Well yeah! The investors in the business expected it to be like Zynga or Woonga for Nigeria or even Africa but the market didn't turn out the way they expected. I also think they weren't interested in pivoting and just decided to cut short their losses.

[img]https://4.bp..com/-xhUn85He0pM/Wpvc74j94XI/AAAAAAAARGY/bHOp3sW33HI7AhuZj2hlbuzS9rOTtU_BACLcBGAs/s640/Year%2BIn%2BReview%2B%25282017%2529.jpg[/img]

This post is long overdue, but it's better late than never, right? Anyways, writing this was supposed to be like the 2016 year in review post [http://www.gamedev.ng/2017/01/2016-review-of-nigerian-game-industry.html] but honestly nothing much happened last year that I really took cognisance of, and I also wanted to try another style for this write-up. For 2017, I'd be focusing on major events, indies and the remaining pioneer gaming studios still in business. So then, let's get right to it. First up is...

Maliyo
[url]https://1.bp..com/-4L5CpYi5rRE/WpwPQeW6E8I/AAAAAAAARGo/O6Gh8WdQhNMqp1RThz-UBuTLDczk4wZugCLcBGAs/s640/Maliyo%2B-%2BLogo.png[/url]
2017 Review
Maliyo had a solid year in 2017 with launch of MonaPay and the Maliyo Marketplace. After their comeback in 2016, and my numerous chats with Hugo Obi (Manager/CEO), they seem to look like they've shifted from their previous endevours; making locally relatable mobile games. Hugo has always talked about two major challenges facing the local industry; Discoverability and Monetization, and last year looked like the right time for Maliyo to solve those problems. With the Maliyo Marketplace, Nigerians can now find the hottest mobile games and apps as well as locally relevant content (MadeInNaija category/section). With MonaPay, digital content providers can now accept payment from customers through their mobile airtime. With these two services, Maliyo looks to begin the year with bang.

Continue reading here http://www.gamedev.ng/2018/03/2017-review-of-nigerian-gaming-industry.html

[center][/center]

Calling all who love creativity, innovation and learning! The AR/VR Africa Hackathon is an opportunity to learn about Augmented and Virtual Reality, other immersive technologies, meet new people, and get hands-on experience with AR/VR design and development. http://arvrafrica.com/

Or even get a 3 months free Houdini indie license https://www.sidefx.com/community/global-game-jam-contest-2018/

Learn to develop a location based game https://www.mapbox.com/unity-developer-program/

This is a great time to learn how to use Unity (https://unity3d.com/GGJ)

Hitman GO

Anyone interested in testing out a mobile game? Send me an email through Nairaland with your name. When it's time a copy of the game would me send to you via the same email. Cheers!

Hey! Do you guyz know that there is a chess competition coming up next month in Lagos? Check http://www.gamedev.ng/p/events.html for details

[img]https://2.bp..com/-pZ_CVKdTatM/WlpkCpytIWI/AAAAAAAARDg/OYZTZKc8WK0C1kTw-nyufDolpV5OAq04gCLcBGAs/s640/2018%2BGGJ.jpg[/img]

The universal hackathon focused on game development is back again and this years annual event is holding on the 26th - 28th of January. The goal of the event is to allow everyone come together and make a video game, or non-digital game like a board game or card game in a time span of 48 hours. You can read more here http://www.gamedev.ng/2018/01/2018-global-game-jam.html

Hey bro, if you are a fighting gamer then you should check http://www.gamedev.ng/p/events.html for a fighting game tournament coming up.

[b]3. Made In Niger[/b]ia
The developer of the game is Nigerian and all elements of the game were created and crafted by Nigerians. The game was written , designed and programmed by Kolapo Oni while the music and sound effects were created by Darasimi Oni. Come to think of it, I think this is a family game., Big ups to Oni's. So, if you like Made In Nigeria products or want to support Made In Nigeria products you can do so buy purchasing a copy of the game here http://store.steampowered.com/app/639320/Fading/#app_reviews_hash

[img]https://2.bp..com/-Iq_U66g5w8I/WkZhlEGLGtI/AAAAAAAARBM/1_CqqCebJfU5aLm7WID74MQq_1Eqg_DuACLcBGAs/s640/Credits%2B02.png[/img]

2. Challenging Puzzles
The puzzles in the game are one of the most annoying, challenging and diabolical puzzles I've ever seen. Some look insanely difficult at first glance but just require some time to master. The main aim of each puzzle is to keep you from reaching your place of solitude (big circular hollow with coloured dotted lines).

