Video games headed for a sporting journey

I / New Delhi June 22, 2009, 12:34 IST

Video games — the picture that these words conjure up in the mind is that of treasure hunts, guns fights and car chases. But all this is soon to change as sport based games are busy giving tough competition to other genres.           

"It is true that more Indians are getting into gaming every day especially sports based ones which are gaining huge popularity. In Zapak out of the top 10 games six are sports oriented, with India-Pak cricket leading the pack," says Rohit Sharma, COO, Zapak, an online gaming site.        

A study by the National Association of Software and Services Companies has revealed huge growth potential for animation and gaming industry in India, with revenues expected to reach $1.25 billion by the year 2009.    

"Sport based games are doing well and it will only get better. One of the major reasons is that earlier the graphics of sport games were inferior but now they are as good as the other games and hence the popularity," says Bishwajyoti Roy, a self-confessed gaming freak.    

This growth of the sport games sector has been boosted by active participation of the youth. Most youngsters prefer games that require more involvement and less strain.    

"One of the main reasons for popularity of such games is that they are easier to play than strategy games, "says Sharma.

Although, the new breed of gamers are drifting towards sports-oriented games, vintage games like Age of Empires still rule the roost among purists.    

"New users prefer games like cricket, football etc but traditional gamers still go for strategy games," Sharma added.    

The popularity has not been merely confined to the increase of gamers but has also translated into rise in sales. Most of the companies who manufacture such games are making handsome profits.    

"Two or three years ago the gaming market was dominated by strategy and combat games but now the sport based games are doing really well. Games like cricket from EA sports and FIFA football have enjoyed record sales," says Mukul Mallik, manager of a gaming store in the capital.    

A boost for such games has been provided by the advent of interactive games pioneered by the Nintendo's Wii that allow users to control the game using physical gestures as well as traditional button presses. Other major players like Microsoft and Sony are also planning to launch their own versions.    

As Suvina Rai, a college student and self confessed gameholic says, "There is more involvement in an interactive game than in other videogames. It is more demanding physically as playing games like tennis in such consoles require some physical activity."