TEHRAN-In the world of mobile games, where fast reflexes and high scores frequently take spotlight, some experiences go beyond simple entertainment.
Dreams on a Pillow is one such gamea mobile adventure that not only challenges your abilities however also immerses you in a powerful psychological journey through one of the most defining moments in Palestinian history: the Nakba of 1948.
The Nakba, suggesting catastrophe in Arabic, refers to the ethnic cleaning of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes by Zionist forces.
Dreams on a Pillow , created by Palestinian developer Rasheed Abueideh, brings this history to life interactively, turning the mobile screen into an area where gamers can experience the struggle for survival firsthand.Imagine stepping into a game where every relocation brings the weight of history, every option echoes the past, and survival is more than simply a mechanicit is a story that needs to be told.But this is not just a history lesson wrapped in pixels; it is a gripping stealth experience that puts you in the heart of the Nakbas untold stories.
Stories of colonizers who mercilessly drove the native individuals from their homeland.Nakba of 1948In an interview with the Tehran Times, Abueideh discussed that Dreams on a Pillow is motivated by a historical Palestinian folk tale set versus the background of the ethnic cleaning throughout the 1948 Nakba.It informs the story of a young mom in Palestine whose partner is killed by Zionist forces.
Stressed, she hurries home to recover her newborn from the bed.
As she gets away the town in horror, she later realizes she has unknowingly taken a pillow instead of her baby.The Palestinian game developer kept in mind that the video games primary character, Omm, is a mother from Tantura, a Palestinian Arab fishing village on the Mediterranean coast.
She grew up in this stunning village, surrounded by family, and later on constructed a life there with her husband.
After the Nakba, like many Palestinians, she was required into exile, enduring the pain of displacement and the loss of her homeland.Rather than focusing entirely on historic occasions, Dreams on a Pillow stresses the human experiencewhat it indicates to lose ones home, be forced to flee, and carry the weight of memory across generations, said Abueideh, and discussed that the game creates an immersive experience that connects players with the deeply personal stories of those who lived through the Nakba, making history feel immediate and exceptionally human.In reaction to Tehran Times question about the motivation behind Dreams on a Pillows story, the games director and designer described that it is motivated by a real story documented orally in Palestinian heritage.
The story reflects the genuine tragedies of the Nakba, in which numerous families faced chaos, loss, and displacement.
The tale of a mother erroneously bring a pillow instead of her child acts as a powerful metaphor for the trauma of forced exile.My objective with this game is to preserve these stories and share them in such a way that connects gamers mentally to this history, he added.Previous success: Liyla & & The Shadows of WarIn 2016, Abueideh and his little team of developers in Palestine launched Liyla & & The Shadows of War on PC and mobile platforms.
The video game rapidly acquired attention for its effective themes.According to the Palestinian game developer, Liyla & & The Shadows of War was inspired by genuine events throughout the 2014 invasion of Gaza.
It informs the story of a young girl, Liyla, and her household as they attempt to survive the battle of their city.The video game was a way to clarify the truth of war and its impact on civilians, especially children, Abueideh included, and noted that in spite of facing censorship, the game gained substantial recognition, winning awards and being included in international festivals.
He concerned its deep resonance with playersmany of whom were uninformed of the scenario in Gazaas the video games most considerable feature.Through Liyla & & The Shadows of War, I found out the power of psychological storytelling in games.
I saw how players connected more with individual, human stories rather than simply historical realities, the game designer said.Abueideh also highlighted that with Dreams on a Pillow, he is constructing on that technique, concentrating on personal loss, memory, and strength, instead of just telling events.
This time, the story is more layered, mixing truth with dreamlike elements to reflect the psychological trauma of displacement.Despite its successgarnering countless downloads and winning first place for Excellence in Storyboarding at the International Mobile Gaming Awards for the Middle East and North Africathe game faced obstacles.
Apple at first declined it, a decision made due to its political content.However, following public pressure, the business later on reversed its position, allowing Liyla & & The Shadows of War to reach an international audience.Incredible public supportAbueideh considered stabilizing historical accuracy with psychological storytelling to create an experience that is both appealing and respectful of genuine events as one of the significant challenges in developing Dreams on a Pillow.Funding has also been hard, as awareness-based indie games typically have a hard time to draw in financial backing compared to business projects.He specified that censorship from some popular platforms remains an issue, as they have actually seen similar problems with Liyla & & The Shadows of War.The Palestinian video game developer noted that public support has actually been incredible, far beyond what they at first imagined.
Building on this success, we are keeping the door open for supporters to continue contributing through LaunchGood, Abueideh highlighted, adding that this will assist guarantee the tasks independence and permit them to bring Dreams on a Pillow to life with the quality and depth it deserves.Right now, we are in the pre-production phase, making critical choices that will shape the future of the project.
At the very same time, we are establishing the core mechanics and creating tools to help simplify production as we move into complete advancement, he said.Not practically learning historical factsSpeaking with Tehran Times, Abueideh described his goal as follows: I want gamers to feel the deep sense of loss, displacement, and resilience that Palestinians experienced throughout the Nakba.
Dreams on a Pillow is not just about finding out historic truths; it has to do with connecting with the human feelings behind them.
I desire players to feel sorry for the struggle of losing ones home, the worry of uncertainty, and the enduring impact of exile.At the very same time, he revealed his hope that the video game would trigger interest and awareness, motivating players to check out Palestinian history beyond the commonly informed narratives.AH/ SAB