How the PUBG fever has come to grip gamers across the country

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Feb. 2: PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Mobile, commonly known as PUBG, has taken mobile gamers by storm worldwide. In a country like India, where there is a massive audience for casual mobile games, a game like PUBG mobile can have a huge impact.

PUBG is an online multiplayer video game that blends survival, exploration, and scavenging elements of a survival game with last-man-standing gameplay. It was developed and published by PUBG Corporation, a subsidiary of South Korean video game company Bluehole.

PUBG was officially released on personal computer (PC) on December 21 2017; while PUBG Mobile was released in China on Feb. 9, 2018 and worldwide on Mar. 19, 2018 by Tencent Games, Lightspeed and Quantum Studio (an internal division of Tencent Games), and PUBG Corporation.

The game has been widely lapped up by players and has made it one of the top games that can be played on Android and iOS devices. The game became so popular that PUBG mobile got its own e-sports event.

According to recent research conducted by internet service provider Jana for Quartz, PUBG mobile has made a substantial impact on Indian mobile gamers. The game is so popular that among PUBG players, including players from PUBG PC and PUBG on the console, around “73.4% rely on PUBG mobile for their ‘Winner Winner Chicken Dinner thrills’ (victory tag used for winners in PUBG).” Only a 5% of players in India prefer to play the PC version of PUBG while a minuscule 1.1% plays on consoles, according to an India Today report recently.

Normally, games like PUBG, have been reserved for those with dedicated gaming machines (PS4s, Xboxs, and high end PCs). But, with the release of PUBG Mobile, this is no longer the case. Anyone who wants to play the game, can simply download it, and jump online for a game or two with their friends.

Modi’s response to PUBG

The game became so popular that even Prime Minister used it for reference while interacting with a crowd of 2000 stdents, parents and teachers at the ‘Pariksha pe Charcha 2.0’ event in New Delhi in January this year.

A mother had raised concern about her son being too involved in online gaming. Modi replied: “Yeh PUBG waala hai kya?” (Hindi for ‘Is he a PUBG player?’). Almost instantly, the video of Modi referring to the game went viral in social media.

Later it was reported that the prime minister had an advice for the parents. “Explore ways in which you encourage your children towards accepting and understanding technology. But remember, technology should be used to expand our horizons, not to let it shrink us in our life. It should not be allowed to narrow us down, as that would be very harmful for us,” he said.

PUBG in Nagaland

Nagaland is no exception when it comes to the PUBG ‘bug.’ A 17-year-old male gamer (wishing to be anonymous) told Eastern Mirror that he plays the game for two to three hours a day. “I like PUBG because the experience is realistic. It also builds my knowledge about weapons,” he said.

Another 27-year-old male gamer, Kangzangyitu Lio, said he plays two to three matches a day and at night, he plays from 10 pm to 1:30 am. “I play it because I have liked games since I was a child. The release of PUBG in mobile made me very happy as it is easy to play anywhere and anytime.”

‘Positive effect’ of PUBG

“Video games change your brain,” according to University of Wisconsin psychologist, C Shawn Green. Playing games alter the brain’s physiological structure in the same manner as learning to read, navigating using a map, or playing the piano.

In shooting games like PUBG, the character may be running and shooting at the same time. This requires the real-world player to keep track of the position of the character, where he/she is heading, his speed, where the gun is aiming, if the gunfire is hitting the enemy, looking for the enemy and saving himself and so on. All these factors need to be taken into account, and then the player must then coordinate the brain’s interpretation and reaction with the movement of his hands and fingers. This method requires a great deal of eye-hand coordination and visual-spatial capability to succeed.

‘Negative effect’ of PUBG

PUBG gaming is known for excessive violence, drug use, bloody scenes, the inclusion of realistic weapons, and other similar characteristics.

Children who play more violent video games are more likely to have increased aggressive thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Addicted people also exhibit social phobias. One may become socially isolated and may have less sleep. Also, one may spend less time on other activities such as reading, sport, interacting with family and friends; and sometimes lose of focus on career.

In addition, the game does not only effect a player psychologically but physically too.

A match in PUBG lasts between five to 20 minutes, if survived long enough, it extends to 30 minutes. Excessive gaming can have an adverse impact on the player’s health as they spend more time playing virtual games rather than physical exercise. This practice increases the risk of childhood obesity. Sometimes, children also skip meals and sleep to play games they are addicted to. The constant glare from the screen can also harm the child’s eyesight in the long run.