Critical Gamer

Hurdles of Indian Gaming Industry

2008-09-11T03:38:00.000-07:00

*So Near yet so Far......*

The Indian online gaming industry has reached newer heights heights with
each passing day, with better games in terms of graphics as well as
user-friendliness are being developed. However, there are still various
areas that need to be worked out. These gridlocks are limiting the scope
of online gaming in India. In this post, I will be talking about some of
the obstructions the Indian Online Gaming Industry is facing.

Global experts think that the Indian industry lags behind in quality as
our games are a mere copy of western concepts and ideas. Well, even I
cannot deny from this point, but not all the credits can be given to the
western games. Indian portals too have come up with good and unfeigned
concepts. However, we have had our share of bottlenecks that have
actually prevented good talent from being recognized on a global scale.
Following is a list of the same :

*Consumer related issues:*

• Anti-gaming culture : Contrary to the developed markets, electronic
gaming is not a part of mainstream culture. The Indian mindset lays
utmost importance to the academics as parents don't want their children
to waste their time on online gaming. Gaming is considered as a forlorn
exercise, as people fear their children getting addicted to it and
'wasting their time'.

• Lack of Online BUZZ!: Indians have abundant opportunities to access
games either offline or on cell phones. The 'Pull factor' lags which is
very essential to attract gamers.

*Prominent hurdles:*

Infrastructure: Low penetration of PCs in households, lack of broadband
connectivity and inefficient cyber cafés is a paramount concern and a
significant roadblock that needs to be overcome.

Quality: A quality creation is the USP of the game. A game having a
striking design, programming and other creative efforts are the factors
to make it a hit. One has be perfectly skilled on individual
responsibilities such as decoding, designing and animation. Lack of
quality manpower is posing a great challenge to game development procedure.

Advanced training: Game development is not a preferred choice of
students. The ‘Anti-gaming’ culture in the society can again be
attributed to the disinterest of students in opting for game development
as a serious career option.

Low on finance: The nascent market is attracting tremendous amount of
funding, but only the major developers are getting the bigger chunk of
the pie. Small scale players are literally untouched by the benefit of
venture funding.

Though India has a long way to go in terms of revenue, market and the
number of gamers, a lot needs to be done to pave the way for consistent
growth in this booming industry.

Hit the target to clinch the gold Gold medal

2008-08-29T02:44:00.000-07:00

Gunning for Gold,.a game by Games2win, saluting the salvo of India's first ever individual Gold medal winner Abhinav Bindra at the Beijing Olympics. A legitimate tribute to the incredible performance which made the entire nation proud. 'Hit the target to clinch the gold Gold medal', elaborates the better picture and the theme of the game.

Games2win have tried their best to recreate the aura of 10 m Air Rifle Event final at the Beijing Olympics, with all the tension and obvious pressure Abhinav had to face on his way to clinch the medal. The game is visaged in the shooting arena with the rivals trying taking their attempts along with the gamer. Though it hardly affects the gamer's attention while shooting, but the rivalry is maintained. With the rivals named as Qinan Zhu and Henri Hakkinen, it basically gives a realistic kind of an effect. The gamer has ten attempts to hit the bull's eye. The faster you shoot, the better is your score. The maximum number of hits to the bull's eye will ensure that the gamer gets the gold.

The game is very effective and will be appreciated by the gamers as it is quite hard to win. Though me being a good online game shooter found it very easy to hit the bull's ey,e but to shoot it in lesser time was quite difficult. The game is definitely a must play all sports gamers as Games2win.com have really done a good job in framing such a fantastic game. My ratings for the game are as listed below

Graphics- 8/10
Sound- 9/10
Replay chances- 8/10
Controls- 7/10
Storyboard- 9/10
Overall- 8.5/10

Is Singh really the King?

