Video gaming in Bangladesh

Video gaming is relatively a new sector in Bangladesh. Games have been developed since 2002, mostly independently. However, from 2014, some IT companies have started to develop video games commercially. There have also been some research carried out at various universities for the betterment of the video game development sector.[1]

History

Video gaming was introduced in the country through arcade gaming. It went through a significant growth during the late 1990s because of the availability of personal computers at lower prices. However, the local video game development only started in the early 2000s.[2] Dhaka Racing, a racing video game set in the streets of Dhaka, is the first 3D video game to be developed in the country.[3] The game was designed by two undergraduate students of computer science and was launched independently by eSophers in 2002.[4][3] Getting huge response from the gamers across the country, the game eventually paved the way for the local video game development sector. A year later, inspired by the success of Dhaka Racing, a group of computer science students from Chittagong developed Chittagong Racing.[5]

In 2004, a first-person shooter game titled Arunodoyer Agnishikha was developed by Trimatrik Interactive, which was based on the events of Bangladesh Liberation War. Being the first Bangladeshi game of its genre, it received widespread acclaim and started a new chapter of video game development in the country.[6] In 2012, a group of students from BRAC University developed Aerial Multi-Player Dogfight which they claimed to be the first massively multi-player online (MMO) game for PCs in the world that responds to body movements and voice command.[7] In 2014, Hatirjheel: Dream Begins, an Open world Action-adventure game was developed and published by MassiveStar Studio. It was the first commercially published video game in Bangladesh.[8]

Research and development

Lately, there have been some research and development carrying out on video gaming. In 2014, Microsoft Bangladesh organized a game development workshop titled "Imagine Cup Bangladesh 2014 - Game Camp" for the participants of games category of the Imagine Cup Bangladesh 2014.[9] It followed two other game camps.[10] In the same year, MassiveStar studio began a project where they will train 80,000 students as video game developers.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "IUB holds 2D game development workshop". Daily Observer. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "World of gaming". New Age. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The first 3D game developers of Bangladesh". The Daily Star. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Hang on, it's race time". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 31 Dec 2002. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "Chittagong Racing: Another racing game on the track". The Daily Star. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "Relive the '71 sensation". The Daily Star. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  7. ↑ "Brac boys take PC games to new height". The Daily Star. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "First ever commercial Bangladeshi-made video game ‘Hatirjheel’ launched". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "IUB Microsoft Student Partners (MSP) Conduct Game Development Workshop at Microsoft, BD". Independent University of Bangladesh. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  10. ↑ "Second episode of imagine camps was held at Microsoft". TechWorldBD. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Mission Hatirjheel". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 21 June 2014.