The Gaming challenges in India 22 January 2005 02:59 PM
Day 2 : Session 2 The Gaming challenges in India
Paradox Studios' CEO Anurag Khurana
One industry that has really made its mark in India over the past 18 months has been the gaming industry. The recent news of Nasdaq listed Chinese gaming major TOM accquiring an 81% stake in Indiagames for 17.73 Million US Dollars is just an indication of things to come.
Many argue that Game development shouldn't be considered as an ancillary activity for an animation studio. The skill sets and competencies required in this segment are quite different.
The head honchos of the top 4 game development studios in India, Indiagames' Vishal Gondal, Paradox' Anurag Khurana, Dhruva's Rajesh Rao and Milestone's Sachin Naik took part in the session 'Gaming Challenges in India'
Nothing succeeds like success. The spunk and zing with which the young leaders of the Indian game development industry spoke and made presentations was a clear indication that they had arrived and how!
It wont come as a surprise if VCs looking at the animation sector tilt their focus towards this fast growing field. VCs who swear by the BPO model however ought to note that the success of these studios can be more attributed to their clever cashing in on accquired and owned IP.
Opening the session, Anurag Khuarana (Session chair) remarked,"2 months ago Microsoft launched HALO 2, The game did business of US Dollars 125 million in just 24 hours"
Is game development a part of the entertainment business just as film making?
Dhruva's Rao compared game development with movie making. Listing the various processes involved in game development he asked the audience to compare those with the processes involved in film making. A director who has the overall vision - story writer - cinematographer - music director - design - visual look - technology to drive the game - AI - Physics - Sound
Milestone's Naik however pointed out that, "Certain genres of games have very little to do with story - like sport based games - football, hockey coccer and so on. Some are more independent of story they tend to be process driven"
Indiagames' Gondal remarked, "We look at our business as entertainment. We are in the business of selling interactive entertainment. We don't want people to take alchohol, drugs or smoke, we want them to get high on our games!!"
"No major entertainment company in the world gets any substantial revenues from services" : Vishal Gondal
"With TOM we now have a big access to the chinese market" :Indiagames MD Vishal Gondal
"With TOM we now have a big access to the chinese market!" began Gondal. "Over the past year, gaming has suddenly become the new buzz word. Entertainment media, financial media, business, VCs, educators all have been showing a great deal of interest in it. There have been a lot of big numbers being thrown in about gaming. I would request you to discard these numbers. In India we are starting from ZERO. All these numbers are simply distracting. And we can grow fast, 5 years back China too was zero in gaming" he added.
Continuing from where Kireet and team had left the previous day, Gondal made a strong case for IP and for moving up the value chain.
"Everything is about IP. A small company based in holland (Endemol) is now worth billions just making a few game shows (Fear Factor - Big Brother).The more you are away from the value chain, the more you are at a huge risk. Because in services the only way you can increase revenues is by adding people.We have to disassociate ourselves with low end service work" added Gondal.
Interestingly Gondal also mentioned that they were looking to recruit 150 people.
In a sharp contrast to those who talk about lack of opportunity, Gondal said that India has the right eco system.
India has the right eco system.
- Multiple financing options
- Access to best creative and technical talent
- Lakhs of consumers
- Consumers who are willing to pay Rs150 for a game download
- Access to markets
"People with the disposable income do not have the time and people with the time do not have disposable incomes" : Sachin Naik
"Developing Games is an expensive proposition" began Sachin, "Currently developing a game costs around 3-5 million US Dollars, with the arrival of next gen gaming consoles, the costs will reach around between 5-15 million US Dollars" he added
He pointed out some of the challenges that game development studios in India faced and also listed a few recommendations.
Taking the challenge! Milestone Interactive Business Development Head Sachin Naik
Challenges In India
- Social, cultural & economic barriers
- Gaming is an isolated activity, not yet socially recognised
- High piracy , not enough investment
- Limited product development experience in the games space
- Few organised serious players
- Competition from China : Huge market, huge gaming culture and a lot more eveolved game developers
- Competition from Russia, East Europe (Proximity to europe) Europe is a bigger market for gaming than USA.
- Competition from South East Asian neighbours
- If we continue to play the cost game we will eventually get beaten
Game develoment cannot be looked at as an ancillary activity for an animation studio.
Recommendations
- Develop the local market - Anti Piracy - Localisation, Indian Games, Taxes etc
- Creation of an SIG under NASSCOM on gaming
- Participation in Industry events, trade delegations
- Industry / Academia partnership
"Quality consistency & reliability define your game studio rating" : Rajesh Rao
"Sell only what you can deliver " Dhruva Interactive CEO Rajesh Rao
Dhruva Interactive CEO Rajesh Rao informed that the development of its online gaming title Pool on the Net was nearing completion. "The game is a Micro transaction driven model for gaming over the net. Hopefully the beta testing will start by next quarter. This product will help us learn a lot of lessons and prepare for MMOG (Massive Multi Player Online Gaming)" informed Rajesh.
In his presentation Rajesh shared 5 tips for building a great game studio.
5 tips for building a great game studio
- Your team is your company. Put most of your energy into nurturing a great team and a work culture. Recruit people with right attitude and passion.
- Have a quality philosophy that drives excellence. The consumer has an access to a global portfolio of content. It takes time to develop a quality philosophy.Quality of processes are equally important.
- Ensure knowledge sharing across teams and constantly work on enhancing skills. The extent of domain knowledge that is required for the PC and console is amazing. PC & Console is a sparate field as compared to mobile games. Mobile Games are a new phenomena growing out of a new audience. Console games have teams of 60 -70 people working together for 2 years
- Timing of games is important. 35% of games in US get sold during X'mas
- Sell only what you can deliver The quality of your work is the most important thing. But equally important is staying up to the delivery commitment that you give.Very often studios use their best teams to some up with pilots and then they ramp up after getting projects passed.The industry is very unforgiving.
"Simpler games work in the mass market. Tease the market with the games they can adapt to.To grow, game dev studios need to constantly foster and create teams" stated Rajesh.
"Quality consistency & reliability define your game studio rating.A lot of studios like to work with us because we are reliable and consitent with our deliveries" he concluded.
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:
