Pixel Haze to develop MMO Racing Game

UAE-based video game developers, Pixel Haze, are off to an impressive start. Spearheading the company are Kanika Dhingra and Asim Iqbal, two video game professionals from India who’ve moved to Dubai in order to create video games for the Middle East market.

“We plan on launching Race Pwr, an Arabic MMO racing game in the next six months,” says Kanina who looks after business development for the company. The PC-based MMO game will be free to play with a micro transaction revenue model, which will allow players to buy upgrades within the game for a small fee.

UAE-based video game developer, Pixel Haze, is developing Race Pwr, an online racing MMO.

The game will be split into arcade racing and a simulation mode.  The arcade racing game gives players the chance to drive their cars as they like and perform stunts without worrying about damaging their cars. On the other hand, the simulation adds a depth of realism by allowing cars to take damage if driven recklessly. The levels in each mode will vary as well. The simulation mode will allow you to drive through a virtual Dubai. On the other hand, the arcade version will feature drag races, drifting, mission-based levels, a revenge mode where you can challenge someone who has defeated you to a race off, a desert driving mode and even a Need for Speed-like Cop Out mode where you’ll have to outrun a cop car. Of these different race types, Circuit racing and Rally racing is expected to be ready at the outset with the other modes being gradually added on in time.

Citing an incident involving a few reckless youth in Dubai performing crazy stunts on Sheikh Zayed Road, Kanina says, “Instead of performing insane stunts in real life, we give gamers the opportunity to try out the stunts in a virtual world.”

On their list of other projects at the moment are a few mobile games aimed at a younger audience that will be available for the iPhone and iPad. The company also recently completed a project for the Dubai Ministry of Environment and Water, which helps discourage the use of plastic. The animation developed by Pixel Haze shows how plastic ends up in the desert and ends up killing camels who eat the plastic. The project aims to support the Ministry of Environment and Water’s objective of eliminitating the use of non-biodegradable plastic by 2010.

However, the most exciting project on their plate at the moment is 7, an action adventure game for the PS3 and Xbox 360.  The game’s still in the initial planning stages but looks promising from some of the creatives we have seen.

It will be a while before Middle East Gamers get a chance to play 7. However, for those who want to try out Race Pwr, a demo will be made available for the public at the Dubai World Game Expo and possibly at GAMES 10.