Do you know the name of the project which brought Pakistan in contact with the game development? If you say cricket revolution, you are exactly right. But before getting to know who got this contract and how, we will discuss little background of gaming in Pakistan.
Early generations experienced PCs and Sega consoles soon got dissatisfied with being mere consumers. As a result, they tried to find a source of income in the said industry.
A field, gaming, which seemed like a waste of time to older generations having fictional characters, stories and moving images turned out to be a lucrative business. Being fed and dissatisfied with games at the early age, this generation took a leap of faith and started working in the newly emerging line of field.
Initially, like many fields, it strived with minor modifications of earlier games, but soon a studio named Mindstorm got their first big shot. In Pakistan the pioneers of videogame development started their work on gaming projects in the early 2000s which encouraged several gaming enthusiasts and developers to work in the field and as a result several gaming companies came into being in Pakistan.
We will discuss some initial companies, that made it possible for Pakistan to be part of this global business, at length here. In this article we are going to draw a little timeline for our audience who is interested in knowing the background of gaming industry in Pakistan.
MIND STORM
In 2006 first ever Pakistani game developing studio started their journey. It gave several successful projects. Their portfolio carries popular hits such as War Inc, and Hospital Inc & Piercing Parlor. The not only develop games but they are also developing this industry with the help of willing and hardworking individuals. A free opportunity is given to individuals who wish to create new games.
WE.R.PLAY:
After a minor gap of four years another studio with the mission of empowering and enlightening the youth of nation was established in 2010. The sole purpose of this studio was to stand alone in the line of game development. This gaming studio develops casual but artsy games for several platforms like Android, iPhone, and Facebook users. Games they carry under their wings are PocketGems, Zynga, Namco Bandai and many more.
CARAMEL TECH:
Caramel Tech Studios materialized in 2011. Said to be run by gaming industry vets. They don’t compromise on the quality of their development. Their blockbuster work includes Blades of Battle and Fruit Ninja.
Frag gaming
2013 is the time when Frag studio started their career. They specialize in unreal engine and Unity. The games they offered to this world are Asterix and friends and many more.
Rematch Studios
In 2016 Rematch Studios based in Karachi started their work on AA quality VR named ‘Area of Darkness’. Its positive reception brought rematch studios in the lime line.
KNIGHTS PVT. LTD:
Knights Private Limited brings imagination into reality. This game developing studio started its flight in 2017 with a group of visionaries. Beginning was rocky, but output came with 250+ skillful developers and designers. Focus of the hub is to promoting individuals for game development.
Tech house games
Tec house Games studio 2019 developed Quality games. They also have a sister company named 360 Gaming studio. The game that this house created is battle ops which received special attention.
WonderTree
WonderTree is making groundbreaking advances in the field of game development. They are not just making games but working on research-based AR games. Their work is modifying the ways education is offered to children with special needs. This developing house is based in Karachi.
Conclusion
Pandemic (Covid-19) made indoor games a new life. Top or not, most gaming companies in Pakistan are trying to attract the international investors by offering quality work.
Where videogame development is money making line of work, it also requires a nurturing attitude from government. Gaming as a career for Pakistani youth will not only contribute to lessening the economic burden, but it will also help in the advancement of our software industry.
Several countries including India and Turkyie have taken interest in their gaming sectors. The same is expected of Pakistan to empower youth.
