Demo: Tales of Vesperia [Xbox Live's Major Nelson]

Xbox 360 Credit Card [Redington, via Siliconera]

Irrational's 'The Lost' Turns Up... In Bollywood?! [GameSetWatch]

There are rumors and speculations floating around for that as well, but all I will say is that right now I am not going to be making any formal announcements as to where I am headed. But whatever I do will be in the cusp of entertainment, convergence, youth, gaming. It's all there.

I am not going to suddenly start selling rockets.

Since when have we let these Bollywood actors and socialites dictate what the citizens of India can or cannot do? Maybe it's time Mrs Tagore sorted out her own house, paid more attention to the kind of games her grandkids played especially when the games have big letters saying MA printed on them instead of urging the government to baby sit the nation's children at the expense of the tax payers hard earned money.

Why should others pay for her blatant ignorance and negligence?

Will the parliamentary proposal be successful? We'll find out soon - this doesn't seem like a huge surprise (everyone loves an easy target), but the family drama is enough to make my head spin.

Video Games Censorship Comes to India [GameGuru] and Government To Regulate Video Games in India [Desicritics] [both via GamePolitics]

The Indian gaming market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 78 per cent by 2010, and barely one per cent of the country's gaming potential has been tapped...However, we are still at a very nascent stage, even though there is a lot of potential for the industry.

Website Massively received an email from none other than Sony Online Entertainment CEO, John Smedley himself. The tip regarded a rumor that had begun circulating regarding SOE being purchased by Indian company, Zapak Digital. Reports of the rumor had gotten to Smedley via concerned emails from SOE employees and he immediately stepped forward to nip it in the bud.

This story is 100% false. We aren't for sale and never have been. Nothing like this has ever been discussed with the Zapak guys. The truth is we were talking to them about distribution rights to one of our games. And we have no idea how this story got started.

Frankly I'm a little surprised something this far fetched ended up on Reuters. Thank you, interwebs, for yet another completely blown out of proportion rumor.

John Smedley: Sony Online is not getting purchased by Zapak [Massively]

"We need to have Indian content for our games and we are looking for local partners," said Dave Christensen, VP of business development and international operations at SOE, speaking during a gaming conference in Mumbai, India.

SOE Heads to India [Next-Gen]

Rohit Sharma, the chief operating officer of Zapak Digital Entertainment, told DNA Money the company is also looking at investing in content developers for gaming, from countries like US and Korea, and has a kitty of $5 million to $10 million for the same.

The ADAG-promoted venture is expected to invest $100 million in Zapak's three verticals — gaming portals, gaming cafes and content creation — over the next 3-5 years.

"We are launching a European site and a Chinese site and are looking to be a global brand very soon. We may also invest in some studios because software creation and ownership are key in gaming," Sharma added.

It's nice to see players other than China, Korea, and Japan getting in on the act. I wonder, though, how many gaming portals of the casual variety does the world really need?

Zapak's game for global play [DNA India]

Lighthouse Interactive Announces East India Company

Build an Empire that will Overshadow All Others

Haarlem, The Netherlands — Sep 12, 2007 — Today leading Publisher Lighthouse Interactive announced that they have acquired the worldwide publishing rights to the stunning strategy war-game, East India Company. This game for Windows® showcases dynamic warfare on the open sea, the challenge of establishing profitable trade routes throughout the World, and tense political situations. East India Company is based on the exploits and adventures of the infamous 18th century East India Companies. Developed by Finland based Nitro Games Ltd., players will enjoy building the World's largest trading empire and engaging in vigorous battles within a breathtaking cinematic game environment, in both single player and multiplayer modes. Scheduled to release in Q4 2008 for the PC, East India Company promises to take strategy war-games to new levels with its technically advanced proprietary game engine. Players will fight, manage and rule nations from Europe to the Far East.

