Indian animation, computer gaming, comics, film, tv development

[VaastuShastra]

THE FULL VIRGIN COMICS SITE IS UP:

Click here:

http://www.virgincomics.com/

Enjoy











There is about a hundred different pieces of artwork in their gallery - check it out.....

http://www.virgincomics.com/

--

[jacques]

Virgin’s Devi, fierce comic book war, triumphant in US

Top US comic book retailers such as Forbidden Planet, Midtown Comics, Mile High Comics and Virgin Megastores are waiting for Devi’s second print run that could top the first one estimated at over 10,000 copies.

“Devi is a lot more popular than I imagined. We are all sold out at the moment despite the fact that I had ordered double the number of copies I do normally for a new comic book,” said Jess Ayers, store manager at Forbidden Planet on Broadway.

They printed 10,000 copies to see what sort of response it would get and it was favorable. Right now, its hard to say whether any of these will become popular. People often jump on #1 issues. The article states that comics are a $2.5 billion market in US. We will see if they can generate interest and get a share.

It might be a good investment to get you hands on the #1 issues of these comics for the investment aspect to teach kids. I remember that I bought #1-30 Punisher,old spider men, and x-men in the 1980s and resold some for $$. Its not that much money but for a kid it was a fair sum.

Right now I wouldn't buy #1 issues for the investment, but more for the novelty and the collectors items they are as I am all grown up.


I liked reading Snakewoman #1 and Devi #1. Devi is beautiful artistically and has a unique story.

I like the Snakewoman #1 too. Was a little hesitant at first to purchase something called 'snakewoman' (though I've bought weird stuff like 'batman', 'spiderman', 'x-men') however it was good. The art is sombre and conveys the story well as more of an adult theme. It reminds me of a Frank Miller graphic novel I used to have and enjoyed reading when I was younger.

Haven't been able to get my hands on Sadhu #1 or Ramayana revisited - are they out yet?

[VaastuShastra]

Hopefully people will get hooked on the first issue - although the action really starts to pick up around issue #3 in each of the comics.

Sadhu #1 is coming out towards the end of this month - I havent read Devi and Sankewoman yet because I ordered them with Sadhu.

The first issue of Ramayana Reborn is coming out in September at the same time as Devi/Snakewoman/Sadhu #3.

Ill be collecting those definatly, however I might not collect Seven Brothers, because that will have a large enough readership base with people like Woo and Ennis working on it, etc.

Anything Virgin does introduces diversity to the Indian comic industry, so they cannot go wrong - but I would have done some things differently, or rather in addition to what they have done - for instance in addition to the titles they are currently putting out, I would have also done 'manga' based upon classical Indian art, etc - maybe uncoloured manga would have sold well with lower middle class Indian audiences, and provided a good oppertunity to introduce the sandard sci-fi and fantasy concepts to a new audience.

[VaastuShastra]

I just read the first issues of each - including the Sadhu, which is now out on pre-order - my favorite was the Sadhu, but the other two have a lot of potential.

[jacques]

finally got a hold of sadhu number one. based on the three #1 issues i would agree with you. it is probably the best in terms of story/concept and art.
i liked snakewoman's dark art style and mature theme too. devi has good art and a pretty decent story so far.

[2020vision]

Source: Mumbai Mirror

Chennai: Microsoft, on Tuesday, announced that Redington India Ltd would be its sole distributor in India for its gaming product, the Xbox 360. This video gaming and entertainment system will be sold in India from Diwali onwards.

Redington, a $5 billion company headquartered in Chennai, will distribute the gaming consoles and provide servicing for the product across India.

Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division, Country Manager Mohit Anand said that “about 25 of the top games” would also be sold in the country by Microsoft.

Redington will set up 15 flagship stores for Xbox in seven cities – the four metros, as well as Pune,

Bangalore and Hyderabad. It will also tie up with exclusive retail stores for selling the gaming consoles. It will have a few special gaming lounges too, housing only Microsoft products.

Microsoft already has one such lounge at the IMAX theatre complex in Mumbai for its Xbox 360 games.

The consoles will be of two kinds, one Xbox 360 model costing Rs 19,991 and another, with a wireless control, which will cost about Rs 23,999.

The unit will have a CPU with a hard drive, a memory unit, high definition graphics, wireless control, plug and play facility, and also facilities for plugging in add-ons like DVDs, iPods, cameras and other electronic equipment, which can all be seen and heard on the same console.

The games will have to be bought individually.

[shockw4ve]

Yeah read that a while back.

They have even included XBOX360 (Project Gotham Racing) in the WCG (World Cyber Games) India.

