Hooked! For Better or Worse?

                                                                   P.C. businesstoday.in

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds or better known to us as PUBG, was launched early in March 2017 which was designed for XBOX and PC initially. The gamers started to get hooked early on. But the fandom and hype soared to its peak when the company launched its mobile friendly version, PUBG Mobile. As per Statista, the peak number of players reached 3.24 million by February 2018.

I think with its popularity, no one needs an introduction to the game regardless of the age and gender of people. However, for a company with no money to spend on advertising, we have to acknowledge they used the "Word of Mouth" strategy well by using game streamers to play their game and stream it on Twitch and YouTube channels. The streamers loved the game and it spread from one to the next.

The concept of game itself was not new when PUBG was launched but when it was launched on the mobile platform, it was able to loop in people from different age groups and all the genders. I remember an incident from work when I was waiting for a client meet, the female receptionist at the front desk was engrossed in her mobile playing PUBG with her friends oblivious of the fact that the desk phone was ringing. Yes, the game attracted a whopping 3 million gamers around the world busy gazing in their smartphones. They just wanted a small break from their routine and delve in the new world where they are a completely different person, where they are not normal, where they drive wherever they want, shoot whoever they want. All for one thing. "WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER".

But, what about it? What became of the winner?

I have heard PUBG has let people make new friends across country and the world. Hey! I have even heard someone got their life partner while playing PUBG. Yes, it feels good when we discuss what we did in a game with our game buddies which gives an opportunity to bond further. But, there came an other side to PUBG, which the many new players themselves were not aware about initially.

It starts with long hours playing, just like other game addiction. But, what was different with PUBG is that the game was created for mobile platform, which means I can be anywhere anytime and can still play it. I might be sitting on my toilet seat, sitting in school class or attending a seminar. I still get to play my game. Being a gamer myself, I have read and heard about consequences of long exposure to playing violent games among which some are aggressive behavior, exhaustion, tired eyes, lack of focus, insomnia, etc. We start cursing and abusing on losing a game.

There had been few cases in India which are alarming and thought provoking.

• A 15-year old school kid would stay awake late in the night just to play PUBG and often missed school because of waking up late in the morning.
• People have resorted to aggressive means and even killed their closed ones when other people have confronted them about their addiction to PUBG.
• School kids have stolen from their parents to purchase loot boxes and other stuff in the game.

People have spent so many hours glued to their smartphones playing PUBG that we forget many times that it is only a virtual game and not their real life. We should ask ourselves, how was our life before the game? I used to take part in other recreational activities and outdoor sports. You may also be having other hobbies which might be more interesting.

Do you think you have wasted a small part of your life doing that? Well, yes and no.

When we started playing the game, it was a new experience and new learning. That was a good thing. We have definitely wasted some time with it as that could have been used to meet new people, indulge in a hobby or to read a good book. If you have controlled your playing, then my friend, a big fat congratulations from your friends and family. You are back again in the sinusoidal real life of ups and down.

I am not an expert but one habit has helped me and some of my friends to control my playing. If you feel the urge to play again and again, then find an activity to replace that urge every time you feel it. I think communication really helps under any situation. This goes for both the person who is involved in the gaming and the family & friends. It is their responsibility too to talk things out smoothly without a harsh confrontation.

One thing to remember, rapport creates trust, trust creates leverage and leverage is required for influence.