Online Gaming Essay | Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Gaming

Online gaming is the most talked about fun topic among the teenagers of the 21st century. At the same time, it is the most talked about serious topic among the parents and teachers. Everyone has their own reasons to discuss online gaming. Our reason today is to help you write an Essay on Online Gaming so that you are exposed to the unseen side of online gaming addiction.

Long Essay on Online Gaming Addiction in 500 words | Argumentative Essay on Online Games Good or Bad

How online gaming started.

The Internet has changed the way we live, we eat, we dress, we work and we play. It has become a preferred and comfortable mode which has made our lives way too easy. Today almost everything is available at the click of a button. You ask for a thing and it reaches your doorstep within days. Amidst these gratifying moments, when we are saved from the daily hustle-bustle, another trend of online gaming has emerged. 

Advantages of Online Games

Online gaming is a huge platform today. A platform that has broken all barriers and boundaries amidst countries around the world. In online gaming, you can connect to anyone anywhere in the world and play. Sometimes you don’t even know with whom you are playing and this mystery makes the experience even more thrilling. It also gives the player an opportunity to make new friends from other countries and get a chance to showcase their talent worldwide.

Nowadays, many online gaming championships are organized where gamers get a platform to compete with the best of the best and enhance their skills. It has gained much popularity over the years because one can play an online game on even a basic smartphone. What one requires is a consistent internet connection. Developing, designing and marketing online games has turned into a full-fledged profession and many are earning their bread and butter through it. 

Disadvantages of Online Gaming

But then there is always the other side of a coin which is often dark and dingy. The other side of online gaming is not only dark but dreadful too. Many tend to become addicted to online gaming and it takes away all of their productive time. When money gets involved in it through betting, families are ruined. It pulls an individual into isolation as mostly online gamers play alone. Their social interaction becomes nil which leads to depression and loneliness.

Online harassment through many gaming sites is not a new thing. Children can easily be trapped in this way. Long hours spent in front of the computer can harm their posture and eyes too. These games, through their catchy visuals, entice young children and they become addicted to them to such an extent that they forget to eat or sleep and prefer to sit in front of the screen all the time. Such addiction not only harms the individual but the whole family suffers due to it. Besides social effects, there are many psychological symptoms like anxiety, irritability and uncontrollable mood swings which take a toll on the health of an individual due to addiction.  

Ways to Control Online Gaming Addiction

Self-control, time management and focus can serve as the three pillars for fighting the addiction to online gaming. The external prohibitions from the government in the form of laws, certain regulations and even a ban on a few of them are not going to solve the problem. Good parenting, positive family time and socializing with friends can prove to be helpful.  In some severe cases, guidance from a counsellor could become necessary. Positive reinforcement & support from loved ones is required for an individual to come out of this addiction. 

‘Nothing can be more exciting and thrilling than a victory in real life’. So, let’s look forward to a win in real life than online.

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The risks and benefits of online gaming for children and young people

Two adolescents playing a video game while a third watches.

This report looks at the gaming experiences of 1,799 children and young people in Australia aged 8 to 17 years old who play video games online. It draws on the results of a mixed-methods study carried out by eSafety in August and September 2023.

The report explores:

  • children and young people’s participation in online gaming
  • children and young gamers’ positive and negative gaming experiences 
  • the online safety practices of children and young people, and their parents and carers
  • the disconnect between young people’s gaming experiences and their parent and carers’ perceptions of gaming, and young people’s desire for adults to understand why they enjoy it 
  • how the findings might be utilised to support children and young people to have safe and positive online gaming experiences.

Summary of key findings

  • Most of the young gamers surveyed reported having positive experiences. The majority of young gamers felt online gaming was good for their skill development or learning, social connections and/or emotional wellbeing. 
  • Four out of 10 had negative experiences while gaming, and 3 in 10 teen gamers had been exposed to potentially harmful ideas while gaming.
  • It was relatively common for negative online gaming experiences to negatively impact young gamers’ self-esteem or other aspects of their emotional wellbeing.
  • Most parents and carers, as well as young gamers themselves, were proactive about taking steps to stay safe while gaming online. 
  • Only a small proportion of young gamers who had negative experiences had reported these to the relevant gaming platform or moderators.
  • Young gamers wanted more to be done to keep them safe while gaming online, especially by the gaming industry and through education. 

Young gamers in the study emphatically wanted parents, carers and other adults to understand what gaming is like for them, and many would welcome the opportunity to game with their parents and carers.

