Playing outdoor games such as football and cricket on street is something, which is

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not considered strange in any nation. Enthusiasts follow their game as religion and therefore for them even home could serve as a complete playground. Fuelling the sentiments, many game developers have come up with console games on street action. This time it is Sony PlayStation with a game on cricket. In an interview with Amit Mudgill, country manager of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe,Atindriya Bose, talks about the newly-launched game and the upcoming titles we may see by the end of this financial year:

Sony has launched a new game, Street Cricket Champions. Do you believe the game could work?

Street Cricket Champions is an example of our continual commitment to the Indian gaming market in providing quality games with localised Indian themes. This is our fourth endeavour into developing locally inspired games for the Indian diaspora. Fun and engaging game play is at the heart of this fascinating game while its design is entertaining; combined with impressive graphics with great game play.

Can you please explain a bit on the game the new additions to the game against the similar games available in the market? Is it prepared looking at the upcoming mega event — ICC World Cup, which India will host? Will it also be launched in other countries?

There are new innovative batting, bowling and fielding systems included into the gameplay. We have tried to capture the true depiction of flair, style, trickery and the passion with which the game is played on the streets of India with complete Indian gameplay rules. Yes, it will be available globally.

The game price is quite affordable? Has it been possible due to taking services from Indian developers? Are you planning more games in association with Indian developers?

Cost advantage is the most important and attractive value proposition for India as animation and gaming content development destination. India’s low-cost, high quality advantage offers substantial cost saving.

In the current financial year itself, we have three to four more India developed game releases. There is Cart Kings, a cart racing game by Gameshastra with well known characters from ACK Media such as Suppandi, Shikhari Shambhu and Tantri the Mantri.

Towards the beginning of next year, we have two games from Immersive, Chandragupta: The Warrior Prince & Battle Royal. While Chandragupta is for the PS2 and PSP is an action adventure game depicting the battles of the great warrior king, Battle Royal is a strategy action game for the PSP based on legendary historic battles from the era of Alexander and Mughals to the Rani of Jhansi.

You have launched new PlayStation store and you are looking to add desi content. Do you think it may further strengthen your position in Indian market?

Quite a few mini titles developed by Indian developer’s content are already available on the PlayStation store and generating substantial number of downloads.

The cheap downloadable contents are shocking. We can play the same game in five activated consoles. It will cost around Rs 45 per console. What made it possible? Can we say it has been due to reduction in taxes on the physical delivery of the game? Can it be

seen as the next big development in providing cheap games to Indian audience?

The Playstation Store offers some games that are free, minis (mini-games) and full value games. The full value games offered are at a discounted price point due to the online distribution model and to reward the consumer loyalty who have registered on the PlayStation store.

Halloween day has gone and winter holidays are now close, how many titles can we expect on PlayStation platform by this calendar year-end?

India developed titles on the PlayStation platform would be four titles by the end of the current financial year. On the PlayStation format in entirety, game releases for India would be around 25 titles, inclusive of the first party and third party titles by the end of this fiscal year.

amitmudgill@mydigitalfc.com