Sony Online Entertainment has partnered with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Comics team for a totally new massively multiplayer online role playing game, inspired by Indian mythology.

The game is entitled Ramayan 3392 A.D., and is a post-apocalyptic reinterpretation of the renowned Indian poem Ramayana. Actually, Ramayan 3392 A.D is a popular comic series in India, written by Shamik Dasgupta, with art from Abhishek Singh, and created based on a story developed by Deepak Chopra and Shekhar Kapur. Of course, the source of inspiration is the Ramayana.

The story revolves around the battles fought by the last kingdom of humans with the demons (called Asuras) in a post-Apocalyptic world. The series' prime protagonist is the human prince Rama who, alongside his brothers, aims to bring down the demon-lord Ravan.
 
The original Ramayana has nothing to do with nanotechnology-filled Ravan (since it was written around 4th to 2nd Century BC), but the upcoming MMO inspired by the Sanskrit poem has the merit of bringing Indian mythology into the spotlight.

"In a world increasingly dominated with games influenced by a western Tolkien mythos, Ramayan will offer gamers a chance to experience a whole new universe of characters and archetypes derived from one of the oldest cultures on Earth," said Sharad Devarajan, Virgin Comics co-founder and CEO.

"Our mission at Virgin Comics has always been to allow this generation of Indian youth to have a creative platform through which to speak to the world. Through this collaboration with the likeminded visionaries at SOE, our young Indian creators will make gaming history worldwide." 

SOE stated that the Ramayan 3392 A.D. is headed for the PC platform, but a PS3 version is not yet out of the question, since, according to Sony Online San Diego studio head Nicholas Beliaeff, all MMOs crafted there will sport a console version.