Iraqi game developers need better business support to build sustainable studios
Many developers can build good games but lack the knowledge needed to sell them
Iraqi game developers need better business training, more studio jobs, stronger communities and easier access to international banking to build sustainable businesses, according to Istikan Studio studio manager Danar Kayfi.
Speaking to PocketGamer.biz, Kayfi said many developers can build good games but lack the knowledge needed to sell them, from setting up store pages and pricing games to building wishlists and handling localisation.
Four key needs
Kayfi also called for more studio jobs where developers can learn by working in teams instead of building games alone. He pointed to groups such as Baghdad Gaming Lab as examples of active communities, but said Iraq needs more game jams, meetups and places where developers can share their experiences and business figures.
Access to global online banking is another challenge. Kayfi said receiving payments from game stores and paying for developer accounts can still be difficult for local teams, creating problems unrelated to their ability to make games.
He also noted that investors and publishers often overlook Iraq as a place where games are made, while experienced developers remain scarce because there are few established studios where new talent can learn.
Building from Erbil
Istikan Studio is based in Erbil, in Iraq's Kurdistan Region, and has seven team members. The studio is the game development arm of telecom and digital solutions company Tornet, which covers its development costs.
Kayfi believes every local team that successfully releases a game makes it easier for the next to follow.
To learn more about the studios building games in the Middle East, see our Studios Directory.
