Page 14 - Masala Lite Issue 170 February 2025

14 TRENDING NOW

Why Gaming Is Here to Stay – And
Keep Winning

BY AYUSH MADAN

ike most Gen-Zers, my teen years were shaped by the tidal wave of online
content that defined the 2010s. Before vertical videos and influencers

took over, Minecraft Let’s Plays, GTA V heists, and Call of Duty montages
ruled YouTube. Gaming felt raw and personal, and watching creators like
CaptainSparklez and PewDiePie wasn’t just entertainment, it was my daily BUI TUNG
ritual. Now, what started as a niche corner of the internet is a multi-billion-dollar Avid Gamer
industry with corporate sponsors and million-dollar prize pools.
How would you describe your relationship with
Disappointingly, the adults around me never seemed to get it. “Why not just games? Is it more casual or competitive?
play the game yourself?” they’d ask. And yet, no one questions a Manchester
United fan for cheering on their team instead of being on the pitch. Esports, like I love video games. They have been an important

football, demand no less – from the lightning-fast reflexes of a Valorant player aspect of my day-to-day life for a very long time,
to the strategic depth of a League of Legends team, pro gamers are pushed to helping me get through tough times and bringing in
their physical and mental limits. some much-needed positivity. I used to be a big fan
of playing competitively. I used to grind a lot of Dota
To explore the rise of esports, Masala spoke with gamers across the spectrum – 2 and Valorant in the past, reaching around the mid-ranks of Dota and Ascendant 1
competitive players and fans – to hear their thoughts on how gaming has evolved in Valorant. Nowadays, I mainly play games to hang out with friends.
and why it continues to mean so much to them.
Do you play the same games you enjoy watching in esports?
Yes, I do. During lockdown, I followed the Dota and Valorant pro scenes extensively,
inspiring and incorporating strategies I learned from the pros with my friends. These
JASPAL RATTA days, however, I watch esports purely for entertainment. As for gaming preferences,
Twitch Streamer / Talon Esports Team Thailand
I’m an FPS fan. Multiplayer games have been such a staple for me that single-player
games, feel slow and less engaging in comparison. For instance, I enjoyed Hogwarts
How would you describe your relationship with Legacy for a few hours but quickly lost interest. My current game rotation includes
games? Is it more casual or competitive?
Marvel Rivals, Delta Force Extraction, and some Dota here and there.
I’ve been in the esports industry for three years and
started streaming during that time. Initially, I began
streaming to archive my gameplay videos, but as my
channel grew organically, I recognised the potential in
streaming. Shroud was a significant inspiration for me

back in the day, and I’ve always admired his journey.
Do you still play games for fun outside of streaming?
Yes, I still play video games for fun outside of streaming.
Gaming has always been an integral part of my life. I started with console games as a

child and eventually transitioned to PC gaming. My favorite game to play off-stream
is Valorant.
What are some recent esporting events you’ve attended, and how did they
impact you?

The most recent esports event I attended was VCT Pacific Stage 2 in Korea. I was

absolutely amazed by the scale of the event. It reaffirmed my confidence in the esports

industry and its promising trajectory.
PAVANI KAUR NAVAPORN
Women’s League QUT Esports Championships “NAVA”SIRICHANTAROPAS
Avid Gamer
How would you describe your relationship with
games? Is it more casual or competitive? How would you describe your relationship with
games? Is it more casual or competitive?
I play both casual and used to play competitively
representing the University of Melbourne in Australia. Gaming feels like a childhood best friend—full of comfort
Currently, I’m playing with my university friends and and playfulness, always evolving but never fading. In my
we’re trying to be the best in Oceania, so we play teens, gaming was often seen as something for “nerds”
ranked a lot (laughs). or “losers,” and I juggled that perception with being
an outgoing teenager. Now, as gaming becomes more
Do you play the same games you enjoy watching widely accepted, I’m proud it’s always been a part of
in esports?
me—and that I never stopped doing what I love.
Yes, I watch some LCO (League of Legends Circuit Oceania), but mostly world
championships for League. It encourages me to be better, and I enjoy watching and Do you play the same games you enjoy watching in esports?

chatting with friends. One of the main reasons I play League is the amazing music. I Generally, I like to watch any kind of game, whether it’s competitive or a one-off storyline
also play FPS games like Valorant. It’s more collaborative, and I love this game a lot game. I don’t categorise myself by genre—I love FPS, MOBA, indie games, or whatever
more than League, mainly because players are less toxic and friendlier. I also used to else comes my way. But the games that have stuck with me most are competitive ones

play a lot of Call of Duty and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, but these days I lean like League of Legends and relaxing ones like The Sims series. I also find storyline games
towards Valorant and League. to be entertaining, competitive, sociable, and inspiring.
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