MaxGames inaugural hunt for the top female gamer is over, after 20-year-old Deborah Tan, from Puchong triumphed over 14 other contestants and was crowned Miss MaxGames at the Hotlink Games and Anime Festival in Sungai Wang Plaza.
Jointly organised by Nextnation Communications wholly-owned subsidiary, Ozura Mobile, and Maxis Communications Berhad, the objective of the search for Miss MaxGames was to find the best female gamers in town.
The Miss MaxGames search process involved 15 female contestants who were shortlisted from across the country. They battled it out on stage live via mobile phones. The two games chosen for the live tournament were Antopia and The Duel Online.
These highly rated games were specially selected for the Miss MaxGames final live tournament as they present exciting and competitive battle opportunities says Ozura CEO, Lion Peh. Games such as The Duel Online require strategic planning and lots of practice while Antopia tests players on individual skill, consistency and timing.
Mobile gaming is fast becoming a staple among Malaysian mobile users, says Ozura. In line with this, Maxis hopes to spur gaming in the country with MaxGames, an interactive subscription-based gaming community portal which offers subscribers a host of benefits and services including tournament games, multiplayer gaming, clubs, and a virtual gift shop.
Juniper Research projects that the evolution in mobile games involving subscription and downloads is set to continue over the next five years, with a growth in global revenue from $3.1 billion in 2006 to almost $17.6 billion by 2011. A revenue stream of nearly $57 billion has been predicted over the next six years.
Malaysias mobile gaming industry is still at its infancy stage compared to Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan says Maxis Head of Games and Entertainment, Kee Saik Meng. Nevertheless, it is growing by leaps and bounds, in line with the ongoing transition from 2.5G (generation) to 3G and the growing profile of young and trendy subscribers between the ages of 18 and 30, who are more receptive to innovative products and services. 
