Dreams on a Pillow Secures $240,000 to Unveil Two Decades of Untold Palestinian History

Image by Rasheed Abueideh

Palestinian creator Rasheed Abueideh has successfully gathered over $240,000 to kickstart production on Dreams on a Pillow, a video game centered on the 1948 Nakba.

The initiative raised exactly $240,502 through the crowdfunding platform LaunchGood, exceeding its goal of $194,800 after receiving support from over 3,300 individuals.

The game will take the form of a “pseudo-3D stealth adventure” inspired by a Palestinian folk tale set during the Nakba. The United Nations describes Nakba as “catastrophe” in Arabic, referring to the “mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict.”

In a post on Bluesky, Abueideh expressed gratitude to supporters and mentioned that production on the game will commence shortly.

Abueideh stated he aspires to “make history” within the gaming industry by bringing Dreams on a Pillow to fruition after initially struggling to secure funding through more conventional means.

As mentioned on the project page, Abueideh previously worked on a title called Liyla & The Shadows of War that aimed to illuminate the “harsh realities of living under invasion, apartheid, and occupation” in Gaza.

However, he revealed that he encountered numerous obstacles, with both publishers and platform holders reportedly rejecting the title and even banning it in certain situations.

Despite these challenges, he successfully released Liyla but has faced difficulties sustaining a presence in the gaming industry ever since. Abueideh explains that publishers and investors often view supporting a Palestinian as “too risky” or “controversial,” but he remains determined to find a way to turn Dreams on a Pillow into a reality.

“Dreams on a Pillow represents the hopes and aspirations of a Palestinian who has been denied the right to create games like others around the world, yet continues to persevere. It cannot be produced with traditional game funding, as such resources are often inaccessible to a Palestinian,” reads the project page.

“It cannot be created through regular crowdfunding, because mainstream crowdfunding platforms typically do not recognize Palestine. To tell this story, to fulfill this dream that seems unattainable, to unite a team of experienced game developers and amazing local creators.”

Abueideh estimates that he will require approximately $495,000 to realize his vision for Dreams on a Pillow. The funds raised through LaunchGood will be allocated to evolving into a production stage and developing “a few core levels” while designing and prototyping the entire experience.

“This will ensure that the gameplay mechanics and narrative are effectively intertwined to convey this significant and sensitive story. Prototypes and ‘vertical slices’ will confirm that all pipelines have been examined, all necessary talent is onboard, and minimal risks remain in the production process,” adds the explanation.

“At that stage, Rasheed and his team will seek additional funding with a much more developed version of the game in hand—a much more viable scenario.”

You can also learn more about Dreams on a Pillow on LaunchGood.

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