If we collaborate, we can accomplish anything – Video Games Pioneer

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Eyram Tawiah is one of the very few pioneer African video game developers who is convinced Africa will make a salient contribution to the world of game development. His love for comics and computer games helped to spur his interest to learn to program back in junior high school. He wanted to make the comics he drew as a youngster, come to life on the computer screen. He’s the cofounder of Leti Arts, which aims at bringing African history and storytelling to a new global audience via games, comics and African-themed interactive content. Eyram’s work has received many reviews and awards, including speaking at GDC 2013, and participating at US-Africa Business Summit 2014. Eyram strives to make games that compete globally using local expertise. He is behind Leti Arts Studios, the dynamic company that started a whole new Video game industry in Africa that creates and designs commercial video games for the gaming industry. This software engineer – who is involved in the full game design from conception through to the final testing phase – is this moment looking at collaborating with Pan African Heritage Museum to bring children’s entertainment content rooted in African history and culture to TV3. Following are excerpts of an interview with the man at the forefront of the industry in our parts of the world.

Nana S. Achampong: How do I become a game developer?

Eyram Tawiah: The best way to be a game developer is to try to make one… Once you have that passion, all  you simply need to have is a game idea. You only need a pen and paper to first sketch your idea. Then, work out the rules and winning conditions of the idea. Then, you can embark on how to acquire the skills to make that happen.

Game development requires a combination of technical and creative skills, including programming, art and design, and storytelling. You can gain these skills through a combination of education and self-study. Very few African/Ghanaian universities or institutions may have any form of game development programs, so most of us resort to self-learning on YouTube and books. However, some global universities offer game development-specific programs, which you can pursue a degree in. Or, in a related field such as computer science or digital media. You can also find online resources and tutorials to learn specific skills or technologies.

NSA: Specifically, how does one become a game developer?

ET: First, Build a portfolio: As you develop your skills, it’s important to create a portfolio of your work to showcase your abilities and accomplishments. This can include examples of your programming, art, or design projects, as well as any games you have developed or contributed to.

Second, Network and get experience: Networking and gaining experience in the industry can be valuable for building connections and learning about job opportunities. This can involve internships, part-time or freelance work, or participation in game development communities or events.

Finally, Apply for jobs: Once you have developed your skills, built a portfolio, and gained some experience, you can start applying for game development jobs. You can search for job openings at game development studios, or consider starting your own game development company.

NSA: What systems/software tools do you use to create game concepts and story characters?

ET: Games are divided into two categories: art and technology or science. Games are created using game design software e.g. on the tech/science category, we use game engines, which include Unity, Unreal, Phaser, and others. On the art side of things, you’ll need Photoshop, illustrator, 3d studio max, Maya, and other software. And you’ll need to learn how to use the engine to connect the pieces. You’ll also need to learn the engine’s scripting or coding language.

NSA: What are the most challenging issues of video game design?

ET: There are quite a number of challenges in game design: Balancing gameplay mechanics, Finding the right balance between challenge and reward, and between complexity and accessibility, can be a difficult task. Designers must consider players’ experience and ensure that the game is challenging but not frustrating, and that it is engaging but not overwhelming…developing compelling stories players would enjoy, coordinating all stakeholders in the production, or preproduction phase. So mostly, the effort is in the planning and design. Once done right, coding becomes easier.

NSA: How do you stay up to date with the latest game and software trends?

ET: I read a lot of news about games. I frequent numerous gaming websites. I go to conferences as well. As a stakeholder, I also support the industry and take part in all activities. Additionally, I am a part of networks and circles where we gather and hang out.

NSA: What makes a game developer successful?

ET: Passion and dedication, Strong technical and creative skills, Ability to adapt and learn, The team he builds… the people and relationships he fosters in the development of the game, as well as the marketing and business structures he establishes. Mentorship is also very key.

NSA: What game are you most proud of developing? Why?

ET: My first game Sword of Sygos… that first joy of seeing my character move on screen at my command… and knowing it’s me doing it. That joy never leaves me with every game I make:-D. So I can say all the games I make I love very much ☺️. I’m thoroughly enjoying the process.

NSA: What is the state of gaming in our region?

