HOW TO BE ON TOP OF THE GAME

IDEO games came to India decades ago—to the delight of children and despair of parents.

- GEETHA RAVICHANDRAN

Since then, it has consistently won fans across ages, thanks to evolving technologies. The size of the global gaming industry is estimated at about ₹29 lakh crore—bigger than the movie and music industries. The Indian gaming industry, with a user base of around 450 million, was valued at ₹33,000 crore in 2023. Surely, we have come a long way.

With better technology and faster access, gaming's sphere of influence has widened beyond entertainment. It has great potential for productive use, as it promotes strategic thinking and encourages problem-solving. Sandbox gaming allows players to explore and modify the game environment, fostering creativity. Developers have introduced nuances like conflict resolution beyond combat and winner-takes-it-all scenarios.

Gaming is also being considered an art form, integrating storytelling, graphics and music. Unlike social media platforms, which have a built-in possibility of doom scrolling, gaming is interactive. Gamers find themselves in an intrinsic learning loop. Players before a screen have heightened levels of attention and concentration, which could be harnessed to promote learning.