Palestinian Game Developer Rasheed Abueideh Raised Over $200,000 for His New Project!
Palestinian game developer Rasheed Abueideh successfully raised over $200,000 for his new project, Dreams on a Pillow, through a crowdfunding campaign. The game, based on Palestinian folk tales, aims to shed light on the 1948 Nakba period, providing both a historical and emotional experience. Abueideh announced that this funding will allow the full development process of the game to begin. Here are the details:
A Journey into the Depths of Nakba
Dreams on a Pillow is described as a “semi-3D stealth adventure” set during the Nakba, focusing on a mother’s struggle for survival. The game allows players to experience the terrifying realities of the Nakba through the eyes of the main character, Omm.
The story revolves around a dramatic event where Omm accidentally takes a pillow instead of her baby while fleeing her home. This leads to her mental struggles, nightmares upon separating from the pillow, and the dangers she faces in the real world.
Players will explore historical events such as the al-Tantura massacre, the Atlit refugee camps, the fall of Haifa, and the poisoning of Acre with biological weapons. Abueideh explained that he chose this story because it reflects the emotional depth of Nakba and symbolizes the people’s longing to return to their homeland.
Yusuf Dikeç, who became a phenomenon with his shooting style at the Paris Olympics, appeared in the series The Day of the Jackal.
Abueideh’s previous game, Liyla and The Shadows of War, focused on a girl trying to survive during the 2014 Gaza War and received critical acclaim. However, due to the political nature of his projects, Abueideh struggled to find support for his new ventures and had to open a nut shop to support his family. After being forced to close the shop due to Israeli attacks on Gaza, he returned to game development and chose crowdfunding for his new project.
The crowdfunding campaign for Dreams on a Pillow will continue until January 13. With over $214,000 raised so far, Abueideh plans to develop the game at a basic level and create a prototype. He aims to organize additional crowdfunding campaigns for more advanced versions of the game in the future.
What do you think of games with such deep stories? Has Dreams on a Pillow impacted you? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