Download the report

online gaming issues essay

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Online video gaming benefits

Online video games can be a way to help support your child’s learning and teach them key life skills. Get insight on how some gaming benefits young players’ development.

online gaming issues essay

  • The Benefits
  • The Resources

What’s on the page

pdf image

  • How does online gaming benefit children?

Why do children enjoy gaming?

Why do children enjoy watching as much as playing?

Online gaming FAQ

Tips on how to choose the best games for children, healthy gaming top tips.

  •     Why do children enjoy gaming?
  • Why do children enjoy watching as much as playing

How can online gaming benefit children?

Although games are a form of entertainment, with parents’ support and guidance video gaming benefits by helping them children develop their creativity, nurture relationships with friends and improve strategic thinking.

It can also help young players build perseverance to achieve goals, build resilience and improve their communications skills, especially in online multiplayer video games.

Here is a list of gaming benefits proven to support young players:

Learning and development benefits , a great source to develop early learning skills for younger children .

Studies show that certain games benefit younger children by helping them improve early reading skills with the support of parents and teachers. Games like ‘ Times Table Rock Stars ‘ that is used in primary schools and pre-school apps like ‘Endless Alphabet ‘ can be great tools to help children learn in a more engaging way. Also, with the growth of connected toys, children can experience physical play while playing on devices. Educational toys like Osmo combines tactile play pieces with a device’s camera to bring to the in-play action to life.

Enhances memory, brain’s speed and concentration

Games that are immersive and require strategy and problem-solving skills to win require players to remember and take in a lot of information. Regularly playing these types of games can help improve young players’ short and long-term memory. They may also the brain process information quicker. Furthermore, video games capture players’ imagination, helping them to stay focused on certain tasks, building their perseverance to achieve a goal.

Improved multi-tasking skills

Games that require players to find items while fighting off other opponents call for attention to detail and quick reactions. Studies have shown that this type of gaming benefits young players by helping them develop their multi-tasking skills.

Build skills for future careers

The more complex online multiplayer games help teach players how to be strategic and analytical to assess risk and reward. These games call for young players to react quickly to changes in the game. This type of gaming benefits children because the skills can be transferable to real-world jobs that rely on problem-solving, analytical skills and strategic thinking.

Offer a new way to understand culture and perspectives

As games allow children to immerse themselves in virtual worlds and, at times, connect to people from around the world, it can be a great way for them to learn about different perspectives and cultures.

Physical and social benefits

Group play provides social benefits.

Whether children are playing online multiplayer games with friends or using family-friendly apps like ‘Heads Up’ with the family in the living room, these types of games can help nurture relationships through shared moments. They also improve children’s social skills. For children who may have disabilities, it can also be a way for them to make friendships they may struggle to create offline and contribute to overall child development.

Family-friendly gaming

Best connected toys, games and apps for the whole family to share

Promotes teamwork and builds confidence

Online multiplayer gaming benefits young players by allowing them to take on a number of roles such as managing teams or working with others to win. The shared experience can be a great way to collaborate and learn from each other to build children’s confidence.

Provides a fun way to stay active

The success of games like Pokemon GO and Just Dance are an example of how gaming benefits children by motivating them to stay active while gaming. Also, the rise of mobile gaming apps means that children can now game on the go. See our  list of active apps that can help your child stay active while gaming.

Helps to develop mindfulness

There are a number of games and apps developed to help children manage their emotions and encourage kind behaviour, compassion and empathy. See our list of wellbeing apps to learn more.

Provides a safe space to talk about fears

Sometimes it can be easier to talk about worries in a virtual context, and gaming may benefit children by providing a safe place for children to express themselves.

A new way to experience stories

Immersive games can help children experience stories in a different and engaged way. The way the story is told can spark creative skills and make the topics more memorable. Online safety games like Digital Matters can help children learn and practise important skills through storytelling.

Creates meaningful ways to learn topics

Schools now use game-based learning more often to help students understand and think about complex topics. These may help children build math skills or get to grips with concepts in science. Gamifying learning and allowing children to see things in a different way can encourage them to grasp topics faster and in a more meaningful way.

