In this episode, host
Vo engages in a deep and insightful conversation with Allan Cudicio, an Italo Ghanaian game developer, about his journey of founding Twin Drums in 2019 and eventually closing it in 2024, as the studio behind The Wagadu Chronicles.Allan provides an intimate look at the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial venture, discussing the challenges of raising funds as an indie and innovative IP studio, the importance of diverse cultural representation in gaming, and the emotional toll of shutting down his company.
We delve into the difficulties and learnings from innovating with a niche and culturally rich IP, and the broader implications for underrepresented founders in the gaming industry.
The episode also highlights the essential role of mentors, the inevitability of failure as a part of growth, and the ongoing quest to bridge cultural stories with modern technology.
Closing a studio marks the end of a business, but it doesn’t have to signify the end of the movement to bring more cultural representation into games. There is a growing demand among the gaming audience to discover such content and stories. If you’d like to explore this further, get in touch with Allan.
01:40 Meet Allan Cudicio: From Berlin to Ghana
02:01 The Birth of Twin Drums and Wagadu Chronicles
03:42 Challenges and Learnings as an Entrepreneur
12:46 The Importance of Representation in Gaming
21:44 Building and Scaling a Remote Team
24:38 Testing and Early Feedback
25:08 Navigating Market Changes and Innovation Challenges
27:17 Financial Struggles and Fundraising Hurdles
28:32 The Emotional Toll of Shutting Down
30:06 Reflecting on the Entrepreneurial Journey
34:18 Embracing Failure and Looking Forward
39:13 Cultural Heritage and Future Aspirations
43:50 Final Thoughts and Advice for Entrepreneurs
We are thrilled to be working with PlaytestCloud as our key partner in expanding Rise and Play’s impact in 2025! Greetings from Berlin from Sophie and Dana 👋 🇩🇪
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