Sify has been in gaming from quite some time. Therefore, GameGuru.in (GG) decided to speak to their National Manager for Gaming, Mr. Naveen H (NH), who has been working with Sify from the last four and a half years. The IIMB graduate has been part of the gaming team from the last year. Here is the whole interview:
GG: Tell us something about the gaming initiative by Sify?
NH: Sify has been a pioneer in the internet space and has been investing ahead of curve. On the public access space, Sify launched Iway chain to cater to the growing internet users who could not access net from home. When Sify started the chain, the market was still with basic browsing, mail and instant messaging. What was required then was good speed in a good ambience at a most convenient location. As a natural progression, the market had to move to next level of higher involvement internet usage like entertainment and gaming ( though gaming is part of entertainment, it is big enough to be considered separate). As a leader in the internet space, to drive the market to next level, Sify launched Gaming
Gaming two years back was primarily CD based. Online gaming was almost non existent. So the task on hand was to cater to those CD based gamers and gradually introduce them to online gaming which the world had evolved to. So Sify started Gamedrome chain which was exclusive for gaming and provided popular games at the café. And A3 India – 3D MMORPG was published
GG: What has Sify learnt from the Animax Grand Gaming Challenge?
NH: Gamers require 2 things – higher challenge and better recognition. Sify’s gameplan revolves around these two needs. The fact that all Sify Gamedromes are part of one single network, this enabled a clan sitting in one city to play against another clan sitting in some other city. Tournaments on smaller scale were being conducted. In Sept’06, Sify and Animax got together to bring a National Tournament on CS. This exercise witnessed more than 370 clans of 5 member each participating at the league level after clearing the intracafe level. This success gave birth to AGGC’07, which involved five different genre of games
To our surprise, the participation in other genres was overwhelming. So it is not just FPS guys for tournaments, every gamer wants to be part of a bigger league. The participation from non-top 8 metros has been promising. AGGC gave them opportunity to participate that otherwise could not despite being talented as they always had to travel to bigger cities to compete. However, with Sify Gamedromes, sitting in one city, the gamer can compete with anybody from different cities. The fact that NFS saw a new gamer grab the title much to everybody’s surprise was a biggest discovery that there are great talents who miss the limelight because of lack of opportunity. AGGC gave that opportunity
GG: Can you give more information about Rakion? When will it be released in India?
NH: Rakion is an on-line Action Strategy Game. There is intense focus on sword and weapon battles with characters bearing role-playing styled characters that gain levels and experience. Gamers can strategize and improve their combat skills to win battles in different game options, which are single, or team play based. With the help of the leveling system, a gamer can improve the character in terms of skill sets, armors and weapons. Characters can even summon some creatures to assist in their battle This is not like a MMORPG, which involves Role Play to a very large extent. Here it’s a quick combat type of a game where u can start a character and get into an arena to fight it out.
The learning and understanding of the game is much shorter than the MMORPGs, which normally take a little while to get into. This is a free to play game with cyber item sale as the revenue model. Gamers can purchase armor, weapons and power ups. The cash card for this will have to be purchased from Sify. Sify has procured the exclusive distribution rights for India Territory. Gamers can connect to global server and join India Room. With our experience in Publishing A3, we noticed that lot of gamers tried the game but section of them did not continue. The reason being MMORPGs are very intense game where the fun is after one crosses certain level. The beauty of Rakion is that it caters to all those action gamers.
GG: What promotional events have you planned for the game?
NH: The promotion would be built around contest. Initially it would be launched at Gamedromes, starting with café level competition leading to National level tournament. The client can be downloaded from the website
GG: What about the future MMORPG? Are you planning to come out with any new MMORPGs? Will there be an India-centric game?
NH: If everything goes as per plan, Sify should publish one more game next quarter. No India-centric games. Nothing planned as yet
GG: Besides MMORPGs, does Sify have anything up its sleeve, like games from other genres?
NH: Along with Rakion, Sify would also be distributing Gunbound, which is a entry level casual MMOG. While there are some other genres being discussed, nothing is finalized yet
GG: What are your views on console gaming? Will Sify collaborate in any way with Microsoft for the Xbox 360?
NH: It will grow the market. Though at present price level its penetration would be restricted, consoles would enter select game cafes. There could definitely be such opportunities
GG: How has the broadband infrastructure affected the growth of online gaming in India? Do you have any special broadband schemes for gamers in India?
NH: Yes it has along with PC config. However, we are at a crucial stage where in critical mass is being created and once it is done, online gaming would enable broadband penetration. As for special broadband schemes for gamers in India, nothing as of now.
GG: What are Sify’s plans for the future?
NH: Gamedromes would continue to expand. Lot of excitement would be built around GameDromes.
GG: Any more gaming tournaments?
NH: Yes, plenty of them.
GG: Are you a gamer? What kinds of games do you play?
NH: Not much. But when I play, it is usually casual games