Meet the modern day 'Runner'

In mid-2016, a teacher and two of his students of computer science and engineering department of Chittagong University (CU) were having an informal chat while walking on the department corridor. 

But little did they imagine that their conversation would soon turn into something productive -- the idea of developing an Android game, being inspired by a poem of Sukanta Bhattacharya under the title "Runner". The game was later named "Mail Runner".  

Sukanta wrote the poem focusing on the fearful, lonely and brave life of a runner -- an idea he borrowed from the early history of postal communication era when runners were highly popular figures in many parts of Asia, Africa, and different continents before introducing modern mailing system like post office. While carrying the mails, the runners used to hold the light in one hand and a javelin in another hand.

As per the discussion, Prof Hanif Siddiqe and his two students, Imtiaz Shuvo and Shakwat Nazim, both now graduates, teamed up for the project. Some other students also joined in voluntarily, but the three were the nucleus of the team.

Soon, the team started brainstorming and holding sessions to get something concrete. The seven-month-long hard work finally paid off. In January this year, the group officially started developing the game and launched it on February 22, much to their delight. 

Referring to the runners' way of the world before the modern mailing system, Prof Hanif said while playing the game, one will get accustomed to the thrilling life runners used to lead back then.

The game's historical significance makes it more enjoyable and appealing, he said. 

“The game has a spontaneous medieval vibe. Background sounds feel like real.”

“The game is surely a milestone in the Bangladeshi gaming industry," he said, hoping that it would be able to attract the game-loving people.

Prof Hanif also acknowledged the contributions of different stakeholders ranging from the technical support of Midday Dreamz, which also developed a game named "Muktijuddho-71", to opinions of experts in the field of sound, graphics, animation, and so forth.

Contacted, yesterday, Shakwat, one of the team members, said he learnt a lot being a part of the project.

He would keep himself busy in the projects like this in future, said a jovial Shakwat. 

The game is now available on Google Play Store.