Sify wants to open more gamedromes

Sify Technologies, the Nasdaq-listed internet company, is betting big on the Indian gaming industry.

The company, which made cybercafes synonymous with iWays, is now doing the same for the gaming industry, thanks to its gamedromes. About 20 per cent of the company's revenues come from gaming and this is growing at 5-10 per cent on a year-on-year basis.

With more than 3,000 iWays and a target of setting up two iWays a day, Sify wants a similar growth for its gamedromes. There are currently 250 gamedromes across more than 50 cities.

The popularity of these gamedromes can be gauged from the National Online Counter Strike Condition Zero tournament held by Sify early this year, that witnessed the participation of 10,000 gaming enthusiasts and over 7,000 million registered online users. iWays and gamedromes cater to two different segments.

While iWay users access the internet for surfing, e-ticketing, e-commerce and VoIP calls, gamedromes are specialised internet gaming cafes.

Sify has been providing massive multi-player online role player games (MMORGs) through its gamedromes. It has tied up with the Korea-based A3 to provide MMORG content customised for the Indian user.

The company wants to continue with its focus on MMORGs as it fits into Sify's strategy of community development. It will soon be launching an entry-level MMORG along with another Korean game developer. The game, available for free, will be launched in January.

"We have been in this segment for a long time and hence want to invest and propagate something which will last long. We feel that MMORGs are the next frontiers in the gaming industry," said Naresh Ajwani, executive vice-president, Sify.

The company is spending nearly Rs 5-6 lakh on each gamedrome. "Very surprisingly, growth has been coming from tier-II cities where entertainment modes are less developed," said Ajwani.

Apart from the MMORGs, Sify also provides games from developers such as Levelup, Kreeda and games2win.com in the casual gaming segment.

The tie-up with the Korean company is on two fronts: firstly, to provide content to the users (not a revenue-sharing mechanism) and secondly, use its iWays to sell recharges for these gaming portals. Naveen H, national manager-games, Sify Technologies, says that there has been significant growth in the gaming industry with about 85,000 registered users.