In recent years, online games have become more and more popular in India. Considered to be just a hobby that people enjoyed while on vacation, online gaming has now developed into a booming industry. In 2019, the industry grew by 31% to 365 million active online players, according to a report by Ernst & Young, and it is expected to significantly exceed the 400 million mark by 2022.

India is now the fifth-largest online gaming market in the world and is growing rapidly to get on top of the world rankings. A few months back, the All India Gaming Federation along with The Times of India and Vijay Karnataka, organized a campaign called Game for Future. This unique initiative aims to build a responsible online gaming ecosystem in Karnataka and take advantage of the opportunities and challenges of India’s emerging online gaming industry.

Although Game for Future focuses on discussing ways to support the proliferation and growth of online games, it is necessary to understand gamers’ own views on online games and how they affect their games. AIGF commissioned more than 2,400 participants from different countries to conduct a study. India came to find out what they think is the value of online games in their lives. Players from 11 cities across the country were asked about their views on online games.

AIGF research found that 76% of gamers believe that a person will develop strong analytical skills when playing games because they need to find the best way to win the game. The report added that reaction (65%), strategy, and logic (68%) are the most important skills for game success, followed by determination (53%) and understanding of risk and rebound (52%).

Interestingly, online games have a greater impact on life skills development than full-time work. 50% of people believe that they can be more honest and sincere to other players who play with them compared to their peers. I agree with the findings that Gen Z gamers (43%) and millennials (41%) believe that online gamer friendship is as important as true friendship.

All India Gaming Federation, CEO, Roland Landers stated: “Critical thinking, creative thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills are essential to the growth of life. Through this research, we try to understand whether consumers really understand the value of mobile games. This Research helps us to conclude that video games are a way to collaborate, participate, and become a field where people want to develop their careers”.

Game players generally believe that online games are a hobby and a meaningful activity with a positive impact. Research has found that online mobile games have penetrated second-tier cities in India.

● 99% of players in Lucknow play online games on their mobile phones
● Most of the players in Patna(53%) think that participation is the main motivation for playing online games; they like to interact with other online players: the highest of all cities,
● In Kolkata, 52% agree that they develop strong analytical skills by regularly trying to find the best way to win games through online games.
● This ratio is the highest in Pune(56%), online gamers agree that online games can be used to learn many practical life skills, such as spending a whole day in the office. The impact on players across the country.

Given the speed of online gaming on mobile devices (70%) observed in our research, we can say that the mobile gaming market will undoubtedly grow rapidly. Since Future has determined that online gaming must be regulated for it to flourish, this research shows us that people’s views on online gaming are positive and comprehensive. The government that sets online gaming rules will help millions of gamers to enjoy online gaming and make India the world’s largest market in the gaming industry.

Credits: Times Of India