Recently, Play Network Studios launched a revolutionary game, ‘Aki and Pawpaw Epic Run’, the first-ever Nollywood game app. Before that was even an idea, in 2019, Charles Okpaleke, a dynamic lifestyle entrepreneur, began his Nollywood journey as filmmaker and producer with his debut film titled ‘Living in Bondage: Breaking Free’, a sequel to the 1992 classic of the same name. Receiving critical acclaim and a lot of love from audiences, ‘Living in Bondage: Breaking Free’ won seven prestigious awards at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) in 2020. It quickly soared to become one of the top twenty highest-grossing Nollywood films of all time, solidifying Okpaleke’s reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the industry.
Image courtesy of Okpaleke’s Instagram
His production company, Play Network Studios, has reached even greater heights since then. He has remade films such as ‘Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story’, ‘Glamour Girls’, and ‘Nneka The Pretty Serpent’, igniting a lot of nostalgia in Nollywood. Then came ‘Aki and Pawpaw Epic Run’. The game features superstar characters based on Nigerian veteran actors Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki) and Osita Iheme (Pawpaw) as they try to run through various hurdles, like masquerades and touts, to get points and coins.
Image courtesy of Play Network Studios Instagram
Okpaleke has always thought of the Aki and Pawpaw brand as exportable making this the inspiration behind choosing them to be a part of the video game. These are actors whose careers have span generations and provided that they are still alive, it was important for Okpaleke to find a way to immortalise them and that was through creating something that will work even after they are gone. This game allows the continuation of the story of these legends and could be exported outside Nigeria to be enjoyed by other people whose lives have been impacted by both men. It was also a way to keep their legacy alive while they are here to see it. They both contributed to creating the game and own rights to the game.
In the future, once the game has been properly marketed and distributed, Play Network Studios is also hoping to obtain rights to the film ‘Aki na Ukwa’ and produce its remake. They are thinking of making it in the lines of animation such as Tom and Jerry. More updates about this will be available in time.
