"Africa needs an educated society, and EdTech is a vital tool for achieving that"

Pocket Gamer Connects Jordan returns on November 9th and 10th, 2024, offering a chance to gain insights into the world’s fastest-growing games market, MENA.

As part of our MENA coverage and run-up to the event, we spoke to Enechawet Games’ CEO and co-founder, Abiy Hailu to discuss the company’s focus on educational games, leveraging emerging technologies, exploring new platforms and creating a new brand.

PocketGamer.biz: Tell us a bit about Enechawet Games and what you're up to right now?

Abiy Hailu: Enechawet Games is a dynamic Ethiopian game development and publishing company dedicated to creating engaging and educational games. It was founded in 2019, and since then, we’ve established ourselves as a game industry leader, producing games for various platforms, including Android, iOS, VR, and AR devices. 

Some of our projects include the side-scroller game Mamo, and then we have Liku, a game that teaches farmers the universal soil loss equation in an Ethiopian context, alongside Guzo geez, a game that teaches geez numbers and many other titles.

How many staff do you currently employ, and what are you doing to foster collaboration and recruit local talents?

Currently, we are a team of ten staff members, and we often hire more freelancers based on projects. We run a yearly internship program to recruit local talents and provide opportunities for interns to join the company. In addition, we also work with different institutions across Ethiopia 

How do you prioritise resources between developing mobile games and your other projects like publishing and events planning? 

Our primary focus at Enechawet is on game development. We allocate a significant portion of our resources to ensuring that we consistently deliver high-quality games to the market.

While we occasionally participate in events such as game launches, our primary focus remains on creating innovative and engaging gaming experiences.

You've developed games for mobile and also created the "first Ethiopian VR game". How do you decide which platform to target for a new game?

Oh yes, in December 2022 we developed the first Ethiopian VR game, "Tsedew Eregna" (ፀዴው እረኛ), and earned second place at the AR/VR Africa Hackathon where we had just 48 hours to produce a prototype.

Our participation in the hackathon focused on creating a project that addresses problem-solving in the XR industry. We choose to develop a VR game that raises awareness about plastic pollution.

After drafting our initial concept, we began experimenting and building the prototype for "Tsedew Eregna," which translates to "The Great Sheared." The game teaches players how to protect the environment from plastic pollution, promoting both the avoidance of plastic waste and the importance of reusing materials.

When deciding which platform to target for a new game, we consider several factors. First, we assess our target audience and their preferred gaming platforms. For example, mobile games often reach a broader audience due to their accessibility, while VR games offer immersive experiences that can engage players in unique ways. 

We also evaluate the game's thematic elements - certain messages, like environmental awareness, may resonate more deeply in a VR setting. Finally, we analyse the technical resources available to us, ensuring we choose a platform that aligns with our capabilities and goals for the game.

Has there been a shift in how the studio operates? Most of your games are currently unavailable on App Store and Google Play. If there have been changes, why?

Publishing games on the App Store and Google Play is not exactly possible from Ethiopia, and we have faced ongoing challenges in publishing our games. Some of our titles have been removed due to policy changes, while others were developed specifically for our clients. 

This year, we are celebrating five years since the release of our first game, Mamo. To address these challenges, we are exploring new ways for people to access our games directly through alternative platforms.

Talk to us about the potential you see in Edtech for Africa's future. Do you have any ongoing or planned projects related to Edtech?

Nelson Mandela once said: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world," and I firmly believe in the transformative power of education.

Africa needs an educated society, and EdTech is vital for achieving that. The way we learn is evolving; people today need to experience learning in more engaging ways. Games and augmented reality create excellent opportunities for this.

Previously, we implemented a pilot project in two government schools, and we are currently working on a children’s educational project called Enechawet Lijoch (Let's Play Kids), which is a new brand that we launched earlier this year to enhance children's education through games and augmented reality.

We have also won a grant from the Mastercard Foundation to support this initiative. 

Africa has a vast number of mobile users. What do you think is the key to tapping into this audience? 

I believe that creating educational games for smartphones in local languages is essential for supporting education and driving positive change in Africa. By developing content that resonates with local cultures and languages, we can enhance learning experiences for students, making education more accessible and engaging. 

This approach not only empowers learners but also plays a vital role in transforming the educational landscape across the continent. Ultimately, harnessing the potential of mobile technology in education can help bridge gaps and foster a more knowledgeable society in Africa.

What are your thoughts on emerging technologies in games? And do you have plans to incorporate AI into your game development process?

We should embrace emerging technologies in game development, but it's crucial to contextualise their use to maximise their benefits.

While we cannot ignore technological advancements, we must implement them thoughtfully to ensure they enhance our games effectively, as they have significant potential to transform the gaming experience.

In addition, we are already incorporating AI into our game development process. AI helps us streamline our workflow and improve efficiency.

We continuously update our company and projects to stay at the forefront of these advancements, ensuring we leverage technology for the best possible outcomes.

In terms of funding and support for gaming studios in MENA, what has been your experience navigating the funding landscape?

We recently won a grant from the Mastercard Foundation for our EdTech project, where Enechawet Games is among 12 companies working on EdTech in Ethiopia. This grant has significantly boosted our efforts to develop educational games. However, we are yet to navigate the funding landscape in the wider MENA region.

What are your plans for the rest of 2024 and the coming year? Are there any specific initiatives or projects on the horizon that we should look forward to?

In 2024 and beyond, we are excited to finalise our game, Enechawet Lijoch, which teaches children the alphabet in five languages. This project has been our major focus over the past few months. Enechawet Lijoch, or Let's Play Kids, embodies our commitment to creating engaging and educational games specifically tailored for children.

Our Characters At the heart of the Enechawet Lijoch brand that children can easily connect with include: BuBu, Chuchu, Lulu and Mita. They are designed to be interactive, making learning a fun and immersive experience for kids. 

The brand offers a range of alphabet-learning games that are available in multiple languages, ensuring accessibility for diverse audiences. The games include:

• Amharic: "YEFIDELAT ASENAFI" (የፊደላት አሸናፊ)
• Afan Oromo: "Beekumsa Farda"
• Somali: "Cameelka Aqoonta"
• English: "Alphabet Champion"

Each game is designed to enhance language skills and promote cognitive development through interactive play. Additionally, we will release an augmented reality product to complement the game, further enriching the learning experience.

We also look forward to exploring new platforms and expanding our reach as we continue to develop innovative educational tools for children.