Now, a LGBT-themed video game!

Though India has a virtual non-existent console/PC development scene, but launching any virtual reality games in India is not possible without huge capital investment and a large team. With controversial gay laws in India, India still has seen significant milestones. From India’s first transgender principal to celebrating transgender rights at premier institutions in India, India has come a long way. But it still is far from the road to equality which can be proven by the fact it is not ready for any kinds of representation of the community in any medium.

“I think there's a huge scope for a game focused on LGBT issues in India. That being said, I also think it'll be banned in India soon after its launch. The young-adults as well as mature audiences will appreciate games based on sensitive issues, but the orthodox population will do everything they can to "protect the Indian culture". Our fight, in essence, is similar to that of the LGBT community,” said Vishesh Chopra, Seven Summits Studio, which won the “Indie gamer of the year” and “Game of the year” Nasscom award in 2014.

All those game lovers might very well remember that one of the reason why the game ‘Dragon Age’ was banned in India was that it depicted same sex scenes or relationships.

So much so that, not many indie game developers in India are aspiring to make such games here.

Though Vishesh is uncertain about the response it would receive in the Indian market, but the major reason of not planning to launch such games in the near future is it is difficult to launch and share such a game in India at the first place. Apart from the market, the game developers currently lack the ability and the competitiveness to work on such a game.

“India is still very conflicted when it comes to freedom of speech and expression. Unless the laws protecting the same are improved, I don't think India will be able to host creativity very well,“ he said.

But all is not lost. Diptoman Mukherjee, another indie game developer whose games have taken him to different places in the world, is hoping to see more of such games in international and national platforms soon.

UNESCO holds game design competitions in India where designers are asked to pitch games with a social cause.Diptoman thinks such platforms are the best way to introduce such games in India.

“I am hoping that some of the games that come out in these competitions take up LGBT issue,“ he added.

The FICCI-KPMG Indian Media and Entertainment Industry Report 2013 published a record 16 per cent growth in the video games industry over the previous year. Though it has such huge potential, it is still among the various sectors which are hesitant about embracing the community and their rights.

(image credits: mashable.com)