Blogs

Video Games to Silver Screen - Risky But Promising ?

Movies based on video games is a risky genre when it comes to commercial success. However over the years more and more movies have been made which are based on video games. The first ever movie based on a video game was Super Mario Bros. based on legendary game Super Mario. This movie was released in 1993. However this movie was a big commercial failure. The movie had flashy sets and special effects but it had a weak story line.

Then several more video games transitioned to big screen as movies like Double Dragon (1994), Street Fighter (1994) and Mortal Kombat (1995). However Mortal Kombat was the first movie based on video games which achieved the commercial success, earning 122 Million dollars worldwide over a budget of 18 million dollars.

However overall commercial success has eluded the movies based on video games. In recent years, the box office performance of such movies has improved slightly but still makers have been unable to crack the right formula of turning video games into blockbuster hits.

The animated version of Super Mario Bros released in 2023 remains the most successful video game movie ever, earning 1.36 Billion dollars. Warcraft (2016), Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019), Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) are some of the other video game movies which did well on box office. Resident Evil remains the highest earning movie franchise based on video games.

Despite challenges regarding the critical reception and box office performance, future of movies made on video games looks quite promising. More and more movies and even TV series are in pipeline, such as Minecraft, Borderlands, sequel to Mortal Kombat and Fallout.

With bigger budgets, better storytelling, and massive fan bases, video game movies and TV shows will gain more acceptance in the coming years.

Game Development with a Humane Touch

Can Mobile games be something more than just a source of entertainment? With billions of users worldwide hooked to their phone, playing some game or another, mobile games today have an unparalleled reach and impact on human minds. There are many instances where online players bonded during game play and left a positive impact in the real lives of fellow gamers.  May be with a more humane approach, mobile games can also become tools for self-improvement, community building, and societal change.

There are few successful examples already - Alto’s Odyssey and Prune are lauded by users for their calming visuals and relaxing theme.

Games like Florence and Gris triumphantly delve into the themes of grief, relationship and self-redemption.

“I feel a lot like Florence in the sense of being stuck somewhere with no inspiration to push me forward. This kinda inspired to me to get up and try to go on. Thanks for the ride”

Says one of the play store reviews for Florence.

While On one of the gameplay videos of Gris, here is a comment -

“..its a masterpiece .For all who have to fight with Depression like myself i wanna say: you are Not alone .Hope you all find light like this sweet Girl!”

Then there are numerous games which enhance cognitive skills through engaging game play and puzzle solving such as Lumosity, Monument Valley and Brain Out.

With the success of games like Pokémon GO and Zombies, Run! which focus on real life physical activities, we can expect more fitness-focused games in future efficiently aided by the rapidly evolving AR and VR technologies.

Gaming experience is also becoming more inclusive. For example - EndeavorRx is the first FDA-approved video game to treat ADHD in children ages 8–17. In future we will soon games catering to marginalised sections of society and individuals with disabilities.

Hopefully soon, Game Development with humane touch will emerge as more mainstream gaming genre. 

"Nirog" Released By Flying Ants Studios Is "Teacher Approved". What Are Teacher Approved Apps?

"Nirog"– A casual but educational game published by Flying Ants Studios was recently categorized as “Teacher Approved”. Nirog was developed & published as part of CSR initiatives for the district of East Singhbhum administration, Jharkhand. It was a simple game aiming at spreading awareness about hygiene and good health practices.

While “Teacher Approved” is a section of Google Play Store making it easier for families to find entertaining yet educational apps for children. All apps found in this section are reviewed by a panel of reviewers, including more than 200 teachers across the U.S., and meet Google’s existing requirements for its “Designed for Families” program.

Apps or games categorized as “Teacher Approved” meet government regulations around data collection and ad targeting, and also limits the types of ads that can be displayed to children.

Teacher Approved games and apps are available under “Kids” tab in play store.

Flying Ants Studios is committed to provide quality games like Nirog which can be played by everyone

Game Development Industry In Israel

While whole world’s focus is on ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, it is worthwhile to mention that the Israeli gaming industry has experienced significant growth and success in recent years, establishing itself as a global player in the field of game development. The Israeli gaming industry has come a long way since its inception. From the early days of simple computer games and mobile apps, it has grown into a dynamic and diverse ecosystem. With a combination of innovation, entrepreneurship, and a strongly skilled workforce, Israel has managed to carve out a niche for itself in the global gaming market.

Currently there are more than 270 Gaming startups operating in Israel which are benefitted by several unique features of Israeli game development industry, such as

Tech Talent Pool: Israel is known for its highly skilled and innovative workforce. The country has a rich history in technological advancements, and this expertise naturally translates to the gaming industry.

