Players defend online video games after Sylendra Babu’s criticism

Chennai

However, local gamers feel that the issue is more nuanced than that, especially during the shutdown.For many, video games have proven to be a distraction from the situation on the streets. “I’ve been gaming a lot more recently and it’s great because I get to be somewhere else for some time. The situation in Chennai is uncertain, and so this helps me feel like I’m doing things even though I’m only in my house,” said a resident of KK Nagar.

Gaming is also a way to connect with friends and socialise through online multiplayer games, as many still are not stepping out. Additionally, youngsters just stepping out of school and college during the pandemic have little to no security on their future, and this offers them an outlet for that stress, said streamer Ashish Madineni.

Many feel that the conversation surrounding gaming cannot be so black-and-white, and requires more nuance when dealt with. “I play for an hour or so every day. But I know when to stop. It’s just like food - you need to stop when you’re full. But that self-control is something that we need to promote and discuss more. It’s not as simple as just quitting games. There’s always a healthy way of doing it, and the conversation is right now just villanising the whole media,” said Vishnu Rajan, a local gamer.

Rajan added that certain games can be disturbing for children, and therefore must be discussed with a parental figure to establish boundaries.

Such comments can also belittle the eSports community in India, said Ashish, who was a former professional eSports athlete. “It is a budding industry in India. Not only players, but casters, management staff, and support staff make a lot of money promoting these events. During the shutdown, we held a locally produced eSports tournament across the city and the State to success. There will be a boom in India’s eSports industry after the lockdown,” he said. The Indian eSports industry according to one estimate was placed at $818 million.

Vishnu added that the conversation should shift towards raising awareness on video games and its benefits in small doses, and he feels that it would be more effective in curbing addiction in the long-term than blanket bans.