- Starvania is an indie game studio based in Saudi Arabia their current project is Bahamut and the Waqwaq Tree
- The studio has seen greater opportunities in the MENA region with growing support from investors and funding programs
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Pocket Gamer Connects Jordan returns on November 9th and 10th, 2024, offering you a chance to gain insights into the world’s fastest-growing games market, MENA.
As part of our MENA coverage and run-up to the event, we caught up with Starvania Studio CEO and founder Meaad Aflah, who spoke to us about their partnership with Naphora and creating a community to support young developers in Saudi Arabia.
PocketGamer.biz: Tell us a bit about Starvania Studios and what you’re up to right now?
Meaad Aflah: Starvania is an indie game studio based in Saudi Arabia. We’re passionate about creating entertainment experiences that go beyond the horizon, crafting fantasy universes from unique and undiscovered perspectives filled with thoughtful and inspiring concepts.
Right now, I’m excited to share that we’re working on a game called Bahamut and the Waqwaq Tree, inspired by Arabian mythologies from the One Thousand and One Nights book. It will be coming out very soon on PC, Nintendo Switch and consoles, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience it.
How many staff do you currently employ and where are they based?
We’re a team of 12, working remotely as a multi-national team. While most of us are based in Saudi Arabia, we also have talented members from around the globe, including France, Germany, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, and the United Kingdom.
Why choose a career in games? And if not games, what would you have been doing?
I’ve been passionate about games from a very young age, and it was always a dream of mine to build a game studio to create the experiences I wish were in existence.I wanted to show the world that we can make games that compete globally.
Suppose I hadn’t joined the games industry. In that case, I think I’d still be involved in some form of creative storytelling or gamification technologies, finding other ways to bring our imaginative worlds to life.
What are you doing to foster collaboration and recruit local talents?
We’ve teamed up with the Ministry of Media and other local organisations to offer internships at our studio, giving aspiring game developers a chance to gain hands-on experience.
On top of that, we have been actively involved with Digipen Institute of Technology, helping to teach and coach teens in game development. It’s incredibly rewarding to see young talent grow and develop their skills from an early age.
Are you exclusively focused on PC/console games? If not, what other platforms are you considering? Does cross-platform gaming appeal to you?
We’re primarily focusing on creating games for PC and consoles because we’re targeting mid to hardcore gamers who dive into their gaming experiences. Bahamut and the Waqwaq Tree will be released on PC and Nintendo Switch, and we’re also planning to bring it to PlayStation.
While our current focus is on these platforms, we’re open to exploring other options. Cross-platform gaming does appeal to us, as it could broaden our reach and bring more players together.
“While mythologies in games are trending worldwide, Arabian myths are less familiar to many gamers.”
Meaad Aflah
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in the localisation process, and how have your games been received internationally outside the MENA region?
One of our biggest challenges is making Arabian mythologies accessible and appealing to a global audience. While mythologies in games are trending worldwide, many gamers are less familiar with Arabian myths despite their fascinating stories.
Our mission is to bring this new perspective to the global market, ensuring our game meets international standards.
Initially, we were unsure how interested the global audience would be, but we’ve seen great potential after showcasing the game at various events. Players are very curious to learn about new mythologies, and the positive reception has been incredibly encouraging.
What are the current opportunities and challenges facing the games industry in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region?
I’m excited about the opportunities in the games industry in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region. Growing support from investors and funding programs, including accelerators and incubators, is really helping to drive the scene forward.
At the same time, we’re facing some challenges, including a shortage of publishers in the region. There are also lingering stereotypes about Saudi studios being associated with lower-quality games.
Despite this, we’re passionate about proving these misconceptions wrong and showing that we can deliver top-notch, globally competitive games. The scene is definitely growing, and we’re determined to be a part of that positive change.
What are your thoughts on emerging technologies such as AI, AR, and VR in games? Do you plan to incorporate AI into your game development process?
We’re really excited about the potential of AI, AR, and VR in gaming. AI is already helping enhance gameplay and development, and I see its value in supporting our work.
However, I’m careful to ensure it complements rather than overshadows our creative process. I aim to use these technologies to enrich our games while keeping the creative vision at the heart of everything we do.
“There’s growing support from investors and funding programs including accelerators and incubators, which are really helping to drive the scene forward.”
Meaad Aflah
In terms of investment and support for gaming studios in MENA, what has been your experience navigating the funding landscape
Navigating the MENA region’s funding landscape, specifically in Saudi Arabia, has been quite promising. The industry is rapidly growing, and numerous initiatives, accelerators, and incubators are dedicated to games.
I’ve also noticed a growing interest from VC and angel investors in the games sector. This support is helping to build a strong ecosystem for the region’s games industry, and I’m excited to be a part of it.
What are your plans for the rest of 2024? Are there any specific initiatives or projects on the horizon that we should look forward to?
For the rest of 2024, we’re excited to release Bahamut and the Waqwaq Tree in Q4 on PC and Nintendo Switch, and we’re considering other platforms as well. We’re also diving into prototyping our next game, but I’ll keep the details under wraps for now.
