by W.G.T.Fernando

 As many of our readers are aware by now, history was made on a special day in 2008. The first Sinhala mobile game was launched on the 8^th August 2008 (8-8-8). Colomba wate (Colombo Ride) has become a household name by now with many Sri Lankans getting the opportunity to play the unique entertaining game. 

Introduction to Colomba Wate:

It is a game where one plays the character of a taxi driver. It is a unique game since the gaming environment depicts an almost identical map of Colombo. The objective of the game is to take passengers in their journeys around the virtual map of Colombo. After each hire is completed, you are paid and the high-scores are determined by the amount of money you collect.

 With a bit of dedication, you might even come across bonus payments. So keep an eye out for them. Speeding can kill and is ill advised. The police will be on the look out for careless drivers. So drive safely. Find badges to get immunity if things do come to the worse.

At certain locations, the passenger will speak where he wants to be dropped off at. The instructions would be given in Sinhala.

When the game is complete, the gamer gets a highscore. This highscore will not only be saved onto one’s phone, there is also an option to submit the highscore to the server so that others can also see one’s highscore. If the highscore is in the top 10, then that score will be saved onto every phone that plays the game. This adds value to the game play. Even if one is unable to get into the top 10, their score can be viewed from the website: http://games.lk/?q=node/3

On 5^th September, the top 10 highscorers were invited to the awards ceremony which was held at BMICH. On the day, the finalists went head to head with each other to compete for the top 3 spots.

The top 3 won Gold, Silver, Bronze medals respectively along with valuable mobile phones (such as K800i, k550i). All finalists received a SpeedWheel.

On the 12^th January 2009, ICTA selected ‘Colomba wate’ as the national product in the ‘e-entertainment and games’ category for the World Summit Awards to be held in June 2009 in Mexico. More information from wsa.nenasala.lk

 Colomba Wate 2.0 (Colombo Ride 2.0)

         On the 4^th February 2009, the game will be improved to allow 2 players to play the game against each other. Two options are available: Cops and robbers (Hora Police) and Challenge (Abiyogaya). In Hora police, one of the players become the police and the other the thief. A time limit is given in which to catch the thief. In Abiyogaya, both players start at the same place and objective is to finish the tasks (the hires) first .

Special features:

1. Incorporates Sinhala audio clips inside the gaming environment instructing the gamer.

2. Has an almost identical map of Colombo in the game.

3. Incorporates a unique marketing approach where sponsors are placed inside the game so that it can be given for free download for any citizen.

The game is available for free download from

www.games.lk

 No fee, no restriction on any mobile network.

 The game is a product of Gamos Technology Solutions (GTS). They are also the creators of the game ‘Aba Hatana’ which was made under a request by the director of the film ‘Aba’ Jackson Anthony.  That game is also freely available and can be downloaded from www.abahatana.lk