Ogre Head Studio: Building Games Rooted in Indian Folklore
Indie Studio Ogre Head Studio Draws Inspiration from Indian Folklore for Upcoming Deckbuilder ‘Yodha’
Ogre Head Studio, the autonomous game developer behind the acclaimed roguelike asura, is gearing up to release its next title: a deckbuilding game called Yodha. Founder Zain Fahadh spoke with NewsDirectory3 about the studio’s journey, its commitment to representing Indian culture in games, and the challenges and opportunities of drawing inspiration from a rich and complex mythology.
Fahadh’s path to game progress began as a 3D artist at an outsourcing studio, where he worked on characters for AAA titles. After five years, he yearned to create games for PC and console platforms, leading him to establish Ogre Head Studio.
“We founded Ogre Head Studio with the idea to make PC and console titles [taking] inspiration from the local folklore and culture,” Fahadh explains.
Starting with a personal investment of $2,000, Ogre Head bootstrapped its way to success.
“We burned that out in six months,” Fahadh admits. “With the little bit of money we had left, we went to Dubai and showcased the prototype for Asura, and that’s where we got a lot of traction for the game.”
Released in 2017, Asura is an action roguelike featuring a procedurally generated skill tree, ensuring a unique experience with every playthrough. The game’s success allowed Ogre Head to expand its operations and explore new avenues.”Because of Asura, people were asking us if we could help them with their games,” Fahadh says.”We used Asura as a tool to expand our other businesses.”
Today, Ogre head provides outsourcing and consultation services to major companies like Warner Brothers and Paramount, building entire games alongside partners who handle localization and marketing. This dual approach allows the studio to fund its own projects while contributing to the wider gaming industry.
” [This], in turn, enabled us to fund the studio by consulting with other game developers and companies,” Fahadh continues. “We’d get paid for that, than we funneled that money into asura, and Asura sold well, and that also made money.”
Despite the industry’s focus on casual mobile games at the time, Fahadh remained steadfast in his vision.
“While promoting the game at events, including BitSummit in Japan, Fadhah speaks of how industry people reacted to the game, asking why the studio wasn’t making casual mobile titles “because that’s where the money was [at the time].”
“And we said, ‘No, we don’t want to do that. This is somthing we’re passionate about,” he says.
With Asura released, Yodha in development, and ongoing outsourcing projects, Ogre Head’s six-person team juggles multiple responsibilities.
“There’s a lot of downtime involved,” Fahadh explains. “For example, with Yodha, there’s a lot of R&D that we’re doing on the technical side of things. there are times where we have these spaces we can easily accommodate for another game. We manage, and I have 14 years of experience in this industry.”
Both Asura and Yodha draw heavily from Indian folklore, a source of inspiration that remains relatively untapped in the gaming world.
Fahadh believes this will change in the coming years.
“I think it’s going to happen when the emerging generation go to developers like Ubisoft and become studio directors,” he says. ”Unless there is a lead who has some personal affinity towards the country or the culture they’re from, it won’t happen.”the next generation will bring that in the big titles, in the smaller realm of things.I woudl say it’s a very touchy subject, as the culture [in India] is people practicing to the gods. It’s not like [Western mythology] – no one is angry about Kratos killing Zeus. But try doing that to a God over here, and you will get backlash. A lot of people find this [connection to the gods] very personal.”
As ogre Head Studio continues to carve its own path, its commitment to representing Indian culture and folklore promises to bring fresh and engaging experiences to gamers worldwide.
Indian Game Studio Ogre Head Aims to Share its Unique fantasy Vision with the World
Indie game developer Ogre Head is making waves with its focus on Indian folklore and culture, crafting immersive experiences that offer a fresh outlook on the fantasy genre.
Founder and CEO Fahadh believes there’s a wealth of untapped potential in Indian mythology and history. “People haven’t even tapped into medieval India, which is a entirely different story to be built upon,” he says. “And the current Indian culture is very vibrant – there are so many stories that can come out.”