By the way .. anyone of you follow the (Indian) e-sports scene? Do you guys actually know how far India has come in Lan/Online Gaming ?

[VaastuShastra]

No - but I would really love to know, if you have info - ive always wondered how development of gaming is doing in India...

[VaastuShastra]

Click here to see first five of Devi, first five of The Sadhu, first five of Snakewoman, plus other titles:

http://www.virgincomicsstore.com/buycomics.html

Its unbelieveable - they have even managed to recruit Ashok Banker and Samit Basu - two of India's most famous fantasy authors.

[kashyap3]

these arent going to be too popular

they're the brave ones venturing out into a new industry

we need many more followers, not just virgin and 1-2 more companies

but will this truly infiltrate grassroots? because our literacy rate frankly isnt that high

this type of thing was successful in japan due to the high literacy rate

[VaastuShastra]

Yeh, but lets not forget there are about 5 times as many literate people in the whole of India today as in Japan - even when our rate is abysmal.

The reason I worry they wont penetrate grassroots is that India is yet to shake of conservative tastes left by Victorianism, etc.

[jacques]

Originally Posted by kashyap3

these arent going to be too popular

they're the brave ones venturing out into a new industry

we need many more followers, not just virgin and 1-2 more companies

but will this truly infiltrate grassroots? because our literacy rate frankly isnt that high

this type of thing was successful in japan due to the high literacy rate

Kashyap, I spent a part of my youth in India in a relatively small city a long time ago. Me and my friends used to love reading comic books such as Phantom, Mandrake, Motu Patlu, etc. They were popular. Since things are little bit better economically, I would expect that comic books would be even more popular these days.

You might be right in that these might not be that successful in the long run in the US because Marvel and DC have majority market share and top titles like 'X-men' and 'Batman'. Both of these titles sell in something like five different comic books and have spin-offs into other comic books titles so that people will buy more stuff. I am still trying to figure out why Devi is selling so well. Is it because ethnic Indians are buying it or is it because regular comic book buyers are buying it?

In India, however - I would suspect that they would sell, if priced and market correctly and if it available in native languages - which they plan to do.

[kashyap3]

i remember reading Phantom and Tinkle

but thats mostly as far as it goes

is devi selling well?

[VaastuShastra]

I only have one clue as to how well it is selling - 10,000 copies of issue one in two weeks in America (really good figure) - however first issues always sell better. Also, due to the amount of recognised talent they are hiring (some of the names they put on these books are heros in the comic community), real comic fans will probably remain interested.

I think its mainly non-Indians who have bought it so far - so I hope Virgin remains true to its mission, especially when they launch in India. So far they have blended non-dharmic elements into itihasa and jataka type mythology, as so many Indian writers do - id like to see a purely Indic/dharmic story from them, or a purely secular based one in India, like a sci-fi.

[jacques]

Virgin Comics sets up animation studio in Bangalore

Four lines of comics are ready - Devi, Sadhu, Snakewoman and Ramayan.
Devi could be made into a film probably by next year.
Comics to be available in India by next September.
Devi sold 10,000 copies in less than two weeks in the US
Company admits finding the right talent in India is the biggest problem

Wow! This was their original plan, I guess. I hope that the quality of animation is at least as good as the comic book itself.

...The animation industry in India has a very small portion of the global pie at $6 billion, but Virgin Comics expects it to increase to over $60 billion in less than three years.

In three years? This is a little too ambitious projection. Possible, but unlikely IMHO.


Here is another article:

Virgin Comics in India with B'lore animation unit

According to Sharad Devarajan, the comics will debut in India with multiple titles that tap the rich culture of storytelling and the time-honored mythic content. The comics will be priced at Rs 10 here whereas they are sold in the US for $3 in Europe for 3 euros.

Most people can afford Rs 10 for a comic book. But the question is, will the comics have the same glossy paper and the same quality artwork. Or will they lower the quality so they can sell at Rs 10?

[VaastuShastra]

I dunno how they can sell them for 10 rs when the paper they are made out of is more expensive than that - I guess no glossy covers and stuff for the Indian release if this is true.

Ive been following their story for ages now - ive collected a lot of info on what they are doing. Id really love in the animation division started making Indian anime - like an Indian 'Studio Ghibli'.

Here is their current line-up:

Devi
The Sadhu
Snakewoman
Ramayana Reborn (think it will be known as Ramayan 3000 AD in India or somthing).
End of Story: Mitrabhed
Seven Brothers
Plus a title by Guy Ritchie, and another by Nicholas Cage

[jacques]

Originally Posted by VaastuShastra

I dunno how they can sell them for 10 rs when the paper they are made out of is more expensive than that - I guess no glossy covers and stuff for the Indian release if this is true.