Gaming benefits children in many ways. Playing is a fun and sociable way to spend time that encourages teamwork and skill development, which are all good things. However, there are a few things you need to be aware of:

  • Some games let children play and chat with anyone in the world . This means they might come across offensive language and bullying
  • Not everyone online is who they say they are . Children should avoid giving out personal details that could identify them or their location
  • Some games encourage players to buy extra elements during the game – children have been known to run up large bills without realising it
  • In extreme cases, a form of bullying called ‘griefing’  can be used as a tactic to win games. Children may find themselves either bullying or being bullied
  • Get involved by finding out what type of games your child enjoys and making sure they’re appropriate for their age
  • It can be hard to stop some games in the middle of a battle as there are penalties for quitting. Give your child time warnings so they know when they need to stop playing and can plan for it.

Offers the opportunity to explore, build new worlds and take on new personas that aren’t possible in the real world.

Video games offer worlds to explore that don’t dictate types of behaviour or where to go. Young players enjoy this freedom as an extension of the playground.

Games offer an experience that can extend over a long period. Like a bed time story, regularly visiting a game and progressing the story is both comforting and compelling.

Online multiplayer video gaming benefits include connecting with people from all around the world, getting real-time feedback on how well you are playing, improving teamwork skills and building relationships with friends. Additionally, it creates a family friendly space where you can have positive online experiences together.

Depending on the games they play, players can get rewards such as tokens, in-game currency, virtual trophies and more as they move through the games and complete different levels.

The rise of esports and games like Fortnite and Rocket League allow children to compete against each other to gain notoriety by winning. Some people even pursue esports as a way to earn money.

Challenge your child and learn about online safety together with our tablet app

online gaming issues essay

Use our 6 top online gaming safety tips to help children use gaming as a way to build on their skills, have fun, all in a safer environment.

Use this animated music video from Common Sense Media to talk with your child about the hazards of oversharing online

What are children doing while online gaming?

Many children watch others playing video games rather than actually playing themselves. so much so that let’s play videos – narrated videos of other people’s gameplay, often including jokes and humour – are the most watched live stream videos on video sharing platforms. here are a few reasons why:.

Children benefit from watching others because they can pick up tricks to complete stages of games, learn new strategies by watching walkthroughs and improve their video gaming skills on a particular game.

This is the biggest reason why children enjoy watching others gaming. It’s not just watching them play, but the commentary which can be humourous that they see as a benefit. Some are done by popular YouTubers, so it feels like a chance to get to know their personality and engage with them.

Children tend to share these let’s play videos with each other and discuss them together. If they are watching them live, they can also communicate with others watching and the person who is live streaming (which can often be a well-known gamer or YouTuber like PewdiePie).

Adult language and Inappropriate content

Some of the language that is used in the videos is not family friendly. Therefore, it’s best to watch them with your child to get an idea of suitability.

If they are watching live streams, it may be harder to control the type of content that they might see. Use the YouTube Kids app to find suitable Let’s Play videos curated for children. There is also a YouTube channel called LearningWorks for Kids Let’s Play which provide tips to optimise game-play for children’s learning.

It’s passive screen time

Watching the videos may have some gaming benefits like learning new skills and socialisation. However, unlike playing games, this is passive screen time, so monitoring the amount of time they spend watching is important. Remind them to take breaks and use parental controls to set up limits.

Teach important online safety issues through gamefied learning.

online gaming issues essay

Take a look at answers to some key questions parents have about online gaming to support your child.

What makes a good video game?

Great games are those that both challenge and teach your child something they can use in the real world. But there is also value in the virtual experience. It enables children to prepare for a future where online and offline lives overlap. Like books, many games benefit young players’ lives because of their experience as a whole.

Take a look at family stories on AskAboutGames to get insight on age-appropriate games that will help your child do just that. Family friendly games allow everyone to get involved and play together.

My child would like a career in gaming. How can I support them?

If your child would like to get into esports (competitive gaming) or help create video games of the future, start early and help them learn more about the different jobs and opportunities in the gaming industry. It’s a good idea to help them broaden their view of what’s available beyond the traditional roles of developers or streamers.

Take a look at the type of video gaming jobs available for them so they can understand their priorities. Ask About Games have created Thriving Futures: A rough guide to game careers , an advice series exploring available roles and actions young people should take.

Here are some roles we’ve pulled out from the guide:

Game performer.

Game performers include voiceover artists, actors, and even athletes and stunt experts who do motion capture work (special cameras that record movement to create more realistic characters).

Game Producer

There are many different approaches to producing games but, in general, game producers keep everybody working on the same page. They make sure a game comes together as planned: on time, to budget and at a top standard. Sometimes game producing can be a managerial role and in other cases, it can be creative. Game producers normally sit at the top of a team, working with lead game designers and game directors.

