GameUpAfrica Bootcamp: Google Partners Maliyo To Train Game Developers [Video]

Tech giant Google has partnered with Nigeria-based gaming studio Maliyo to organise the GameUpAfrica Bootcamp to give Africans an opportunity to be part of the booming gaming industry

The programme is open to Kenyans, Nigerians, and Ghanaians to develop and train mobile game developers. The application began on July 19 and will close on August 2, 2021, and will offer developers planning to build a career in game development access to mentorship and relevant tools.

Selected applicants will go through a virtual training program from August 16 to December 23, 2021, where they will learn to refine, package, and develop Android games.

Maliyo is a game development studio that creates African-inspired games for mobile users. The game developers infuse Africa's lively culture and experiences into the game they create with the aim to be the number one supplier of games in Africa.

Gaming has evolved from a simple way to pass the time to one of the most profitable industries in the world. Maliyo’s vision is to embed the vibrant African culture into video games through storylines, character development, immersive environments, captivating sounds, and strong visuals.

Maliyo Games

Successful participants at the programme will be evaluated based on the completion of the curriculum and ability to publish a game on the Google Play Store successfully.

The programme has three levels of training, themed: Game Development Fundamentals, Succeed on the Play Store, and Publish Your First Game. The successful completion of one level validates moving to the next level.

The criterion for interested participants stated  that applicants must reside in Nigeria Ghana, or Kenya, have a basic background in programming languages like C#, C++, and PHP, own a PC, be available to commence Bootcamp by August 16, 2021

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Note: Selected participants will be judged based on three metrics: competence, commitment, and creativity.

Applicants will pass through two stages before final shortlisting.

Stage one: Fill the online application form on the company website.

Stage two: After scaling the first stage, shortlisted candidates will have to undergo a C# (a core language for game developers) assessment to demonstrate their competence in the programming language. The assessment is scheduled to hold on August 9, 2021.

Note: The organisers will provide data allowance for selected developers during the training.

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The GameUpAfrica Bootcamp is an adaptation of an existing training project by Maliyo Games which was instituted in 2020. It is a curriculum-based training program that prospective hires must go through before they are accepted into the company.

The GameUpAfrica Bootcamp was born out of the need to solve the problem of talent acquisition. Between 2020 and now, the company has trained seven people and absorbed one into the company.

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Maliyo Games founder, Hugo Obi said “We actually launched this program because, as a game development studio, we are constantly looking for talented individuals to join our team. And because of a lack of structured education system that produces competent game developers in Nigeria, we made the decision last year to launch an in-house program that will enable us to train individuals who are interested in becoming game developers.”