Meet Akshata Prabhu - Founder of Moody Macaw ~ Amazon Global Seller
My Background :
Having graduated from Rachna Sansad College with a BFA in Applied Arts, I further studied animation during my M.Des course from IDC, IIT Bombay. My time at IDC introduced me to Board Game Designing, courtesy of Prof. Athvankar. I found the creative & problem-solving part very exciting & challenging!
Post masters, I landed an opportunity to work as a game architect for Logic Roots, where I worked on five mathematics learning games, thus beginning my journey into the world of game design.
My journey as a game designer:
Growing up, maths was my favorite subject. I had to interview people who hated maths to better understand the challenge children face with understanding and learning maths concepts.
My research revealed that kids’ formative years are heavily impacted by their fears. In early stages, if children develop the notion that they are not good at a certain subject, they tend to carry shame or fear toward the subject later in life. To tackle that fear and build confidence, it’s vital for kids to grasp the subject they struggle with, in fun and interactive ways. What better than a board game to add fun to learning?
Coming up with new game ideas, writing stories around gameplay and making game time more interesting through prototyping and mock tests with colleagues was a fun experience. Later, we’d test the refined version with children - the target audience. After completing the Logic Roots assignment, I decided to start my own venture.
Why Macaw?
One of the characters in my very first game “Pet Me” happened to be a colorful Macaw bird, and that character is very close to my heart. Later, it went on to become the inspiration for the brand name “Moody Macaw.”
Macaw, a bird from the parrot family, is known for being a very social and talkative fellow. It is also known for its moody nature. Playing board/card games triggers many emotions and moods like excitement, joy and sorrow when winning, losing, etc. Board games tend to be a fun activity for social gatherings.
Realizing the similar qualities between Macaw and general game play, I landed on the brand name “Moody Macaw” under the company “Macaw Studio.”
My first game under the label was a party card game called “Make & Break,” which is still a hot seller on Amazon.in and other platforms. I am developing Math games for kids as well as board/card games for all age groups under this brand.
Currently, I’m also looking for funding in order to launch additional games that I’ve already conceptualized.
Stay Connected:
Website: https://moodymacaw.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moodymacaw/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moodymacaw/