Jordanian game developers should think globally — industry leaders

AQABA — Jordanian gaming start-ups and companies need to make their games adaptable to be able to penetrate international markets, according to owners and heads of digital gaming and game publishing companies.

They also need to build partnerships with regional and international gaming companies, which will help them scale up and reach new markets in an industry that “has no boundaries”, they said.

At a session during the Jordan Gaming Summit 2015, which concluded on Sunday, Joseph Shomali, co-founder of Play3arabi, said it is important for entrepreneurs, start-ups and companies to focus on local markets at the beginning. 

However, he said they should also have in mind the need to eventually reach international markets.

Hosam Hammo, founder and CEO of mobile gaming publishing company Tamatem, said the Jordanian market is very small and limited, which makes it necessary for game developers to seek new markets.

“Game developers need to think as if they are developing their games for an international audience,” said Hammo.

Speakers at the session said it was crucial for companies and start-ups to invest more in marketing and PR to ensure that their games reach a wide audience.

They should also focus on investing in the capabilities of Jordanian talents and human resources in the industry, which is one of the fastest-growing across the world, Tamer Qaraeen, representing Bee Labs games, said at the session.

Qaraeen also stressed the need for Jordanian companies to take part in conferences and events in the digital gaming industry, which will help them build partnerships with their peers in different countries and thus become able to explore opportunities and enter new promising markets.

The summit, organised by the King Abdullah II Fund for Development, attracted over 700 experts, developers, industry stakeholders as well as school and university students.