Ive been following their story for ages now - ive collected a lot of info on what they are doing. Id really love in the animation division started making Indian anime - like an Indian 'Studio Ghibli'.

Here is their current line-up:

Devi
The Sadhu
Snakewoman
Ramayana Reborn (think it will be known as Ramayan 3000 AD in India or somthing).
End of Story: Mitrabhed
Seven Brothers
Plus a title by Guy Ritchie, and another by Nicholas Cage

Hayao Miyazaki is a genius. If they start producing works that come close to his, then they are in good shape. The only problem is that they appeal to a young age group - which is fine but I'd like to see some more adult oriented works - something along the lines of Ghost in the Shell. The anime industry as had problems getting rid of the 'meant only for children' tag.

The Virgin comic books are bringing some very heavy hitters into their camp. They went into the business trying to make more then comic books as you can see with the directors like Kapur and Woo involved. Their plans are to make full length movies - most probably animated but perhaps even live action. I think that Nick Cage having his own comic book is a cool idea - we'll see though.

[VaastuShastra]

Yes - I would like them to immediatly go into adult anime, to quickly prove the film critics in India what a mature format it is - however, I was thinking of 'Grave of the Fireflies' too when I mentioned Ghibli - if India made a historical war drama like that, it would certainly show the masses what animation really is, and that it is more than a 'kid thing'.

It could deal with the Rebellion of 1857 or the Indo-Chinese war or the Bangla genocide, or the Royal Navy Mutiny, or whatever. India im sad to say isnt ready for Ghost in the Shell, because sci-fi has such a poor standing in India, thus the first serious animation films should deal with real life and history - to show directly to the babu squad what the format is capable of.

A controversial real life topic like rape or war or government curruption or mafia could be made into a powerfull movie - the problem is I get the impression Virgin Animation will mainly be focuing on their own content - i.e. stuff like Devi, etc. Infact they seem to be getting most of their inspiration from western comics instead of manga.

Maybe Shekhar Kapur might do something - he is a director, so his primary medium is film - he is involved in VC, so he realises the power of animation - and he has done controversial film - i.e. Bandit Queen. Put all that together, and we might have our Hayao Miyazaki. Other than that, im glad Animax broadcasts in India and has a following - it might inspire a market.

[shockw4ve]

Originally Posted by VaastuShastra

No - but I would really love to know, if you have info - ive always wondered how development of gaming is doing in India...

Sorry this just slipped outta my mind

Well im a gamer myself (Console and PC gamer) and im into the esports scene for quiet sometime now. (perhaps since the esport began in India).

The Biggest International Esport events are:

WCG (World Cyber Games) www.worldcybergames.com

ESWC (Electronic Sports World Cup) www.esworldcup.com

CPL (Cyberathlete Professional League) www.thecpl.com

The 1st WCG was held in 2001 and India has been participating since then. There are 78 countries which qualifies for the grand final .. as of now the grand finals have taken place in Korea (2001-2003), San Fransico, Singapore & now in Italy later this year.

ESWC 1st happened in 2003, with a qualifier in most of the countries and then Grand finals in France.

India appeared in the ESWC earlier this year. (India is the 1st country to particpate in WCG/ESWC and the only country in ESWC as of now from South Asia)

CPL basically as it shows is only for professional teams .. most of the top teams (from europe, US) are invited (which means they can directly secure a spot in the main event for the title) while other teams have to go through qualifiers and they finally go to the grand finals in Dallas, Texas. CPL also offers the most amount as prize from all the events i've mentioned.

Last year CPL started a new event called CPL World tour (which includes different games) .. where they have a WT stop in various countries offering upto US $40,000 cash prize in every country. In the grand finals they offered highest amount of prize money ever in esports: US $300,000 (this is amount was just for Painkiller game).

India is yet to appear in any CPL.

The most common games in these events are: Counter-Strike, Quake3, FIFA, Pro evolution soccer, Warcraft, Starcraft, Call of duty, etc

Now when we talk about India's perfomance in these events, its disappointing.

Even though India has been playing since 5 years now, they havn't won any big game internationally. (they've only defeated minor countries like latvia, etc)

The main reason why India is behind compared to US/EU .. is lack of Sponsors. The Pro-gaming (pro = professional) countries like Sweden, US, Korea, Brazil, etc have huge sponsorship involvements backing up their travel expense to everything. Which certainly boosts the teams and the players. Many of the pro-players are equipped with extreme desktops and laptops machines and ultimate gaming gear. Plus they are also paid a handsome salary (upto 1500euros) per month. The major sponsors involved in e-sports are: Intel, AMD, nVidia, ATi and so on.

