KOCHI: Twenty one-year-old Avnish was introduced to the world of video gaming at the age of three when he was residing in Nigeria. In 2008, he moved to Bengaluru for work. “My elder brother first introduced me to Mario. I was awe-struck by this two-dimensional game since it had a definite storyline and it was so much fun to play,” says Avnish.
Brought up in Nigeria, for him video games was a mean to skip the harsh reality. “It not only entertained me but helped me to keep myself away from the conflict that was happening in the country,” recalls the media professional. Though his job keeps him busy, he manages to play at least two hours a day.
He has evolved with the evolution of games and consoles. “I started with Nintendo 64, a 64-bit processing unit with only three games, including Mario. I got my Play Station 1 in 2001 as a gift and at present I have all the Play Stations,” he smiles. At present he is playing with Play Station 4. Ask him whether he agrees with the popular notion that these games make children violent, “Video games are only for entertainment and doesn’t cast a negative impact on children if chosen carefully. In fact, parents should choose these games appropriate to their age,” he says. Avnish recalls something that his father taught him. “My father strictly told me not to mix video games with reality as these are created only to amuse us.”
Unlike other gamers, Avnish did not want to become a graphic designer. “I don’t want to know what goes on making the game. I wanted to be a racer though,” he laughs. Avnish’s favourite game is the God of War series, which is based on Greek mythologies. Apart from video games Avnish also likes movies. “The new video games are more like movies and this piqued my interest. Now, I have started enjoying watching movies as well.”
Bonds over Video Games
Avnish feels that video games help people to bond well. “My father and I started bonding over video games. Before that, I would hardly see him as I would be asleep by the time he returned from work,” he says. He shares a similar bond with his roommate; they have been playing Play Station 4 together for the past six years.
Learned but never won
Avnish used to frequently participate in FIFA tournaments near his house in Chennai when he was in high school. He also used to participate in Call of Duty tournaments organised by local internet centers. “Sadly I didn’t win any,” he sighs.