Game developer launches competition for new talents

A new competition offering US$4,000 in prizes and career opportunities for five talented illustrators has been launched by Gamsole, a mobile games company. Gamsole was founded by Abiola Olaniran, Nigeria’s highest paid Windows game developer. Gamsole creates games for the Windows phone platform, taking advantage of its fast growth and unsaturated gaming market.

This competition no doubt offers creative individuals the opportunity to express their creative abilities at producing exciting games and if they emerge winners, win prizes and job opportunities. The competition will be running until November 23, this year. According to the organisers, entrants must submit a graphical concept for a game, including character design in different moods and positions. Gamsole will be offering a US$3 000 prize for the best illustrator, with the runner-up receiving US$1, 000. “The top five will be offered permanent positions at Gamsole’s offices in Lagos, giving them the chance to own equity and be part of a high-growth, fast-paced startup,” Olaniran states.

Olaniran who is a computer science and mathematics graduate started his business two years ago. According to a statement released by Microsoft, in just six months of launching games on the Windows Phone Store, Olaniran had over three million players worldwide who fell in love with the addictive gameplay experience, from China to Brazil. 

According to reports by Microsoft- “About 38 percent of mobile phone users all over the world consume games, second to the use of social networks. People never get tired of gaming. On an everyday basis, millions of people are experiencing little boring moments: the long queue at the supermarket, the traffic, a 13-hour flight. Apart from providing the entertainment factor for scenarios like this, mobile gaming also serves as a great tool for education.” 

The Microsoft report also states that after being one of the first African startups to be awarded an innovation grant from Microsoft 4Afrika, Abiola’s games now top over nine million downloads. Popular games include Juicy Links and Cookie Jam.

Olaniran further says, “We want to focus on creating high-quality games for mobile and desktop with a distinct African flavor, for example, educational and African-themed are a great way to engage people in local stories and issues in a fun way. Excellent graphics are an essential component of game development and we require the best illustrators to take the company forward.” 

The competition organisers realise that finding the right skills is a challenge facing many businesses, especially startups that cannot always compete with the salaries that larger corporations can afford hence the support for Gamsole by Microsoft 4Afrika in this competition. “There are so many benefits of being part of a smaller enterprise,” says Amrote Abdella, Director of Venture Capital and Startups at Microsoft. “Not everyone can be an entrepreneur, but startups offer young talent the chance to become part of the entrepreneurial process, helping grow the enterprise and being part of the strategic decision making process from early on. Startups offer creative freedom and a dynamic, high-energy environment.”  Abdella says.

With the help of the Microsoft 4Afrika grant awarded in February this year, Gamsole has gone from strength to strength and with the additional five designers will have 12 employees by the end of the year with the view to adding more coders in 2015. Abiola is also exploring alternative opportunities for monetisation with advertising opportunities for brands that want to reach a young, tech-savvy audience.   

“Prior to the grant we had engaged several investors, but could not agree on the terms,” says Olaniran. The 4Afrika grant meant we did not have to give up any equity and we were provided not only monetary, but technical support.”

Illustrators can enter the competition through the Gamsole website and share entries with their friends who can vote. The organisers are closing the competition November 23, this year and the winners are up to Gamsole’s discretion. 

OLUYINKA ALAWODE