Videos games: the [new] African perspective
The video games market went from being an obscure subculture to become one of the most successful segment of the entertainment industry worldwide. We’ve seen growth both in the technology and the quality of the storytelling. Today, Hollywood screenplay writers are hired by game companies to create blockbuster games around interesting storylines. By the numbers, we’re talking top tier revenue. Call of Duty modern warfare made $550 millions in five days in 2013. The following year, the sequel made $650 million in three days. One can surely understand why console wars are relevant today more than ever. In the bigger scale of things, the west is the premium producer of video games worldwide. Which reflects in the repetitiveness of the narrative of most of the blockbuster games that came out in the recent years. But with fast growing economies, the African continent is bound to want to try to get its fair share of the action.
- Kuluya
- Celestial Games
- Ubisoft
- Maliyo Games
Looking at what is been made In Africa, video games company appear in small clusters scattered around the continent.
The most prominent game studios are coming from Kenya’s “Silicon Savannah” where the most talked about studio is Maliyo games.
Kiro’o games is one of the studios that decided to skip the mobile game first entry and went straight for a more complete and robust PC game.
Beyond the mobile game world, we count very few studios dedicated to making video games for PC or any of the next generation console. The rationale here is somewhat the same. Knowing that the first technological entry point is a mobile device, the second screen in that picture is usually a laptop. Kiro’o games is one of the studios that decided to skip the mobile game first entry and went straight to a more complete and robust PC game. Aurion, by Kiroo Games, is the first game of its genre. Meaning, it’s the first video game made with an entire African narrative. From the character designs, to the set and storyline, everything about this game screams authentic African pride.
From the character designs, to the set and storyline, everything about this game screams authentic African pride. Click To Tweet
Inspired by African folktales and myths, Aurion is a 2d sidescroller role-playing game (RPG) full of flair. The story follows Enzo Kori-Odan in his quest to reclaim his throne. This RPG builds upon folktales to create a fantasy world full of unique characters and scenery. As of now the game has entered the final stages of production and the startup is looking at a late summer release.
Aurion by Kiro’o games is one example of the current changes happening in the creative industries in Africa, notably Cameroon.
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Photo Sources: Kiroogames.com
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