Game Writer

A game writer pens the script for a game, but they also do much more than that. Game writers might contribute to ‘world building’, where they provide back stories and supporting documents to help players – or fellow developers – understand a game world and the motivations of characters within it.

Some world building content might not even be included in a game but is vital to it feeling convincing. Game writers often deliver other in-game text and even work with performers and audio specialists to adapt game dialogue as it is performed and recorded.

Game Audio Specialist

There are many types of game audio roles. They may include those who record and edit voiceovers or composers who score game soundtracks. Games also include game sound effect designers and creators along with recording artists who go out into the world to capture real sounds.

Where should gameplay happen?

Encourage children to play in communal spaces to share the experience in a family friendly way. This help you catch any problems like worrying content or too much screen time. Keeping video games in family rooms turns gaming into a normal part of family life rather than something separate or hidden away.

If children are older and would prefer to play in their bedroom, consider steering them towards keeping the tech in a shared space. In any case, keep the conversation going about their gameplay and make sure you enforce your agreed rules to ensure they stay safe while gaming.

For what age is video gaming appropriate?

According to research, children typically start gaming between the ages of 3 to 4. On average, boys play nearly 4 hours of video games every day while girls average just over 2 hours . There is no age specification on when they should start, but it’s a good idea to manage the type of games they play to make sure the games benefit their development as they grow.

Additionally, physical safety is just as important as digital safety. Some people have reported experiencing nausea when playing VR games , for instance, so making young players aware of what to do if they feel unwell is key. Prolonged sessions of gaming can also affect developing eyes, so it’s important to take regular breaks (every 20 – 30 mins) and set up gaming stations in a way that will allow them to minimise the negative impact on their body.

For younger children, there are plenty of games and apps to learn different skills from reading to engineering. A lot of these games tend to be educational and encourage parents to monitor progress to see how well children are doing.

Pick games that are family friendly so you can play together, keep them motivated and help them develop these key skills. Examples include Stardew Valley, Towerfall, Nintendoland, Spaceteam and Overcooked 2.

For pre-teens, there are plenty of sandbox games like Minecraft , Roblox and Rec Room that allow them to explore and build new worlds to make it more immersive and engaging. These games give children the opportunity to be creative and use their imaginations.

For teens, available are more complex and immersive and tend to feature live interactions with multiple players. Examples include Fortnite or Apex Legends . These games may seem like pure entertainment but they may require a level of strategy and forward planning to move through levels and achieve goals set by the game.

With these types of games, it’s important to review them together with your child to make sure the content is suitable for their age. Remember to also keep the conversation going so they know what to do if something goes wrong. Learn what the PEGI ratings mean on games to help.

With a large number of video games available for children, it can be overwhelming to figure out which are best for your child. We’ve created a checklist to help you choose games that will keep them engaged and support them in developing key skills.

Need to create a family media plan? See this template from healthychildren.org

If you have a game in mind for your child, do some digging about it to see what others think about the game and potential things you should watch out for. There are a number of sites like AskAboutGames that offer parents’ insights on games and other types of media to help you make a decision.

For younger children, you can get them started on free games available through web browsers. It’s important to note that some of these sites may have phishing or spyware so, googling for games to play on browsers can be risky. Sticking to reputable sites like Nickelodeon and CBBC is best as they offer a range of games that are suitable for a younger audience that features their favourite characters. These games are also often focused on learning a skill or explore a theme which is great for young children. You could also download free apps such as Lego apps or make use of systems like DS and 3DS to download free games which are great for younger kids.

To ensure that your child is engaged and challenged, make sure to give them a broad variety of games to choose from. You could mix and match Shoot’em up games with Puzzle games to allow them to use different skills to play. Also, make some time to talk about the content in the games to get an idea of their understanding of themes.

As an alternative to board games, video games can help enhance family moments and create a shared experience to relationships. Choosing games like Heads Up or Tetris inspired Tricky Towers are a great way to enjoy screen time together.

Get more insight: Top 6 great family games to enjoy over Easter Holidays

If your child has gaming friends, talk to their parents to get their point of view on games and get an idea of what their concerns may be. Check out popular game lists in app stores and game sites. This is a great way to look at trends and see what others are ranking as good games to invest in.

There are a number of games that you can play together virtually, these are a great way to stay connected and create moments of shared experiences.

Use PEGI (Pan-European Game Information) ratings and App store ratings to get an idea of what type of content the game will have and decide whether the game is age-appropriate. It’s important to note that these are just indicators so we’d advise finding out more about the game through a review or other parents before giving it to your child. The Pegi App is a great way to get a view of the game’s rating.

