Q&A with Indiagames COO Sameer Bangara 28 June 2008 10:45 AM
By SAHIRR SETHHI
Tell us more about Games on demand (GOD). It is a digital distribution of PC games in a subscription model. So instead of buying a physical CD or a DVD of a game, content is distributed digitally via the internet. The concept is unique and we are the only ones in the country who are offering this. We aggregate all the content, we manage the platform, and we put in our hardware and software into their nocks. For Rs 200 a month one can gain access to 200 PC games, which means it‘s a rupee per game on rental. One can download and play the game 24 hours a day if one wants. It‘s exactly like cable television.
The catch here is that broadband plans are limited today, in the sense that one signs up for Rs 400 for a 200MB download. So, within our system, all the data and game downloads are free of cost. The necessity here is that while one is playing the game one will have to be connected to the internet. One can be connected on a broadband or a narrowband, it doesn‘t matter. Because when one is playing there is only a heart beat we send out every five minutes to make sure that one is a live customer. We also track in the back end the entire statistics on who is playing what and that is how are billing and royalty partners is generated. This is where the technology of digital rights management comes in to supports the subscription plan.
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How did you decide to come up with GOD? The whole concept was driven by the premise that piracy is eating away 90-95 per cent of the market for games and software generally. So there was a need for a model which was piracy-killing in price point and one that enabled the masses to easy access to it. On the other hand, it also made sense as a business model as it is subscription based.
Who are your broadband partners and what markets are you targeting? As of now we have covered almost all the broadband service providers like Airtel, BSNL, MTNL, YOU, etc. Hence, gamers will not be limited by the choice of their internet connection. Evidently, we are targeting the residential broadband market. We think that‘s the right way ahead as PC penetration is increasing. We also believe that the masses will be playing from their homes.
Have you acquired any new licenses recently to be developed into games? We have done a ton off stuff in this area. For PC, Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain is the biggest one we have recently done. We constantly develop such games on the mobile game space, for example we are working on one based on the next hot movie release called Journey to the centre of the earth starring Brendon Fraiser. We have the global exclusive rights for this and we will be launching it around the world. Similarly we did Roush Hour3, Jodha Akbar, Hat-trick, etc. And then we are also working on a game based on a new show by UTV based on bike racing called, Champ, it will be available on both mobile and PC platforms.
One of our biggest titles in the making is Bio Shock, which is the number one game on the Xbox 360. We will be bringing it to the mobile phone in October this year. We have also acquired the rights of The Office from Universal Studios, which is a very popular comedy sitcom in the States, starring Steve Carell and will be developing a game on that. There are plans to re-launch Predator on the mobile platform and bring Godzilla to the US market.
Any plans of developing content for iPhone? We are already in the process of developing content for iPhone. All of our rights will extend to the iPhone, so all of our content will also be developed for the iPhone. It is a fantastic device for gaming. I‘d say it‘s a better gaming device than a phone. The resolution of an iPhone is so great, that the look and feel of a game on it will be very cool. As far as iPhone exclusive content is concerned, we are in talks with Apple and would be able to declare something soon.
Is Indiagames looking at developing high-end games for platforms apart from mobile? Yes. But, we don‘t compete with our publishing partners. Hence, we only work in sections which are not catered by them because that will conflict with our GOD model. However, our 3D team has excellent potential and we are working on some high-end content. If you take Paanchvi Pass, for example, it‘s a cracker of a game. Then there is 20-20, a cricket game, which is also doing very well. As far as console titles go, we are working on a title called Ashoka. Besides, through our group company Ignition we are working on three other titles, of which one game can only run on a PS3.
Tell us more about Ignition. Ignition is UK-based and is run and managed by Vijay Chaddha. Since UTV owns the majority stake in Ignition, it‘s like a sister concern.
On Indiagames‘ gaming team. The team is called Indian Inferno and consists of award-winning gamers. We are a games company and for a long time we wanted to promote e-sports like physical sports. So, we have also setup the ESCI (E-Sports Council of India), you can call it the e-sports version of, say, BCCI. One of the tasks we have taken up is to promote gaming and so we have taken some of these gamers under a franchise and have provided them the latest equipment to practice and sponsor them to go and travel to different events and competitions.
Our concept is to promote these upcoming players and provide them the financial resources and coaching services along with a professional managerial support so that they can compete in the global competitions. We have created a professional model so they have now become professional players and we pay them a salary. So they have an ‘Indian Inferno Kit‘ which they wear when they go out for competitions. So they get paid to play games, so it‘s about making gaming into a profession. Thus it is about making gaming into a new career prospect. We are going to be launching the World Cyber Games event once again this year. And this is going to be the biggest ever.
How far is UTV involved with Indiagames? UTV picked up a 56 per cent stake in December last year and they are the majority share holders in the company. Other investors include Cisco Systems and Adobe, along with the management team. Ronnie Screwalla is a bright entrepreneur and his inputs on creating new avenues and running the business successfully are always valuable.
There is no concrete data and statistics available on mobile gaming trends in India. We had commissioned a research report in partnership with Nokia for which BDA was the research house. The report ‘Indiagames-Nokia research report on mobile gaming‘ is India‘s first ever such report and has already been released in the media. The report briefs the market shares of various operators and makes projections as to where the market is headed. It also lists the top ten downloaded games and the top handsets besides profiling the consumer base.
TurtleinMotion Studio,a group company
of the RDB Organisation which has been engaged in production and distribution
of movies and television series for over 40 years ,is in search of talented
artists in the field of 2D/3D animation for our Kolkata based office in various
department
Script Writers
Character Designers
2D B/G Artist
Storyboard Artists
Layout Artists
2D Animators
Flash Animators
3D Artists
Marketing Executives (based in Mumbai)
Freshers may apply as interns.
Interested candidates may send an e-mail with
updated resume at careers@turtleinmotion.com
along with the link to your showreel or call at 033-6616-9718.
UK-based Snipple Animation is building
up a new animation studio in Pune that is pulsating with creative energy. A
place where art, technology and sharp business acumen co-exist and complement
each other. Snipple provides 3D as well as 2D animation services for films,
TV series, advertising and related areas.
At Snipple we hire only the best of the best,
and we take pride in our relentless pursuit of excellence in everything we do.
If you think you have what it takes to be a part of this world-class team, we
would like to hear from you.
We are currently recruiting for the following
positions: 1) Senior Modeler
2) Senior Surfacing Artist
3) Senior Rigging Artist
4) Senior 3D Animator
5) Senior 2D Animator
6) Production Manager
Reliance MediaWorks Limited is India`s
fastest growing film and entertainment Services Company and a member of the
Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group.
The Company has a dominant and comprehensive
presence in the Film & Media Services: Motion Picture Processing and DI; Visual
Effects; Film Restoration and image enhancement; Digital Mastering: Studios
and Equipment rentals with facilities located at US and India.
Reliance MediaWorks invites you to be a part
of India`s fastest and largest growing entertainment conglomerate. We are launching
VFX Films Division in Mumbai & Pune shortly. We are in search of talent
from the industry that meets our requirements. We are currently looking out
for:
Also send hard copies along with showreel
to:
Reliance MediaWorks Ltd. Plot No A - 62 and 63, Kodak Cinelabs Building, Behind
Tunga International Hotel, Post office Lane, MIDC, Andheri (E), Mumbai-93
Cornershop Animation Studio, A Zee Network
Company (Essel Group Enterprise) which focuses on 3D and 2D animation content
development and broadcast media has opportunities in various departments.
For our 2D Operations in Pune, we are
looking for following artists.
1. Visualiser
2. Flash Animators with 2D background
3. Storyboard Artist
4. 2D Compositor
5. 2D Classical Animators
6. Layout Artist
For our 3D Operations in Mumbai, we are
looking for following artists. 1. Art Director
2. Broadcast design and Motion Graphic Artist
3. 3D Animator
4. Lighting Artist
5. Compositing
6. Production Coordinator
Tasaa Infosolutions Pvt. Ltd (Formerly
Tasaa Netcom Pvt. Ltd) is a rapidly growing IT
corporate with focused interests in:
Packaged solutions from World renowned organizations
like: Autodesk Media and Entertainment Software, Adobe (Gold Partners), Apple,
Wacom, Corel, Microsoft (Gold Certified Partner), PTC, Sage Accpac. We are also
Authorized Training Partner for Autodesk, adobe and Corel.
We are a one step solution for all software needs
of Animation, Gaming, Visualization, Post Production and Manufacturing Industries.
Besides being a professional training and technical
resource for our clients, Tasaa is committed to providing high level support
to our customers and ensuring their success by improving competitiveness, streamlining
operations and helping them to be current on technology.
Requirement for Mumbai Programmer:
Candidate needs to know Programming: MEL and Python.
He should have relevant work experience in a
studio and must have worked on Developing Tools/
application for Autodesk products.
Please send your CV at resumes@tasaa.com
or call at +91-22-42121717.
BIG AIMS, a premier animation training institute
of BIG Animation (I) Pvt. Ltd. a part of Reliance Big Entertainment - the largest
entertainment group in India is hiring for following position for various franchisee
locations in India:
1) Centre Head: Candidate with experience
of over 7 years in heading an animation or educational institute. The candidate
should have skills in marketing and
managing day to day operations of an institute.
2) Counselor: Candidate with of over 3
years of experience in counseling students and should have good communication
and interpersonal skills.
3) Faculty: Candidate should have working
experience of minimum 3 years in a production studio and over 2 years as faculty
with a well established training institutes.
After Effects, Nuke,
Fusion ,Combustion, Boujou, Shake
Post-production (editing) faculty
Editing & sound
Premier, FCP & Editing
Interested candidates can e-mail their resumes
with the position applied in the subject line to: hr@biganimation.com or can
send a hard copy of the resume along with demo-reel to "The Human Resources
Department", BIG Animation (I) Pvt. Ltd, 3rd Floor Muttha Towers, Don Bosco
School Road, Yerawada, Pune 411006.
Sheen Animation Studio Pvt. Ltd. A Delhi
based Production Studio is looking for talents in 2D and 3D for their ongoing
and new international as well as national projects. If you have the experience
an expertise of 2-5 years in the relevant domain handling any of the following
functions, apply in confidence.
Pre-Production
1) BG Design Artists
2) Character Design Artists
3) Matte Painting Artists
4) Concept Artist
2D Animation
1) Flash Animators
2) 2D FX Artists
3) IB And Clean-up Artist
Hiring for all VFX Positions Digital Media Imaging Ltd (a Reliance Media Works Limited company) is involved
in Digital restoration of films, content processing, and 3D Stereo conversion
of filmed entertainment. We are in the process of ramping up to become the biggest
2D to 3D conversion facility in the world. As part of the phase II of our growth
plan we are hiring Compositors and 2D to 3D Stereo conversion Artists.
The required Software skills are:
1+ years experience in any of the following
software platforms
Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop, Combustion
Digital Fusion, Nuke, Shake
Smoke, Flame, Inferno
Silhouette Paint & compositing
3Ds Max, Maya or any other 3D software.
Traditional artists with Painting skills in
Photoshop also can apply
Besides a Quality work environment and Sophisticated
Infrastructure,
We offer you…
Specialized VFX and 3D Stereo conversion training
by an International team from Hollywood.
Opportunity to work on popular international
blockbusters.
Opportunity for tremendous internal growth
for talented Artists.
Long term association will be rewarded based
on performance
We are an employee centric organization, who
believes in touching and changing lives.
We are in a growth phase with ambitious plans
where our primary aim is to build a culture in the organization which focuses
on building careers meaningfully for each employee with a very caring & warm
working culture where everyone is approachable and believes is being proactive
to building a great organization together with a fantastic employee experience
and great results from each employee.
Be part of an exciting journey! Technicolor India (previously Paprikaas) is a premiere animation studio,
based out of a state-of-the-art centre of excellence in Bangalore, working on
international projects for marquee clients in animation, gaming and Film visual
effects.
Technicolor India is currently seeking
highly talented artists to work on international projects in animation and film
visual effects.
