Falafel Games
Develops and Publishes Games with a Middle East flavor.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| investor investor | €0.0 | round | |
$2.6m | Series A | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Falafel Games operates as a co-development partner specializing in massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, with a particular focus on the Strategy and RPG genres, and extends its expertise to Metaverse applications. The company targets other game developers and publishers, offering its accumulated knowledge in creating engaging, large-scale online experiences.
The firm was established in 2011 by co-founders Radwan Kasmiya and Vince Ghossoub. Radwan Kasmiya, serving as the CEO, is a prominent figure in the MENA gaming industry, credited with developing the first Arabic 3D video game, “Quraish,” in 2005. This background in creating culturally specific content laid the groundwork for Falafel Games. Vince Ghossoub, the Chief Business Officer, brings a strategic perspective shaped by his experience in the Chinese market, which influenced the company's initial direction.
The company's journey began with the launch of "Forsan el Majd" ("Knights of Glory"), noted as the first web-based MMO featuring authentic Arabic historical content rather than just a language translation. This title was instrumental in establishing the free-to-play model in the MENA region, drawing inspiration from successful practices observed in the Chinese gaming market. Following this, Falafel Games developed "Harb el Hurub," a strategy MMO that introduced cross-platform functionality between web and iOS, a significant technical achievement for its time in the region. The company also briefly diversified into third-party game publishing, leveraging its network in China to bring titles to the MENA market, though it later shifted focus back to developing its own intellectual property.
The business model centers on co-development partnerships, where Falafel Games collaborates with other companies to build and develop their gaming and Metaverse projects. This approach leverages their specialized skills in MMO game mechanics, monetization strategies, and creating culturally relevant content for specific markets. Their revenue is generated through fees and agreements associated with these co-development projects. The company's key differentiator is its deep experience in the MENA market, combined with a proven ability to innovate technically, such as with cross-platform play, and to successfully adapt and implement business models like free-to-play.
Keywords: MMO games, game development, co-development, RPG, strategy games, Metaverse applications, MENA market, free-to-play, cross-platform, Arabic content