But India, so far has been unable to attract ANY company to sponsor a player or team because of Poor performance internationally.

Some argues that India has been unlucky in their groups matches and has always got spot in a tough pool.

Just now another Invite-only event by WCG (wcg asia) took place in Singapore where only 10 Asian teams were invited (India again being the only from South Asia).

India disappointed again in CS by not winning any match in their group and losing even to Vietnam who debuted in the International scene. But India's Warcraft and other games are doing quiet well (atleast better then CS).

Earlier this year, India debuted in ESWC and India performed quiet well in Warcraft (defeated and tied with some good countries) and in trackmania India almost missed the 8th position by just few seconds.

But Indian events are doing quiet good in terms of attracting sponsorships and they are being held all seasons.

The biggest event in India (besides WCG/ESWC) so far were:

Reliance: Gamebox National Championship (teams from all over India played each other online from RWW [Reliance web worlds] .. the grand prize was 50,000rs along with 5 mobikes to the winning team [a CS squad consist of 5 players])

Blitzkreig (An event sponsored by AMD, each winner got 10,000rs and AMD gaming machines)

Urban Fury (Donno the prize, but this was organized by www.techtree.com)

Microsoft also organized two events for their games Halo and Age of empires/Mythology with the cash prize of 1 lakh for the (single) winner who then had to compete in US with rest of the world.

And then there are queit a few online events and matches.

And online gaming in India has improved a lot. Pings are quiet good. (i can easily play on Singapore, Malaysian, Chinese, etc servers). Players from ME (Dubai, Morocco, Israel) also plays on Indian servers sometime.

The reason why everyone thinks that India can do well in WarCraft is because Indian gamers can easily play with US/European gamers in battle.net while Indian Quake/CS players cant do because of High pings (US and Europe are considered the best in esports).

The upcoming (international) gaming events in India are:

WGT (World GameMaster Tournament) www.worldgamemaster.org -- Indian qualis starts today in bangalore (note: dont think bangalore is the gaming hub of India, almost all the events' final are held here in Mumbai and the ESWC finals were in delhi .. and India's best teams/players are from Mumbai/Pune/Chennai)

WCG 2006

KODE 5 www.kode5.com

And lets hope India debut the CPL next year and India becomes a CPL World Tour stop.

[shockw4ve]

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...php?story=8953

India's Online Games Market To Top $200 Million By 2010

A new report by San Francisco-based analyst and consulting firm Pearl Research has forecasted the online games market in India will exceed $200 million in 2010, as part of a new “Online Games Market in India” report.

A key finding from the report indicates that the online games market in India is being driven by the rapid adoption of the Internet with 39 million current users; increasing broadband penetration; growth in Internet cafes with more than 100,000 outlets; and a sizable middle-class with rising disposable income. Most importantly, game operators are promoting and educating consumers about online games including MMOGs.

According to the report, there were 39 million Internet users in India in 2005, a 54% year on year increase. The number of Internet users could exceed 100 million by 2007, making India the second-largest Internet market in Asia after China. In addition, there were more than 100,000 Internet cafes in India in 2005. Internet cafes can derive 30% to 40% of revenues from users playing games. Games are a “sticky” activity, thus users tend to spend more time and money at Internet cafes that offer games, according to the report. The latest trend is the opening of gaming-oriented cafes such as Sify’s Gamedromes to satisfy the growing demand for games. Internet cafes with broadband connections and fast PCs are increasingly replacing many of India’s outdated Internet cafes that use dial-up.

Finally, the report notes, both local and international publishers are increasingly investing in the Indian online games market, as online games represent one of the few viable publishing models in a country where software piracy rates exceed 85%. In 2006 and 2007, Pearl Research expects several prominent international publishers to enter the Indian online games market either through licensing agreements or joint-ventures. Certain online publishers believe it is critical to establish a presence in India, in order to capture consumer loyalty, develop brand equity and help define the market, before the market becomes saturated.

Allison Luong, Managing Director of Pearl Research, commented, “While long dormant, the online games market in India is starting to heat up. Conservatively, Pearl Research expects the Indian online games market to exceed $200 million in 2010. India in 2006 is often compared to China in 2001, when China’s games market started to develop and an online games culture started to form. Within a decade, India has the potential to emerge as one of the top online markets in Asia, along with China, Korea and Taiwan.”