Lual Mayen - Future of Gaming Through Peace Building

Neecee Lexy
Apr 5, 2018
5 min read

Lual's world as young CEO beyond peace building game (Junub Games).

Name: Lual Mayen

Occupation: Game Developer

Enterprise: Founder of Junub Games

Home Town: Washington DC

Featured on BBC news | VOA | Al Jazeera

He is a well established entrepreneur both as Speaker, Programmer IFC, and part of World Bank DC.

Lual Mayen is also a model and actor, with his first feature film set to be released later this year. He is truly a mogul in the making and an inspiration to many young kids who are chasing their dreams.

The 25-year-old South Sudanese-born game developer has created a phenomenal game around the provision of peace. Lual Mayen has developed video games and board games through which young people can learn about peacebuilding and efforts for effective conflict resolution.

He recently took part in Train Jam with other game developers from around the world. Train Jam is a collection of developers traveling via train to the Game Developers Conference and creating games during the 52 hours from Chicago to San Francisco. We got the chance to sit down and interview Lual on his recent experience, plus video clips from his own personal interview with members of the game developers at the Train Jam.

Tell us who is Lual Mayen and how you came about the Junub Games?

Lual Mayen was born in South Sudan, the third in my family of 2 brothers and 2 sisters: Deng Mayen, Manyok Mayen, Akuol Mayen, and Arok Mayen. My parents, Mayen and Nyantet, are my inspiration, especially when growing up in the refugee camp. My mother bought me my first computer and spent over 2-3 years saving the money she earned from tailoring. That's how I became a developer, organizer of the first GGJ 17 in South Sudan, and Founder & CEO of Junub Games, currently doing programming at the World Bank as a side project in Washington, DC.

Image: Lual Taking care of cattles at Refugee camp.

Image Credit: Lual Testing Salaam Game in Rhino Refugee camp Northern Uganda.

What inspired you to create the Junub Games?

I am from South Sudan, and I have personally witnessed the tragedy of the ongoing civil war. My family had to flee on foot to Uganda 25 years ago. It is a prolonged conflict that has traumatized and displaced over 2.5 million people. Over 300,000 people were killed in 2013. Many ceasefires have been negotiated, but none has lasted. The biggest impact is on the youth, who make up 73% of the population.

Peacebuilding among the warring communities has been carried out unsuccessfully by many South Sudanese and international organizations. I want to use a new approach. I am creating the Salaam (Peace) game to educate and change the attitude and mindset of children and youth in order to prepare them for a peaceful future. South Sudan, for example, is a country where two generations have grown up during civil war. Children need games to play, not wars to slay, and people lack an understanding of the emotional prerequisites for peacebuilding because of systemic violence and decades of war.

What is (are) memorable moments from your recent Tramjam experience?

Train Jam is a collection of developers traveling via train to the Game Developers Conference and creating games during the ~52 hours it takes to arrive in San Francisco from Chicago. However, my memorable moments were seeing the view of some cities, mountains, desert, and so much snow. Besides, Train Jam was like a dream come true. This was supposed to be my second Train Jam, but I couldn’t make it in 2017 because of the travel ban, which included Sudan. However, South Sudan was not part of it, and the customs folks couldn’t differentiate between South Sudan and Sudan since South Sudan got her independence in 2011.

Images taken at Train Jam

Most importantly, meeting lots of game devs, designers, and artists was something I will really remember. South South doesn’t have a big game community, and it was a pleasure for me to meet the game community from around the world. Meeting folks whom I had connected with online and those who helped me achieve my goal of crowdfunding last year was incredible. All in all, I just want to say thank you to Rami and Adriel Wallick for making this happen this year. I couldn’t imagine it would happen again this year after I missed the opportunity last year, but I never gave up because everything has its own time.

WATCH LIVE CHAT FROM TRAIN JAM

GAME DEVELOPERS VIEW ON PEACE BUILDING GAMES INTERVIEWED BY LUAL MAYEN

Image credit: Rami (L) Lual (M)and Adriel R TrainJam booth #GDC18

What other projects are you currently working on?

I am currently working on finishing the second version of Salaam game and looking for funding from investors, as well as on my card game Wahda.

Image Credit: Current Salaam game Characters i am working on.

What other game developer collaborative work you hope to be part of ?

This is a very good question. Each of us always has a dream, and I pretty much love to work with my friend Tyler Coleman. He is currently working on a great game with MJ, and the two have been helping me in my game dev journey. I wouldn’t dream much of having a collaboration with big companies rather than having collaborative work with Tyler and MJ.

LAUL TAKING OVER MODELLING & ACTING INDUSTRY

Not only is he a smart game developer, Laul is also a natural-born model and actor. His recent appearance at Washington Fashion Week sparked a new light in the fashion industry. We can't wait to see more from him. Keep rocking, Laul #Unstoppable.

We heard you also an actor? Can you tell us about the movie

Yes, I just finished casting a role in a film directed by Asantewaa Prempeh last year in December. The movie is called Liberation. This was my first professional movie to act in. It was really not easy, but I had the passion to do it.

What excites me is working with professional film actors and directors, which gave me the courage to perform my role successfully. Currently, I am moving on to another movie in collaboration with Real Goats in LA. Some people are asking me why I am also acting. The game industry is one of the toughest industries to penetrate and get your game funded. Moreover, I am working on games for social good, and not many people are interested in investing in games for peace. However, this is my passion, and I hope it may help some people. I am trying my best to find other sources that can help me sustain my life, and slowly, in the future, I hope to sustain my games. I hope many people come to understand how these games can help. The world has become unsafe for everyone, and achieving permanent peace is very difficult. People suffer every day and night, both children and adults, in school and out of school.

When should we expect to see the movie premiere?

Hopefully by the end of this year.

What can we expect 2 years from now Mr. Lual?

In the next two years, I am expecting to have my two games really doing well in the industry. Also, with the help of Saint George's Refugee Sponsorship Committee, my family and I would definitely like to move to Halifax, Canada, to stay with my aunt's family. Dorua Nicodemus.

Laul as a guest Speaker at Havard University Panel

As a panelist speaker, Laul shared the importance of video games in peacebuilding and managing communities. As a young boy, he strongly believed his vision was unique, and bringing it to reality was very important by developing games that send positive messages.

GET TO KNOW THE IDEA BEHIND THE PEACE GAME:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRgJJLgrYtw