HIMANSHU GURU, OP
Saswat Kumar Mishra and friends have come together to form a startup and got off to a good start by developing a videogame called Blaze Hopper
Video games are a big craze in India today and youngsters are avid gamers. Developing games is not easy, it requires skill and knowledge. There are universities and institutes in India where one can acquire academic qualification in video game design and development. Video game developer Saswat Kumar Mishra from Bolangir (Orissa) is based in Bangalore. A gold medalist from the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT), affiliated to the Birmingham City University, Mishra recently developed a game along with seven classmates. Orissa POST talked to the developer about his interest in video games and other issues related to the game industry. Excerpts:
Please tell us about your team and the game you have developed.
I have developed a game called ‘Blaze Hopper’ with the help of my friends. It is a 2D fast-paced platform, where the player needs to avoid obstacles constantly to reach the top.
We are a team of eight people, working on two games simultaneously. Sidharth and I take care of programming, Sandeep, Ankit and Prashant look after art, Akhil and Pawan make the design and Suren takes care of marketing. All of us have graduated in game design and development from Bangalore.
How did you take up game development as a career?
Like most kids, I used to play video games a lot. When I was in Class I, my father, late Rambhakta Mishra, installed a game in our PC. He was a keen gamer. Soon, I started playing the game too. After my Plus II exams, my father asked me whether I wanted to make a career in game development and I jumped at the chance.
Gaming is a passion-turned-profession for me. I enrolled in ICAT, Bangalore. My father is no more but he will always remain an inspiration. I have chosen the brand name RB Games, after my father for my creations.
What are the popular games in India?
At present, Teen Patti is quite popular. Apart from that, many people love to play Ludo and different simulators in their mobiles. Another game, Mini Militia, is popular among college students. Besides, puzzles and racing games are also played in India.
After the smart phone revolution, playing video games is not limited to kids but attracts everyone. As game developers, we include adults also in our target categories.
What are the career options for a game developer in India and abroad?
The game development industry is steadily growing in India and will continue to do so. There are many companies which solely focus on the Indian market. However, we still have a long way to go when compared to North America and Europe.
We started around 20 years after the US and Japan, but are now giving them stiff competition. At present, India and China are the biggest digital markets. They are making games with regional themes which are rapidly capturing the market.
What qualities are needed to become a successful game developer?
You need to have a lot of patience and dedication to succeed as a developer in video game industry.
What technical expertise is required to develop a game?
Your team should have people with different skill sets such as programmers, designers, artists and sound designers.
How is a game marketed?
I don’t know much about the game marketing scenario. However, for startups like us, we depend upon social media and publishers.
What is the present status of the game you have developed?
Right now, we have kept the game in easy access mode to test it on a large scale to find out how it performs in different devices.
What are your team’s future plans?
We are working on one more game which will be released by January-end. Simultaneously, we are working on updates for Blaze Hopper, our first game.
