The future of mobile gaming in the Middle East looks bright. With the advent of smartphones and the increasing affordability of mobile data, more and more people in the region are turning to their devices for entertainment. This trend is recognized in countries like Jordan, where a thriving tech startup ecosystem and a young, tech-savvy population have created the right conditions for mobile gaming to thrive.
In this blog post, we would like to introduce our readers to Maysalward Studio, a company that has always valued the importance of culturalization and localization. From the early stages of their business, Maysalward has identified the need to create products tailored to the local community’s specific needs. They have achieved this by successfully adapting their games to meet players’ cultural norms and expectations worldwide, resulting in a more immersive and enjoyable gaming experience.
Based in Amman, Jordan, Maysalward has been at the forefront of the mobile gaming industry for over a decade. Our Studio has developed a range of innovative and exciting games that have gained a loyal following among players. From our flagship titles to our diverse range of genres and mechanics, Maysalward has established itself as a leader in the industry. It continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in mobile gaming. We will look into the history of Maysalward and highlight some key achievements that have contributed to its success.
Maysalward is a name with Arabic significance. “Mays” means pride and represents self-respect, confidence, and dignity. “Al ward” is one of the names for lion in Arabic and embodies this majestic animal’s noble and powerful image. Combining these two elements, the name Maysalward conveys a sense of strength, resilience, and determination, all qualities often associated with lions. As a mobile game studio dedicated to creating innovative and exciting games that push the boundaries of the industry, this inspiring and fitting name captures the spirit and ambition of the company.
Maysalward, a mobile game studio based in Amman, Jordan, has been at the forefront of the mobile gaming revolution in the Middle East. As the first mobile game company in the region, founded in 2003, Maysalward has been working with other stakeholders to build up the capacity of the Middle East and North Africa mobile gaming industry. The company has put much effort into this goal in the past decade.
Since our inception in 2003, Maysalward has been a leader in the mobile gaming industry in the Middle East and North Africa. As one of the first mobile game studios in the region, Maysalward has built a strong reputation for developing innovative and exciting games with unique intellectual properties (IPs). Our team comprises passionate and experienced individuals dedicated to creating one-of-a-kind gaming experiences for their players. The Studio continues to push the boundaries of the mobile gaming industry and has a growing list of players who enjoy its offerings.
At Maysalward, we believe that everyone should enjoy playing games. We constantly strive to create quality mobile games and experiences for our players. Founded in 2003 in Jordan, we have become one of the Middle East’s leading mobile game studios. Our team of professionals dedicated to bringing joy to our fans through the power of gaming. We have released various mobile games, including puzzle games, card games, and board games, all designed to be enjoyable for players of all ages and skill levels. In addition to creating high-quality games, we prioritize creating a fun and welcoming community for our players. We believe gaming is a powerful way to bring people together, and we strive to foster a positive and inclusive community for all our players.
During its early years, Maysalward focused on developing SMS and WAP games and content for mobile players. These games and content were popular at the time due to their accessibility on a wide range of devices with minimal hardware requirements. Maysalward’s SMS and WAP games and content were designed to be interactive and engaging, offering players a rich and immersive gaming experience through their mobile phones. The company’s emphasis on SMS and WAP games and content helped establish Maysalward as a leader in the mobile gaming value-added services industry, and also provided a financial foundation for the company’s future success in mobile game development.
Maysalward’s first mobile-published game collaborated with Italian service provider Buongiorno and Emirati service provider Qanawat to bring the Spider-Man 2 game to Jordan. Released in 2004, this project required Maysalward to localize the game and create a marketing campaign with local telecom operators to coincide with the movie’s release. The localization process included translating the game into Arabic and adapting the gameplay and user experience to fit the cultural norms and expectations of players in Jordan. Due to the efforts of Maysalward, the Spider-Man 2 game was a success in Jordan and provided an enhanced and enjoyable experience for players.
During the rise of Java-operated devices as a popular operating system, Maysalward was approached to develop a Middle Eastern version of the game Backgammon called ‘Mahbousa’ for the Siemens N55, a high-end color phone. Despite the project being a contract-based development job, Maysalward agreed to take on the task as it presented an opportunity to showcase its capabilities to the market and provide a quick financial gain. The team believed that completing the project would help establish their industry reputation and pave the way for future opportunities.
Maysalward is well-known for its Skeikh el Koba collection, which includes a selection of culturally relevant Middle Eastern card games. One of the standout titles in this collection is Trix. This title was first introduced by Maysalward in 2004 and was the first culturally localized card game released in the Middle East. Since then, Maysalward has added more culturally relevant card games to the Sheikh el Koba collection, including Tarneeb, Balote with Saudi gameplay rules, and Original Belote with French game rules. These games offer a unique and authentic gaming experience that is particularly appealing to players in the region.
In addition to its flagship title, Maysalward has made a name for itself by experimenting with new game genres and mechanics. The Studio has developed a diverse range of titles that cover a variety of themes, including strategy, puzzle-solving, and sports. Recently, Maysalward has also ventured into the realm of hybrid hypercasual games. This willingness to try new things and push the mobile gaming industry’s boundaries has helped Maysalward stand out as a forward-thinking and innovative developer.