Strong Entrepreneurship Culture: Israel has a vibrant startup culture, and this extends to the gaming sector. Many small, independent game development studios have emerged, creating innovative and unique games

Supportive Ecosystem: The government and private sector have provided support for the gaming industry through grants, incubators, and access to capital. This ecosystem has encouraged many developers to set up shop in the country.

Several of the major Israeli game development companies are –

Playtika - Video Game developer specializing in casual games for mobile and web platforms. The games developed by the company include - Bingo Blitz, Solitaire Grand Harvest, and Best Fiends.

Overwolf – Specialises in Custom overlay apps for PC games. It allows users to overlay apps to PC games

Crazy Labs - Online mobile game publishing company. It specializes in publishing casual mobile games. Some games published by the company are My Horse Stories, AMAZE, Run Sausage Run, and more

Supersonic - Mobile game publisher of casual games. The games published by the company include Giant wanted, Basket battle, Join clash 3D, Cheerleader, Run 3D, Move animals and more

Plarium - Developer of cross-platform casual games. The company has developed multiple games including Vikings, Terminator Genisys, Total Domination, Pirates, and Sparta.

MoonActive - Creators of the immensely popular mobile game "Coin Master."

Wix Games - A subsidiary of Wix, focusing on creating HTML5 games for web and mobile platforms.

Well Played Unity, Well Played...

Is top management of Unity so naïve? Perhaps not...

In a “surprising” turn of events, Unity Technologies recently announced a significant pricing rollback for its Unity engine. Unity engine is widely used by developers worldwide, but in recent years, pricing concerns began to emerge. The company recently adopted a tiered pricing structure, which didn't sit well with many small to mid-sized game studios. This discontentment eventually culminated in a strategic rollback, an intriguing display of negotiation skill.

For example- the "Offer a Bogey" tactic is a negotiation strategy where one party proposes a demand that is intentionally excessive or unfavourable, creating a psychological anchor. In Unity's case, the excessive demand was the pricing structure before the rollback. By presenting users with this "bogey," Unity set the stage for a negotiation that would ultimately lead to a more reasonable and favourable outcome. Unity Technologies displayed excellent negotiation finesse by following up the initial excessive pricing structure with a substantial rollback, making it clear that they were willing to compromise and meet their users halfway. The question is- has this move evoked a sense of gratitude and relief among Unity's user base, fostering a more positive relationship between the company and its customers? As the Unity team communicated the pricing rollback strategically. They emphasized their commitment to supporting small and independent developers, addressing one of the major pain points of their user base. This not only demonstrated empathy but also showcased Unity's willingness to adapt and evolve in response to user feedback.

Another negotiation tactic worth mentioning in this context is the "Door-in-the-Face" tactic. This approach involves making an initially large request that is expected to be refused and then following it up with a more reasonable request. It's interesting to note that the excessive pricing structure they initially presented could be seen as a metaphorical "door in the face." The subsequent rollback served as the more reasonable request that followed, leading to a successful negotiation outcome.

In conclusion, Unity Technologies' recent pricing rollback for the Unity engine demonstrates a cunning use of negotiation tactics, specifically the "Offer a Bogey" approach. Whatever unfolded in last few days, was perhaps a planned move by Unity in all likelihood. 

Shockwaves of Unity Engine's Pricing Policy Changes: Implications on Indian Game developers

Unity Technologies' recent pricing policy changes have sent shockwaves through the game development community, affecting small indie game studios, sparking outrage on social media, and causing concern among Indian game development companies as well. Indian game developers are now faced with the challenge of either absorbing these increased costs or exploring alternative game engines. the cost of Unity Pro and Unity Plus licenses can be significant for Indian companies, especially smaller ones, which may not have access to the same resources as their Western counterparts. This situation may slow down the growth of the Indian game development scene or even force some studios to reconsider their choice of engine.

In light of these changes, many developers are exploring alternative game engines to Unity. Unreal Engine, developed by Epic Games, is a strong contender, offering powerful tools, stunning graphics capabilities, and a revenue-sharing model that can be more attractive to indie developers. Godot Engine is another open-source option that has gained popularity for its flexibility and ease of use.

Other alternatives include GameMaker Studio, Cocos2d-x, and Lumberyard. Each of these engines has its own set of features and pricing models, providing developers with a range of choices to fit their specific needs and budgets.

As the game development industry continues to evolve, developers must carefully evaluate their choices to ensure the success of their projects in this dynamic environment.