Onimusha 3: language problems

Nimish Dubey

New games are an expensive proposition. So when one heard that Capcom was coming out with a cheap PC version of the PlayStation hit, Onimusha 3: Demon Siege, one was inclined to cheer a bit. The game features some great graphics, good voice acting (featuring Jean Reo), and something that is becoming increasingly rare in games these days – a decent storyline. What’s more, in these days of “you want a new game, you must upgrade your system”, the game was perfectly capable of running on most PCs. All that for a price tag of Rs 299! It seemed too good to be true.

Unfortunately, it was.

For, while there is nothing really wrong with the game, getting to play it can be a problem. The reason is simple: there are no instructions in English. The manual accompanying the game (on the game CD. There is no printed manual) is in Japanese and the even the last resort of desperate games, the Readme file, is nothing but a mess of strange characters. The game itself has no tutorial mode – you have to get stuck in straight away. The only way to find out about the controls is through the game’s Options menu. But how does one get to the Options menu? Ah, that’s a good question indeed.

All of which makes playing the game a trial-and-error experience. You have to keep hitting all kinds of keys and hope that you will stumble across the right one. The game’s interface does not help too much either. And if you are thinking that paying a visit to the game developer’s web site will help clear matters, forget it. The web site is totally dedicated to the PlayStation version of the game.

Needless to say, this has scuttled what could have been a very promising game. And it has hit sales too – dealers tell me that the game has stopped selling in recent times after a brisk start.

A classic case of a good product being ruined by poor (or in this case, altogether absent) documentation.

Can poor documentation ruin one’s gaming experience? Post your comments or mail them to nimish@tcp.in

Lara’s back!

Nimish Dubey

The undisputed Grande Dame of gaming, Lara Croft, seems to have made a stunning comeback with the latest episode of the Tomb Raider series, Tomb Raider: Legend. Although Croft has been one of gaming’s most prominent characters, the last five years had not been kind to her. The two Tomb Raider games released in this period – Tomb Raider Chronicles and Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness – were duds. Indeed, things had reached such a pass that people felt that Lara Croft had better chance of succeeding as a film series (starring Angelina Jolie) rather than as a game.

Tomb Raider: Legend, however, seems to have changed all that. The reviews have been overwhelmingly positive with the only major quibble being the relatively short length of the game. Crystal Dynamics who took over the game development from Core Design (the people who originally made the series) seem to have delivered a game that is not only smashing to play but is also a visual delight. And I am not just referring to Ms Croft (who admittedly remains as curvaceous as ever) but to the theatres of action and locales. Some excellent puzzles have been thrown in too, to make this more than a simply run-shoot-jump game. What’s more, the game seems to have delivered on all major platforms – the PC, PS2, Xbox and Xbox 360. There’s even a PSP version in the works. It speaks volumes of the game’s success that even though it has not been officially released in India, gamers have booked advance copies from stores.

Welcome back, Ms. Croft. We missed you.

Do you think Tomb Raider Legends is the best game in the series? Post your opinion or mail them to nimish@tcp.in

Gaming notebooks no one is talking about

Nimish Dubey

 

Readers of this blog will be more or less familiar with my non-stop complaints about the absence of good branded gaming computers in the country. Well, it would seem that the folks at Hewlett-Packard (HP) have decided to do something about it. Unfortunately, they seem loath to admit it!

 

I am referring to the recent launch of HP and Compaq's range of AMD Turion-powered notebooks. Not only do most of these have powerful processors (AMD 64-bit processors running at speeds over 1.6 Ghz) but they are also equipped with good graphics cards - the ATI Radeon X300 and X200. These notebooks have adequate RAM (256 or 512, both upgradeable), decent hard drive space (40 to 80 GB, again upgradeable) and come with Windows XP, DVD-burners and combo drives. In short, these notebooks are well-equipped to handle most new games. And here's the best part - they cost less than Rs 50,000 each!

 

All of which makes HP's decision to stay relatively mum about them rather mystifying. Consequently, awareness of the Turion range is rather low. I stumbled upon it totally by accident when  I told a salesperson at an HP outlet that I was looking for a sub-Rs. 50,000 notebook!

 

HP and Compaq would do well to start speaking up about these notebooks. They are just what the Indian gaming community has been waiting for.

 

Have you heard of HP Compaq's Turion range of notebooks? Post your comments about them or mail them to nimish@tcp.in

Is gaming the next frontier for Microsoft?