2008-08-20T02:07:00.000-07:00

The latest roar on song........ Singh is king, sometimes with a reason and sometime without it. As the movie rises up on the chart buster list, there go all the kings. With the government finally succeeding in saving the vote of no confidence motion, the prime minister turned out to be the real king in the parliament. '*Yes...... he's smarter than our average PM and this time he's truly proven that Singh is King ' *With this propelling punch line, Games2win frames out a new game featuring on the prime minister of India, titled as '*Singh is king.*'

The game is based on the present and omnipresent circumstances of the Indian politics, a jungle of blame game, and features the prime minister of India caught in the midst of all the allegations and debates of the opposition. The gamer needs to pull him out of all the debates and allegations before its too late. National issues such as Inflation, Nuclear deals, Poverty, Protest and other international issues are barriers created by the opposition on the road where they can trap the prime minister but the gamer has to win the battle for Mr. Singh to crown him the real king

The game looks effective but wont turn the gamer on its feet after playing it. It just all about running on a plain track and jump or to skid, when meet by a hurdle. The graphics are ordinary and so is the platform. The sounds are wearing away in the race. My ratings for the game is as listed below.

Graphics- 5/10
Sound-7/10
Replay chances- 4/10
Controls-6/10
Storyboard-4/10
Overall- 5.6/10

All in all, 'Singh is King' is a good effort from Games2win; but running away from problems in the game is definitely not gonna make our Singh the King..............mind it..............!

Online games- The Indian Apex.

2008-07-31T22:29:00.000-07:00

In my last blog, I reviewd a silly game . In this edition, I will emphasize on the Indian venture in online gaming. India and Online games, is now not a strange combination. With the number of Indian gamers upsurging day by day, online gaming flourishes the Indian market with pace. Internet cafe culture and broadband penetration are the two leading factors which have created Renaissance in the Indian market.

Internet cafes were the first to introduce the culture as internet connection was beyond the reach of common people, due to the high price rates. From the oldest version of
Narrowband Dialup, users have witnessed an era of changes. Broadband DSL, ADSL, Fiber (Cable) and now finally to Wi-fi and WiMax has proven that there is no limit of speed and connectivity.

Net games have come a long way from being an easy pastime to that of becoming a multi-dimensional, competitive gaming society with cutting-edge technology. What you see and face in the real life, you can have on on your computer system in the form of games. Online games culture has developed a social networking chain in India. In short span of time, online games have covered up eminence space.

With the demand and popularity of online games increasing , the Indian Software market has opened up for new softwares, adamant to make the game more customized and exciting. N what else we need !!!

Indyarocks and its Halloween Ride.

2008-07-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

Well, initially I was pretty apprehensive whether to review games featured at Indyarocks or not. It's pretty evident that Indyarocks positions itself as a social networking platform, so reviewing games featured in a social network will rob the exclusivity of my blog. However, in India you really can't ignore social networking platforms because they claim a fair share of the casual gaming bandwagon. So, I really can't deprive Indyarocks it's well deserved right of being featured on my blog. Apparently, they have also partnered with the aka 'Fx labs' to develop casual games and create a gaming community

(Wizard goes for a change. Gives up his broom and grabs a car)

On a wider note while playing at Indyarocks I feel pretty nostalgic . Since, they feature flash games which takes me back to my childhood when digital games started with contra and ended at F1 Racing. Their game Halloween Ride fits somewhere in this category. This one scene game is pretty decent. Based on the tried and tested storyboard of an old witch and a wizard race through other monsters on the road.

Although at a first glance it looks like an ordinary racing game but a more detailed look
game reveals that this one has been around us since early 90s, it has one car which moves in either direction and some obstacles are set up which drink up your fuel and
quite obviously, you have to save your fuel to clear a level.

(It's me enjoying a wizard's ride)

The sketches have been done pretty well but the interest in the game. The concept of a Halloween wizard riding a car is new and cute but the racing excitement might have executed in a better manner.

Overall, my verdict goes as follows. An average one.

Graphics- 5/10
Sound-7/10
Replay chances- 4/10
Controls-6/10
Storyboard-6/10
Overall- 5.6/10

IAMAI reveals- Why do Mortals play games?

2008-07-20T21:56:00.000-07:00

This question has been intriguing me since I started playing. Well I play only to win. I am a serious kinda freak, who loves to take challenges. No matter, how big or small the challenge is, I try to tame it, but success is tough to replicate. Guess what? Recently I came across an IAMAI (Internet & Mobile Association) report and they had a category of gamers. I was surprised, they made absolute sense. According to them I am a subjugator, who loves to master everything. But I differ when they say that such people love to show off. I don’t! ;-)

(My type: Subjugators settle for nothing but the victory)

There was another alien category of ‘Networker’ . But they are a type of people that I don’t like. In the garb of gaming they nudge in as loners looking for a bonding. I mean a decent friendship is digestible, but a relationship in a multiplayer game? A big NO NO!