"We are very pleased to have reached a worldwide publishing agreement with Lighthouse Interactive and are looking forward to working with them on this title. We believe East India Company is a game that will redefine the strategy war-game genre," said Antti Villanen, CEO of Nitro Games. "Lighthouse Interactive's history of successfully released games is impressive. We think they are the ideal partner for us to bring East India Company to the market."

Erik Schreuder, CEO of Lighthouse Interactive said, "We are very excited to add such a fantastic strategy war-game to our growing line-up of quality titles. The game is phenomenal with its breathtaking graphics and cinematics, ranged gameplay scope, and intriguing historic storyline, we are proud to present East India Company to gamers around the World."

SUMMARY:
In East India Company, players will assume the role of Governor Director of one of the East India Companies or other rival companies. There are eight nationalities to choose from: British, Dutch, French, Danish, Portuguese, Swedish, Italian or Spanish - with the goal of bringing new colonies and wealth such as: tea, spices, gold, diamonds and other precious cargo back to Europe, but they must dominate the other rival empires along the way. Wars will be waged and blood will be spilled. Players will also conquer the open sea and explore 40 different cities, towns and villages.

Starting modestly, you will build your fleet, establish connections to far away countries, and keep the rivaling nations at bay. Choose from an array of ship classes and types of transport and military vessels: small sloops, schooners, brigantines, frigates and ship-of-the-line. Create different fleets and assign them to specific trading routes. Controlling well situated ports and upgrading them is one key to success.

Conflicts and wars are inevitable. When hostile fleets engage each other, the spectacular naval battles are fought at a real-time tactical level. Devastating broadsides are fired with a deafening roar and cannon balls tear through enemy ships and their crew. At a tactical level, you have direct command over your ship and give independent orders to each of your other fleets. Fight against the other European powers to create a trading empire that will rule above all others!

FEATURES:

Manage!

* Hire and manage your own crew
* Buy guns and ammo
* Repair and upgrade your ships at port
* Buy and sell goods
* Establish profitable trading routes
* Open diplomatic relations or declare war
* Negotiate tense political situations

Rule!

* Lead the most powerful company in history
* Take over colonies and expand your empire
* Build a powerful fleet to rule the seas
* Conquer strategic ports
* Accomplish tasks ordered by your company or the Crown

Multiplayer (Internet or LAN) Features:

* Supports up to 8 simultaneous players
* Player statistics tracked on the EIC game server
* Raise your ranking by thwarting your opponents
* Head-to-head missions are a true test of strategic skill

For more information on East India Company, bookmark the official website at www.eic-game.com and www.lighthouse-interactive.com to keep up with the latest breaking news.

Later in the day we received an e-mail from another reader who had received his multiplayer beta token with instructions on how to download. A small number of Xbox Live users are currently listed as playing the Cod4 multiplayer beta, but these may be members of the Infinity Ward development team or Microsoft employees. Regardless, they're some lucky sons of bitches.

Currently, the Call of Duty 4 web site, CharlieOscarDelta.com, is down for maintenance—probably not an indicator that it's going live, but interesting nonetheless. We'll let you know when we learn more. Anyone else get an invite yet?

Early on in life I was an Etch A Sketch fanatic, though I ruined more than a few smashing them open to see what was inside (its delicious candy, kids!). This announcement brings my gaming life nearly full circle. Just waiting for the release of virtual womb and I am done.

Gameshastra Expands its Worldwide Customer Base, Inks Deal with Freeze Tag for Master Game Development

HYDERABAD, India, July 30, 2007: Gameshastra, India's largest game services provider has signed a Master Game Development Agreement with Freeze Tag, a California based casual game publisher and developer. Gameshastra will develop and Freeze Tag will publish "Etch A Sketch®," a new game inspired by the classic toy from The Ohio Art Company. Under the terms of the agreement, Gameshastra will develop PC, Web, and Mac versions of the game, as well as any future versions for platforms such as Xbox 360 Live Arcade and Nintendo Wii.

