Kiro’o Games’ Founder, Cameroonian Madiba Olivier is about to literally watch his dreams materialise, alongside millions of other viewers. Hollywood company, Good Fear Film, recently bought the rights to turn Olivier’s African fantasy video game, Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan, which was released on Microsoft Windows (Steam) earlier this year, into a movie.
Madiba Olivier, who features on the Ventures Africa’s 2016 edition of 42 African Innovators to Watch, said, “My team and I are very excited to see our game become a movie in Hollywood. It is something we have dreamed about since the beginning.” Madiba developed Aurion when he realised a dearth of dynamism, African characterisation, mythical, and cultural representation in games.
Founders of Good Fear Film, producers Chris Bender (We’re the Millers, Vacation, Mulan) and Mark Weiner (Under the Silver Lake, It Follows, Mulan) state that the plan for the Aurion movie is a “unique entry into the fantasy genre” as Madiba places them in a “world that he created”.
Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan is a 2D video game rooted deeply in African culture, myths, and folklores which follows the quest of its lead character Prince Enzo Kori-Odan, including other key characters in the kingdom of Zama. According to Kiro’o Games, Good Fear Film was attracted to the game because of the African origin of the game, along with its well-written story and the reviews that it has gotten thus far.
“When we were creating the game in 2014, we were really cautious about the ‘coherence’ of our universe and the writing around the character, because we wanted to be ready for an adaptation”, says Public Relations Manager at Kiro’o Games, Sorelle Kamdom.
Earlier this year, Madiba was quoted as saying, “We will decide on the future of the [gaming] industry in the region if Aurion is a success.” Judging by the game’s latest accomplishment, it appears the team at Kiro’o Games did a good job, and are presently reaping the benefits.
Furthermore, Aurion’s international accomplishment highlights and reiterates the need for African entertainment industries to make a habit of telling original stories in order to promote the rich cultural image of the continent on a global scale, as it strives to reshape the narrative surrounding the origins, myths, legends, creative, and intellectual capabilities of its peoples through entertainment.
Kiro’o is currently on a mission to tap into the growing and evolving African Mobile Market (estimated to be 350 million smartphones by 2017), starting with preparing to launch Aurion on mobile soon.
https://twitter.com/madibaOlivier/status/782133537696837632