The third category is of ‘Escapist’ I mean the losers who can’t face the realities of life, so they chicken away in games. I think they are the most intelligent of the lot! What a great way to forget your reality for a while? I mean there’s no harm in it, provided you come out of the world of guns and cars.

Lastly there are ‘Learners’, I didn’t understand this category. The report simply stated: Their main purpose to game is to explore different environments and conditions with a motive to learn something from their experience and then progress and excel in it. Their main aim to hone their skills everything possible………. I mean sharpening their skills by the means of gaming, looking for new surroundings. Sounds a bit impractical! Isn’t it way to overboard?

(Any Questions? Drop in a comment)

Horror House Dress up-- another horrible game by Games2win

2008-07-14T04:35:00.000-07:00

Horror House Dress up...... a rueful endeavor by games2win. It has been a long time since we have come across a quality squib from games2win. Horror House Dress up is another poor concept. The game not even worth playing once. All you have to do is to dress up the ghost and the atmosphere in order to make it fearsome.

(Draculla desperately trying to put up a scary act)

(Draculla created by me. You bet it can't even scare a child)

How can you make it scary? By picking the objects and clothes of your choices. Imagine yourself being scared and petrified by a ghost dressed up by you. Doesn't it sound funny? The creepy special effects and graphics will not even make a child cry, forget about the hardcore gamers. Seriously games2win needs to think about their standard of games and raise them, in order to maintain their reputation. C'mon Buck up! You can do much better.

My rating for this game is:

Graphics- 2/10

Sound- 1.5/10

Replay Value- 0/10

Storyboard-0/10

Storyboard- 0/10

Overall- 0.13/10

Super Car Racing...............at Zapak

2008-06-27T03:22:00.000-07:00

It's time to burn rubber and set the streets on fire with your set of wheels. The entire country is now going to witness the next level of hardcore racing, as Zapak yet again appeases the need for speed of online gamers and comes out with its new game 'Racing Supercar' to pump up the adrenaline of gamers all over the country.

Basically, as suggested by the name itself, the game is all about a racing.......OK, let me rephrase that a bit, hardcore racing. One has to win all the races in be in the game and reach the next levels of the competition. Though the distance for each race is of just three laps, but there are many barriers en route to victory. The track is full of twists and turns which will definitely prevent your car to catch up on speed. However, as it always happens, the computer will always know the best maneuverability tricks and these obstacles would only be for the gamer. Tough luck, huh! But that is how the cookie crumbles.

Not to disappoint you completely by giving all advantages to the computer, the game does give you little plus points in the form of of diamonds and shock waves, which can be collected for points, whereas shockwaves to fuel up the car which would help to increase the pace. With time being the biggest threat, the gamer automatically gets disqualifies if he does not match the time limit. Hitting barriers and other objects further decreases the speed and points of the gamer.

All in all, I would say it is a good attempt by Zapak, as they have made an exceptional game fulfilling all the parameters a racer can think off. The gameplay, graphics, and the overall visual appearance, particularly the tracks are good. I rate Super car racing as mentioned

Graphics- 8/10

Sound- 8/10

Replay- 9/10

Storyboard-7/10

Overall- 9/10

It's Grand Slam Time

2008-06-27T00:58:00.000-07:00

With the icons of Indian lawn tennis getting old, it's time to ease out the burdens from their shoulders and come out with an Indian Grand Slam Champion in singles. Zapak offers an excellent practicing platform for tennis lovers as the pressure to perform increase with the Zapak Tennis game as you get chance to enhance your skills and persistence to beat the best.

(Computer strikes back in full form)

The game is all about playing lawn tennis with the computer and beating him consecutively in three games to triumph. One need to be very fast in order to match up the speed of the computer as it always remain in the best position to hit the ball. The game is very well paced and one has to have the perfect combination of dexterity and intelligence to be on top. The court bears a striking resemblance to an actual one and the graphics are very striking.

Though I'm not quite a tennis lover myself, I found out this game a fairly well balanced one, something that is hardly seen online. So my rating for the game is a definite thumbs up.

Graphics- 9.5/10

Sound- 8/10

Replay value- 10/10

Storyboard-8/10

Overall- 9/10

Howzaaat! Indo-Pak Cricket....

