Prayut's visit burnishes gaming legitimacy

Gen Prayut at Thailand Game Show 2018, where the Digital Economic Development Plan was presented.

A parade of giant game publishers and the first-ever visit by a prime minister to the Thailand Game Show event are signs of the surging game sector in the country.

According to a Newzoo study, Thailand ranked 20th in the global game market in terms of spending in 2017, with overall game revenue of US$597 million (19.8 billion baht) and 18.3 million users.

"Young people are the engine of the country's development and they need to find the right careers and have the skills to work with machines in the digital age," Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Friday in the opening speech of Thailand Game Show 2018 at Siam Paragon.

Thais have creativity that can be leveraged in the game industry, where e-sports sees 35% growth in value each year in Thailand.

E-sports competition can attract users around the world, as many popular games have a strong global fanbase and gamers who are addicted to social media indirectly promote local tourist attractions.

Torboon Puangmaha, director of True Media Solutions, Thailand Game Show's co-organiser, said the country's game industry has grown exponentially in the past few years, seeing 20-30% growth to 20 billion baht in value this year.

E-sports has helped make gaming more professional. More consumer brands are gearing up to be sponsors and use game-based marketing and game influencers. Education has courseware to support game developers and game planning.

"Gaming is not a nonsense activity, but rather has become a business that creates new entrepreneurs who in turn generate income," Mr Torboon said.

Mr Torboon oversees Online Station's game influencer artist management. He manages 200 individuals and estimates that the overall industry has 1,000.

Thai gamers spent 200 baht on average a month, with most aged 21-35.

Game development and marketing funding for local game developers are necessary to strengthen the local gaming culture.

Pongsuk Hiranprueck, managing director of Show No Ltd Co, the event's main organiser, said this is first time that a prime minister has opened the gaming event.