Birbal’s wisdom, wit and humour will now find a place on mobile phones with Nazara Technologies close to launching a game based on Emperor Akbar’s clever minister.
‘Little Birbal’ is first in line for Mumbai-based mobile gaming developer, which is moving into producing its own characters for the small screen.
“This would be a miniature version of the great Birbal. The character is targeted at young parents and children. ‘Little Birbal’ will provide entertainment as well as education, and in most cases it will end with a moral,”
Nazara Technologies’ Group Chief Executive Officer, Nitish Mittersain, said. The application, which can be accessed on smartphones, is expected to be launched this month. Nazara Technologies is also working on other characters, which are yet to be named.
Developing their own characters would save licence costs and create their own intellectual property rights, which would help in launching further games or merchandise.
China, Latin America ahoy!The company had earlier launched games based on cartoon character Chhota Bheem (via a licensing agreement), Dinky Dragon and Cricket Unlimited.
It had also launched games based on movies such as Shaadi Ke Side Effects and Gulaab Gang , and is in discussions to launch more games based on movies.
The Indian gaming market is estimated at ₹1,300-1,400 crore a year, of which 80 per cent would be mobile gaming. Nazara, which is present in more than 20 countries in West Asia, Africa, the Indian sub-continent and South-East Asia, is on the verge of entering the Chinese and Latin American markets.
“China is a huge market. We are looking at setting up operations in Bejing, which will take another three to four months,” Mittersain said.
About its plans for the Latin American markets, the company has already launched services in Columbia.
It is looking to enter Argentina, Mexico and Brazil within two or three quarters.
Nazara Technologies, which had earlier launched a seed fund to invest in early-stage game developers, is close to making an investment in a Pune-based company.
The investments will be made in this month, Mittersain said, though he refused to give more details.