Craig Holland, CEO of Freeze Tag says, "We have worked with many offshore developers, and Game Shastra is the first company that has truly 'exported' US game development expertise and management to its offshore operation, while still maintaining a US onshore staff in key developer roles. Gameshastra's talented and experienced management team and competitive pricing were attractive features, but the main reason we picked Gameshastra to develop our high-value licenses was simply the opportunity to work with a really great game development team."

Prakash Ahuja, CEO, of Gameshastra, says "We think Freeze Tag as a publisher has great vision for identifying good titles. It has chosen some very exciting and unique licenses that we hope to develop jointly under this partnership." Ahuja continues, "This agreement with Freeze Tag reiterates our position as a leading global game services provider for both Core and Casual games."

Gameshastra's worldwide customer base has been expanding rapidly as it offers richer, faster and more efficient game services to game publishers globally. "At Gameshastra we provide a very flexible project environment for our customers for game development, game art and game testing in a single location which is very difficult to pull off on-shore, besides offering competitive development costs leading to shorter development timelines and higher quality products," Bjorn Book-Larsson, CTO and VP of Game Development, Gameshastra, said. "Our presence in Los Angeles provides quick response to our customers, and keeps us tightly integrated throughout the entire project."

Image courtesy of Level 99

Reportedly some of India's well known production houses are planning to tie-up with some foreign as well as Indian software companies to produce movie based video games. This may be a new strategy of marketing, as film-video games will be scheduled to release ahead of the actual screening of the film.

In fact as per the plan if a Bollywood 3D game releases at least two weeks before the release of the film it can certainly create a buzz of the movie in advance, which would add to the publicity and promotion of the movie.

Who's up for some formulaic, musical fun on their cell phone?

Mobile Gaming: a new market strategy for Bollywood [Newstrack India]

Venetia is the most dedicated member of my site. I just loved the sketches she has made. In fact, there was even an online poll on a fan site and her sketches topped the list.

The ad campaign, first publicized by Ads of the World, can be seen below.

This isn't the first time Sony's ad campaigns have caused controversy—three of its campaigns for the PSP have drawn international flack—and I'm sure it won't be the last. At the very least, it's impressive that Sony and its advertising agencies are still able to find ways to offend sensitive consumers. Michael McWhertor

PlayStation plays misogynist again [The F-Word via UK: Resistance]

Dance Mela is an Indian online rhythm game complete with Bollywood soundtrack! MMO developer Kreeda Games has lined up "less than $10 million" in venture capital for its debut title Dance Mela. While it will be free to play, the game will use micro-transactions in hopes of turning a profit. Not a fan of micro-transactions, but Bollywood soundtrack? Oh, man that sounds AMAZING. Brian Ashcraft

Indian MMO [India Times via Game|Life]

Late last month, the PS3 launched in India. Well, we hear it launched, but didn't really see any photos of the people lining up and buying the console. Most India news sites were running stories that read like a press release. Reader Dave provides this update:

I didn't see any television coverage (which is not unusual for a country so interested in politics and self-actuation), nor have I seen any major advertising like billboards or other such standard western fare. It (the premium system) is currently retailing for 39990 Rs, or roughly $1200 AUD, which is $200 above what an Australian would pay, and THAT is obviously over what buyers in the NTSC market pay even after exchange rates. I've only seen the PS3 in specific gaming stores (themselves a rarity) and the local music and pop-culture chain of stores, Planet-M.

Not as big a presence as Microsoft with their ubiquitous Yuvraj Singh cricket demos. Though, I do like that PS3 ad. Simple, to the point and won't piss anyone off. Brian Ashcraft

Ack! What have they done to Ash?! Reader Dave in Mumbai explains:

At a little fair being held in my hotel's grounds there was an inflatable climbing post with the head of Ash from Pokemon on it. There were no other significant markings on it, but there he stood. Full of hot air, looking slightly more evil and considerably less cool than usual with swarms of children swarming all over his 'body' and no Pikachu to protect him... Decapitate, stuff and humiliate Ash. Seemed popular though and showed that Nintendo does seem to have some sort of presence over here, if only for ripping off their characters.

