Ahmed Maawy has had a fascination with game development since childhood. But growing up in Mombasa, Kenya, the path to becoming a game developer wasn’t clear. “I graduated high school way back in 2001, when there just wasn’t any ready access to gaming tools or content yet,” he recalls. “The only way to study game development was to go overseas (at least where I’m from).”
Determined to change that reality for others, Ahmed pursued a career in software engineering and later founded SwahiliBox, a tech community project that pioneered the concept of decentralized technology hubs in Africa. “It helped me come up with innovative ways to bring advanced digital literacy to towns and cities outside of major African capitals,” he says.
Now, with game development tools and learning resources more accessible than ever, Ahmed has rekindled his passion for game development—this time with a global vision.
Building a Game That Teaches Game Development
That vision led to Game Creator, a platform designed to help kids and aspiring developers create games without having to design assets or write code. “Game Creator is a fun and engaging digital platform for kids and enthusiasts who want to learn about coding and game development by creating games themselves,” Ahmed explains.
The tool is built entirely in Godot Engine, which Ahmed chose for its powerful node system and GDScript scripting language. “I began the project in Godot 3 and then migrated it to Godot 4 once the beta became stable,” he says. “I made use of Godot’s sophisticated GUI components and node systems to give the game the feel that it currently has.”
But developing Game Creator wasn’t without its challenges. “To optimize the application's design, I had to do things I hadn’t done before with Godot,” he admits. “I had to learn how to link visual scripting elements to real code execution. The visual coding environment doesn’t work like an interpreter—it abstracts a lot of code that’s implemented on a node level while making sure that everything comes together for a harmonious experience.”
At times, he struggled with impostor syndrome. But, as he puts it, “self-confidence won in the end.”
The Future of Game Creator—and Beyond
Currently in its Alpha stage, Game Creator is an evolving project. “I see it as an MVP right now,” Ahmed says. “I’ll continue developing the game while also seeking feedback from its initial users on the directions to take.” He envisions expanding the platform with cloud-enabled features, premium add-ons, and even enterprise applications.
Beyond Game Creator, Ahmed has broader ambitions in game development. “I decided a while ago that I want to develop games that are both intellectually rewarding but also fun and exciting,” he says. “I like to call such games Digital Toys—they’re meant to develop the thought process of their users.”
For those looking to break into game development, Ahmed shares a few key lessons:
- “Understand the mechanics of established games within the genre you want to develop for.”
- “Follow people on YouTube who are authorities, such as AskGameDev.”
- “There is a lot of self-doubt that comes with developing games. You’ll feel like an impostor. That’s normal. The trick is to keep going, iterate over time, and you’ll eventually begin pushing out better-quality games.”
Join a Community That Supports Innovators
Ahmed’s journey reflects what X-Team is all about—developers who create, push boundaries, and support one another. “Game Creator has been quite a pleasant experience for me,” he says. “Everyone who’s seen it has been impressed so far, and it has the potential to be adopted for real changes. But it took a great deal of resilience to get it this far.”
If you’re a passionate engineer looking for a company that values innovation and growth, X-Team is always on the lookout for top talent.
Ready to build something great? Learn more about working at X-Team.
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