Ogre Head’s latest game, Yodha, is a roguelike deckbuilder that immerses players in a world inspired by Indian mythology.while the game doesn’t feature traditional deities, Fahadh emphasizes that its indian roots are deeply embedded in its design.”If you play the game, you’ll still feel like an Indian made it,” he explains. “that’s what I think when I’m saying that I’m inspired by folklore and culture.”
Fahadh draws parallels between his approach to game development and his experience playing Dungeons & Dragons. “if I’m running a D&D session, instead of meeting a mage or a cleric, I would be a sage or a Sadhu in a forest somewhere,” he notes. ”Rather than meeting someone in a tavern, you would be meeting in an Ashram – those are the kind of tools we use.”
While Ogre Head’s games are steeped in Indian culture, fahadh stresses that they are designed to be accessible to a global audience. “What we are saying is that we are making games for everyone,” he says. “if you’re a gamer, you should be able to enjoy Yodha. Genre also matters and our game is a little niche – it’s a roguelike deckbuilder,it’s not for everyone.”
Looking ahead,Fahadh envisions Ogre Head as a creative powerhouse,expanding beyond video games into comics,movies,and animation. “I’m trying to build worlds rather than just games, and we’re heading towards that,” he says. “my ideal Ogre Head would be a shop that [many] creative ideas come out of, not just games. Things like comics, movies, and animation – that’s what I’m trying to steer the studio towards. Gaming is a tool for us to spread our message of Indian fantasy, so let’s see where it goes.”
From Asura to Yodha: Avant-garde Indie Studio Ogre Head Continues to Champion Indian Mythology in Games
New Delhi,india – Ogre Head Studio,teh independent game studio known for its acclaimed roguelike Asura,is preparing to unleash its next project: Yodha,a captivating deck-building game steeped in the rich tapestry of Indian folklore.
In an exclusive interview with NewsDirectory3, Ogre Head Studio founder Zain Fahadh discussed the studio’s commitment to weaving Indian culture into its games, the unique challenges of adapting mythology for interactive entertainment, and the exciting future of Yodha.
Fahadh’s journey in game growth began as a 3D artist at an outsourcing studio, where he honed his skills crafting characters for AAA titles. After five years, he felt a yearning to create games for PC and console platforms, leading him to establish Ogre Head Studio with a singular vision: to celebrate Indian folklore and culture through interactive experiences.
“We founded Ogre Head Studio with that core idea in mind,” Fahadh explains. With a modest initial investment of $2,000, Ogre Head bootstrapped its way to success, showcasing a prototype of Asura at a gaming event in Dubai that generated significant buzz and propelled the studio forward.
Released in 2017,Asura – an action roguelike with a procedurally generated skill tree – captivated audiences with its unique gameplay and captivating aesthetic,drawing inspiration from Indian mythology. This early success allowed Ogre Head to expand its operations and explore new avenues, including outsourcing and consulting services for major companies like Warner Brothers and Paramount.
This dual approach, Fahadh emphasizes, allows Ogre Head to fund its own independent projects while together contributing to the broader gaming industry.
“The success of Asura provided us with the financial stability to pursue our own projects,” Fahadh explains, “While also allowing us to provide valuable services to other developers and studios.”
Despite the industry’s focus on casual mobile games at the time of Asura‘s release, Fahadh remained steadfast in his commitment to crafting meaningful, narrative-driven experiences grounded in Indian culture.
Recalling industry feedback regarding Asura, Fahadh shares, “People would frequently enough ask us why we weren’t focusing on developing casual mobile games, as that’s where the perceived financial opportunities lay. But we were unwavering in our belief that there was an audience for games that celebrated our cultural heritage.”
With Yodha, Ogre head Studio aims to delve deeper into the captivating world of Indian mythology, leveraging the engaging deck-building genre to deliver a unique and immersive experience. Though Fahadh remains tight-lipped about specific gameplay details, he promises that Yodha will honor the spirit and richness of Indian folklore while offering players an innovative and captivating gaming experience.
As Ogre Head studio continues to carve its niche in the gaming landscape, Yodha stands as a testament to the studio’s commitment to creating meaningful and culturally resonant experiences.