress or part of their doctoral thesis as a paper. Student papers
are denoted by the fact that only the name of the student appears on
the paper as an author. They are published as short papers in the
Proceedings.

DIVERSE ACTIVITIES

For demonstrations or video sessions, please contact EUROSIS.
Special session will be set up for vendor presentations in co-
ordination with the scientific program. User Group meetings for
simulation languages and tools can be organised the day before the
conference. If you would like to arrange a meeting, please contact
the Conference Chairs. We will be happy to provide a meeting room
and other necessary equipment.
Partners for projects session(s) will be organised by EUROSIS to
give potential project teams or individuals the opportunity to
present their research in order to link up with fellow researchers
for future research projects. Those wishing to participate in this
session need to send a proposal to EUROSIS.
A EUROSIS TC Meeting and an EU Project update meeting

EXHIBITION

A special exhibition will be envisaged during the conference focused on
gaming applications. For more information on how to exhibit please contact
EUROSIS for further details. Email: Philippe.Geril@eurosis.org

DEADLINES AND REQUIREMENTS

Send all submissions in an ELECTRONIC FORM ONLY in (zipped)
Microsoft Word format, or PDF format (preferred format) indicating the
designated track and type of submission (full paper or an extended
abstract) to the EUROSIS office (Philippe.Geril@eurosis.org).
Please provide your name, affiliation, full mailing address,
telephone / fax number and Email address on all submissions as well.
For submissions please put in the subject of your Email the
following indications: GAMEON-ARABIA'2012 and designated track or USE THE
ONLINE SUBMISSION FORM.
http://www.eurosis.org/cms/index.php?q=node/2228

Only original papers, which have not been published elsewhere, will
be accepted for publication
Journal Publication

Only accepted and presented extended papers are eligible for journal publication in any of the journals listed here.
Quality Control

In order to ensure the quality of the proceedings, Thomson-Reuters ISI and IET will receive the listing of the actually presented papers, next to the copies of the Proceedings.

All EUROSIS Proceedings are ISI-Thomson Reuters and IET referenced.

REGISTRATION FEES
Registration Fees
Author

EUROSIS members

Other Participants
Pre-registration before November 10, 2012 € 500 € 500 € 555
Registration after November 10, 2012 Pre-registration required € 545 € 595
Registration Fees Middle Eastern Participants *
Author

EUROSIS members

Other Participants
Pre-registration before November 10, 2012 € 250 € 250 € 300
Registration after November 10, 2012 Pre-registration required € 300 € 350

* Are denoted as Middle Eastern Participants, those who are living and working in the countries of the Middle East (industry/academia). Furthermore ALL authors should be in a Middle Eastern University or Middle Eastern company. If some authors are based outside the Middle East the other conference fees apply.
Registration Fees Students
Author

EUROSIS members

Other Participants
Pre-registration before November 10, 2012 € 360 € 360 € 400
Registration after November 10, 2012 Pre-registration required € 360 € 420



The registration fee includes one copy of the Conference
Proceedings, coffee and tea during the breaks, all lunches, a
welcome cocktail and a conference dinner.

SOCIAL PROGRAMME
More info to follow soon

PAPER SUBMISSION TYPES
FULL PAPER (including abstract, conclusions, diagrams, references)
During review, the submitted full papers can be accepted as a
regular 5 page paper. If excellent, full papers can be accepted by
the program committee as an extended (8-page) paper. Each submission
will be reviewed by at least three members of the GAMEON-ARABIA'2012 International
Program Committee.

EXTENDED ABSTRACT (at least five pages)
Participants may also submit a 5 page extended abstract for a
regular (5 pages) or short (3 pages) paper or poster, which will be
reviewed by the International Program Committee. All accepted papers
will be published in the GAMEON-ARABIA'2012 Conference Proceedings.

SHORT ABSTRACT (at least three pages)
Participants may also submit a 3 page abstract for a short paper or
poster, which will be reviewed by the International Program
Committee. All accepted papers will be published in the GAMEON-ARABIA'2012
Conference Proceedings.

PLEASE NOTE: ONE (1) PAGE ABSTRACTS ARE NOT ACCEPTED.

OUTSTANDING PAPER AWARD

The 2012 GAMEON-ARABIA Conference Committee will select the Outstanding Paper of
the Conference. The author of this paper will be awarded a free registration
for a EUROSIS conference. Only papers SUBMITTED AS FULL papers will be eligible
for the Outstanding Paper Award.

LANGUAGE

The official conference language for all papers and presentations is
English

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

EARLY BIRD SUBMISSION DEADLINE: AUGUST 25TH, 2012
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2012
LATE SUBMISSION DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2012
NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION: OCTOBER 10TH, 2012
Authors provide camera-ready manuscript: NOVEMBER 10TH, 2012
CONFERENCE AT THE ARAB OPEN UNIVERSITY, MUSCAT, OMAN: DECEMBER 10-12, 2012

REPLY CARD
First Name:
Surname:
Occupation and/or Title:
Affiliation:
Mailing Address
Zip code: City: Country.
Telephone: Fax:
E-Mail:
Yes, I intend to attend the GAMEON-ARABIA 2012:
[ ] Presenting a paper, by submitting a full paper
[ ] Presenting a short paper (by submitting an extended abstract)
[ ] Participating in the industrial program
[ ] Organizing a vendor session
[ ] Proposing a panel discussion (please mention names of
panellists)
[ ] Contributing to the exhibition
[ ] Without presenting a paper
The provisional title of my paper / exhibited tool is:
With the following highlights:
The paper belongs to the category (please tick only one):
[ ] Games Development Methodology
[ ] Artificial Intelligence
[ ] Learning and Adaptation
[ ] Intelligent/Knowledgeable Agents
[ ] Collaboration & Multi-agent Systems
[ ] Opponent Modelling
[ ] Physics and Simulation/Graphical Simulation
[ ] 3D Scalability
[ ] Facial, Avatar, NPC, 3D in Game Animation
[ ] AI and Simulation Tools for games design
[ ] Game Design
[ ] Rendering Techniques
[ ] Voice Interaction
[ ] Artistic input to game and character design
[ ] Affective Computing
[ ] Storytelling and Natural Language Processing
[ ] Online Gaming - Security Issues in Online Gaming
[ ] MMOG's
[ ] Serious gaming
[ ] Wargaming Aerospace Simulations, Board Games etc....
[ ] Games for training
[ ] Games Applications in education, Government, health, Corporate...
[ ] Games Consoles
[ ] Games Console Design
[ ] Mobile Gaming
[ ] Perceptual User Interfaces for Games
[ ] Poster Session
[ ] Student Session
[ ] Tutorials
[ ] Exhibition
Other colleague(s) interested in the topics of the conference
is/are:
Name:
Address:
Name:
Address:

CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
Philippe Geril
EUROSIS-ETI
European Simulation Office
Greenbridge Science Park
Ghent University - Ostend Campus
Wetenschapspark 1
Plassendale 1
B-8400 Ostend Belgium
Tel: +32.59.255330
Fax: +32.59.255339
Email: philippe.geril@eurosis.org