Smartphones have made an impact on human life since they became widespread. Instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, photo-sharing apps like Instagram, online markets like Flipkart, enticing video games and so on have become more popular as smartphones became common. The latest trendsetter among smartphone users is ‘battle royale’ genre game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, aka PUBG.

PUBG is online video game released initially for PC by PUBG Corporation and then for smartphones by Tencent Games. Since the release of this online multiplayer game, it has become popular among youth, especially college and school students. Hundred players in a single war location fighting for being the lone survivor, amazing set of weapons and ammunition, strategical gameplay and the ‘WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER’ tag after victory makes it a very addictive game. But the youth got so fascinated with PUBG's feature which allows to play in groups, instantly talk with mates as well as share weapons and ammunition.

Releasing regular updates introducing various maps and collectibles enriched the gaming experience even more with this enticing group game. College students started to spend hours playing PUBG after class hours, in groups or alone, hunting for that spicy ‘chicken dinner’.

Slowly, PUBG started to appear in various events in colleges. PUBG Competition became an integral item at techfests conducted in engineering colleges. Skits and group dance based on PUBG as theme in the arts fest became the new trend. PUBG got a massive approval from the users.

But a few weeks back PUBG came into headlines when the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), a prominent college in Tamil Nadu, officially banned the game inside the campus. It aroused various questions regarding game’s negative influence on students. Does PUBG affect students adversely? Does it ruin their studies?

The other face of PUBG

A lot of students agree that PUBG is very addictive. They tend to continue the gaming session for a long time until the phone battery drains up completely. It consumes their precious time and sleep. It was reported a few days back that a fitness trainer from Jammu lost his mental balance landing him to hospital after overplaying PUBG. Various similar incidents are reported although some lacks validity. It shows the dark side of the online game.

VIT authorities blamed the game for “spoiling the entire atmosphere of the hostel”. They also alleged that these gamers disturb their fellow roommates (who don’t play PUBG) and also affects students' focus on studies.

It is known students' interest in physical games also goes down, thus affecting their physical health, when they spend hours on such games, Moreover, long exposure to smartphone screens and its blue light affects the human eye adversely.

Should PUBG be banned?

Anything in excess is dangerous. It is okay to play PUBG or any other video game for a limited time as a means of entertainment. All the above-mentioned problems arise when students take the game for a long time and get obsessed. One should have a ‘balance’ so that nothing harms us. The old game ‘Clash of Clans’ enabled a lot of social interaction as players who came out of the game achieved new friends and came to know about various cultures of other participants. There are online group games with such benefits. It has been found strategical games develop logical reasoning of players.

Banning PUBG is not a feasible option, but players should not let them become obsessive about it. If not, that ‘Chicken Dinner’ becomes deadly and you get the tag ‘LOOSER, LOOSER’.