We are deeply pained to notice most African game developers content themselves to blindly copy Western games concepts, without any polish or innovation, then simply insert African folklore to make what they call "African" games. They keep holding African themes ahead of their marketing campaigns just to hypnotize the mass and finally achieve their only objective...securing funding which they rather use to invest in their own life. They have neither respect for gamers nor for the video games development culture, no passion, nothing but financial calculations and limitless greed.
They have no care about the African video games industry rise, keep lurking behind our struggling continent to dodge the global competition, keep promoting low effort creation, deadening our youth mindset, thus ultimately blame Africans for not consuming their shameful products while they would even do the same if roles were reversed. They commonly cover their failure by stating Africans do not invest in local games and prioritize foreign ones, but a key question arises: Why do African gamers often prefer successful games like Subway Surfers over local alternatives, despite their incorporated "African themes"? This highlights a deeper issue most know but pretend to ignore: African games do currently offer nothing but cultural assets exhibition, making them unable to appeal to the global audience, Africans included...
We believe there is still a redemption path for the African gaming future, implying to start by truly loving, respecting our work, and prioritizing user experience over mere cultural show off. We must create games that offer genuine, fun and attractive experiences for not only Africans, but everyone to enjoy. We are to strive for building a new era, where "African games" do no longer exist, but "qualitative and innovative games" do, where our hard work and passion outcomes is celebrated globally, neither by pity nor support purposes, but for the quality, creativity and passion they reflect.
An era where we finally understand that valuing one's culture is nothing about exhibiting local assets everywhere, but being true inside, and promoting our ancestors priceless moral values. An era where our work forces authentic respect and admiration.
"A future where game developers from Africa take pride in their work, invest in quality, promote excellence and create games that primarily resonate with the world." Such is N'Ganin Games, The African Game Changers Rising, reason to exist, reason that we are firmly building through our progressive feats, brick after brick, reason that not even fate can prevent.