Also, popular sites like Steam (a distribution platform for buying and playing games) do not have clear ratings so reviewing the games may be to only way to find out.

Dependent on what your child’s hobbies are or areas of interest, try and find games that will help supplement these to get them engaged. If your child enjoys football, fishing or racing cars there are lots of games with this theme. Equally, games like this can be good at sparking real-world hobbies.

As they get more proficient in online gaming, playing web-browser games may become boring for them. Through regular conversations, check-in to see if they are enjoying the games and suggest more challenging games to make gameplay rewarding.

Before investing in the game try a demo together. Studies show that children learn more when parents join in.

See resource: Kotaku Best video games to play with kids 

Whether you are investing in a boxed game (one that you put in the console) or a mobile-based game that is free-to-play, it’s a good idea to consider the costs of involved.

Some games feature in-app purchases and market to your child through ads so it’s important to consider whether this is something that you would like your child to be exposed to. Equally, consider the costs of getting subscription services to play online like Xbox lie and PSN. Cost of hardware and extra controllers should be reviewed as some can run high.

Also, if you are planning to invest a lot, consider how long your child is likely to play the game to make sure it’s a good investment. Other costs might include needing to purchase additional controllers and get subscriptions to services that allow online play.

Genres of games available

Here is a summary of the types of games that are available for you to choose from..

Action – This is the most popular type of game that focuses on players reaction time and hand-eye coordination with progression through levels. As this is a catch-all, here are some sub-sections of the genre:

  • Shooter games: Challenges player to target ‘enemies’ in the game to take them out to win the game Example: Overwatch
  • Beat’em Ups: Most of these games are based on martial arts and focus on players ability to win a fight against an opponent in order to win. Example: Double Dragon
  • Platform games: This is the most well-known action game sub-genre as it features obstacles courses, numerous levels to move through and opponents to defeat. Example: Super Mario 3D Land
  • Adventure: These are games that focus on problem-solving and puzzles with limited action. Example: Minecraft
  • Action role-playing : Features avatars that players use to move through the game and usually emphasises real-time combat. Example:  The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Strategic: These games require the management of resources to survive and win the game. Example: Portal Knights

Point & click: Adventure games the characters are controlled on screen with a mouse. Example: Broken Age

Racing: Games featuring racing competitions with vehicles or characters Example: Forza Horizon 4

Massively multiplayer game Online: Features multiple players interacting with each other in real-time through voice or text-based communication online. Example: Fortnite

First-person: Games where players see the game through the eyes of the character throughout the game. Example: Apex Legends

Party mini-games: Multiplayer games that are short and simple with a focus on scoring points to win. Example: Mario Party 9

Sports: Features real-world games such as golf, football, etc. Example: FIFA 19

Turn-based: These types of games pause to allow either another player to make a move or the computer to take a turn. There are other sub-genres including turn-based strategy and turn-based role-playing. Example: Wargroove

Puzzle: Games with a focus on testing problem-solving skills, logic, patterns or word completion. Example: Tetris

Simulation games: These are games that closely simulate real-world activities. Example: The Sims

Learn how to keep your child safe while playing online games to ensure they get the best out of their experience.

In addition to making your child part of the process of creating clear boundaries on what games they can play, when and for how long, here are some more tips to help them stay healthy when gaming:

  • Aim for a break every 15 to 20 minutes, even if it’s just looking away from the screen or going to get a snack.
  • If they notice that they are starting to feel annoyed or frustrated this is a good time to take a break.

Play games in open spaces

  • Playing games in the living room or a shared space can help keep you engaged in what they are doing and create opportunities to step in if you’re concerned.
  • This will also make it more likely that you can play games together with your child.

Show them how to stay respectful while gaming

  • It can be fun to compete against others but remind your child to be a ‘good sport’ and only say things they would face-to-face to keep communications with others safe. Check out our top internet manners guide to help them.
  • Encourage them to apply ‘digital civility’ principles by being compassionate, respecting others differences and seeking help if they need it or support others who may be experiencing online abuse.

Help them see the bigger picture when it comes to gaming

  • Make them aware of how games are created, how they make money and why certain themes are featured in games so they have a more rounded view of the games they play

Ask About games:   learning about the gaming industry

  • Help them understand how games make money and how they are advertised.

Encourage them to try challenging games that offer variation in activities

  • As well as staying entertained, playing games that challenge them and help them to develop life skills like problem-solving skills are a great way to benefit from their gameplay.