By Nimish Dubey

 

The company may be best known for its Windows and Office software but indications are that Microsoft is now looking to dominate the lucrative gaming market. The company's recent acquisition of Peter Molyneux's Lionhead Studios would seems to be the latest step in this direction.

 

But while  Microsoft's ambition as regards gaming has hardly been a secret, the company's endeavours in this field have yielded mixed results so far. The Xbox could not get the better of Sony's PlayStation 2, and its successor, the Xbox 360, has been having more than its share of teething troubles. Its real test, of course, will come when the PlayStation 3 is released in November (if Sony sticks to its much-tweaked schedule). Microsoft's endeavours in game development have also yielded mixed results with hits like  Age of Empires and Age of Mythology being counterbalanced by duds like Freelancer and Dungeon Siege 2.

 

The acquisition of Lionhead would indicate that Microsoft might finally have decided to make an extra push on the game development front. The company has never been credited for being original in this area and Molyneux could provide it with a cutting edge in this regard. For, while he may not have enjoyed much commercial success in recent times, his games such as Black & White, Fable, and The Movies have won massive critical acclaim. Add to that the fact that he has experience of developing games for the Xbox platform (Fable was first made for the Xbox) and one can understand why Microsoft was so eager to acquire his services. That said, Molyneux is not the easiest person to get along with. His perfectionist streak and individualism could create problems.

 

All of which should make the coming months very interesting indeed. Watch this space.

 

Will Microsoft dominate gaming in the same manner in which it has dominated software? Post your comments or send them in to nimish@tcp.in

Dell takes over Alienware = gaming PCs for India?

By Nimish Dubey

The announcement of major PC manufacturer Dell to take over Alienware, makers of the world’s leading gaming computers, could be good news for Indian gamers. For, notwithstanding all the fancy ad campaigns about multimedia and gaming PCs, there are in fact only a handful of good branded gaming PCs available in the Indian market at the moment. And even those come with components that are often on the verge of being outdated. It’s hardly surprising that most gamers in the country prefer to assemble their own computers.

Dell’s acquisition of Alienware could finally make computers specially designed for gaming available to the gaming community in India. Alienware does make some of the best gaming computers in the world – in fact, many games often come with a “plays best on Alienware” tag. The company is also renowned for some of the snazziest computer designs this side of Apple, with game-theme based PCs and vividly coloured notebooks. The company also allows users to “build” their own computers by specifying components.

Of course, the big question is whether Dell will bring Alienware computers to India. The company has been expanding its presence in the country, but still offers only a limited portion of its global product portfolio to Indian users. There is also the little matter of pricing – Alienware computers are notoriously high-priced, while Dell has a reputation for delivering value for money.

Needless to say, we will be keeping our eyes peeled for developments in this regard. Watch this blog!!

Is Dell likely to make Alienware computers available in India? Post your opinions or mail them to nimish@tcp.in

Brando comes to gaming!

By Nimish Dubey

One of the biggest names in the history of cinema, Marlon Brando, has come to gaming. Although the actor passed away in 2004, his likeness will be seen in a game based on Francis Ford Coppola’s blockbuster movie The Godfather. The game has been released for the PlayStation 2, PC and Xbox, and marks yet another alliance between computer games and Hollywood. Whether it will succeed is another matter.

Although industry keeps talking about synergies between Hollywood and computer games, the two have had a far from comfortable relationship. There is a belief in the gaming industry that games based on films or TV shows seldom succeed – a belief borne out of disasters like The Matrix: Path of Neo and most of the games based on the Stars Wars movies. On the other hand, Hollywood actors have been wary of allowing their likeness and/or voices to be used in games because they do not trust the medium and fear that they may be misused. So far, few games have benefited from “Star Quality”. Sean Connery’s voice and likeness could not stop the game version of From Russia With Love from being a washout while not even the use of unseen footage and a new ending could save The Matrix: Path of Neo.

The Godfather could well break the jinx. Initial reviews of the game have been encouraging with reviewers comparing it favourably with hits like Mafia and Grand Theft Auto. If it does set cash counters ringing, we could see more collaborations between Hollywood and the gaming industry in the coming days. And that would be terrific news for gaming fans as well as cinema buffs!

Do you like games based on Hollywood films? Post your comments or mail them to nimish@tcp.in

The Sims delay stinks!

By Nimish Dubey

The new expansion pack of the bestselling The Sims 2 series, Open for Business, was released world-wide earlier this month. It was expected in India in mid-March. However, it has yet to arrive in the marketplace. And if one is to believe the rumours in the market, the game is being held up not for logistical reasons but for those of pure greed.

