Name: Yahya Danboos
Age: 21
Profession: Game Developer
Nationality: Iraqi
Motto: Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t achieve your dreams- nothing is impossible in this world!
Your most valued possession?
Memories of the people I love and cherish.
Where can we find you hanging out most?
With my friends at Wahda Mall.
One thing you can’t live without?
My hobby stuff for creating things, from crafting swords and armors to modeling and creating 3D Game Environments. I love creating things and it is something I can’t see myself living without.
The person who inspires you the most?
Hideo Kojima. When he was young he always wanted to work in a creative profession but everybody discouraged from doing so and told him that it is an unstable profession but he didn’t let them stop him and always pushed hard to reach his dreams and today he is one of the most famous video game designer in the world.
Five things you need for survival
Video games, anime, my laptop/PC, my crafting tool box, Sushi
What car would like to own?
James Bond’s Car
Describe a typical day in your life.
I wake up in the morning, get ready to go to work, take the bus to work, spend 8 – 12 hours at the office working on making video games and then meet up with friends later at night to hang out with before going back home to sleep.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Working in Japan on my dream game in a big Video Game Company.
What is your idea of peace?
A place where people can live in peace knowing that nothing will hurt them today nor tomorrow.
Your goal in life?
To make the world understand that video games are not just shooting games and a waste of time but that they are a form of media that teach humans in many ways and make us experience things that we are not able to in the real world – so getting people to embrace video games and accept them.
What item do you keep buying even though you have plenty of it?
Eva foam, my main material for crafting, I just can’t get enough of it.
What random act of kindness have you performed so far this year?
I helped my friends create costumes for them to Cosplay.
What are three things that today has taught you that you can improve on tomorrow?
- Family always comes first. 2. Always be there for your friends. 3. Never do something halfway.
Who in your life deserves a big old thank you?
My mother and father for raising me and helping me become the person I am today.
Have you found your purpose yet?
They say it’s their calling, the reason they were put on this earth. Others don’t find it till much later. I see my purpose in life is to make people smile and make them happy with the things I create.
What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
Going on a 2km high mountain without any equipment or even supplies. I was in Turkey on vacation when I saw a beautiful mountain from my hotel window and said, I want to get to the top of that mountain. I just put on my shoes and went out and then three hours later I was at the top of the mountain.
What is your earliest memory?
I was around five years old where I was living in Mirdif Dubai and back then the area was mostly a desert. I was with my family and we were taking a walk in the desert where me, my brother and sister played on the big sand dunes.
If your life was made into a book or perhaps a movie, what would you call it?
From the Desert to the Land of the Rising Sun
What’s your relationship with social media like?
I check my social network accounts around two times a day. I would say I’m not such a big addict. I do know 75% of the people in my friends list but not all of them are actual close friends but people I know from places I got to like events and gatherings.
If you wanted to look absolutely great, how would you dress?
I’m the type of person who doesn’t really care too much about what he wears. The only thing I care about is to wear a t-shirt and a jacket that has anime or video game related stuff on it.
Which music would you like played on your funeral?
Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight”: 1. Adagio sostenuto.
What’s your current last SONG syndrome (LSS)?
Fantasia Alla Marcia for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra from the game Kingdom Hearts 2, I love this game, it has so many magical moments and this music sums up all of them.
If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose?
Once Upon A Time: This series is the closest thing to Kingdom Hearts in real life where all these magical characters come together in one place.
What is the place that you feel most at home?
Kuala Lumpur, I just love that city. It has almost all the things I like, Cosplay Shops and monthly events, all kinds of Anime and Video Game shops, lots and lots of Asian food and a beautiful tropical weather through the whole year.
If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
I would like to be on a mountain in Sri Lanka relaxing to the beautiful breezy and the sound of nature.
If you could have personally witnessed one event in history, what would you want to have seen?
Battle of Thermopylae, one of the biggest battles that took place on earth, where only a few hundred Spartan Soldiers fought against an army of over two million Persians.
If you could ask a historical person a question – who and what would it be?
I would ask Leonardo Da Vinci what secret he was hiding in his drawings.
If you were on death row, what would your last meal be?
Sushi with lots and lots of Wasabi.
…And dessert?
Brownies.
…And drink?
Iced tea.
If today is the last day of your life – where would you rush to go?
Be with my family.
Photography by Angeli Castillo
