However, their simple storylines that revolve around car and roller skating races seek only to 10 to 15 minutes of attention span as against the Ghajini game that demands four to six hours of game play. Further, online games come free except for the Internet connectivity fees and mobile games are in the Rs 30 to Rs 50 bracket barring the game on Hanuman which was priced at Rs 100. On the other hand, DVDs of the newly-launched game are priced at Rs 199. But rather than playing deterrent, these complexities coupled with Aamir Khan’s star-power have so far worked in the game’s favour.
The actor has not just enacted certain moves for the game, but also lent his voice to the lead character. The game’s acceptance confirms that though star- power continues to be a major selling factor, it can be coupled with more intense gaming plots to reap bigger profits. So far, the primary motive of using games based on films as mere promotional tools saw them being restricted to 2-D interfaces and simpler storylines, online game Don and mobile-based Madhavan’s MIG being exceptions. According to Arun Mehra, Chief Marketing Officer of Zapak Digital Entertainment, which has created online casual games based on films such as Cash, Bhoothnath and Saas Bahu Aur Sensex, movie games do extremely well a week before and after the film's release. The popularity sees a fall as the hype and promotions around the movie fade.
In fact, Shemaroo Entertainment had toyed with the reverse idea by tying-up with Jump Games to develop mobile games based on Maine Pyar Kiya, Amar Akbar Anthony and Bombay To Goa with a view to increase entertainment demand for these films. However, its non-renewal is an indicator of the strategy's success. Meanwhile, games based on long-released films such as Don and Om Shanti Om continue to feature at Gaming Hungama, courtesy its association with Shah Rukh Khan’s star-power.
As Salil Bhargava, CEO, Jump Games admits, "While conceptualising a game, we first try and zero in on the celebrity. We then develop the game concept that revolves around their personality. In India, the 'ABC concept' - Actors, Bollywood and Cricket - continues to be the formula for success." Not surprisingly then, that actors with unique positioning such as Sameera Reddy, Bipasha Basu, Malaika Arora Khan, Katrina Kaif, R Madhavan and Salman Khan are the stars ruling the glamour arena in the virtual gaming world. Clearly, Bollywood has taken a big leap by successfully delivering its first 'offline' game. However, it yet has a long way to catch up with its American counterpart that drew inspiration from the virtual world to develop Max Payne into a full-fledged feature film.