(20 February 2008 9:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Following the success of danceMELA, Kreeda Games is planning another gaming revolution. Kreeda India, in association with Hong Kong-based Inukshuk Asia, Inc, has launched Kode5 in India.

The Indian finals will be held on 21 and 22 February in Mumbai.

After the announcement of the Kode5 global final event in Moscow, gamers around the world have been chomping at the bit to find out about their next chance to qualify. Around 400 gamers will take online gaming to a different level in Moscow. In India, the online players of Counter Strike 1.6 and Warcraft III will fight the final to become part of team India for the grand finale.

80 per cent of the final slots will be filled via online qualifiers who have been invited to Mumbai. The remaining 20 per cent slots will be for participants who drop by at the venue on 21 February. All finalists get a crack at a team India slot in the Global Finals in Moscow where team India will compete with 20 other countries for the gaming glory championship.

"Our mission in Kreeda is to provide the Indian gamer with the best of gaming entertainment and with this partnership, we will provide Indian gamers the platform to come up and showcase their skills internationally," said Kreeda Games India CEO Quentin States-Polet.

Kode5 revolutionary-in-command Lester Lau said, "Working with Kreeda will help spread the message of competitive gaming to those in India for the good of the sport."

As per conservative estimates, there are at least 300 million gamers worldwide and an estimated sum of $35 billion is spent annually on gaming.

Partners for Kode5 India include Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics who will provide free training worth Rs 1 million to winners and runners-up in the three games at their location. Global sponsors are Coolermaster, Gigabyte and Corsair.