Great News: Reliance buys 50% of Codemasters

[OKP]

Maybe not more games, but better quality.

 

[Params7]

It's just a shame that 220 million Indians live below the poverty line

That still leaves like a billion people :laugh though it is good news for Coddies. More funding for at least cricket games.

Params7 added 5 Minutes and 49 Seconds later...

This article tells a bit more :
Bollywood mogul Anil Ambani buys 50pc stake in computer games maker Codemasters - Telegraph

 

[drainpipe32]

All I get from the article is that you should probably expect mobile phone versions of those games, probably with most emphasis on the iPhone.

My first thoughts when I read the word 'Reliance'.

So this pretty much means they're going to be funding Codemasters?

 

[pcfan123]

leaving the cell phone games aside, this can only help the cricket console/PC gaming industry.

 

[drainpipe32]

Yup, finally we'll see some funding go into a cricket game. Probably not in the way EA funds FIFA, NBA and Madden games, but hopefully close.

 

[x Punjabi Killa]

It is about time that Indians take control of cricket games. It has a huge market in India but never been marketed properly in India. My guess is that things are about to change.

 

[sachin_rocks]

no pc version annonced so reliance buying 50% of codies doesnt make any difference

 

[AbhishekS]

Its probably safe to assume that a fully licensed IPL game is only a few years away now.

All I get from the article is that you should probably expect mobile phone versions of those games, probably with most emphasis on the iPhone.

Two completely contrasting posts.

If one goes by what hMarka says, then mobile games aren't possible, as Mumbai Indians is owned by Mukesh Ambani, and the Reliance Communications section is handled by Anil Ambani. Both are brothers, but have a lot of ego. Don't forget that Mumbai Indians' main kit sponsor in IPL Season 2 was Idea Cellular, a rival of Anil Ambani's Reliance Communications, as Reliance has now begun GSM service as well.

And, if one goes by what MattW has said, then IPL license would be difficult, not impossible. The only obstacle might be Mukesh Ambani.

 

[Gurjot95]

We can see some more licensed teams and hopefully tournaments with this in future.

 

[MattW]

And, if one goes by what MattW has said, then IPL license would be difficult, not impossible. The only obstacle might be Mukesh Ambani.

I think a company could get the IPL licence tomorrow if they wanted it, but I just don't see the money as being there for it.

The Australian and British markets are the only places where the dollars are for Codemasters. There is no commercial justification for purchasing an IPL licence if the main markets won't buy it.

Codemasters had a go with AC09 in India, testing the waters with a good pricepoint, it clearly didn't work, so they aren't going to be rushing in to making an IPL game in my view.

There's a chicken and egg problem here as well, the Indian market isn't going to want to buy a game with only England and Australia licensed, but the game won't licence for those regions while people there don't pay for the game.

If an executive thinks that IPL will make Codemasters money in India, they will buy the licence and make a game. If they don't, they won't.

 

[AbhishekS]

They aren't going to be rushing in to making an IPL game in my view.

I don't think they'll even try for it.
As you said, an IPL game would get Codemasters money only from India!

the Indian market isn't going to want to buy a game with only England and Australia licensed

They do.

 

[Params7]

The IPL videogame license is currently with some cheap flash/mobile maker company (Indiagames I think?) so if they could get it I don't think it would cost THAT much.

And I seriously think a PC version with online protection so multilpayer only works on real copies with IPL/India license would sell a lot. It should be something to consider for next year. If Flash gaming has a market there then so does PC gaming, and cricket games aren't demanding. If it says anything, GTA4 managed 50,000 copies sold despite its super high system requirements even by todays standards, when it was released after a big delay from the original console release (so most pirated it 6 months before).

Its all upto Coddies, but I think it would only help them if they keep targetting the biggest cricket market.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

An Indian firm buying 50% of codemasters, citing cricket games as one of the reasons!!!

Well, this does mean we can look forward to a cricket game being backed by a BIG company.



===============================================

NEW DELHI: Anil Ambani Group company Reliance Big Entertainment said it will acquire 50 per cent stake in UK-based gaming firm

Codemasters.

Reliance Big Entertainment has agreed to acquire 50 per cent shareholding in Codemasters, the company said in a statement.

The company, however, did not disclose amount involved in this deal

The remaining 50 per cent stake is with European venture capital firm Balderton Capital, which had first invested in Codemasters in 2005.

Codemasters has revenues of over USD 150 million and holds major franchises in cricket and racing games, among others.

Reliance Big's gaming division Zapak Digital Entertainment will oversee the said investment in Codemasters, the statement added.

"We are excited to partner with Codemasters ... its strong technology, development and distribution presence will complement our global gaming portfolio," Zapak CEO Rohit Sharma said.

Zapak's global strength in mobile gaming will enhance Codemasters' ability to fully leverage its attractive franchises such as its racing and cricket games, he added.

"The opportunities arising from this partnership are truly exciting. Reliance and Zapak have immense resources and will help us realize the full potential of our game coding and online excellence and especially in the world's fastest growing markets," Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens said.

Good news.

Just as Codies decide to ditch the PC, of course.