Forget Fortnite and FIFA: India wants to develop games based on local legends
- Reference: 1598853733
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/08/31/india_wants_local_legends_to_become_games/
- Source link:
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the nation’s software industry to make games based on local myths and legends.
As part of India’s self-sufficiency drive, an effort that aims to make more goods at home and by doing so scale industries to a size at which they become viable exporters, Modi yesterday called for India’s toy industry to step up and become a global player and extended that call to software.
“Computer games are a new trend, liked by children and adults,” he said. “However most of these games have foreign themes.”
“Our country is so rich in ideas and concepts, with a glorious past,” he added, before asking: “Can we make games based on them?”
His answer was a tacit “Yes” - if Indian entrepreneurs make an effort.
“My appeal to the young talent of the country is to make games in India and also make Indian games.”
India awards apps that offer citizens Microsoft and Google alternatives [1]READ MORE
“The virtual games sector has a major role to play in Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan [India’s self-reliance mission,” he said.
The PM wrapped up his [2]address by saying self-sufficiency has its roots in Mahatma Gandhi’s non-cooperation movement. The nation also has a long artistic and literary tradition that offer the kind of epic themes and big characters that can translate well to games. Modi has also been unafraid to encourage celebration of Hindu culture to the exclusion of others.
India doubtless possesses the programming talent to produce games. It's also gathering the necessary experience as Hollywood VFX companies have already opened local offices in the nation and some local games studios have emerged in recent years. Bollywood offers a reservoir of storytelling talent.
Whether games based on local culture will prove popular domestically or globally is another matter: it’s hard to imagine Mortal Kombat being topped by The Mahabharata and its hero Arjuna’s meditations on the existence of a single deity and the unity of all things.
But then again, twenty years ago it was hard to imagine an Italian plumber with Japanese cartoon sensibilities as capable of inspiring endless hours of entertainment. ®
Get our [3]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2020/08/10/indian_software_self_reliance_plan/
[2] https://youtu.be/06Ebisx8X4w
[3] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Sindu
Further, recent books either as direct retelling or a retelling in a slightly cloaked form have been selling well with good reviews, not that I go by reviews. It's a no brainer for Bollywood to do these as films and tie a video game to to the film. Although I do hope they avoid the Lucasfilm and Spielberg curses when it comes to the games.
Really?
... it’s hard to imagine Mortal Kombat being topped by The Mahabharata and its hero Arjuna’s meditations on the existence of a single deity and the unity of all things.
The Mahabharata has everything - Sex, Violence, Honour/Dishonour, Heroes/Villains, Gods, Monsters, shit-hot Celestial Weaponry, Battles, Individual Combat....
Arjuna's meditations are really just a small part of what that world has to offer Indian game developers.
Surprised it took so long
Considering how well RPG and sim games based on Chinese, Japanese, and Korean tales and legends sell I'm surprised it took this long and I'd be interested to see what they produce.
Sindu
There are loads stories of the battles between the hindu gods on the sides of darkness or light, lots of wierd weapons and stories that would probably translate well, and that is only one of over 400 religions.
There are also a shed load of martial arts like Kilaripyatu ((possibly the mother of kung fu snd other oriental martial arts.
The Sikh Gatka is another martial art full of interesting weapons.
I suspect the carvings and statuary from Varanasi might provide the basis for somewhat more adult games that could have broad appeal.