Evidently, the game has arrived in India but has been held up at the airports by less-than-scrupulous officials. They are allegedly asking for a bribe to clear the game. If they are not paid off, the game will be held back till April when it will start attracting the additional duty that our Finance Minister so kindly imposed on packaged software in the budget. This would increase its price (already on the high side at Rs 999/-) and would have an adverse effect on initial sales. “Negotiations” are on even as this is being written.

The biggest loser in this delay is the Indian gaming community, which is not only not getting a popular game on time but will also, in all probability, have to end up paying extra for it.

A sad state of affairs in a country that calls itself an IT power.

Have you any news about the delay in the release of Open for Business? Post it or drop a line to nimish@tcp.in

Myst: A classic remembered

By Nimish Dubey

These days, the word “computer game” is synonymous with lots of weapons, exotic enemies (generally a mix of aliens, zombies and demons) and non-stop action. Ironically, ten years ago, the gaming scene had looked remarkably different. One of the most popular computer games had just been released and it had no enemies, very little action and no weapons to speak of. In fact, it just involved wandering around a strange, uninhabited world in which people could travel by placing their hands on specially designed books.

The game was Myst. And until a few years ago, it was by far the highest selling game of all time. It remains staggeringly popular for a game that, when it was released, was criticised as being “static” and “dull”.

What made Myst such a hit was the fact that it was largely story-driven. What’s more, the pace was totally controlled by the user. There was never any danger of time running out or of an enemy catching you off-guard. You were on an island and had to figure out what had happened. If you wished to do nothing, you could just wander around, admiring the local scenery (and it was pretty admirable). Gameplay was simple too. There were no complex key combinations to remember or statistics to keep track of – you just had to click your mouse and keep your eyes open.

Of course, once you start playing, it is a fair chance that you would need wild horses to tear you away from the PC as you attempt to unravel the mystery of the island. And there are mysteries aplenty – who are the two people trapped in the books in the library on the island, what is the meaning of the strange message left behind on the lawn outside the observatory and what role does the strange airship docked near the library have to play? Gamers all over the world spent dozens of hours attempting to answer these questions and very few can claim to have completed the game unassisted.

Much to the surprise of almost everyone in the gaming industry, Myst proved to be a runaway hit, selling millions of copies, and spawning four sequels and even a series of novels. It is a tribute to the game that it remains immensely playable even today and can run effortlessly on most computers (it requires a mere 8MB RAM to run, as compared to the 512 MB demanded by the likes of Half-Life 2 and Doom 3.

So, if you feel fed up of massacring enemies and would rather spend some time exercising those little grey cells in your brain, head out to the local games store and buy a copy of Myst. It costs a mere Rs. 199/- and will play without any hiccups on just about any computer. And if you do not end up dreaming of strange landscapes with the haunting sound of waves lapping against the harbour, demand a refund!!

Have you played Myst? Is Nimish right to call it a classic? Post your experiences or send them to nimish@tcp.in

Get your Sudoku fix – free!

By Nimish Dubey

For those thoroughly addicted to Sudoku – the numerical grid game that has been making waves all over the world – here’s some good news. If you have a computer and an Internet connection, there are a number of software applications that will enable you to play Sudoku on your computer screen. What’s more, they are totally free.

Mind you, it would be unfair to compare these free versions with the Sudoku games that one finds in retail stores. These are rather basic versions of the game and contain none of the fancy pictures, sound effects and other settings options that come with the paid versions. That said, they are more than ample if all one wants to do is exercise one’s mind thoroughly.

So, if you are a Sudoku fan, you owe it to yourself to try out the following:
1. Pure Sudoku: Perhaps the best free Sudoku game on the Net with more than 200 puzzles and lots of attractive backgrounds as well. Mind you, it’s a bit heavy at 7.6 MB. You can get it from www.veryfreesudoku.com.
2. Just Sudoku: A more bare-bones version of the game, Just Sudoku is not as colourful as Pure Sudoku but serves up more than a fair share of puzzles. It is also lighter – just 1.5 MB. Get it from www.sudoku-puzzles.net/download.html
3. Simple Sudoku: Again, not exactly the most attractive-looking free Sudoku option, but a powerful one nevertheless. And you can also download additional puzzle packs if you wish. And at a mere 723 KB, it is one of the most dial-up friendly downloads you can come across. Head to http://angusj.com/sudoku/ to get it.