Encourage your child to notice enjoyment and frustrations

  • When a game hasn’t gone to plan it’s helpful to give your child space and help them process why it was frustrating.
  • This can lead to an understanding of emotions, as well as new strategies for how often they play and what they choose to play on.

Explain the importance of protecting their personal information

  • Help them understand that some people may not always be who they say they are in-game and could use their personal details to cause harm.
  • If they are under 12, it’s probably best to limit online interactions to video games where the other players that they know in real life. Also, most social networks have a minimum age requirement which you can use to decide whether they should be using these.

Make gaming active

  • Games like Pokemon Go and others encourage kids to game on the GO to combine what they love with physical activity. There are also plenty of motion-sensing ‘active’ games such as Just Dance or Zumba that they could play. See our active apps guide for some more suggestions.

Give them tools to use when things go wrong

  • Make sure they know how to report and block in-game abuse.
  • If they are playing multiplayer games, explain that if they see or hear anything that upsets them to talk to you or a trusted adult to deal with it

Resource for teens to learn about the risks of online gaming

Gaming advice by age 

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Under-5s: Just starting to game

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Support older children who game

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Gaming guide for teens

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Online Gaming

Last updated on December 10, 2023 by ClearIAS Team

online gaming

What is Online Gaming? What are the different categories of Online Gaming? What are the benefits and issues related to Online Gaming? To answer these questions, read further.

India has the second largest number of gamers after South Korea. China has put restrictions on the number of hours for children less than eighteen years old to three hours per week.

The Indian government has announced the formation of a committee to control internet gambling and designate a Ministry to be in charge of it. The committee’s objective is to research international best practices and recommend an online gambling regulatory framework.

Recently, the Rajasthan government unveiled a draft bill to control internet games, particularly fantasy games. In states like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, online game restrictions have already been implemented. However, state high courts overruled them because a total ban would be unfair to games of skill.

During the budget session, the Online Gaming (Regulation) Bill, 2022 was presented in Lok Sabha as a Private Member’s Bill. In today’s technological era, games have shifted from the backyards to the online space. Online Gaming has witnessed a spurt in demand in recent times.

Table of Contents

Online gaming refers to those games that require an internet connection to play them. This is a part of the sunrise industry and these days there is increasing demand for access to different types of games. For example poker, rummy, and other artificial intelligence games based on augmented reality.

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With more than 13 crore players across more than 200 platforms, the nation is the largest fantasy sports market internationally. The government observed a surge in the number of persons playing online rummy. India divides the games mostly into two broad groups to distinguish them.

The game falls into two categories

Game of chance: All games that are played at random are considered games of chance. These games rely heavily on chance. These games can be played without any prior knowledge or comprehension. Dice games, choosing a number, etc. are a few examples. In India, these games are regarded as unlawful.

Game of skill: Games of skill are many video games that are played depending on the player’s prior knowledge or gameplay expertise. A person will need abilities like analytical decision-making, capability, logical thinking, etc. Some games could also need some preliminary practice to succeed. Most Indian states consider these games to be legal.

Factors contributing to the online gaming sector

  • Because of the Covid 19 restrictions and lockdown, people were struck at their places, there were online schools, work from home, and so on, and also because of the digital payment popularity, the demand for the online gaming sector was on a spike.
  • There was a development of the gaming sector industry. To fulfill the increasing demands of online games there has been an increase in investments, and as a result, growing tech companies started taking interest in it because of the profitability involved.
  • Now there are more gaming options available because of technological advancements and cloud computing.
  • Affordable internet can be another reason for the increased access to these games.
  • There is an increasingly young population and apart from the different age groups, people are also showing interest in online games resulting in an increased number of users.
  • The gaming business is expanding quickly, and the recently carried out Digital India efforts have a direct bearing on this development. People now have access to the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) because of digitization, so the sector is expanding not only in terms of user numbers but also in terms of monetization.
  • The World Economic Forum (WEF) claims that India’s gaming business is primarily driven by mobile devices. According to observations, smartphone use is what has led to an expansion in the gaming business. The majority of gaming is mobile-based. The availability of smartphones with better gaming capabilities and higher processing speeds has further increased their adoption.

Benefits of online gaming

It will reduce the incidences of juvenile crimes as now they will be occupied and as a result, will not go into something dangerous and harmful to society. It will also result in reduced illegal activities, for example, games like Dream 11 can result in reduced illegal betting.

