The game’s on(line)
Innovating through the lockdown, youngsters use online games as more than just a source of income
Varun James is a passionate online gamer who is now professionally into it. Varun took to gaming back when video games were all the rage, slowly but steadily graduating to a play station. Now, he is a professional PC gamer actively playing on a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) ‘Defence of the Ancients’, also known as ‘DOTA 2’, and earns anywhere between `20,000 and `50,000 per month depending on the tournaments he plays. “Gaming has been my passion, and I represent Hyderabad when we play internationally. And gaming has helped me travel a lot as a team,” puts in Varun excitedly. “However, the e-sports industry in India still growing, with not as many tournaments here as there are on international platforms.”
It was an interest in multiple player online games, which also led Vivek Sampara, the 32-yearold chief technology officer in Really Singapore, to play ‘DOTA 2’, though he is a not a professional player like Varun. “I have been playing this since I was fourteen years old, and I really enjoy gaming whether it is on a console or a PC. And though I do not play it professionally and this is only a side skill I have, which is more like an afterwork stress buster. I play two to three games every day and some more during the weekends,” says Vivek, who believes some of the best things about gaming are making friends and going out to a gaming café to play games and chill.
GAMES PEOPLE PLAY
Online gaming is not a jaunt only for the boys; girls seem just as enthusiastic about it. Mizba Shaikh is another gaming fan, who plays ‘DOTA’, ‘DOTA2’, ‘Cs Go’, ‘Pub’ and ‘Don’t Starve Together’ among others. She is also not a professional gamer but she believes that besides the inherent fun, the games have also added to her mind.
Online gaming is not a jaunt only for the boys; girls seem just as enthusiastic about it. Mizba Shaikh is another gaming fan, who plays ‘DOTA’, ‘DOTA2’, ‘Cs Go’, ‘Pub’ and ‘Don’t Starve Together’ among others
“Tackling tasks in the game has helped me sharpen my mind. I love how we get to work together as a team while playing a game. The strategies and brainstorming while playing these games certainly add to the kick. Moreover, I feel a sense of freedom when I am playing. I stay awake late into the night to play these games... probably also why I have dark circles on my face,” says Mizba with a light chuckle.
There are even others who have grown stronger playing a certain game given the frequency of playing it through the lockdown. Dileep Reddy, who enjoys playing PubG and has been playing it for a year is one such who took to the game during the lockdown. “Now I am crazy about this game,” Dileep tell us with a guilty chuckle. “I have also bettered my playing skills and I really enjoy playing PubG mobile and cannot get enough of it.”
BACK TO THE ROOTS
Even games some of us played indoors during our childhood have now stepped up online. Ludo, a game loved by every individual since their childhood, has found many takers since the game launched online. Ludo King, which gained more than a million downloads since the lockdown began, is still a trending game online. Playing Ludo King brought back to Navin Pivhal the ‘good old days’. “The game is played with multiple players and it is fun to play it with friends and family,” says Navin, wishing more such games, which were played indoors at one point of our lives, should be accessed online as well.
Clearly, even through the uncertain times we live in, these games have made their presence felt, increasing the fun and connection between people.
Gaming has been my passion, and I represent Hyderabad when we play internationally. And gaming has helped me travel a lot as a team. However, the e-sports industry in India still growing, with not as many tournaments here as there are on international platforms
— Varun James
Tackling tasks in the game has helped me sharpen my mind. I love how we get to work together as a team while playing a game. I stay awake late into the night to play these games probably also why I have dark circles on my face
— Mizba Shaikh
Playing Ludo King brought me back to the ‘good old days’. It is fun to play it with friends and family. I wish more such games should be accessed online as well
— Navin Pivhal