Antonio Obeid – programmer with a passion for gamedev

futuregames q&a

What sparked your passion for games? What triggered it?

– My passion for video games started when I was in my adolescence, gaming on a Pentium 4 desktop playing titles like Max Payne, Half-Life, and Counter-Strike. I never stopped playing video games because they weren’t just an escape from reality, but also engaging storytelling that creates a safe space to experience and express a full spectrum of human emotions.

What is the gamedev and gaming scene in Lebanon like? Do you have companies/titles that are popular internationally?

– The gaming scene in Lebanon is steadily growing, with more people turning to gaming to escape reality. I can’t say for sure if there is an internationally recognized company with a profound catalogue of video games that has made a significant impact in the gaming industry.

What are your career plans?

– My career plans involve creating games that would help people struggling to cope with their inner selves through storytelling, helping them realize that they are not alone and things will eventually work out, especially concerning mental health. I aim to work for Ninja Theory, Remedy Entertainment, and Asobo Studio. Why did I choose these companies? Well, it’s because they align with my views on creating compelling art with deep artistic messages that transmit hope to their audience.

What is the thing about game creation that gives you most fun?

– The most enjoyable aspect of game creation for me is figuring out the direction the video game is heading and solving problems that make the whole team feel great about our achievements and the struggles we endured in creating the final product. Our audience would actually enjoy and engage with the environment, releasing their roller coaster of emotions with responses such as, “Damn, I didn’t expect something like this to crawl under my skin and give me goosebumps.”

How do you experience attending Futuregames Warsaw? Is being a remote student very demanding?

– Attending Futuregames Warsaw remotely has been a challenge since I am not available onsite to participate with the team, but I got to experience how a virtual team player engages with his fellow colleagues. Despite the various obstacles of being a remote student, I could say that the learning curve I had to go through was very steep but amazingly rewarding, especially when we get to release a game we developed. The sense of extreme happiness that I participated in a video game that might not change everyone’s life, but changing a single person’s life is enough to get that feeling going.

What made you apply to Futuregames?

– I was working at a pharmacy when a notification popped up on my phone from CD Projekt Red’s Twitter account, informing me that the deadline to apply is in 2 days. I can still recall the adrenaline rush I felt when I saw that tweet. I felt genuine happiness for the first time, knowing that the job I’m supposed to be doing is in the gaming industry because gaming never died within me. I thought, why not take a leap of faith and join Futuregames? Futuregames never disappointed me in terms of the quality of their educational system, which follows their creed: Learn-By-Doing!

What do you think of video games in general? As a medium, culture, entertainment? Do you have your own angle of looking at this phenomenon?

– Video games to me are not just pixels moving on the screen, but a powerful medium that creates deep immersion for the individual engaging either from a gameplay or interactive point of view. They can shed light on cultural and historical aspects that can further increase hidden knowledge for the younger generation. Video games create social interaction and bring together a diverse group of people from all around the globe.

Will you join Futuregames in person on-site?

– I have chosen to attend Futuregames remotely for several reasons. Lebanon is currently experiencing both financial collapse and the potential eruption of war with a neighbouring country. I decided to stay close to my family in these circumstances because while I would physically be in Warsaw, mentally I would still be back home. However, I remain open to the possibility of joining on-site in the future.

Is the living situation in Lebanon safe now?

– The living situation in Lebanon is at its lowest, but it is still manageable. Despite ongoing challenges such as economic instability, political tensions, and the threat of war, there are a few initiatives that keep the wheel of sustained living turning, even in the worst possible conditions. These include community engagement, international support, infrastructure development, and security measures.

Check out a Futuregames game project that Antonio has been a part of:

Skybound