This episode has content spoken in Tamil and English, so please enable subtitles if you don't understand Tamil!
Embark on a journey of inspiration and triumph as hosts Karan and Akshay take you behind the scenes of the sensational @venbagame in this episode of the Humans of GameDev Podcast.
Joining us is the mastermind behind this acclaimed creation, Abhi, who shares the remarkable story behind the game's meteoric rise to fame. Discover the secrets behind the recent accolades, including the prestigious Seumas McNally Grand Prize at the Independent Games Festival, Best Debut and Social Impact Game Awards at the Game Developer Choice Awards, and the coveted Debut Game award at BAFTA.
Abhi opens up about his profound admiration for Tamil cinema, quoting his favorite director #Vetrimaran and sharing how movies like those of Lokesh Kanaraj influenced his team's creative process. His love for AR Rahman and Illayaraja and talks about @AlphaSomething 's love for Yuvan Shankar Raja! He also describes working with legends like Deva who sang and performed a track in the game and the experience behind it!
Delve into the game's intricacies as Abhi reveals how his passion for Tamil cinema, epitomized by legends like Rajinikanth, inspired the character Paavalan, adding nuanced references that resonate deeply with Tamil culture.
From subtle love stories reminiscent of Mani Ratnam's classics to heartfelt acknowledgments of the dedicated community eagerly awaiting the game's release, Abhi shares the heartfelt journey behind @venbagame. Tune in to hear about the incredible support from passionate gamers and content creators like @tamilgaming @ManguniGamer and @the_pgyt whose unwavering enthusiasm brought the game to life in the digital realm. Don't miss this exclusive peek into one of gaming's most celebrated successes!
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Credits:
Logo Design: Karan Ganesh and Akshay Bharadhwaj
Intro Animation: Akshay Bharadhwaj
Intro Music: ARIMOUS x Sankrith ( sankriths) ( _armious_)
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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:41 - Welcoming Abhi
01:34 - Recognitions for Venba
04:50 - Abhi getting into video games
09:27 - The rise of the games Industry in India
10:40 - The start of the Venba journey
12:50 - Art Style choice and influence
15:15 - Music and cultural integration
15:43 - Yuvan's Influence
16:49 - Music choice for Venba
21:05 - Working with Thenisai Thendral Deva
25:20 - Pitching a Tamil Culture game to a diverse team
30:42 - Niche Tamil and Cultural references in Venba
34:38 - Love and Support from Tamil TH-camrs
35:25 - SFX in the game
37:45 - Cooking the Biryani in Venba
39:38 - Recipes used in the game
43:36 - Story Arc of Venba
47:37 - Tamil GameDev in Canada
50:00 - Abhi's favorite tamil director
54:10 - Paavalan's Design inspired by Rajini
55:34 - Abhi's advice for people starting in games
59:31 - TGA Future Class Experience