Welcome to the second in a sequence of profile options and interviews uncovering the alternatives and challenges of the Middle East and North African video games market. This week we’ve spoken with Joseph Azzam, co-founder of Arabic Games and Evangelist at Epic Games in Lebanon.

In November, the Pocket Gamer Connects convention will return to Jordan, and this provides us a superb alternative to dive into the area’s potential. Western markets appeared to thrive through the pandemic however gradual within the months following. But the MENA market stays the quickest rising scene in video games and the area anticipates a lift in its participant base of over 8.2% this 12 months.

Azzam is at the moment getting ready for the Arabic Games Conference which additionally takes place in November.v“Gamescom was my first event after the pandemic. I was a bit sceptical about whether events would still be popular after the pandemic,” he tells us. “But very shortly after arriving, I realized how much I missed going to physical events, catching up with some old acquaintances, making new ones, and exchanging knowledge.”

PocketGamer.biz: What is your background within the video games trade?
Joseph Azzam: I’m from Lebanon, and I come from a tech artist background that I gained working alone VR sport.

I used to show Unreal at Saint Joseph University, and I was a group organizer at LebGameDev.

Eventually, I joined Epic Games as an Evangelist, and I’ve been doing that for the final 4 years. I’m additionally the co-founder of Arabic Games, an initiative that goals to develop the sport dev ecosystem within the SWANA [South West Asian and North African] area.

What’s the factor you’re most happy with doing in your time with Epic Games?
Working in a workforce of extremely good multitalented those who I belief and continue learning from. I’m grateful to have gotten the chance to work on technical initiatives that saved pushing my abilities ahead, just like the VFX military scene I did some time again. I’m additionally grateful to have been in a position to journey across the SWANA area and go to studios and work on initiatives that may assist them.

What is the following factor in your to-do record?
Right now, I’m engaged on the Arabic Games Conference which seeks to assist the SWANA sport dev group prosper, by facilitating entry to instructional assets, skilled recommendation, publishing alternatives, jobs, and extra, all whereas highlighting the very best work this group has to supply.

Such initiatives are wanted, nevertheless it’s not sufficient. There is a lot we will do to push the scene ahead and assist communities. That’s why we registered the initiative as an NGO, and we’re at the moment planning an internet college in Arabic devoted to the sport improvement subject. The workforce has been working arduous on that, and we’re excited to launch it subsequent 12 months.

Another undertaking I’ve began is my very own consultancy firm that provides to assist corporations associated to gaming and real-time know-how navigate and broaden within the SWANA area.

What makes the area distinctive on the subject of gaming?
The SWANA area has one of many highest youth populations. It additionally has an enormous participant base, but a small market share in comparison with the remainder of the world. There is gigantic room for the sport trade to develop in a much less saturated market.

It appears the area is rising quick in video games. When and the way did video games grow to be such a spotlight for companies there?
I can’t inform for certain, however for my part, the success of PUBG and Fortnite modified the angle of the area in direction of video games. Before that, it was very arduous to elucidate video games to non-gamers. But now, even my mother, who is aware of nothing about know-how, had heard of Fortnite. Friends that swore they might by no means play a sport had PUBG on their telephones, and instantly everybody wished to spend money on video games. Of course, that was not the one issue, nevertheless it did speed up issues.

Then got here the pandemic, and the sport trade was the least affected by that, which bolstered the case for video games.

With the rise of esports, and the area having an enormous gamer inhabitants, there has additionally been a concentrate on balancing the ratio between client/maker, which is why we’re seeing governments displaying curiosity on this subject.

What recommendation do you’ve for builders from Lebanon, Jordan and the Middle East trying to develop their affect in the remainder of the world?
I began making video games in a sport jam with many first-timer college students that hardly knew something about sport improvement. There was barely an lively sport improvement scene in Lebanon, and we had no thought if we might ever make it into the trade, however we saved going.

Today after a few years, many people at the moment are working in established corporations, with a ton of expertise to again us up, and we’re unfold all around the world.

My recommendation is that issues are arduous, however there’s a good probability you can also make it if you happen to maintain bettering your abilities, and you’re employed in your presence whether or not it’s on-line or by attending occasions. Also, you might be more likely to really feel like an impostor, however simply maintain going.

There’s been lots of speak in regards to the metaverse, NFTs, web3… Are you investigating these phenomena?
There’s a large hole between avid gamers who’re actually into it and those that hate it. I don’t assume I’m the very best individual to touch upon this; all I can say till these grow to be broadly adopted and controlled, they need to be handled as very excessive danger.

What excites you most in regards to the return of Pocket Gamer Connects in November?
Pocket Gamer is without doubt one of the few occasions within the area associated to sport improvement, and I’m at all times excited to attend occasions specializing in the SWANA area. My expertise has been fairly constructive previously, and I’m largely wanting ahead to connecting with the native builders and studios.

Tickets are on sale for Pocket Gamer Connects Jordan proper now, so to satisfy specialists from the area and past, register now: tickets can be found at Early Bird charges.

The convention will happen close to Amman, subsequent to the Dead Sea. It will function a variety of themed tracks, plus alternatives to community with some 750 video games trade insiders, and lots of the attendees will take the prospect to go to places like Petra. You can learn our earlier MENA area interview right here, with Nour Khrais.