Youth and online games
A significant number of Filipino youths are glued to their computers. No, not because they are addicted to surfing the net. They are playing online games!
When LevelUp! released Ragnarok here in the
But what’s with these games? A casual survey among 30 self-confessed online gamers concluded these top 5 reasons why they would rather be online, playing:
You get to be somebody else
Online games give you the chance to create your very own character. From name, to gender, to the outfit, it’s all up to you. “If you don’t like the name your mom gave you, you get to christen your own self,” says Ethan, 20, who is better known online as Marss.
You could also see yourself in the character you’re playing. When your colorful graphic character is down or caught up in a fight, you feel disappointed or feel alarmed as well. These games allow you to become someone who is braver, smarter and even sexier, which is good because you get to show off to millions of other online gamers.
It’s an escape from reality
Along with being somebody else through the character you are playing, online games allow you to be in a different world. It may be a world where you are a famous warrior or a world of chaos; it’s still a world that you have chosen. “You get to escape from reality,” says Earl, 22, a call center agent who still makes sure to have time for his online escapade despite his busy schedule.
These games also serve as good pastime and amusement. After all, all work and no play makes a man dull.
It sharpens skills
For people who are competitive by nature, online games are good grounds for exercising this passion. Playing online games automatically gives you the goal of reaching higher. “Girls even get to beat and stay ahead of guys, which can be very rewarding,” shares Angela, 16, a self-confessed RF addict.
Getting into the game trains you to work hard and be passionate about your goal “You don’t learn it over night. It takes time to know the exact skills needed,” shares JC, 19, who’s into online games for five years now. “It’s a different satisfaction every time you’re a level higher.”
Makes you earn cash!
Perhaps the most practical perk this pastime could offer is its ability to make you earn real money.
While playing, you get to collect items, a skill that not every player gets to be good at. An item technically means weapons, armor or clothing, and anything that is useful for your character’s growth.
When you have excess items and others barely have some, money talk comes in. “Some people buy your items, just to save themselves from the effort of getting one,” says Ethan. One item in Ran Online can be sold at P1,000 to P10,000 (believe it or not), depending on the item’s value. Your character on the other hand can also increase its market value, just like a person who’s taking up Masters degree. The higher your character’s level is, the more you can demand for a price when you go selling. While others sell characters out of boredom, some do it as a way of livelihood.
It gives life to your social life
Of course, being online means interacting with other social creatures.
Occasionally, big events such as “eyeballs” are hosted by software publishers like LevelUp! and eGames to gather online game maniacs from all over the country. “It’s the time when you get to personally meet the people you play with for months and months,” says Angela.
Just like social networking sites, online games allow you to meet people who are million miles away. Getting so engrossed with your PC no longer means you’re isolating yourself, as it can even help you socialize. “Besides, it’s always better to play with a person than with a machine,” says Riker, 24, who confessed to have played almost all online games.
Online games are just a few of the treats that technology offers. If you still find it odd why others seem to be so addicted to this craze, just think about your childhood days with the humble Super Mario. Playing will always be a part of each one of us. There’s nothing wrong with getting too involved into it, we just need to remember the basic rule of balancing entertainment and school (or work!)
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