Kolkata :
Rohit Sarkar toggles between virtual football and the real thing, and gets a kick out of both. “I play for my college team,” said the 22-year-old, adding: “I’m good with the ‘FIFA’ games too,” he added.
‘FIFA’ is a popular video games series, and the youngster is hoping to score in ‘FIFA ’11’ or ‘FIFA ’14’, the two versions of the simulated football games that feature in Game-o-Thon, the two-day PC gaming tournament that began on Friday. Rohit had just won the first round in the ‘Counter Strike’, a team game of shootouts between cops and terrorists. “We’ve came together as a team just two days ago,” he smiled, pointing to his four teammates in a cramped basement full of terminals.
Though they were expecting a high turnout for the two-day tournament, which is only in its second year, the rush had caught the organisers by surprise in the morning. “We have had to stop registration and told many to come tomorrow,” said Umang Lalani, whose idea it was to start a gaming meet in eastern India that could match those in cities like Delhi and Mumbai. “Over 900 could register today and we think we’ll be able to accommodate a total of 1200 for the two days of the meet. It’s way above the 500-odd we had last season. We definitely have to move to a much bigger place from next year,” smiled the 35-year-old.
The early face-offs were shortened to save time. “I’ve left out a very popular team game called ‘Call of Duty’ to ensure lesser stations are occupied and more participants are accommodated.
Among the participants were eight-year-old Asmita Banerjee, who lost her ‘FIFA ’11’ face-off with an older opponent but was all excited with the experience. Also fighting it out with an older opponent was Adarsh Shah, but the 11-year-old created quite a flutter when he did a Yuvraj Singh by ‘hitting’ every ball in the one-over-per-side match for a six. The 36 was easily the best score of the day in ‘Cricket 07’. “I am gaming for two years now but this was my first tournament,” Adarsh informed.
As the ‘amateurs’, most of them carrying personal kit, had fingers working overtime on keyboards or joysticks, one ‘pro’, national champion Santanu Basu, smiled at the enthusiasm. Prathamesh Patil, a technical marketing man rushed to the venue by a major gaming hardware manufacturer, was around to spell out the difference in figures.
“Headphones, mice, keyboards, mouse pads and, for some, joysticks, make up a kit and the options are huge. Someone who has just begun may be using a keyboard that costs Rs 2,500 while for a professional it may go up to 9,000,” he said between technical sessions with gamers. “It’s similar for the other gadgets.”
On a rain-drenched day, many said they hoped to be a pro some day.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kolkata / TNN / August 09th, 2014