Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 03, 2005
Online edition of India's National Newspaper Thursday, Nov 03, 2005 |
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Karnataka
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Bangalore
Special Correspondent
Bangalore: Online gaming is gaining popularity among the youth in the wake of the increasing reach of broadband network across the country. Young men and women are slipping into "virtual personalities", making online friends in "virtual worlds" and looking towards online gaming as an avenue for entertainment. Traditional Internet cafes that used to be frequented by customers for mailing, surfing and chatting are now transforming themselves into gaming cafes with café owners looking at gaming as a money-spinner.
The social aspect
Taking a cue from the global trend, Indian online games publishers are focusing on community-based online gaming to spread its reach and popularity. "The social aspect of online gaming is the reason for its popularity globally. Online games are virtual communities, where players can create an avatar and make friends with other players from different parts of the country. The community spirit of these games keeps the excitement alive," says Venkat Malik, Managing Director, Level-Up, an Indian publisher of online games. Player meeting at cafes is another key element for extending the community experience outside the game, he added.
Gaming cafes
Level-Up has tied-up with over 1,500 gaming cafes across the country to promote community-based online gaming. It has also unveiled a communication campaign about the social aspects of online gaming and help grow the online gaming market through its popular game "Ragnarok On line". Ragnarok is India's first Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) that allows enthusiasts to engage other players from different parts of the country. The Mumbai-based Level-Up has offices in Bangalore, Chennai and Pune, Mr. Malik said. The reduction in broadband rates by telecom operators will give a fillip to online gaming. A gaming zone set up at the recent Bangalore IT.in was one of the few that caught visitors' interest.
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