Mumbai: Hyderabad and Los Angeles based Gameshastra has inked a partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) to build a game on the PlayStation2 platform for the global market.

The game will feature traditional Indian sports like Kho Kho, Kabaddi, Gulli Danda, etc. SCEE plans to grow the market in India and other countries for PlayStation 2 game software, by collaborating with local developers like Gameshastra to produce games targeting consumers in South Asia and the Indian Diasporas globally.

Gameshastra CEO Prakash Ahuja said, "A typical Indian gamer is a city-bred youth who has no idea about traditional Indian games. These games have an inherent Indian rustic appeal to them, which will be appreciated by Indian gamers if presented in an interesting format. We are confident that the old world charm of these games would appeal not only to people in India but also to the Indian diaspora worldwide."

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe COO Jim Ryan added, "We feel that the Indian gaming market with its current growth has reached a level where a new concept like this can be tried and we expect it to do very well. We are delighted to be partnering with Gameshastra in this endeavour and have every belief that it will be a huge success."

The game is expected to release in spring 2009.