Our studio manager talks to PocketGamer.biz
Danar Kayfi on Istikan Chai's surprise success in China, making games in Iraq, and what local teams need to grow.
Our studio manager Danar Kayfi sat down with PocketGamer.biz ahead of Pocket Gamer Connects Jordan on 7 and 8 November.
The interview covers how a seven-person team in Erbil works in three pods of two, and why more than 75% of Istikan Chai’s Steam sales come from China, with no publisher and no paid marketing. It also looks at what each game taught us, and why Tikka & Kebab will launch with Simplified Chinese from day one, this time on purpose.
The second half is about the games scene in Iraq: why shipping the first game is the hardest step, and what local teams need most, from business know-how and real studio jobs to community and easier online payments.
“Most investors and publishers still don’t see Iraq as a place where games get made.”