Monday, 20 July 2015

Nairobi X. Kenyas first video game. Really?

Hello. Hope all is well.
Nairobi X, a Kenyan video game, was launched on June 17th 2015. It was perceived and deemed by some as Kenya's first video game. I take this opportunity to correct what I see as a wrong perception. 

I cannot be sure of the first video game in Kenya but I certainly know that there were some made before it.Here are some examples:


Wesley Kirinya Maker of adventures of Nyagi a 3D adventure PC game and founder of Leti Arts. It was made in 2007. 


Speaking of Leti arts here are some of other video games which were developed before Nairobi X. Keep in mind they are all mobile phone games but video games all the same.





These are just some of the games that Kenya had produced before Nairobi Xand I do not see why they should be overlooked.It may be Kenya's first 3D multi-platform first-person shooter multiplayer game and it deserves all the credit for that ,but it is certainly not the first video game produced in this country as a some have put it. Not to hate on the game though, making such a game in Kenya is a feat worth appreciating. For those who want to know more about this game making all the fuss I got you covered with this review below. 

THE GAME ITSELF

The trailer of Nairobi X was more amusing than captivating but I just thought playing it would be a good opportunity and since it was free I saw no reason not to play it. 
The game itself isn't bad- that is if you don't compare it with other first-person shooters in the market like Call of Duty and Battlefield. They have done pretty well with the graphics. The game-play isn't that bad either although having the option of customizing the controls would be a welcome addition. The health of the opponents could also be toned down a little and so should the damage incurred from their weapons- but that may be  because I am not that good of a player. That goes for the PC version which I didn't manage to finish. 
As for the mobile phone version which is very different from the PC it the controls aren't as fluid as one would like and the game-play is wanting. All guns have equal damage and the only thing that changes in the levels is the environment and number of enemies but I've only reached level 9 and signs of updates are already showing so I see a brighter future for the mobile phone version. Overall it is a good first trial for an FPS. I would give it 5.5/10.Other than that I urge more Kenyan game developers to follow suit and flood the gaming market with quality games that have long been due.Thanks for reading.

Deo omnis gloria.

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