If you are game for tough challenges, cut out to work in high pressure situations,
and are armed with excellent credentials in any of the following disciplines: Concept Art
Matte Painting
Modeling
Texturing
Effects
Character Animation
Lighting & Compositing
Film Visual Effects (Rotoscopy, MatchMove, Paint & Prep) or Production Management
ANTS is seeking talented artists and teaching
faculties to be a part of the expansion team and work on various national and
international projects. Areas of key vacancies are: Lighting, Animation and Rigging,
Dynamics, Game Design, Texturing, Creative Art, Designer, Web Developer and Content Creator. Interested candidates can send their resumes and works to hr@antsindia.com.
URL: www.antsindia.com,
Phone Numbers: 080 - 40627000 (ext) 224
Redchillies.vfx is all ready to start
their next project - Ra.One, post the success of "My Name Is Khan".
Loads of challenging 3D and Compositing visual effects work is to be done for
the live action sci-fi superhero film starring Shah Rukh Khan as a superhero.
We are currently looking out for extremely talented
& experienced candidates to work on employment/contract basis. Key vacancies
are Lead Lighting Artist (3DS Max), Animators (3DS Max),
Lead VFX Artist(Maya), Lead Rigging Artist(Maya), Animator(Maya), Lead Match
Moving Artist, to name a few. For details on many more vacancies Click
here.
Apply on hr.vfx@redchillies.com
with your show reel OR send in your showreel at the following address: Ground
Floor, Crescent Towers,Off New Link Road, Oshiwara, Near Morya Estate, Andheri-W,
Mumbai-58.
India`s No.1 Multimedia & Animation Academy
with one of the best state of the Art infrastructure requires trainers in the
field of:
3D Animation: Experience in a 3D Production
Environment. Must have good working knowledge of Max or Maya with simulation
systems-particle, cloth, fluid, fur.
Editing & Vfx: Experienced Candidates
in Premiere, After Effect, Final Cut Pro and Nuke. Knowledge of other compositing
software will be added advantage (Apple Shake & Fusion).
Flash Animators: Experience in Flash with
advanced scripting, Toon Boom Harmony. Should have knowledge in sketching /
traditional animation skills.
Pre Production Artists: People from fine
arts background with pre production experience of animation industry.
Graphics: Candidates with Print Media
and Advertising background with sound knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel
Draw & Indesign.
Candidates with Adobe & Autodesk certification
would be preferred.
India`s largest Animation & Multimedia Training
Facility reputed for its path-breaking academic initiatives and profound
achievements requires the following talent to meet surging demand for its revolutionary
training programs and to complement its expansion plans:
CLOTH HAIR & FUR ARTIST
DYNAMICS FX ARTIST
MAYA INSTRUCTOR
3D STUDIO MAX INSTRUCTOR
Dilsukhnagar Arena is a people-friendly organization
offering enriching and rewarding careers with the emphasis on personal as well
as professional growth. You will be working with some of the most talented people
in an empowering, challenging and inspirational work-environment with ample
"Learning and Career Progression" opportunities.
Cornershop Animation Studio, A Zee Network
Company (Essel Group Enterprise) which focuses on 3D and 2D animation content
development and broadcast media has opportunities in various departments.
BIG AIMS, a premier animation training institute
of BIG Animation (I) Pvt. Ltd. a part of Reliance Big Entertainment - the largest
entertainment group in India is hiring for following position for various franchisee
locations in India:
Sheen Animation Studio Pvt. Ltd. A Delhi
based Production Studio is looking for talents in 2D and 3D for their ongoing
and new international as well as national projects. If you have the experience
an expertise of 2-5 years in the relevant domain handling any of the following
functions, apply in confidence.
Hiring for all VFX Positions
ANTS is seeking talented artists and teaching
faculties to be a part of the expansion team and work on various national and
international projects. Areas of key vacancies are: Lighting, Animation and Rigging,
Dynamics, Game Design, Texturing, Creative Art, Designer, Web Developer and Content Creator. Interested candidates can send their resumes and works to 
India`s No.1 Multimedia & Animation Academy
with one of the best state of the Art infrastructure requires trainers in the
field of:
