Sony to launch four console games by May

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, responsible for distribution, marketing and sales of PlayStation2, PlayStation3 and PSP (PlayStation Portable) software and hardware, is planning to launch four console games in India by May next year.

“There is a game being developed with characters of Amar Chitra Katha by Gameshastra. Then, you will see two games coming out of Immersive Technologies on Chandragupta Maurya in his early days, called Battle Royal. Another is to figure who can do a better strategy, Porus or the Rani of Jhansi. Besides, there will be a newer version of Street Cricket,” Atrindriya Bose, country manager (PlayStation), Sony Computer Entertainment India, told mediapersons here today.

Sony Computer currently has four partners in India – Hyderabad-based Gameshastra and Immersive, Bangalore-headquartered Candella and Mumbai’s Trine Games. They have so far developed six games, including Hanuman, Desi Adda, World Quiz and Street Cricket in 12 formats for the domestic market.

“India is adept in telling stories which are more contemporary,” Bose said, adding the typical investment in its soon-to-be-launched games would be $2 million (Rs 9 crore) each.

Saying the installed base of consoles in India, together with its competitors like Microsoft’s Xbox and Nitendo, was pegged at a million units, he said the company was expecting sales of 350,000 units of its PS2, PS3 and PSP consoles in the country by the end of this financial year, a 45 per cent jump over last year.

Sony today launched a game titled Street Cricket Champions for PSP and PSP2. Developed by Trine Games, it is priced at Rs 499 for PS2 and Rs 699 for the PSP.