Throne of Gods by Akdogan Ali/Umusu Samson Iruo, Nigerian Developer

When it comes to creative output, there’s plenty that Nigeria is known for. Although, video game design probably wouldn’t rank very high on that list. Now, a new mobile game from Nigerian duo Akdogan Ali and Umusu Samson Iruo could change that. Called Throne of Gods, the groundbreaking fighting game brings African mythology into a fantasy realm.

Ali, a game developer and creative artist, and Iruo, a programmer and asset developer, first conceived of the epic fighting game around eight years ago. While it initially had nothing to do with West African deities, their later research into African mythology led them to redesign the game’s plot so that players are able to use different African gods and goddesses to battle.

Inspired by older console games like Street Fighter II for Nintendo and Mortal Kombat II and III, Ali and Iruo used these as guiding examples, seeing them as simple, logical systems. They soon learned that fighting games are actually as difficult as any other game, if not more so. In terms of the game's story research and character development, the duo had to put in just as much effort.

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