Passion and payouts drive UAE gamers

EXPERIENCED PLAYERS OF ALL AGES UNITED BY CONNECTION, CAMARADERIE AND COMPETITION

- BY LAKSHANA PALAT

grew up playing Mortal Kombat and Tekken, thanks to my cousins. I was eight when I started playing the first, and 11. I don’t think I grasped the controls: I just pressed the buttons wildly and was excited at the outcome.

Two decades later, my husband installed Mortal Combat on our Playstation. Between 1999 and 2023, there had been a quantum shift in character development and pixels, but not in my ability to play. I still hammer the controls in excitement, because it’s just that fun.

I wouldn't call myself a seasoned gamer though. Definitely not after speaking to residents, who not only are experienced players, but also have a strong understanding of how the games work, to the point, that some have even made their own.

Everyone has their own reason for why they love the game: It’s the adrenaline rush, it’s the relaxation, or it’s the immersive storytelling. Some like being taken through the story.

Good storyline and graphics

It’s why people like Carine El Natour, a Dubai-based professional enjoys it: “I personally love any games with good storytelling and graphics because they allow you to get lost in a different world. It's kind of like watching a movie or reading a book, except it's a lot more interactive and sometimes even gives you control of how the story will play out,” she says.

Dubai-based Tazeen Jafri, who cheerfully says that she “comes from a family of gamers”, has similar sentiments.

“I enjoy story-based, single-player games, especially ones that combine strategy, puzzles and a bit of mystery,” she says.