And cutting off their heads. And sticking those heads on poles. The horror. Brian Ashcraft

India, you've got your PS3 launch! Sony's new gaming 60GB machine went on sale late this week for Rs 39,990. For those keeping score, Rs 39,990 is US $975. And that is a lot of money, especially to when you compare it to the Rs 7,990 ($195) needed to get a PS2. But, hey, it's like that EVERYWHERE, so why should India be different? Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's Tim Stokes says:

Sony is a leading player in the market and would work towards retaining its leadership position here.

And what better way to do that than at European pricing! Initially, Sony has shipped 1,200 PLAYSTATION 3s and hopes to sell 10,000 by the end of the financial year. The consoles are sold through its own "Sony World" outlets — As well as retail chains. They are expensive. Brian Ashcraft

India Gets It PS3 [Times of India]

Ishaan over at game site Flame War ADVANCE has a two part interview with execs at Exigent, a Noida-based Indian outsourcing company that deals with video game art. The company's founders cut their teeth working on games like Quake and Wing Commander. The company's Chief Creative Officer Paul Steed sits on the GDC's advisory board and had this to offer about the future and India's role in that future:

The future of gaming is really mobile games and PC games. There's more computers in the world, there's more cell phones in the world than there are consoles and that'll never change. India's interesting because the government's really supporting broadband users...

Exigent's VP of Production, Jesse Rapczak, chimes in:

The real question is, what's going to happen to consoles when India and China become world powers in gaming? Because, the console market is strictly geared at U.S., Europe and Japan. I mean, there's not a sizeable console market in China and India. But, China and India together have majority of the world's population, almost...The numbers say that console gaming is going to go down. And PC, online and mobile gaming is on the rise, and all this will happen in India and China over the next five years. Come 2010, some people might not be playing game consoles. Doubtful, but...

Yah, 2010 is a little too close to forecast the end of game consoles as we know it. I mean, I don't think astronauts will have made it to Jupiter by then. Brian Ashcraft

Part I
Part II [Flame War ADVANCE]

Indian game site GameGuru interviewed the team behind upcoming PC title and possible Xbox 360 port Mahabharata: The Dawn of Kaliyuga — A game created by Gujarat-based dev Syncere Arts. Says the team:

Being avid gamers and of Indian origin naturally we would like to see a product based on the material of our homeland. The Indian film industry does very well in India and worldwide in general, so we know that there is a large market for Indian material. We see the game industry as a natural extension in the entertainment medium and judging from the North American market it is successfully competing for the entertainment budget. We feel the time has come in India where the gaming industry will grow as an entertainment medium and is ready for a native 'big hit' as it were.

While the Xbox 360 is struggling in India, this nascent market is just waiting to be tapped. But without a strong gaming culture and lacking infrastructure, the real question is "when?" Brian Ashcraft

India Epic Being Developed [GameGuru]

To celebrate the launch of the Xbox 360 game, Yuvraj Singh International Cricket 2007, in India, a human sized Xbox 360 was constructed and autographed by an Indian celebrity. Since I can only hear the celebrity's name mentioned in the clip, I will not embarrass myself by trying to spell it. But, suffice it to say that said Indian celebrity signed the massive 360 as a good luck charm for India's cricket team for the upcoming 2007 Cricket World Cup.

While it's a lovely gesture, I'm sure the cricket team would have rather received a 360 that actually works. And besides, where the hell are they going to put that thing? Flynn De Marco

[via The Xbox Collector - Thanks, Chris]

So, how's the Xbox 360 doing in India? Microsoft's tight lipped about specific regional sales. But Game Guru's Ratnaraaj Parekh pinged us, bringing word of an investigative phone survey his site did to find out. There are 509 dealers in India who sell the Xbox 360, and Game Guru called all of them up. Literally. From the post:

Of course, there were some 'smart' dealers too who refused to divulge details of their 'products'. So in the end, we got the data from 123 dealers all over India.

