Bindra inspires computer game

GAMING: Games2win.com launches Gunning for Gold to honour the ace shooter.

Abhinav Bindra, the Indian sports’ latest golden boy, may come across shy and recluse but is fast catching the fancy of the country.

Games2win.com, an online gaming company, has released a game called Gunning for Gold to honour Bindra. The game allows users to take on the avatar of Bindra and gives them a chance to virtually earn a gold medal.

The shooting event finals at the Beijing Olympics form the setting of the game. Players get to represent India as shooters and have to play against finalists Zhu Qinan and Henri Hakkinen.

Players need to use their mouse to aim and shoot their way through ten rounds to reach the top spot, much like the real version of the 10-metre air rifle event. Also, there is an introduction to air rifle shooting for those who want to know more about the game.

Bindra, who won India’s first Olympic gold medal in an individual event, is expected to be the next big thing for Indian companies, who are desperately looking for fresh faces beyond the world of films and cricket. But some celebrity managers feel Bindra may not go the cricketers’ way because he does not need money — the Bindra family business is worth Rs 300 crore.

Meanwhile, the computer game has happened. “Gunning for Gold is our tribute to Bindra. The idea is to inspire more and more Indians to think sports apart from Cricket. We want Indian youth to re-live the experience and magic which Bindra went through in his moment of glory,” says Alok Kejriwal, founder and CEO of Games2win.com, adding: “This almost real game makes sure that players understand what it takes to win a gold medal and the effort and dedication required to win. We hope we can inspire many more Abhinavs to take up the real game after playing this electronic version.”

Kejriwal adds that he likes to make topical games. The idea struck him an hour after Bindra won the medal and a team of four people started working on it from that very day and the game was up in mere 5 days.

The highly complex and sophisticated technology of the game has been very scientifically programmed to make top score shooting a tough and demanding sport. The time and even the slightest hand movement can affect the player’s score. It’s electrifying and addictive. So go ahead and take a shot at gold.