The Indian Air Force in collaboration with India-based developer Threye Interactive has launched its flight battle simulator mobile game, named ‘Indian Air Force: A Cut Above’.
Air Marshal BS Dhanoa has launched the combat-based mobile game at the National Bal Bhavan in the National Capital today.
Glimpses of inauguration ceremony of Indian Air Force Publicity Pavilion and Mobile Game ‘Indian Air Force: A Cut Above’ held at National Bal Bhawan, New Delhi today.
To download the Game visit :https://t.co/cI6qOWcWil pic.twitter.com/d2RNH0cDkM— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) July 31, 2019
The Indian Air Force wants the nation’s youth to be inspired by the combat pilots and popularise the Indian Armed Forces as a career option for young Indians. The game named Indian Air Force: A Cut Above is a step in that direction.
Launch of #IAF #MobileGame : Android / iOS version of IAF developed Mobile Game (Single Player) will be launched on 31 Jul 19. Download on your Android / iOS mobile phone & cherish the thrilling flying experience. The multiplayer version will soon follow. The Teaser of the game… pic.twitter.com/yhfOrOZxWV
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) July 20, 2019
This game will be offered on Android as well as IOS devices. Players flying the aircraft could get control of the planes through touch controls or on-screen buttons. The game features anti-aircraft guns to shoot down incoming enemy aircraft or to destroy enemy radars. The game offers a lengthy tutorial that takes a player through the paces of flying and controlling the aircraft, as well as air combat.
The teaser of the game which was launched on 20 July through a Twitter post attracted great responses.
Besides featuring state-of-the-art Sukhois, Mi-17 helicopters and a mid-air refuelling tanker, the teaser of the game shows a character modelled, in terms of appearance, on Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
Wing Commander Abhinandan, flying a vintage Russian-made Mig-21 fighter, was part of the Indian Air Force package that took on the Pakistan Air Force warplanes on February 27 during a dogfight. He shot down Pakistan’s F-16 jet with a short-range Vympel R-73 air to air missile fired from his MiG-21 Bison. During the air-fight, Abhinandan’s MiG-21 Bison was also shot down by Pakistan, which had led him to eject from the jet, landing him in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. Abhinandan was held captive in Pakistan for almost 60 hours before he was released on March 1, 2019.
His act of bravery had won him many accolades and legions of admirers in India. This is probably prompted the IAF to feature a character in the game who sports Abhinandan’s trademark moustache.
As of now, the game will be available in single-player mode, but the IAF has plans to launch a multi-player mode soon.
The Indian digital gaming industry is growing rapidly, with behemoths like Alibaba backed-Paytm, Tencent, Youzu and Nazara investing in it. Being amongst the top five countries for mobile gaming in the world, the industry is already worth over $890 million.
According to KMPG and Google reports, the number of Indians who play online games has gone up from 20 million in the year 2010 to 250 million by 2018. Further, estimates suggest that India’s mobile games market will be worth $1.1 billion by 2020, and the number of users projected to become 628 million by then.
