Enter the battleground!

Sheetal

There can be several reasons for us to get addicted to a particular game, but currently the lockdown seems to be the prime one. Badshah in one of his Instagram posts wrote, “I downloaded PUBG and the rest is history. Na na karte pyaar tum hi se kar baithe.”

Stand-up comedian Azeem Banatwalla joked about how hardcore gamers feel when they get an invite for Ludo. From re-visiting the old console games to exploring the new ones to trying out the popular ones, this lockdown has made us try out everything available on the table.

Echoing Taylor Swift’s lyrics ‘Look, what you made me do’, students from across Punjab are playing video games like there is no tomorrow. Because, of course, the lockdown will eventually come to an end!

In control

For Amitoj, a PhD scholar at IISER-Mohali, playing a videogame was never about clearing-that-level or owning-that-item; it’s always about the experience. Currently in Amritsar, she explains, “I had come home for a visit when the entire nation was suddenly placed under a lockdown. But the good thing was that I had my PS4, my Nintendo Switch, and my laptop with me. I finished playing Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag for the third time today. For the third time, I saved Edward Kenway from Duncan and from drowning. For the third time, I helped him impersonate an impostor to con the Templars. For the third time, we set sail to Nassau to meet up with the gang and gather a crew. And for the millionth time now, I fell in love with gaming all over again.”

She adds, “So, with this renewed love with video-gaming, I think I’ll return to the ruthless and relentless world of Dark Souls 3 tomorrow or just go for a walk with Pikachu in Pokemon Sword and Shield.” She speaks the language only a game lover would understand! For Amitoj, every game is an enigma. “I love running wild in the crammed streets of The Witcher; dancing to Beethoven’s symphonies atop the Golden Gate Bridge in Watch Dogs 2; giving a hearty Dag Dag to my fellow vampires in The Sims; flinging Sushi across the room before time runs out in Over Cooked. And like every gamer, I also enjoy the occasional burning-things-into-a-crisp-with-a-flamethrower (read Far Cry).”

Fortified!

Chandan Singh graduated from DAV College- Chandigarh and is an IAS aspirant. The lockdown forced him to leave Delhi, where he was preparing for the exams, and come back to his hometown, Ludhiana. He says, “I am a library person when it comes to studies and I miss those days. But, like many other things that the quarantine has taught us, I have mastered the art of avoiding distractions while studying. I follow a routine, which includes game time as well. I look forward to playing Fortnite with my squad online. Those Victory Royales with the squad help me sleep better!

Roll the dice

For Dishant Arora, who is doing a nursing course from Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, lunch hour used to be the best time of the day before coronavirus took it all away and here’s why. “I enjoyed playing Mini Militia with my college friends during the break. Though it can be played online with the same set of friends, it is more fun when they are around,” explains Dishant. He adds, “Now, the combat game has been replaced with a board game, Ludo, which has become the usual evening affair for our family. We play it in the evening on the terrace while enjoying tea.”

Yes to PUBG

Amritsar resident Suraj Mankotia is passionate about fitness. Besides pursuing graduation in commerce, he was working part-time as a gym trainer before the lockdown forced gyms to close down. He explains, “There are many people, who want to turn around this forced quarantine to their benefit. For a week or two, I played PUBG day in and out. But now I have limited my game time and started giving online classes to my regular clients on Zoom or via Whatsapp video call.”

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