Online gaming might result in increased revenue for the government through taxes on online gaming. And as a result, will help the government in reducing the government deficit and increasing infrastructure.

The educational games will help the children to learn different things in a very simple and lucid way and they will not also get bored.

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It will create employment opportunities for many people interested in this sector . For example tech start-ups, animations, and so on.

It might result in the global legitimacy of e-sports and it will open a platform for India to win for the country. For example, in the Asian games, 2022 e-sports like pub g will debut as medal events.

It will promote innovation and tech achievement in immersive and interactive technology. For example, augmented reality.

Issues involved in online gaming

It might lead to physical and psychological harm. For example, always being in the gaming mode might result in aggressive behavior and increased violence. A real-life incident can be a blue whale challenge.

There is limited legal awareness among the citizens. There is yet another problem of betting and gambling being state-list subjects, thus this will lead to different states having different laws.

This can have serious health issues like obesity, vision problems, arm injuries, anxiety, stress, disruption of sleep, and irregular eating patterns which can have long-term consequences. Gaming addiction might result in disruption in social relationships and along with it financial losses.

This can divert the mind of the younger generation towards gaming and it will duly impact the educational performance of the generation. As a result, it will result in the loss of social and cultural relationships and moral values of the youth.

The absence of any national regulations and laws on online gaming might increase the chaos and lead to the rise of illegal apps, posing new challenges for the government and administration to deal with.

The financial losses will increase the violence against women and children both inside and outside the home as the person will prioritize games over other things and will continue even after the negative consequences.

It will cause physical, social, and emotional damage. There will be impaired sleep, a disrupted career, and no social life. As of now the majority of the time they will be spending on gaming, financial distress, and social isolation.

There will be risks of cyber attacks , privacy issues, data mining, identity theft, financial fraud during game transactions, and so on.

Online gaming ethics

In 2023, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) had notified rules for online gaming which allowed for the setting up of self-regulatory bodies to vet the legitimacy of online games, with oversight of the government, among other provisions.

  • Three major lobby groups representing top online gaming companies including  Dream11 and Games24x7 have co-signed a code of ethics as the industry attempts to govern itself amid a turbulent time after having faced harsh action on the taxation side.
  • The code, however, is voluntary, meaning that it is not legally binding.

Way Forward

The need of the hour is proper regulation on gaming all stakeholders or allowing the center to make laws and regulations using the power under article 252 or the center’s residuary powers under article 248.

There is a need for a single regulatory body for the entire online gaming industry to standardize regulations and ensure uniformity in the laws across India.

Parents should also take responsibility and supervise the children on the type of games, and hours spent on online gaming, take care of the consequences, if any, or try to persuade the children to play learning outcomes games and so on.

There is a dire need to create awareness of online gaming and its ill consequences on the growth and development of the child its effect on society and the importance of having discipline even if used.

The industry has to be licensed. Numerous safety checks must be developed. Instead of having a policy, the sector needs to be brought in as a self-regulator.

The State and Union Governments should collaborate to develop specific guidelines in cooperation with industry stakeholders to fully realize the potential of the online gaming business.

Article written by Chetna Yadav.

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It's a shame Gray Zone Warfare is a performance nightmare, because it fixes so many problems I have with Escape From Tarkov

Gray Zone Warfare might be a little too early access right now.

gray zone warfare

I sometimes question if I can call myself a fan of extraction shooters when I don't enjoy the most popular game in the genre: Escape From Tarkov. I bounced off the hardcore milsim after a few painful gear wipes at the hands of extraction campers. I've almost reinstalled it a dozen times in the years since, hopeful that I could get into it with the right mindset, but always stop short of pressing play.

That's why I'm eager to give Gray Zone Warfare, the latest tactical FPS pressed from the Tarkov mold that's oozing with buzz from EFT devotees, a real shot. If I'm gonna suck, at least I'll suck right alongside a bunch of other new players.

Turns out I was very wrong to assume Gray Zone is another Tarkov clone. The first clue was discovering there's a whole cooperative element to the game you won't find in any other major extraction shooter. Before I even picked up a gun, I had to join one of three factions. It turns out this is a pretty important decision—you can only group up with players in your faction, and you can only change your faction after a full server reset that'll happen "every few months."

The other reason factions matter is that each one has a persistent base camp on the 42km x 42km island of Lamang, and players in your faction are automatically allies. I was surprised by how much the faction system eases the tension of playing solo. Even if my faction mates are ultimately playing for themselves, it's really nice to have strangers watching your back.