The fascinating bit isn't the numbers. Heck, the numbers are kinda boring. What's interesting are the opinions Game Guru collected from the Indian dealers it spoke with. Highlights after the jump. Brian Ashcraft

• There are lots of enquires for the Xbox 360.
• In some areas, most people do not know what the Xbox 360 is exactly.
• Microsoft has not done enough to advertise the product.
• The price is too high. Indian consumers find the Xbox 360 costly.
• However, the Premium version on the Xbox 360, which costs Rs. 27, 750 (approx $630) is doing better than the Core version, which costs Rs, 19, 990 (approx. $450). These prices are above the average monthly wage of the common Indian.
• Most of the customers rather buy the PS2 and if they have more money, are waiting for the PS3 to release in India.
• Most of the dealers were unhappy with the sales, but some of them were very happy with the way Xbox 360 was selling at their shop.
• 21 dealers scored ducks, i.e. they failed to sell a single Xbox 360 console or an Xbox 360 game.
• There were 2 dealers who were so frustrated that they gave up the dealership for the Xbox 360 console.
• There was a dealer who said, after seeing the Xbox graphics on the Samsung LCD, a customer instead opted for the LCD!

Xbox 360 In India: The Real Story [Game Guru]

DHOOM 2: BACK IN ACTION! DHOOM: 2 BACK IN ACTION!! Everyone say it with me, DHOOM 2: BACK IN ACTION!!!

I have never seen DHOOM 1 or this sequel (above), but any Bollywood poster that features a dude in a Rolling Stones shirt shows definite ass-kicking cinematic promise (and by default, it's got to be way better than the DOOM flick). A quick look at the Wikipedia tells me that this picture sparked controversy and a court case over, well, a kiss — The Bollywood equivalent of full-on penetration.

Okay! So feature film DHOOM 2 is going to be made into a video game. Due out at the year's end, the game-adaptation will feature characters from the hit movie, and says Yashraj Films CEO Sanjeev Kohli:

Gaming is fast gaining acceptance among our target audience and this is the first time an Indian movie is being extended into a game. Dhoom had become a favorite film with youngsters and Dhoom 2 has gone a step beyond. The Dhoom 2 video game will feature characters from the movie as well as all the action and excitement our fans have come to expect.

Looking forward to that eventual hand-holding Hot Curry mod. Brian Ashcraft

DHOOM Game Coming [Cathode Tan]

The jewel of India? The Xbox 360. Well, according to analysts Amritt Ventures, it is. While Xbox India won't reveal sales numbers, Microsoft's Mohit Anand previously stated:

It is estimated there are 1.6 million gamers in India who spend at least 2 hours playing everyday.

And that number's just gonna mushroom. But what's the word currently in the trenches? Says Amritt's Gunjan Bagla, the 360 is "ubiquitous in stores across Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore." Gunjan, it's not good if the product is in sitting in stores! But, we get your point. Brian Ashcraft

How's The 360 Doing In India [Game Daily]

A nonviolent shooter presents interesting, if not necessarily sensible, design challenges. We decided on a story of demonic invasion in mythic ancient India. Gameplay would permit violence and perhaps even reward it in the short term, but violence would pollute your karma and ultimately complicate your long-term progress... During the game, you may die repeatedly, but this doesn't end your adventure. Through reincarnation you resume play in your next life; the storyline's mythic war is assumed to continue unabated for generations.

But, do you come back as a bug?! Because that would actually be pretty cool. Brian Ashcraft

My Hindu Shooter [GameSetWatch, Thanks Chilly!]

