Or if there are, why are they invisible?
I don’t think it’s an issue of an unavailability of resources, because the kinds of people to know enough to be interested in developing games definitely have access to YouTube, Unity and other resources, so what’s the issue?
Note: I’m referring mostly to Console titles, but we can include mobile as well, even though I’m aware of Maliyo, Kuluya and the likes.
Brief anecdote. I was in the process of opening a Bank of America account the other day when I struck an interesting conversation with the customer service lady. She realised I was a software developer and started talking about her stints with assembly language and C/C++ back in school… and this wasn’t just “I am aware these languages exist” kind of talk. It was more “I actually used these”.
Needless to say, I was impressed and couldn’t help but think of the lack of orientation about these things (computer programming in general) in our local education system. As someone mentioned in some other thread, we need a complete overhaul. Also, most of the people who discover an interest in game development later on would rather pursue careers with game developers outside the country. Same goes for 3d animators/visual effects guys. I’ll be more interested in going to work for Industrial Light and Magic and putting my skills on a fast track to excellence than setting up an underappreciated shop here.
Speaking from a Nigerian perspective, there are quite a few! There are games/puzzles that have been developed by:
Naijabranch
CRAdaptive games
Lizzies creations
Cromsydx
USabi
ToluStar
Sonbim Games
These are just a few of the games available on the web/Android. You can find them if you really want to, they aren’t invisible.
[disclosure: the Naijabranch mention was a subtle plug 
]
He did say he was mostly referring to console titles.
yea agreed …overhauling is the key to our rotten education system…it sucks to attend college here…it was kinda boring all through those 5years…LA CRAM LA POUR LA FORGET…Lol!!!
I totally agree that our educational need a total overhaulling. however, i just want to point out one of the many hindrances I’ve observed.
The first thing we must think about when it comes to games is what makes me and you want to play a game over and over again. Something about games is that it makes us feel entertained, it gives us the opportunity to be in that imaginary world of the gameplay. in short, it makes you ‘feel’ something. This feeling is as a result of the way the whole story is structured.
In my own opinion, the answer to this question cannot be found in the tools for game creation - game engines, software or codes but in the fact that we have not developed the skills to tell the story that move the mind and connect to our feeling using all these tools. Of course its just one of the problems
@XtriMzZ I have to disagree with you there. The problem really isn’t story-telling devices, the way I see it.
We have tons of authentic, locally relevant stories to tell. We have tons of minds able to tell these stories. What we do not have, is enough people, knowledgeable enough in the right languages/tools to kickstart an industry (again, I’m referring to console titles).
You feel connected to game characters, largely because of the scores and the leitmotifs composed for each character. There’s no shortage of very good score composers in Nigeria. I know a few, and I’m one myself, hence my question.
These professionals will only come out of the woodwork when there’s s framework in place. I’ve been looking for game devs to partner with for ages, because I’ve wanted to try my hands at responsive audio (music/sound design that doesn’t have a linear time scale). In games, user actions or events trigger certain audio elements, the elements have to sound as natural as possible so as not to detract from the UX, and I’m trying to develop myself in those areas, but all the gigs I’ve gotten so far are for really basic mobile games.
Not a challenge. Boring.
Well you have a number of issues here:
For example, when developing a console game (well really depending on the game your developing), you might need 3D Modellers or Artits, Animators, 2D Artists(Concept or Environmental), Audio Enginners, Shader Programmers, Gameplay Programmers, Design Artist or Gameplay Designers, UI Programmers, like seriously the list can be really long. In terms of Art, we are lacking in that. Most graphic artists don’t know what Sprite Sheets are. We are just starting to see an influx of 3D artists and Animators, most programmers or Artists don’t have a background of Level Design Concepts or Game balancing. In terms of sound, most people don’t know what a foley artist is. If your a programmer and you didn’t like your Further Maths, you might struggle in this aspect. Matrices is very fundamental in developing for 3D.
There is a shortage of supply when it comes to Console Dev Kits In Africa. Sure the Comsumer models reach Africa (PS4 and Xbox) but the Dev Kits don’t. The Dev Kits are used for testing the game prior to release and usually look very different from the Consumer models.
The developers in Africa still have their minds set on Mobile first, They don’t see a market for console. I mean I don’t blame them. Majority of people that can personally own a console are the rich. There’s also the Nigerian societal mentality, I’ll get to that shortly. And lastly no real backing or push in that area of some sort. We hardly have developers pushing for Steam(PCs or Macs), and there are enough Desktops and Laptops in the Country, not to talk of Console,
Development time. Like i said earlier it depends on what your making, There are 2D retro style games on the PS4 and Xbox One or even simple 3D games that would take an average of 6 months to develop. Or else your looking at 1 year to 3 years. Like you have that sort of time right? Time will just pass you by
Quick return on investment. Should go with the above, but what the heck. So it takes you 2 years to make the game, and you still have no idea if it’ll sell. Good convincing an Angel Investor on that. Or if you want to be an Indie. Pushing your self and maybe your team for that long and also putting your personal money in it. Well its just a risk not worth taking. Caphice
Nigerian society plays you down. Making you feel its a waste of time putting effort into playing games not to talk of making them. The ones that are really interested in making games are the ones that have
i) Previously owned a console in their past
ii) Played some form of game in their past life
iii) Or are just intruiged by games
In summary if your 30 and above, you have a less than 10% chance of being interested in games.
Next time don’t ask a question like this. I can probably write an article on it. 
@oluwaseye_ayinla This is the kind of answer I’ve been looking for. Thank you Seye. I’m a film/game score composer/sound designer, and I’ve been looking for anyone well versed enough to have a decent conversation with.
Do you think things will change in the future? I mean, I know the world is going mobile, but mobile games don’t provide anything close to the experience console games provide at the moment - let’s not even consider the tech specs required for anything decent.
@SkweiRd Future? [Sigh] It will have been easier to answer if that variable had a Boolean datatype. Well yes it should, once there is an Internationally noticeable industry. Whenever that will happen… I cannot place a finger on. I mean if I take South Africa as a case study, but not exactly a case study. Your looking at 5 - 10 years. Just hope consoles wouldn’t have died by then with the rise of mobile (hard to conclude anyways).
Glad to be of help. Felt lost in the world, considering I hadn’t known about radar for a while.
Mind me asking, what is a Game Score Composer? Don’t feel like googling.
@Oluwaseye_Ayinla Game Score Composer [Gay-m Sk-or Comp-o-zuh]: The guy who composes music to guide the player emotionally, through the game. You know, give hints, about certain facets about the game, inspire fear, joy, satisfaction, etc.
Pretty interesting. And in 10 years, consoles would be dead, or would at least have been relegated to a niche not large enough to make it worthwhile for devs. I think.