Know of a good Sudoku game that is free? Add to this list by posting your comments or drop a line to nimish@tcp.in

Searching for a branded gaming computer

By Nimish Dubey

The media keeps telling us about how computer gaming is becoming a rage in India. We keep getting figures about how many thousand gamers entered a contest in some city and of the huge cash prizes that were doled out to them. Publications are paying more attention to gaming and most music stores now have a section dedicated to computer games.

So, why on earth is it SO difficult to get a decently-priced, branded gaming computer in India?

When I say “branded”, I refer to one of the so-called top computer hardware companies – the likes of Lenovo (formerly IBM), HP (including Compaq), HCL and Dell. While all of these worthies have computers that can play computer games, not one has a machine that can be said to have been designed especially for gamers. Which is a bit silly, really, because while a good multimedia computer can be used by just about anybody for any purpose, a “professional” desktop is simply no good when it comes to gaming or other multimedia tasks. Unfortunately, most companies seem to be more than content to dole out these “professional” machines.

Even the computers marketed as “multimedia computers” have appalling hardware configurations. It takes more than Microsoft Windows Media Centre, a large monitor and a snazzy pair of speakers to make a computer truly multimedia-friendly. The biggest shortcoming in most machines is the absence of graphics cards. Most companies prefer to stick to “onboard graphics” provided by Intel to run graphics-oriented applications such as games. These are at best mediocre and are simply not in the same league as the graphics cards provided by nVidia and ATI. Even when a computer does feature a graphics card, the chances are that it will be a weak one that will barely be able to run most new games. And while most companies do offer you the option of adding a graphics card to your machine, they charge exorbitant prices for the same. Yes, you can get notebook computers with good graphics cards but remember, not only do these cost more than desktops, but they also cannot be upgraded.

To get a gaming computer in India today, one needs to be not only interested in gaming but also to be a hardware specialist. Because the only way you can get a decent machine is by either building one yourself or by adding components to an existing computer. Contrast this with the international scenario where the likes of Alienware are actually dedicated to making computers for gamers, with special covers and upgrade options.

Gaming may be growing by leaps and bounds in India, but most computer manufacturers seem to be unaware of this.

(To see some of the gaming computers on offer in the international market, try visiting www.alienware.com)

Should hardware manufacturers be paying more attention to the gaming segment of India’s computer-savvy population? Post your comments or send a mail to nimish@tcp.in

Is gaming all about speed?

By Nimish Dubey

As computer games gain popularity in India, one is coming across more and more video game tournaments that pit gamers against each other for some prize money. And the prize money is not peanuts either – an all-India game tournament sponsored by the likes of HCL and AMD handed out something in the region of a couple of lakhs to the winner.

While the proliferation of these tournaments is good news for gaming, the stress they tend to place on reflexes and speed is definitely not. For, while there is no doubt that many popular games depend on speed of movement or reaction, many others actually test the players' skill and patience. And contrary to popular perception, it is the latter type that sells more than the former. The highest selling computer game is not the violence-dripping Grand Theft Auto or the recklessly-driven Need for Speed, but The Sims – a game that allows the player to build his or her own families of human beings and control their lives in different ways. Even the second highest selling game of all time is low on action – Myst. This is an adventure in which the player has to find out what happened on a mysterious island. It seems incredibly slow and involves solving dozens of puzzles but has sold millions of copies all over the world.

Why then do gaming tournament organisers insist on testing gamers reflexes? Well, one of the reasons is that racing games or games revolving around butchering the opposition are so much easier to conduct and judge. However, such tournaments seldom judge a gamer’s ability to think ahead or strategise. And these are vital components of gaming. What’s worse, such tournaments further strengthen the myth that computer games are basically violent and/or speed-oriented.

Sadly, nothing could be further from the truth.

Do you think that computer game tournaments focus too much on reflex-oriented gaming? What games would you like to see in game tournaments? Post your comments or drop a line to nimish@tcp.in

Pigs have wings - S.W.I.N.E goes free

By Nimish Dubey

Given the spiralling prices of computer games these days (I have still not recovered from the shock of discovering that Fable costs more than Rs 2000!), the announcement of a developer putting up his game for free is always good news.