[img]https://3.bp..com/-BqVdTfCaOhQ/WkZilmrczNI/AAAAAAAARBg/YVj7FClXf3wmescqsnqlOSVzwSlQdBiqgCLcBGAs/s640/05.png[/img]

Just like any platformer, there are switches that need to be triggered, moving platforms, unstable platforms or in this case fading platforms, spikes, as well as your unfriendly big circular chasing boulder (trust me this one is no fun at all).

[img]https://3.bp..com/-Sdl-pNO0PtQ/WkZh-TeLVKI/AAAAAAAARBU/fWUpo02SAvA5ZPRYWbVS5rIwml2vfV4ggCLcBGAs/s640/04.png[/img]

Each level gets a tad bit harder as you progress and was beautifully handcrafted by the designer (master mind behind the puzzles). If you're a puzzler (someone who loves puzzles and strategies games), then this game is surely for you. Or if you are a perfectionist, then you can try the impossible challenge of not dying at all.

Great! You want to be the Nigerian version of James Karanu (https://www.youtube.com/user/dotnexgenTV). Anyways you can check out GameDev.ng (http://www.gamedev.ng/) for some Nigerian mobile games. I advise also checking the 2016 Review post to see older mobile games. The 2017 review is on its way.

If you're like me and don't understand how the concept depicts the mind of a man, then just wait till you play the game. You'll find out how challenging it is to be in someones mind based on their mood and reasons why you don't want to ever be in it to start with. With that said, here are 5 reasons to play the game Fading.

1. Great Story
The story of fading is beautiful and captivating. It's what the story of bounce could have been, if it even had a story. You unravel the story of love and strife between a writer (the man) and a painter (his wife, Meruna). who is dying of cancer.

[img]https://4.bp..com/-7hD-Ht5ePWs/WkZ6pLwtRAI/AAAAAAAARCE/XiS-P8_RNO0u6neFNYhr9vlh4SrT_gAZgCLcBGAs/s640/Poetry%2B05.png[/img]

The narration of the story is uncovered piece by piece through the mans writings. with each piece giving an account of how they met, their marriage and their struggles together thereafter. The most inspiring part of the story is when moments in the story affect gameplay.

[img]https://1.bp..com/-OB_C4EU8PE0/WkZ4yrTHG9I/AAAAAAAARB0/r5Gg34p6kvc_Qdnq_U4ZzLt_M20ZkOZigCLcBGAs/s1600/Poetry%2B06.png[/img]

[img]https://3.bp..com/-3MW8MeCHTP4/WkZ6Z8EvWZI/AAAAAAAARCA/DYR2yQwOxG87eEKHd_WgmrpHaYsZSx3agCLcBGAs/s640/Poetry%2B07.png[/img]

So if you like a great and satisfying story with an appreciation of how it incorporates in the design of a game, then fading is the game for you. If you're not a fan of the puzzles, then you could ask a friend to help you out.

You can read more at [url]gamedev.ng[/url] here http://www.gamedev.ng/2017/12/5-reasons-to-play-fading.html

Fading is a minimalist 2D platformer where you play through the mind of a man whose wife is dying of terminal illness as you uncover a story of love, pain and loss. The title itself alone, speaks for what the overarching theme of the game would represent. The red ball and concept of the game reminds me of the game Bounce on Nokia 5130, but unlike bounce you don't grow big, you don't have a certain number of lives and there are no rings to collect.
Website: http://fading-game.com/
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/embed/yP4RzWzDzzI

It's called Fading and it was made by a Nigerian [url]store.steampowered.com/app/639320/Fading/[/url]

If you're a christian believer, fashion freak, endless game lover or just someone who regularly hunts for native Nigerian games, here are 3 buzzing mobile games that are free to download and play.

https://oluwaseyeayinla..com.ng/2017/11/buzzing-new-releases.html