Four Nigerian game developers dey among ten studios wey Google Play select for first Indie Games Fund group for Africa. Google announce selection on October 28, name Deluxe Entertainment Studios, Fer Factor, Gazuntype Entertainment and Maliyo Games. The full group also include developers from South Africa, Ghana and Kenya.
Studios go share US$1 million in non-dilutive funding, according to Google. Package include personal mentorship from Google Play specialists, commercial and growth resources, plus technical support from Unity. Non-dilutive support mean studio no need give up ownership share in exchange for the funding wey this announcement describe.
The Nigerian projects get different styles. Google identify Deluxe Rasta Santa as two-dimensional action platformer, Fer Factor Chore Master as cleaning game, Gazuntype Go North as story-led exploration adventure, and Maliyo Safari City as puzzle and renovation game. So selection no limit to only one kind of game.
Other selected studios na Clockwork Acorn, Disputed People, Studio Bo and Vetkoek Studios for South Africa; Leti Games for Ghana; and Weza Interactive for Kenya. Google say support suppose help group improve their games and reach more players. Announcement no disclose how much dem allocate to each individual studio.
For small development teams, cash award and technical support dey solve different problems. Funding fit give space to continue production, while specialist help fit make teams examine game performance and how e reach audience. None of these alone prove future downloads, income or say game release must succeed.
Next useful signs go come from games and studios themselves: development updates, where games dey available and evidence of players response. Readers suppose separate selection announcement from open call for applications or promise of money for other developers. This announcement identify selected group, with support wey go follow under programme.