So one should rejoice at the news that the price tag has finally come off on one of the funniest real-time strategy games released in recent times,S.W.I.N.E.. In case you haven't heard of it, S.W.I.N.E. was released in 2001. Like most strategy games, it was based around making the most of your resources to defeat the enemy. However, unlike most strategy games, its main protagonists are not human, but animals. You are going to end up controlling an army of rabbits and help them fight off the Pig National Army that has invaded Carrot Land. The graphics are gorgeous and some of the dialogues will have you in splits. The game, however, came a cropper commercially because it simply did not offer the kind of depth served up by the likes of Civilization and Age of Empires and because it's initial editions were way too buggy, causing computers to crash at random. The free version is unlikely to cause any such problems as it has been extensively patched.

The game is still being sold commercially but if you have a good Internet connection, head to http://www.stormregion.com/index.php?sid=bd94bb8c0dcf1bf7ad4a228dab8bc79d&activeMenuID=swine
&activeProjectID=103 and download your free copy of S.W.I.N.E.

More about S.W.I.N.E.:

a.Gamespot awarded S.W.I.N.E. a score of 7.8, calling it “a solid real-time strategy game with plenty of humour, all wrapped up in a beautiful shell” :
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/swine/review.html?sid=2832151&print=1

b. PC IGN awarded it a 6.5 score, praising its gameplay but severely criticising its lack of stability.
http://pc.ign.com/articles/166/166598p1.html

c. Gamespy gives the game a 66% score, praising its graphics and sound effects but coming down heavily on its storyline, saying, “The whole pig/rabbit schtik is weak and irrelevant, not irreverent”:
http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/december01/swine/

Do you think that computer games are overpriced? And will you be downloading S.W.I.N.E.? Post your comments or write to nimish@tcp.in

Nintendo DS goes “Lite”

Nimish Dubey

Nintendo has announced its decision to release a new version of its Nintendo DS console. Called DS Lite, it will be, as its name indicates, lighter and more compact than its predecessor. The wireless capabilities of the original DS will be retained as will its overall design. All those rumours about Nintendo dropping the two-screen format and reverting to the conventional single screen one (as seen in the GBA and GBA SP) have been proved false.


Of course, Nintendo has no real reason to tweak the design of the DS. The console has outsold the Sony PSP in Japan and has been hailed as a major technological breakthrough in handheld gaming. Many feel that the two screens used by the console (the “DS” stands for “Double Screen”) have added a new dimension to gaming, allowing the user to control the game via a stylus rather than by punching buttons as in other portable consoles.

The biggest challenge facing the DS Lite is likely to be the games available for it. While Nintendo has stated that the DS Lite will support Nintendo DS games, there is no news as to whether it will support GBA SP games as its predecessor did. There are fears that in an attempt to make the console lighter, Nintendo might have dumped the slot for GBA SP cartridges. If that is the case, then the DS Lite will be on a sticky wicket as the DS library remains rather limited, notwithstanding the almost cult status achieved by Nintendogs.

The console is likely to be released in March and is likely to be priced in the vicinity of US$ 145 (Rs. 6,400 approx.). That makes it a lot cheaper than the PSP. But with Nintendo having no official presence in India, one has no real idea when the console will be seen in the country.

Incidentally, I am puzzled by the choice of the name “Lite”, as the word generally refers to a less powerful version of a product.

How does the Nintendo DS rank in terms of “coolness”, especially when compared to the Apple iPod and the Sony PSP ? Post your votes as a comment or drop a line to nimish@tcp.in

The game price scam in India

Nimish Dubey

I recently got a game from a friend in Bangalore – Microsoft’s Freelancer. While I was delighted to get it, I was dazed by its price tag. The game cost a mere Rs 149! Although many games have had their had their prices slashed in recent times, I was not aware that Freelancer was one of them. In fact, a few days ago I had seen the same game being sold at Rs 499 in South Extension Market in Delhi!

Further inquiries revealed what seems to be a scam of sorts being carried on by some of the retailers and game distributors. While game companies announce cuts in the prices of their products, Indian distributors often either do not pass on this information to retailers or, even worse, tell the retailers about the price cut but encourage them to charge the older (and higher) price and pocket the differential! Some retailers are downright careless and do not even bother to check whether the prices of their wares have been revised. Take a look at Planet M in South Extension for instance. The store has two versions of Dungeon Siege – one priced at Rs 1499 (the old price) and another at Rs 299 (the new, reduced price!). When I pointed this out to the salesperson, he just shrugged his shoulders and asked me to buy the lower priced version! This also explains why a number of stores insist on selling old games at extremely exorbitant prices – they stand to make more money.

