Online game companies are now looking
toward Asian history for for new game
ideas. For a long time, online game
have focused on themes revolving
around elves, dragons and knights. But
now, popular online games will take
inspiration from ancient Asian history
and war heroes.
Companies are basing their games on
Indian epics, such as Mahabharata,
Ramayana and the Chinese novel Romance
of the Three Kingdoms.
Most of these stories and epics are
very familiar to the Asian community,
which is a major online game market.
"Romance," which long existed in oral
form before it was put together in
writing in the 14th century, covers a
chaotic two-century period in ancient
China marked by infighting between
warlords following the fall of the Han
Dynasty.
This tale is flooded with dramatic and
bloody episodes about ruthless
ambition, military tactics, loyalty
and betrayal, numerous battle legends,
and war heroes.
The Japanese game developer Koei Co
Ltd has introduced a new game on
Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The
game can be run on PCs and brand new
console versions running on
Microsoft's Xbox 360.
South Korean game developer Wemade
Entertainment had, in 2007, introduced
a new game based on a saga Chang Chun.
The converting of centuries old sagas
to new version of animated series has
also opening up huge opportunity for
many software companies in India. The
multinational game companies are
enlisting local people, who remember
the old stories well. Canadian-based
studio Syncere Arts is working on an
action-adventure game based on the
Mahabharata. The Dawn of Kaliyuga aims
to let players feel as powerful as the
ancient gods while still providing a
good challenge. The game will let
players choose between various schools
of combat, and nearly 100 weapons and
Vedic powers. It will introduce new
series of Mahabharata next year. Greek
and Norse mythologies have long been
sources for video game material in the
west. The non-violent first person
Hindu shooter project was another
promising effort in the same vein,
though unfortunately it never came to
fruition.