2008-06-26T23:28:00.000-07:00

Howzzat ! Cricket Crazy gamers, Did u play the 'Indo-Pak' cricketing sensation from Zapak. Indo-Pak clashes in a weary atmosphere and has some nail biting moments. I must say it's a good effort.

This virtual Indo-Pak Cricket version has added a new flavor to the rivalry between the fans of both the teams. The game seems quite simple to play but does require some application of the grey cells. One can challenge his friend for a one day match or play against the computer. When played with a friend, it comes really close to replicating the real cricket atmosphere and does give you your share of thrills as it comprises of all the features that are required in an engrossing game with an excellent interface and advanced gameplay options.

(It's me in batting form )

Two cricket crazy gamers can play at the same time representing their favorite teams. While batting, you feel the same pressure that a player feels on the ground, and find fielders chasing your shots in the same acrobatic way and bowlers make your task difficult, something that they are obviously supposed to do. The game incites excitement, tension and above all the pressure to win the game for your country. Though it's just in the virtual world, but then again, Ind V/S Pak does carry the same compassion with it after all.

(It's my impact on the field)

Now a glance at the visual details. The graphic quality of the game is better when compared to previous online cricket games that have been doing rounds on the net. The sound effects too play their part in simulating an excellent atmosphere of a cricket ground that is not very far from what you would experience during an actual cricket match. When compared to previous games, this is truly an achievement by the Zapak team.

Since cricket is a religion for me, my critical eye won't be that harsh on this game. I rate it in the following manner.

Graphics- 9/10
Sound-8/10
Replay value-9.5/10
Controls-8.5/10
Storyboard-9.5/10
Overall- 9.5/10

The game is a must for all cricket loving fans and when accompanied by a gamer of the same zeal, the thrill doubles........So in case you are planning a virtual match, don't forget to invite me:-)

Pizza Match--- Grow up Games2win!!

2008-06-26T22:30:00.000-07:00

Now how do you expect a seasoned portal like games2win, who has always surprised me with their storyboards and creative concepts, to make a hue and cry over an extremely stale and an extremely overdone concept of 'love is in the air'. And to make matters worse, they couldn't think anything better than a pizza delivery girl to act as cupid. I mean, how on earth do you expect a pizza girl to make couples fall in love by serving pizzas and creating a 'Pizza match.'

(Pizza girl serves pizza so that couples can click)

The game is set up in a restaurant, where people have gathered for their meal. As a gamer, you have to drag up matching couples on the table and serve them pizzas and let the cupid play its role. If they are angry, they leave and if cupid strikes, it's a benefit for the restaurant in terms of coins, which can be later used to buy instruments for up gradation of the ambience. Mind it, I personally feel that gamers have a huge ego and I am sure no one would like to play a waiter's role. Further, without any rhyme or reason, the game seems pretty much obsessed with the lovey-dovey stuff and at the end it, turns out to be a total waste of time.

(Couple orders Pizza while others line up)

I do not mean to be defame the games2win team, who have come up with truly remarkable games in the past, as stated by me beforehand, but the game is definitely not upto the mark for gamers all around the world. True gamers there is a warning for you : Playing this Match can be injurious to health, mental in particular.

My rating meter will give it

Graphics- 5/10
Sound-4/10
Replay value-2/10
Controls-7/10
Storyboard-2/10
Overall- 4/10

Ishaant Sharma Power Bowler

2008-06-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

Hurray Gamers, it's time to fulfill your dreams, to step into the shoes of India’s youngest sensational pace bowler, Ishaant Sharma . With the game under his name, Zapak gives a chance to bowl with the same length, line and pace of the icon himself. The mission is quite simple , you have to restrict the opponent team to outreach your teams total. So just bowl to the basics, by keeping your nerves cool and prove Ishaant as the real power bowler.

But, what I feel is something different. The game sounds exciting but does not come up to the expectation. The game is very slow and has less amount of Graphics taken into. Except the bowler the rest of the fielders have no role to play. Apart from this the gamer has no idea where the batsmen is hitting the ball. The indication of number of runs scored on the previous ball is visible only on the bowling card after the entire process is done . This creates a slight confusion in the minds of gamer.

Bowls like Yorker, Bouncer can be used only once in the over
However, the game is worth playing ,coz cricket being a religion in India , everyone wants to become an Ishaant Sharma . So what, if its not real.