The only way to beat this is to stay informed of developments in the gaming arena. Keep visiting sites at www.gamespot.com and www.gamespy.com to see if the price of a game has been cut. If the international price of a game has come down, it is a far chance it will be slashed in India as well. If that sounds too bothersome, then try this simple rule of thumb - if the price tag of a game that is more than a couple of years old is above Rs 1000, then it is a fair chance that you are being robbed!

Know any more examples of overpriced games? Post your comments below or drop a line to nimish@tcp.in

Game manuals – going extinct?

NIMISH DUBEY

Not too long ago, video games used to come in elaborate packages. These would contain the game CDs, manuals, keyboard shortcuts and sometimes even handy objects like maps, story backgrounds, and miniature figurines of game characters. These packages often used to cost a pretty penny (generally something in the vicinity of Rs 1500) but one did not mind coughing up the cash because one seemed to be getting a lot of stuff for one’s cash.

Unfortunately, that no more seems to be the case. When I lightened my purse to the tune of Rs 1399 to get a copy of the much-hyped Half-Life 2, I was expecting the package to contain at least some documentation. Well, it contained lots of cardboard padding, seven CDs (in poor quality paper envelopes) and a single-page instruction sheet! And it wasn’t as if that was an aberration. I recently purchased a copy of the Diamond edition of Neverwinter Nights. A basic 12-page booklet was all it had in the name of instructions and game help. A far cry indeed from the days when each game came accompanied with extensive documentation that not only covered gameplay instructions and troubleshooting tips but even provided information about the story of the game. For instance, Clive Barker’s Undying came with an elaborate diary written by one of the game’s main characters. Diablo’s manual provided extensive background to the plot of the game, and even included some poetry. And Wizards and Warriors came packaged with a map of the game’s universe drawn on silk! What’s more, CDs used to come in plastic jewel cases, not in sub-standard paper envelopes.

Game developers say that they now include manuals in PDF format on the game CDs – it saves paper and is just as accessible to the player. That may be so but it also means that you can no longer pause your game to consult a manual (unless you print it out – something I would not advise. Some of those manuals run into dozens of pages). And surely a reduction in game prices would be fair, given the fact that they are no longer accompanied by any documentation or support material.

Are manuals all that important? Are game companies actually ripping off gamers in the name of preserving paper? Have your say by posting a comment or dropping a line to nimish@tcp.in

Game Pad

NIMISH DUBEY

The latest from the world of computer, mobile and video games

Ubisoft announces new Splinter Cell game
Good news for Sam Fisher fans. Ubisoft has announced details of the next Splinter Cell game, the fourth in the series. Titled Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent, the game is due for release in Spring 2006 for all major gaming platforms. The story once again revolves around Sam Fisher, who this time has to infiltrate a terrorist group to prevent a major attack. The developers are promising to serve lots of emotion in addition to the usual mix of action and stealth, with multiple endings being part of the menu. Evidently Sam cannot even bump off too many of the bad guys, as this would blow his cover. Of course, sitting by idly would endanger the lives of millions. Sounds promising already!

Thief:Deadly Shadows sneaks onto cellphones
Perhaps the greatest stealth game of them all, Thief:Deadly Shadows, has now a cellphone version. As in the PC and PlayStation version of the game, you play master thief Garrett and sneak past guards, pick locks and burgle houses in a medieval city. The game does not look as impressive on the cell as it did on the PC, but developers IOMO are saying that the action more than compensates for this. The game has 16 levels distributed over two episodes. Hope we see it sneak into India soon.

SEGA to make official game for 2008 Olympics
SEGA Corporation and International Sports Multimedia (ISM), the exclusive licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), have announced a partnership to publish the Official Video Game of the 2008 Olympic Games at Beijing. The game is expected to be released for all major platforms and although details are a bit scarce at the moment, they are likely to include a wide variety of sports. SEGA has quite a task on its hands - previous games based on the Olympics have come a cropper at the cash counter!

Nokia showcases mobile gaming tools
Nokia recently unveiled details of its next generation games platform which would allow users to play high quality games on Nokia smartphones. The company held workshops in Helsinki and Vancouver in this regard. This is supposed to be part of Nokia’s strategy to expand the N-Gage platform's experience across a wide range of Nokia multimedia devices. However, cynics believe that after failing in gaming hardware, Nokia is now trying to make its presence felt in the software sector!

Interested in getting the latest information about a game? Feel free to contact Nimish at nimish@tcp.in