Recently a division of Bhasinsoft India, Bhasin Studios announced its tie-up with Fantastic Films International (FFI), for a multi-picture worldwide distribution and co-production deal and now it seems like there’s one more good news flowing in at the Bengaluru based animation and gaming Bhasinsoft studio. It announced that QMAX, a gaming studio from Japan and Bhasinsoft are set to launch 99Dragons – a fantasy RPG game.
The beta version of the game is expected to open tomorrow and prior to that AnimationXpress managed to get hold of Bhasinsoft and QMAX CEO Ankur Bhasin and Tadashi Yoshitake respectively to give us more insights about it.
How did the partnership take place between Bhasinsoft and QMAX?
Ankur Bhasin: We have been producing apps and games since 2009 and so far we have 70+ apps and games in various markets. Considering that we have always made money on the apps / games which are available now, we realised our strength is predominantly with the publishing and distribution. With this focus, we started looking at partnering with companies to bring better and bigger offerings.
In 2015, I was invited by JETRO to visit and participate in Tokyo Game Show wherein our single focus was to work with like minded companies for bringing content to global market that has scope for capturing the world audience’s attention.QMAX was the perfect fit.
We have been working together on this since then and are excited to bring it to the global audience.
Tadashi Yoshitake: Ankur has always been making untiring efforts and Bhasinsoft is surely our reliable and steady partner.
Tell us more about this game.
Tadashi Yoshitake: 99Dragons is a fantasy RPG game with elements of MMORPG. You are forcibly entrusted with saving the world – while the demons invade the world, you cannot relent.
What was the thought behind coming out with 99Dragons?
Ankur Bhasin: I grew up to the games which have a good story around them. Most games these days are repetitive in nature, whether you keep matching similar tiles or endlessly running or keep upgrading your city / clan as new levels keep getting released. 99Dragons has a beautiful story that is woven around the complete adventure that you unravel as you progress. If you like knowing about each character, their little things that will help you understand them better along with an all encompassing story, you will love 99Dragons. And if you don’t, the regular clan / team clashes are there as well. Best of the both worlds 😉
Can you elaborate a bit more about storyline?
Tadashi Yoshitake: It is almost as an ancient knowledge as the human beings themselves where humans, dragons and demons used to inhabit the world together in relative peace. When demons decided to have the whole world to themselves, a world shattering fight ensued. Dragons and humans formed an alliance to defeat the over zealous demons and drove them to the depths of underground commonly known as hell.
Demons have once again regrouped to take over the world, and now you stand between them and this world. What will you do?
Wow. It almost sounds like a movie storyline. Any plans on that?
Ankur Bhasin: Well nothing can be written off yet – we are into feature production as well so I guess it all depends on the love shown to us and what the gamers think of it. We will definitely have a few videos out to tingle the taste buds of gamers. Rest depends on the fall out. Speaking of which, you can check the first teaser:
You have the beta opening up – and from what I hear, it isn’t the normal beta. What’s special?
Ankur Bhasin: Well, it has always been my dream to give an arena for gamers to make their living playing games. This is the first step – we run contests for Beta gamers who stand to earn real money by being a part of it.
Wait, did you say real money?
Ankur Bhasin: Yes, no strings attached. Upto Rs 10,000 by just being a beta gamer – and by being real good at it, that is! More details of the same will be announced in game once the beta starts.
So how can one be a part of it?
Tadashi Yoshitake: We will be having an open beta. Announcement will be made on 99 Dragons official facebook page or one can signup on the mailing list on the website 99dragons.ebhasin.com to get the mail blast right when this goes in action.
Are you guys working on any other projects together?
Ankur Bhasin: So far, we surely have had a very good understanding with QMAX and we look forward to working together on multiple fronts. However, one thing at a time. So at the moment, we are going to focus on 99Dragons and see how to make it bigger and better.
Tadashi Yoshitake: Our company is developing various games at the moment and will release those in the Japanese market first, then expand globally. We, of course, would prefer to partner again with Bhasinsoft in that case.
Are you planning on coming out with Merchandise?
Ankur Bhasin: Not now, but it is on the cards.
In what territories will the game be available?
Ankur Bhasin: The game is going to be available globally in English. However, we may plan for a staggered release. We are yet to finalise the same.
Any localisation for different countries?
Tadashi Yoshitake: Currently the game is available in Japanese in the Android and iOS stores for Japan. Further localisation will depend on how we scale it up in the English version.
Can you both throw a little light on the gaming scenario in your countries?
Ankur Bhasin: Predominant gaming market in India is mobile gaming, thanks to lower costs of access and device, both. With increasing connectivity, this is only bound to grow. Although India is a good place for launching games which requires numbers, such as MMORPG, ARPU (average revenue per user) consistently is at a lower end compared to global averages. We expect this to rise over the next couple years though. Also, in app purchase is significantly low but has seen some growth spurts in the last 18 months.
Tadashi Yoshitake: Mobile gaming market in Japan has already been matured and it has been evolved uniquely as to obtain extremely high ARPU by selling ‘GACHA’. The market is at the stage of seeing fierce competition of the gaming giants. We prefer not fight on that same stage, and will always develop games with the view of the rest of the world.
Bhasinsoft and QMAX are set to launch the beta version of 99Dragons tomorrow on 15 November, 2016.
