AMMAN – Leading some of
the “fastest-growing online gaming communities” in the world,
game publishers
in the Middle East use game localization to gain new audiences, adapt games to
cultural contexts, and generate revenue for developers.
اضافة اعلان
And in Jordan, Play 3arabi (Play
Arabic) is heading the Kingdom’s game-publishing industry.
In 2014, Joseph Shomali and Ahmed
Alsafar co-founded Play 3arabi with a goal to bridge gaps in games that target Arab
audiences.
“We focus on games that fit the
region and the persona of the gamers from the region,” Shomali told
Jordan News
in a recent interview. Describing the average Arab
gamer as being social and
competitive, he said Play 3arabi targets gamers who are in their twenties and
above.
When they choose a game to
license, Shomali and Alsafar consider whether its interface and story
complement Arab culture. Once they find that a game is fitting, they communicate
with its creators and developers to begin the localization process.
“In addition to text, writing, and
music, we include Arabic locations, Arab characters, and familiar visuals, so
that when the product is released, the gamer believes it is made for the Arab
world,” said Shomali, citing Syouf Al Majd (Swords of Glory), one of their most
popular projects from 2017, as an example.
What mainly sets Play 3arabi apart
from other game publishers is the fact that it is loyal to Arab culture,
according to Shomali.
“We support Arab heritage around the world when we use
entertainment to promote Arab culture,” said Shomali. “Everyone who works with
Arabic content has a responsibility to promote and support Arab legacy.”
Read more
Lifestyle