ET: The gaming industry in Africa has grown significantly in recent years, with an increasing number of developers and players in the region. According to the Africa Games Industry Report, the number of active gamers in Africa is expected to reach over 200 million by 2025, and the market is expected to be worth over $3 billion.

Ghana has a thriving gaming industry, with a growing number of developers and studios producing games for local and international markets. In addition, there are several gaming events and communities in the country, such as the MTN Game Conference, Accra E-sports Week and the Gamers Association Ghana, which support and promote the industry.

The growth of the gaming industry in Africa has been driven by several factors, including the proliferation of mobile devices and internet access, the increasing availability of affordable gaming hardware, and the emergence of new business models such as free-to-play and mobile gaming.

The industry still faces several challenges however, including a lack of infrastructure and funding, limited access to markets and distribution channels, and a lack of trained talent. Despite these challenges, the industry has the potential to continue growing and contributing to the economic and cultural development of the region.

NSA: Who in Ghana is playing the games?

ET: One of our games has over 180,000 players… People from all over the country play our games. And we have others games which are played globally. We still haven’t hit the 500k – 1M players mark yet which we intend to achieve this year.

NSA: What skills do gamers develop?

ET: Cognitive abilities, problem solving, strategic thinking, critical thinking, multitasking, decision making, projection, judgment, coordination, teamwork, coding, writing, sound, and so on are all important.

NSA: Besides the software engineering of the games, what other professional roles are available in the industry?

ET: Game designer, Artist, Narrative design, sound design, QA tester, Producer, Markeing, Writer, IP Law etc.

NSA: Is there a link between gaming and development?

ET: Yes, gaming is the act of playing what the developers create. The more games you play, the more ideas you will have if you are a game developer.

There is also the traditional gaming which is betting. That aspect is pure lottery and also has some risk taking attitudes if you are into that.

NSA: Tell us more about Leti Arts games: what are they about?

ET: Our games are mostly African in nature; every game we create has African roots. We have our own super hero universe in which we create games, such as Africa’s Legends. This is a match 3 Candy Crush-style game in which you compete by matching puzzles.

We have Hottseat, which is a game similar to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Karmzah is a side scroller 2.4D game. Puzzle Scout is a word puzzler. We also have Into the wild, Hello nurse, My Jorley, Seefa and Mama Atingi.

NSA: Which platforms do you target?

ET: Mobile first. However, we also produce for other platforms.

NSA: How much approximately does it cost to make a game?

ET: Depending on their intricacy, video games can be made for millions of dollars. The cost of making a game can vary widely depending on a number of factors, such as the size and complexity of the game, the number of developers involved, and the length of the development process. Some smaller, independent games can be developed for a few thousand dollars, while larger, AAA games can cost millions of dollars to develop.

According to a survey by the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), the median cost of developing a game was $500,000 for small studios and $5 million for larger studios. However, these figures can vary significantly depending on the specific needs of the project.

In addition to the cost of development, it’s important to consider the cost of marketing and distributing the game, as well as any ongoing costs for updates and maintenance.

Overall, the cost of making a game can be a significant investment, and it’s important for developers to carefully plan and budget for the development process.

NSA: What kind of skills did you already have when you started working on developing games?

ET: I had a creative mind and a strong desire to become a coder while I was in junior high school. I studied computer science, but anyone can create a game; it is not dependent on your background. Any set of abilities can create a game.

NSA: Have you found out any plugins or tools absolutely amazing to speed up workflow?

ET: Yes, we employ numerous tools for collaboration, such as Miroboard. There are many different plugins and tools available that can help speed up workflow in the game development process. Some popular options include: Level design tools: There are several level design tools that can help game developers create and test levels more efficiently, such as Unreal Engine’s Blueprint Visual Scripting and Unity’s Tilemap Editor.

Asset management tools, such as Perforce and Git, can help developers track changes and manage assets more efficiently.

There are several animation tools that can help game developers create and edit animations more quickly, such as Blender and Maya.

AI [Artificial Intelligence] tools, such as Behavior Trees, can help game developers create more realistic and dynamic NPC behavior.

Visual scripting tools, such as PlayMaker and GameMaker, can help developers create game logic and mechanics without the need for coding.

