[gamescom asia 2023] Director Avichal Singh Talks Indian Cultural Influences & Intense Combat in Raji: An Ancient Epic 

While at Indie Wavemaker of gamescom asia 2023, we not only had the opportunity to try out Raji: An Ancient Epic but also speak with Avichal Singh, the director and co-founder of Nodding Heads Games.

Taking place in ancient India, Raji: An Ancient Epic is an action-adventure where the titular character, a young girl was chosen by the gods to face the demon lord Mahabalsura and protect the human realm.

Interview was edited for clarity. 

Without further ado, here is what Avichal has to say about his development experience on Raji: An Ancient Epic.

Could you tell us more about yourself and your team? 

Avichal Singh: Sure. Greetings, I’m Avichal Singh, the co-founder and game director at Nodding Heads Games, here to display Raji: An Ancient Epic. Our studio, Nodding Heads Games was founded in Pune, India in 2017.

Raji is our first title and the team was composed of 13 members when we launched it. We aim to bring Indian mythology, law, and cultural influences into video games.

What is the main feature in Raji: An Ancient Epic and how would you highlight it to the audience? 

Avichal Singh: Well, Raji: An Ancient Epic certainly has a lot of features that have something to do with combat, platforming, and storytelling. A highlight to me would be utilizing the dodge system and engaging in intense combat.

Another feature that I would recommend players check out is the way storytelling is presented as you have to walk through murals and experience the narrative through the visuals.

What was the most challenging aspect of the game during its development? 

Avichal Singh: There were definitely a lot of challenges. This is a tricky question. I would say porting the game to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch was particularly challenging. This is especially true for the Switch.

The 2D cinematics were also pretty challenging because we were trying to use puppet shows that were influenced by Southeast Asian culture. Thankfully, that did really well.

Is there any advice you would like to give aspiring indie developers?

Avichal Singh: The advice that I would like to give is to keep changing. Whenever we make a game, the way Steam works, how YouTube works, and how marketing works, it is all different. So every developer needs to take every advice lightly because the context is ever-changing.

The way you raise money and the way you market your game today, have to be more in line with what is going on rather than something you read five years ago. That is my advice to everyone, keep being open-minded and keep your eyes on the ever-changing market.

Any words you would like to share with our audience?

Avichal Singh: I am absolutely having a great time here at gamescom asia. If you enjoyed Raji, be sure to watch out for what is next from Nodding Heads Games.

You can head over to our website and there is a “What’s Next” tab, put in your email, and subscribe. Then, you will get to know what is going to happen soon or in the future from Nodding Heads Games. Be patient, everyone.

We’d like to thank Avichal Singh for taking the time to answer our questions.

For more information on Raji: An Ancient Tale, do check out their official website here.

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