In a recent interview with Vince Ghossoub, the founder of Falafel Games and Nifty Craft, we explore the exciting landscape of the games industry in the MENA region. One focal point is on The World of Nifty Craft, a 2D fantasy sandbox multiplayer RPG featuring a unique real-time card battler combat system and high-stakes PvPvE battles.
Ghossoub sheds light on the game’s innovation and its impact on the local gaming community. Beyond discussing the product, he emphasizes his company’s dedication to nurturing local talent and discusses the future evolution of the MENA games industry.
PocketGamer.Biz: Could you give us an overview of Nifty Craft and your current focus?
Vince Ghossoub: We are developing The World of Nifty Craft, a groundbreaking mix of deckbuilder and MMO concepts. It utilizes our proprietary solution called Craftware, which streamlines the development of meta features and allows for interoperability. Once The World of Nifty Craft is released in June during Steam Next Fest, we plan to share Craftware with other studios.
How large is your team and where are they located?
Currently, we have a team of 14 individuals, with seven based in MENA and the remaining seven scattered across different countries.
What makes The World of Nifty Craft stand out from other card battler games? Are there plans to release the game on mobile platforms?
At present, The World of Nifty Craft is the only Card Battler MMO of its kind. Additionally, it features a player-driven economy. As for mobile release, it’s a possibility for the future.
What inspired the development of Craftware, your in-house game economy backend? How does it enhance the gaming experience for players and developers?
With a background in RPGs and strategy games, our team recognized the importance of meta features in these genres. We decided to package our internal libraries into Craftware and offer them to other studios. Craftware accelerates development, allowing developers to focus more on gameplay. It also facilitates interoperability, enabling items with benefits across different games.
Why did you choose to focus on Nifty Craft, and what are the future plans for Falafel Games? Can we expect more mobile titles from your team?
Falafel Games currently operates in work-for-hire mode, leveraging our expertise in strategy games. Nifty Craft caters to a larger global market, utilizes cutting-edge technology, and promotes innovation in game design. As for the future, we are excited about the possibilities Nifty Craft offers.
What opportunities and challenges do you see in the MENA games industry, and how do you anticipate the region evolving in the coming years?
The MENA region presents ample consumer opportunities as long as the content meets global standards. Challenges include talent availability and investor familiarity with the gaming industry. Success stories can help address talent shortages, while economic factors play a role in unlocking the region’s potential.
How are you contributing to the development and support of local talent in the gaming industry?
Building a successful team in the region is a significant contribution to developing local talent. This fosters learning, creates new content, and provides financial resources for the industry to thrive.
What role do Alphalabs Capital and other investors play in supporting the growth of Nifty Craft?
Nifty Craft’s diverse shareholder base offers valuable expertise in gaming, tech, and web3, providing support and insights for the game’s growth.
What can we expect from Falafel Games in 2024? Any exciting projects or initiatives on the horizon?
We will be launching The World of Nifty Craft in the summer, and we encourage everyone to wishlist or join our Discord community. Following the game’s success, Craftware will serve as a showcase for our technical capabilities. We have additional projects in the pipeline that align with our tech-driven strategy.
Join us at the upcoming MENA event!
Following a successful debut in 2023, The Dubai GameExpo Summit powered by PG Connects returns on May 1st to 2nd, 2024, alongside the Dubai Esports and Games Festival at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The summit will feature over 100 industry speakers from around the world, delivering insightful talks and seminars across various tracks. It also provides networking opportunities for developers seeking local publishers or aiming to expand their games globally from the MENA region.
