Playware Studios’ 3D PC Online Multiplayer Game Lucent Grounds has been selected by the IDA (Infocomm Development Authority) to be part of the Singapore Showcase at E3. The game which is supported by the Media Development Authority boasts Shader 3 Compliant Graphics and XBOX 360 support.
Headed by Siddharth Jain, PWS (Playware Studios) shifted base from Gurgaon to Singapore last April and became fully operational there by June 2005. The studio has stepped up the gas pedal on its game development plans and is currently developing three projects simultaneously, including Lucent Grounds.
The other projects include Cho Cho Daru, a Casual Game co-developed with Singapore based Boomzap (Headed by Singapore IGDA head Alan Simonsen) to be released with several of the World’s leading casual games publishers and Archipelgo Trader a ‘Concealed Learning’ Game being developed for MOE (Ministry of Education) Singapore.
Speaking to Animation ‘xpress, PWS Chief Siddharth Jain shared,”Singapore has an environment extremely conducive to creative development and research. Logistics of setting up a company and shifting here are pretty straight forward and non-obtrusive. The various agencies help local studios by providing funds, contacts and representation as required. We are thrilled that Lucent Grounds shall be in the Singapore Showcase at E3. We really value agencies like the IDA & EDB, for their various market development efforts and endeavors. It is wonderful”
“Special mention must be made of Media Development Authority of Singapore, not only for having given us their support but also for having great people on their team who truly understand and appreciate the industry and its concerns” he added.
On being asked as to what stages of development were the projects in, Siddharth shared,”Lucent Grounds is in the Prototype Stage (though it is a Multiplayer Playable prototype) and One of 9 playable races and Three of 24 playable maps are in. The Core gameplay too is in. The balance of the Races, Maps and enhanced gameplay will start being developed once a distribution/publishing partner is identified”
“Cho Cho Daru is in Beta (Being tested for QA)” said Siddharth,”while Archipelago Trader is in Alpha. We are halfway through the development cycle of this one with the Game working and the Educational content being fine tuned” he added.
PWS has signed up with one of the world’s leading casual games publishers for Cho Cho Daru and is in advanced stages of negotiations with a couple of others. As regards Lucent Grounds the developer is going to gauge reactions to the game at the big trade shows.
Commenting on the talent and other logistics scenario for animation and gaming in Singapore, Siddharth said, “We have a large talent pool with easy access to transnational talent in the region and beyond. This makes setting up shop here and recruiting requisite talent relatively easier than other countries including India. Also IP Protection and simple and efficient Contract enforceability make it easy for us to do Business internationally. Operating costs are only marginally higher than most cities in India as Game Development is a comparatively small industry in South, South East Asia and Oceania trans location of staff is frequent so cost of talented staff is pretty equal across the board. Also some of the issues like miscellaneous logistical costs don’t exist here”
On being asked to comment on trends in the gaming market overall, Siddharth replied “Games as a market is still far from fully matured and even in its emerging state it is showing great potential. The still untapped markets in most of Asia, Africa and South America make the expected growth in this industry steeply upward for the foreseeable future. It is the one form of entertainment that I think will dominate existing entertainment media though linear media can ever be truly totally replaced by non-linear media. As a culture, gaming is also evolving from the singular focus of entertainment with communities providing social interaction and tournaments providing structured and renumerative competitive play. Playware is moving to create Games that are not just entertaining but provide basis of future professional virtual sport”
“We are also creating content for Casual games market and the Serious games market where we have entirely different and strategies and approach” he concluded.