The mobile gaming industry has taken over the gaming market in recent years, and its growth shows no signs of slowing down. One area that is helping to further drive mobile gaming’s dominance is the MENA region, where more developers are launching their games.
Nour Khrais of Maysalward is an advocate for the MENA market and recently won the Mobile Legend award at the Mobile Game Awards. In an interview with Pocketgamer.biz, Khrais talks about the similarities between gamers in the MENA region and Europe and offers advice for UK developers looking to break into the Middle Eastern market.
Cultural Analysis for Success
When it comes to getting games out in Jordan, Khrais suggests that UK developers focus on localizing or culturally analyzing marketing and live ops. While some developers may be concerned about supporting their games in the MENA region, Khrais notes that partnering with a local person to handle Arabic live ops is simple. In fact, Khrais believes that indie developers who have built good games in the MENA region have an opportunity to succeed in places like Saudi Arabia, which is becoming an increasingly accessible market for mobile gaming.
Good Live Ops is Key
Khrais believes that good live ops are key to achieving success in the MENA region. He describes Jordan as having two strong gaming publishers with big teams who know how to publish games correctly in the area. For Khrais, winning the Mobile Legend award is recognition for the region’s mobile gaming industry which has often been neglected by big players.
Mobile Gaming is the Future
Khrais got his start in mobile gaming through a chance encounter with a Finnish gaming company while working with a mobile technology company. The rise of the Apple App Store gave Khrais and his team the opportunity to challenge big players in the industry. They were able to explore their creativity and take risks without being dependent on network providers and operators.
Overall, Khrais encourages UK developers to see the potential in the MENA market and not be afraid to venture into it. With the right local partners and a focus on cultural analysis and good live ops, UK developers can successfully break into the Middle Eastern mobile gaming industry.