Abiola Olaniran is a game developer and the CEO of Gamsole, an app development company. His apps have hit one million downloads on the Windows Phone platform and he has won Microsoft Imagine Cup and Samsung Developer Challenge. I have been tracking him since Oyeshina Oyetoso of Microsoft Nigeria named him the highest paid app developer in Nigeria at the Lagos iDEA launch.
In my Skype interview with Olaniran, he talks a bit about his background and his thoughts on the game development industry in Nigeria. I hope this interview is an inspiration on what local content can be. Here is what he has to say.
Can we meet you?
Sure, my name is Olaniran Abiola, the founder and CEO at Gamsole.
Can you tell us about your background?
I am a computer programmer with great passion for technology entrepreneurship. I studied Computer Science and Mathematics at Obafemi Awolowo University. I have participated and won some of the world’s largest technology contests.
Can you tell us some of the contests you won?
Microsoft Imagine Cup software contest for students 2010 (Nigeria) and Samsung developer challenge (games category) 2010.
How does it feel winning those contests?
As a student at that time, I felt like I was on the right path.
What language do you develop with?
Lots of them, but mainly C#, Java and PHP.
Has winning developer challenges helped with your progress as a game developer?
In terms of my skills yes, but you know the business world is a lot different.
Can you tell us about Gamsole?
Gamsole is the largest gaming company from Nigeria, in terms of user reach. We create fun mobile games for smartphones and distribute them to users all over the world.
Can you tell us your user reach?
Currently, in about three months, we have gotten over one million downloads on the Windows Phone store alone and our game players cut across the world.
One million downloads? That’s huge. Are the downloads from one app?
The downloads are from our three main games — Road Blazer, Kazoo and Traffic jam (a.k.a. Lagos traffic)
Are they paid apps?
No, they are free games with advertisement.
Can you tell us how you are generating revenue from your apps and the ad agency you are using?
I have used different ads networks. I use one in particular now. It’s called PubCenter and it is owned by Microsoft.
Do you have any paid app?
Yes, two paid apps with a free trial version. They are Funbits and Mega Chicken.
How are they doing in the market?
So far they are doing good. Funbits is currently getting great reviews from users all over. This is what gives us joy, the fact that people really enjoy our products.
On which platform(s) are your games currently available?
Windows Phone 7 and 8 platforms.
When are they coming to other platforms, like Android and iOS?
We are currently in the process of hiring more staff. One of our major reasons for doing this is to explore other smartphone markets.
You say “we”. Are there individuals or companies backing you?
Yes. Gamsole was funded by 88mph.
Where do you see Gamsole in five years?
One of the biggest gaming companies in the world…creating fun experiences to satisfy the undying human desire for entertainment.
What is the current state of game development in Nigeria and what do you think can be done to make it better?
I think many game startup companies are missing the point. The underlying word for games is fun, not to show the state of Africa or anything of that sort. What really matters is that people come back to play your games over and over again which is what we focus on at Gamsole.
What would be your advice for upcoming game developers?
The gaming industry is an interesting one and it is very competitive. Master your craft and put yourself in the shoes of the player. Will you enjoy playing this? If the answer is yes, you are on the right track.
