UTV media has the smartest policy when it comes to invest in gaming. They are not trying to develop games fully out of India, though Indiagames does it’s share of development of mini-games for it’s site. They took over Ignition entertainment an English company in 2006. In 2008, they acquired True games .

Ignition, later on set up two more gaming studios in Tokyo and Florida and started working on 3 console games – War Devil , Reich and El Shadai – which were demoed at this year’s E3. The company has invested about Rs280 crore in the development of these games. And True games is working on an MMORPG, Warrior Epic .

Turns out the same studio is also publishing a 2D game developed for the Wii by Marvelous entertainment. Overall, they have got their gaming strategy right.

In an interview with Business Standard, Ronnie Screwvala, founder and CEO of UTV said that the focus of its console gaming segment is clearly the international market.

Our three markets are international and there is nothing Indian about them. Our market in India for these games, too, is insignificant. Besides, in many cases we are creating our own patented technology for the games”

I need to admit, he totally nailed it. That’s a lesson for all the gaming studios to learn. “India themed games” might have a market, but they are too small to build a company with. Start off making games which will appeal to the rest of the world and then may be later on when they have made enough money bring out India themed games, knowing that it will be pirated even if they are sold at a cheap rate like Rs450.

Another thing I found interesting was that all except the MMORPG are for the console. Console games are in-thing right now globally. They sell more than PC games and bring in more money for the developers provided they do it right. Exclusives for consoles like Xbox 360 and PS3 help move consoles and console manufacturers often go into off-the-record talks to clinch exclusives.

Another thing I found interesting was that only 60% Indiagames users are in India.

Indiagames, on its part, is focused on the mobile segment and has grown 120 per cent in FY09, with 60 per cent of market share in India, according to UTV. The company expects this will continue to have a growth rate of 50 per cent year-on-year for some more years.

So where are the rest 40% users from? From our neighbouring countries I suppose. Anyway I am glad to see a company who is into gaming in India doing it right. Hope others follow soon.