At least during this early launch period, the geographic divide between the factions creates these "safe" zones in the corners of the map where you can be fairly confident there are no real enemy players. In my first hour exploring a town outside camp, I only encountered friendly players and NPCs. The closer you get to the center or opposing corners of the map, the more likely you are to run into the other factions. It reminds me of the Horde/Alliance dynamic in World of Warcraft, except the PMCs of Gray Zone Warfare are fighting over loot caches with shiny guns and water bottles.

Factions make for such a friendlier introduction than the minute one beatdowns you get in Tarkov or Marauders. And Gray Zone's other standout feature, its persistent map, slightly softens the blow of losing your loot. When you die, you respawn in the same session back at your base camp. From there you can start fresh with a new loadout like you would in Tarkov, or you can head back to where you just beefed it and try to recover what you lost. If a player killed you, then they probably pocketed your best stuff. But if it was an NPC, it'll all still be there.

Easy corpse runs are the reason the few deaths I've had so far in Gray Zone haven't bothered me too much. The first time, I died as soon as I stepped out of the helicopter in some sort of freak accident. The second time, I had to go AFK just as an NPC found me and scored an easy kill. Both times, I was able to recover everything I lost, something you won't see in Tarkov without a group of helpful friends willing to be your corpse mule.

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Grayzone Warfare rucksack full of items

Too early access

These smart, welcome adjustments to the Tarkov formula make Gray Zone stand out in an increasingly homogenous genre. I want to play more Gray Zone Warfare, which is way more than I can say about the games that inspired it, but that makes its glaring early access messiness all the more frustrating.

As day one Steam reviewers will tell you , it's nearly impossible to get Gray Zone running at a smooth, competitive shooter-friendly framerate without a very powerful PC. If you're in the vast majority of Steam users with several generations-old hardware, you'll have to settle for a choppy 30-40 fps average with frequent chugs in busy areas (and that's at a humble 1080p with DLSS on). It's a nice looking game, but nothing about it suggests that only the might of 30 and 40-series cards can render its glory.

Gray Zone Warfare helicopter"

And that's only the most obvious and disruptive problem. YouTubers and streamers who've been playing the game for weeks have flagged some concerns with PvP and progression. In an influencer-only beta server, some players got screwed over by enemies who'd camp known helicopter landing sites and wait for people to get dropped off. Since there's no way to shoot or move while riding in a heli, getting caught by a camper is sure death. That strikes me as a fundamental, red alert level problem to fix as soon as possible, because the only alternative to helicopter fast travel is running on foot from your base camp (which can take a long time). No thanks.

So yes, this is early early access. What you can play today feels like the beginnings of a much larger game, but it's hard to recommend dropping $35 on it (or a lot more, if you want more inventory space) as is. You only need to read this list of planned features to see how far Gray Zone Warfare still has to go:

  • A complete map featuring all locations and diverse biomes
  • A hazardous Ground Zero area with end-game enemies and new storylines
  • Different types of AI behaviors based on the enemy type, situation, time, or weather condition
  • Faction-based AI with its own agenda involving quests, patrolling, scavenging, and attacking others
  • Factions featuring progression systems and diverse reputations
  • Immersive environmental storytelling featuring mature and engaging plots
  • Advanced quest system encompassing both main and side storylines
  • Game-changing, captivating seasonal events
  • Resource-intensive and survival-focused crafting
  • Dynamic weather changing the gameplay experience
  • An accelerated day and night cycle
  • Unique skills system based on the player's achievements, not grind
  • Customizable "hooch" player's base quarters
  • Enhanced weapon customizations
  • Fully customizable gear
  • Complex trading system for players

Developer Madfinger Games expects early access to last years, and is leaving the door open to change its plans based on player feedback. 

Morgan Park

Morgan has been writing for PC Gamer since 2018, first as a freelancer and currently as a staff writer. He has also appeared on Polygon, Kotaku, Fanbyte, and PCGamesN. Before freelancing, he spent most of high school and all of college writing at small gaming sites that didn't pay him. He's very happy to have a real job now. Morgan is a beat writer following the latest and greatest shooters and the communities that play them. He also writes general news, reviews, features, the occasional guide, and bad jokes in Slack. Twist his arm, and he'll even write about a boring strategy game. Please don't, though.

Software dev joins ranks of history's greatest monsters by adding microtransactions to the original Doom

PSA: Empty your rucksack before you play Gray Zone Warfare for the first time

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