Sony Launches Desi Adda for The PS2 and PSP

Sony Computer Entertainment has announced the launch of Desi Adda: Games of India – specially developed by an Indian Game Development Studio – GameShastra Solutions Pvt Ltd, for the PS2 and PSP.

Desi Adda: Games of India are the first console games to be playable in 3 Indian languages – Hindi, Punjabi and Tamil. It features 6 traditional Indian games – Pachisi, Goat & the tiger, Kite Fight, Kabaddi, Gilli Danda and a dance game.

Developed for both PS2 and PSP, ‘Desi Adda: Games of India’ will be available in the Indian market at a suggested retail price of Rs. 499, for PS2 and Rs. 999 for the PSP.

Atindriya Bose, Country Manager – PlayStation, Sony Computer Entertainment said, “We are very proud to launch the first Indian game on PSP with localized content, in 3 Indian languages completely developed in India These are the long-established, traditional games of India that are now inspiring games on the very modern interactive platform of PlayStation. On PS2 and PSP platform, people will, for the first time, get to play these time-honored games and carry forward the flavors of traditional India to the newer generations”.

Prakash Ahuja, CEO, Gameshastra, said, “When we presented the concept of Desi Adda to SCEE , we were pleasantly surprised with the enthusiasm and the support that we got from SCEE to build India based thematic content for the Indian market and the Diaspora globally. We are very excited with the way the game has evolved and are thankful to SCEE for all their belief in launching this title across their major platforms. Currently, we are also working on a new genre of game based on Indian Martial Arts, along with multiple titles for the PSP Minis platform for the global market.”

The game is the story of Avinash, son of an NRI businessman, who comes to visit his ancestral village. Since Avinash has lived all his life abroad, and this is his first visit to an Indian village, he is fascinated by what he sees. The story unfolds as he roams around the village, plays the different village games, and meets Gowri and Gopal, a couple who are in love, but cannot get married as the village head, Garjan Singh, is opposed to their match. Avinash must now seek different people in the village, who play a part in this story one way or the other, and try to find a way to get Gowri and Gopal married and also save the village from the evil plans of Garjan Singh.

The 6 traditional Indian games include:

Pachisi – Pachisi is a turn based board game played using the cross shaped board and two rectangular dice. It’s a game of change and strategy. Pachisi game played between the Pandavas and Kauravas is the significant event in the great epic of Mahabharata.

Aadu Puli Aatam (Goat & the Tiger) – This is a hunting game between the extravagant Tigers and the deceitful goats. The general rule of this interesting strategy game is the number of tigers varies from 1 to 4, and the number of goats from 11 to 12 to 23 or 24. The general aim is to hem in the tigers so that they cannot move, but the arrangement of pieces, the method of play and the rules of capture vary from game to game.

Kite fight – In India people fly kites to cut other kites. Specially made threads, mostly coated with fine powdered glass, are used for the kite fight. Kites are made from colored paper and are available in various shapes. Two bamboo sticks called “tuddah” (which is straight) and “Kaamp” which is arched, hold the paper together. The string attached determines the performance of the kite.

Kabaddi – Two teams compete with each other for higher scores, by touching or capturing the players of the opponent team. Each team consists of 12 players, of which seven are on court at a time, and five in reserve. The two teams fight for higher scores, alternating defence and offense.

Gilli Danda is a game like cricket or baseball but without a ball and with a different set of rules. The ball is replaced by a small stick called Gilli. The Gilli 3 to 4 inches long and both the ends are tapered. Danda is a 24 inch long cylindrical stick used like a bat. Player can enjoy batting the Gilli or fielding among the free cattle.

Dance game is a beat matching game, in which the user has to match the beats of a song playing in the background, by pressing a combination of buttons at the right time as they scroll on the bottom of the screen. The aim is to try and successfully press the right combination of buttons at the right time in order to win the game.

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