In addition to its flagship title, Maysalward has made a name for itself by experimenting with new game genres and mechanics. The Studio has developed a diverse range of titles that cover a variety of themes, including strategy, puzzle-solving, and sports. Recently, Maysalward has also ventured into the realm of hybrid hypercasual games. This willingness to try new things and push the mobile gaming industry’s boundaries has helped Maysalward stand out as a forward-thinking and innovative developer.
Our hybrid hyper casual mobile games collection includes various unique and innovative titles, with one popular theme being DIY. These games allow players to flex their creative muscles and design custom items such as flowers, pancakes, perfumes, and snow globes. Players start with basic materials and use their artistic skills to craft unique and visually stunning objects. These DIY-themed games provide a fun and engaging platform for players to express their creativity and build their virtual world.
At Maysalward, we believe that playing games is a chance to discover various cultures and connect with other players from all corners of the globe. That’s why we include leaderboards and chat rooms in our games. These elements not only add a part of a competition and social interaction but also create a sense of community among players and encourage them to engage with one another. We believe fostering these connections can create a more rewarding gaming experience for everyone.
he impact of Maysalward’s work can be seen in the success of the mobile gaming industry in Jordan. Today, Jordan is home to a vibrant and thriving community of mobile game developers, producing some of the region’s most innovative and exciting games. This success is a testament to the dedicated work and dedication of Maysalward and other companies like it, who have helped build Jordan’s capacity in the mobile gaming industry.
As the mobile gaming industry continues to grow in the Middle East, we are seeing more companies like Maysalward emerge. These companies will play a crucial role in driving the development of the industry and helping to create new and exciting opportunities for game developers in the region.
Not only has Maysalward achieved significant success in the mobile gaming industry, but our Studio is highly regarded for its commitment to giving back to the community. Maysalward actively supports initiatives that promote gaming literacy and help young developers succeed. The Studio also partners with local schools to introduce more people to mobile gaming. Through these efforts, Maysalward is working to positively impact the gaming community and help others succeed in the industry.
Maysalward has been collaborating with the King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD) since 2011 as a technical implementation partner to build the mobile gaming industry in Jordan. This partnership has provided funding and resources through non-profit programs to help young Jordanians interested in mobile gaming gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the industry. The program features a gaming lab, free education and training opportunities, and the App Challenge, which teaches school students aged 14-16 how to create and publish mobile games. The program also provides grants of up to $15,000 to indie developers and small studios. By supporting and nurturing the next generation of mobile game developers in Jordan, Maysalward has been working to establish a strong foundation for the future growth of the industry in the country.
Early culturalization and localization recognition :
Maysalward Studio is a company that has long recognized the importance of culturalization and localization in the gaming industry. From the company’s early days, Maysalward has been committed to adapting its games to meet the needs and preferences of players around the world. This includes translating the text and dialogue in their games and tailoring the gameplay and user experience to fit different cultural norms and expectations. By embracing culturalization and localization, Maysalward has reached a wider global audience and created a more immersive and enjoyable gaming experience for players from all walks of life. In this blog post, we want to introduce our readers to Maysalward Studio and highlight the company’s early adaptation of the importance of culturalization and localization.
Localization is the process of adapting products or services to meet the needs of a specific geographic area or culture. This process involves adjusting language, visuals, and content to be more relatable and accessible to local users. This can include language translation, screen layout adjustments, or changes to game mechanics. Localizing mobile games for Middle Eastern audiences is increasingly important for game developers as it allows for increased engagement levels with local users and ultimately provides more opportunities for monetization.
One example of how localization has impacted mobile game marketing in the Middle East is its ability to bridge cultural differences between different regions within the region. For instance, by localizing a game for a specific country or culture, game developers can ensure that their game is relatable and appreciated by more users across different cultures in the Middle East. This helps create a better user experience overall and can allow for easier accessibility across different borders within the region. Additionally, by adapting visuals, content, and features to be more heavily localized toward specific countries, developers can maximize their reach within that country and increase their chances of success.
Culturalization refers to adapting products or services to fit a specific culture or cultural group. This process also involves the adaptation of visuals and content but goes further by incorporating aspects such as religious beliefs, cultural taboos, or social norms into the game’s design. Culturalizing a mobile game is essential to make it more relatable and relevant to local audiences in the Middle East.
One example of how culturalization has impacted mobile game marketing in the Middle East is its ability to increase user engagement levels with local communities. By incorporating themes and ideas from local cultures into a game’s design, developers are able to ensure that their game resonates with a larger target audience across different cultures in the region. This leads to increased user engagement with their product and ultimately improves user retention rates and monetization opportunities. Additionally, by tailoring a mobile game’s visuals and features towards certain cultures, developers can create strong brand loyalty with their target audience, resulting in long-term success for their product.
Overall, localization and culturalization have significantly impacted mobile game marketing in the Middle East. Localizing games for specific cultures allows increased engagement with local users while bridging cultural differences between different countries within the region. Additionally, culturalizing games ensure that they are more relatable and relevant to local users. This helps create stronger bonds with the target audience and leads to increased user engagement and monetization opportunities. Therefore, it is essential for aspiring mobile game developers in the Middle East to pay close attention to localization and culturalization when marketing their products if they wish to succeed in this competitive industry.