Our Leti Arts development includes the Nvidia Omniverse as well. In order to jumpstart the creation of various games, you might also use templates.

NSA: Tell us more about Leti Arts studio: when was it founded and how many people are working in the studio?

ET: Leti Arts Studio was founded in 2009 by me and my cofounder. Our first employee was Yaw Baffour. He worked with us on our first game Bugzvilla. Then we went to iwarrior. [More on this in the book Uncompromising Passion by Eyram Tawiah].

We are 10 full-timers and 10+ part-timers depending on projects

NSA: What has been the most difficult part so far and how have you overcome these difficulties?

ET: Well, we face this all the time when we start a game studio from scratch… Every day is a struggle, but Leti Arts has gone through phases of survival over the course of our 13 years of work. The first was in 2011-2012, when we ran out of funding and had to restart but in any situation, God knows how to teach you while lifting you up.

NSA: How do you find collaborators and which criteria do you use to find the best ones?

ET: Mostly in our networks, and the majority of them are also clients. Some are also doing what we do, so we decided to work in co-operation rather than in competition. We now have the PAGG, which is made up of ten studios working together to change the narrative on the continent when it comes to games.

NSA: Have you had other jobs or did you work full time on games after KNUST?

ET: Yes, I had other jobs, as I mentioned in my book… this appears to be a long passion, but I also lived hehehe… I worked as a TA for national service before moving on to Meltwater for a year before Leti Arts. I worked briefly for SISCO.

Before and during university, I worked in my own company Topssoft that we formed in JSS/SSS, and BlackSoft which we formed at KNUST. We worked on a lot of software for cool clients… especially radio stations… the most complex app I’ve written and will ever write is Black DJ which is a DJ application and I did this during university. It is even more complicated than games.

NSA: Do you have any tools, software, or books you want to recommend?

ET: Yes…For Game engines, Unity, Unreal, Phaser, Libgdx, Godot, etc.

For books, Uncompromising Passion, Programming AI by Example, Art of Game Design by Jesse Schell, Mastering Visual Basic series from version 5 – Dot Net 4.0, Data Structures, Game Programing Gems series, Code Complete, Design Patterns, Secret Guide to Computers, Artificial Intelligence A Modern Approach. Platform SDKs: Java, Windows (Desktop and Server), Android, Symbian, Good to Great/Build to last, The world is flat, Art of the start

For Collaboration tools, Slack, Skype, WhatsApp, Discord, Google Suite, Microsoft Online, Miroboard, Figma (UI/UX), Google Drive,  and Onedrive

For Marketing, Social Media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter), Google Ads, Growth Hacking, Canva (Instant Designs)

For Programming, Javascript, C# / C++, Angular and MySQL

For Cloud Storage and infrastructure, AWS/Azure, Mongo DB, Postgre SQL and MySQL

For 3D Works, 3d Studio Max, Maya, Blender and Omniverse (Universal Scene Description – USD)

For 2D Works, Photoshop, Illustrator, Adobe Flash/Adobe Animate, Animie Studio, Toonboom,  and Adobe PremierPro – Post production

NSA: Which marketing strategy do you use and do you have any special tips to share?

ET: Both Online and offline

NSA: What is the future of Gaming in Ghana? And Leti Arts??

ET: I wrote about this in Uncompromising Passion. I have a whole chapter about it, but the bottom line is that gaming is here to stay in Ghana, and Leti Arts is well-positioned to capitalize on it, as we are already doing.

NSA: Feel free to add whatever you think is relevant or important for our readers.

ET: Africa is seeing a steady increase in game production. Given how quickly the African ecosystem is expanding, more cooperative forces ought to be at work. Another developing segment of gaming is the E-sports sector, which is a competitive aspect of gaming. If we massively unite in creating structures, strategies, and well-thought-out plans to get the gaming industry as a whole leveling up, there is a future for all gamers. Together with other member studios, we created the Gamers Association Ghana with the goal of bringing creative minds and engagements together to support the development of the Ghanaian video game industry. If we collaborate and work together, we can accomplish anything.

Eyram Tawiah is scheduled to talk to communication students at AUCC about essential skills needed for the Video Gaming industry on Tuesday April 18, 2023 at 7:00 PM, The Auditorium.