HYDERABAD, INDIA, Mrch 30, 2009: Hyderabad-based Aurona Technologies developed Hanuman: Boy Warrior, and it is the first completely India-developed game for the console Play Station 2 with localized content. The game is also Sony’s first Indian religion-based title, with an option to play in Hindi.
Hanuman: Boy Warrior is about the journey of Hanuman to free up life forms that have been turned to stone by evil forces. It is targeted at ages 6-16 years.
At the game launch, Atindriya Bose, Country Manager-PlayStation, Sony Computer Entertainment, said, “Hanuman is our very own classic hero and is ever-popular across India and with Indians abroad. The launch of Hanuman: Boy Warrior has marked a very significant milestone in the Indian game development industry.”
While there was some concern among Hindus that the game could offend Lord Hanuman, the game developers have a far more pressing concern: awful reviews. One reviewer at tech2.in wrote, “If you’re trying to capture a part of Indian religion through the gaming medium, at least try to do it justice!” And the specialized website Gaming Indians was merciless: “Yes, Hanuman: Boy Warrior should be withdrawn by Sony. Not for religious reasons however, but simply because the game is just so bad.”