Join good vs evil war during lunch break

Amar Chitra Katha launches a free multiplayer online game that allows you to choose avatars, fight evil invaders and custom-make an end, all in an attempt to save the world

Professionals who take a break from work by squeezing in a session of an online game, have an alternative if they dig a desi gaming kick. Legend of Katha is India's first Massively Multi-Player Online Role Playing Game (MMPORPG) targeted at the casual gamer who plays at home or in the office during breaks. The game can be played for free, is fairly simple to follow and doesn't require any downloads.



Arjun Gupte, VP-Animation and Gaming and Lead Game Designer at ACK Media (the guys behind Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle series) says he drew inspiration from the multiple-choice titles written by Ian Livingstone. "We have followed a similar format here, where users can choose different paths, each of which leads to an alternate ending. Each time they play, they can switch roles, visit new lands and scale up levels."



To play, you must log on to the site and register as a member. The game is a battle between good and evil, and is played out in a fantasy land called Trikoot. A magical tree named Katha maintains the balance of life but when the Ramblas, a group of invaders kill the Katha tree, chaos ensues. This is where the game starts and you are entrusted with the task of saving the world by donning the garb of a trader, monk, magician or warrior.



Depending on the avtar you choose, you enjoy certain powers. For instance, a magician enjoys invisibility and teleporting. You can customise your look depending on whether you choose to fight the Ramblas in the badlands, the city or in the snowlands.

At every stage, you win gold coins for tasks completed, which you can use to recharge your health, buy weapons and move on to the next level. The multi-player game allows you to simultaneously chat and fight with other players who haveu00a0 logged on from anywhere in the world.

The game follows a freemium policy, where you can play for free but can spend money to advance to a higher level or buy weapons. The game that took over a year to develop, incorporates 3D, Maya and Flash technologies. Currently, it enjoys a membership of 8,000 users.

Log on to: www.legendofkatha.com