Just a month ago I was out on a family get together at a resort near Bangalore and had a tough time consoling my six year old niece. Guess why? Her crops were getting destroyed on her farm and she wanted to harvest them. I didn’t complain because even I was worried about my farm. Yes!! I’m talking about the facebook game that made it to the Time magazine’s ‘50 worst inventions’ – Farmville.
It is an interesting phenomenon how the digital media has revolutionized games and toys in this country. When I grew up during the 1990’s i.e., the gilli danda generation, sports was very real and the spin of a simple mechanical top or the buguri made me feel on top of the world. It really didn’t matter if you were a bad athlete or had bad a memory, there was a game just to suit you. Hopscotch, Hide 'n Seek, Checkers, gilli danda, lagori, chain cut, dabba, lock and key, chocolate box, the list goes on. And if you are bad at all of these, never mind because there are trump cards where you don’t have to lose all the time.
Back then most of us didn’t have a great deal of money and the concept of pocket money was just budding. We made toys with things lying around our neighbourhood; sticks, leaves, stones – these were enough for us to invent a game. Just think of your childhood for a minute and you will realise the massive change in the attitude. When was the last time you saw kids playing with marbles or the skies filled with kites? Have you seen any paper boat sailing on the water-filled potholes during rain recently? The hectic and mechanical lives of ours are being reflected in today’s toys.
The pressure of work, studies and career are taking a toll on us these days. Children no more have the time to mingle with their neighbour’s kids as every child is busy with cricket coaching, tuitions or playing games on computer. Just when we thought virtualization of sports was rampant another hindrance arose – The facebook addiction. The kids these days are busy sending poker and black jack requests to their friends on facebook and hence have no time to play with rock and paper.
People's perception of gaming has changed in the last few years. It has gone from being a product for a cult group to a lifestyle product. India’s video-game console market has grown to $125.4 million in 2010, rising at a growth rate of 75 percent from $13.3 million in 2006.
Somebody said I know my great grandfather existed because I believe he did and I’m afraid my kid would not believe that if he doesn’t find my great grandfather on facebook. Ironic it may sound, but it’s true.
Looks like we can never bring those games we played back to life. It therefore becomes my moral responsibility to remind all of you and document the games we played.
3 years ago
