CHENNAI: Gaming, and its professional format of eSports, has exploded onto the front page of entertainment and pop-culture with a speed that was virtually unforeseeable. What was once considered a childish pastime has evolved into one of the largest entertainment fields in the present market, with the current gaming market valued at $99.6 billion, and eSports already earning $500 million in 2016. The global audience has catapulted eSports into the mainstream, and may soon surpass traditional sports in terms of size, viewership, and even prize money for winners.
However, gaming and eSports in India is still in their infancy, despite the fact that the total number of Indian gamers is pegged at around 206 million. This is mainly because of lack of widespread fast Internet connections, societal acceptance, and suitable infrastructure.
However, as Internet speeds get faster and more and more gamers emerge from the folds, several passionate gamers have begun to work on the problem of infrastructure. One such gamer is Lokesh Suji (better known as dAwesomeNinja), an eSports enthusiast and founder of eSports Federation of India (ESFI), who aims to create a healthy environment for eSports in India. CE caught up with him to learn more about his passion.
“I’ve been in the telecom industry for more than 18 years and I quit my job to follow my passion,” said the 43-year-old who is also a eSports fanatic. He wistfully recalled his beginning as a gamer. “I’ve been gaming since the days of Contra and Mario in 1989-90. I’ve spent a lot of money playing these games in small town gaming arcades. I’ve always been a first person shooter fan since my childhood.” He enjoys playing Call of Duty and Clash Royale.
What fuels his passion for gaming?
“Gaming has always been being part of a virtual world, where you are your own boss,” he said. “In one game, you are the commander of an army who is fighting against the enemies, while in the next game you are a spy or an agent trying to save the world, or you can be a mystical character which some magical powers fighting to capture or destroy the enemy forts.”
Since the time games have incorporated online multi-player feature, it’s become a community. “Online Video games have broken geographical boundaries and I have made friends from all across the world,” he added.
Gamers also look at this as their time to relax, where they can be themselves and connect with others who share the same passion. “Competing against each other, proving that you are better than your opponent and bragging about it... is something that drives passion for gaming.”
The ultimate goal of ESFI is to give a boost to the sport like the physical ones, ensure the welfare of eSports professionals as ‘athletes’, and bring eSports to the same level that they exist in Korea, China, and the EU. The ESFI has had an increasing influence in the world of eSports and the Indian Gaming community, which is around 206 million total players and 10 million active players involved in eSports.
Soon gaming and eSports will have a bigger impact in India, and gamers like Lokesh Suji are leading the charge in this field. “Recently, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced that eSports will feature in next year’s 18th Asian Games, Indonesia, as a demonstration sport to start with. By 19th Asian Games in 2022 eSports will become an official medal sport reflecting its rapid development and popularity. It is a shot in the arm for International eSports Federation’s efforts to get eSports recognised by the International Olympic Committee,” he pointed out.