Sony Optimistic on Indian Gaming Market

Japan, Europe and North America are the big three console gaming territories, but Sony is paying increasing attention to the emerging Indian market with a push for more regional language games. The March release Hanuman: Boy Warrior, a PS2 game based on Indian mythology, sold 10,000 units to the trade on day one, Atindriya Bose, Sony Computer Entertainment's India country manager told Business Standard. "Usually, a good international title would see 3,000-4,000 units sale on the first day. This proved the potential of regional games,” Bose said. The initial sales projection for Hanuman's first year was 30,000 units. Sony has raised that target to 50,000 based on demand, Bose added. Hyderabad, India-based Aurona Technologies developed the game, which is playable in Hindi and English. Hanuman leads the charge for more region-specific Sony games in India, which are developed by local companies. Bangalore's Candela Software is creating two educational games used to help students prepare for exams, while Hyderabad's Gameshastra is developing "four games on Indian rural tradition, like ‘gili danda’, ‘kabbadi’, among others,” Bose stated. Sony's games retail for 499 Indian Rupees, or around $10 USD. Bose said in a separate India Times report that the size of the gaming console market in India could reach $125 million by 2011, citing Nasscom estimates.