We don't normally post pictures of booth babes, no matter what we tell them we'll do when we lead them into our private Kotaku bus for an "interview." But a picture of India's first 360 booth babes, showing taut-midriffs and almond-brown thighs at the 360 Launch in New Delhi? Aha! So that's what happened to Nadia Nyce! Florian Eckhardt

First ever Indian Booth Babes Seen at Xbox 360 India Launch [Techshout, Thanks JJ!]

I kinda sorta get this first ad, though it seems to imply that India is a nation of stretchy-necked Dahlsims. But what the hell is going on with the second ad? Porok? Do they even cockfight in India? And they don't even show the console, not once. Freaky strange Xbox 360 ads. Brian Crecente

India finally gets the 360. Game journo Ishaan says he covered the New Delhi presser over the weekend. He described the event being more like a crazed out MTV concert instead of a console launch (yep, sounds about right). Peter Moore, fresh from his appearance at TGS, was at the event. Ishaan writes:

I also asked him in front of an entire room of people to show us his GTA and Halo tattoos. He replied he was wearing a full-sleeved shirt, so it wouldn't be possible. I then asked him if we could see it later, maybe backstage. To which he laughed really loudly and replied 'Are you asking me to take my shirt off for you!?'

Yes, Peter. We are.

The country gets an exclusive title as well: Yuvraj Singh International Cricket 2007. India getting an exclusive cricket game? Didn't see that one coming. Brian Ashcraft

Foreign languages you don't understand are so fun! And perfect comedy fodder for game site Aggro Me to made yuk-yuk with. Using BombayTV, a series of old Bollywood clips were given a MMORPG thematic touch. Hijinks ensue. Brian Ashcraft

Watch Them Here [Aggro Me] via Aeropause

Thing about cheap knock-offs is that they rarely surpass their status as cheap knock-offs. This one, found in India by Kotakuite Manu, actually does and then some. Dubbed the POP STATION, it may play nothing more than low grade Tetris, but this portable makes that extra effort and actually includes meaningless PSP menu icons and earphones. Why? Who cares! Color us impressed. Brian Ashcraft

Wired has a great article up, detailing India's rise as a gamer society and the proliferation of cybercafes and gaming tournaments through India's growing middle class. India today is China of 2001: A rumbling cluster of highly compressed gamers ready to explode in a Big Bang across the entirety of the subcontinent.

One thing that the article mentions is currently hampering gaming from really catching on in India is the lack of Indian themed games, "with Hindu gods and Bollywood music." However, they note that we can probably expect the market to be flooded by games with names like Full Thang-Ta Warrior and Mecha-Shiva soon.

Another problem mentioned is the importance given to schools in an intensely competitive academic culture. There's just no time to game with all that book learning. That's why I dropped out of high school... suckers. Florian Eckhardt

Counter-Strike, India Style [Wired]

A Bollywood film subtitled in English by a wise-cracking Spanish-speakers. Love the song, the costume changes, bosom burying and the heart-warming message at the end.

For Our Spanish Readers [YouTube] Thanks, Martin!

This October, Microsoft will be unleashing the Xbox 360 on the burgeoning Indian market. The country currently has 1.6 million people who play games for more than two hours a day. It's only going to keep growing.

Even though salaries and disposable incomes are on the rise, India is still price sensitive. The Core system will retail for INR 19,990 (US $439) and will get a 10 percent discount for those that pre-order.

"And being the first to launch this second-generation console, we are going to capture 100 per cent market share," says Msoft's Mitch Koch.

Your move Nintendo, Sony.

More Here [Games Industry]

By 2010, India's online gaming market will exceed $200 million. "While long dormant, the online games market in India is starting to head up," says Allison Luong of Pearl Research, a consulting firm that's studying the region.

India in 2006 is comparable to China in 2001, when the country's online gaming culture started to take shape. Within the next ten years, India could emerge as one of the top online markets in Asia, right alongside China, Korea and Taiwan.

What's driving this? According to Pearl Research, the market is being pushed forward by increasing broadband use, growth in Internet cafes and a sizable middle-class with money to burn.

Pearl Research [Official site]