'Cyber gaming' turning into 'enjoyable obsession' for Pak youth

Lahore, Aug 30(ANI): 'Cyber gaming' has become a proper sport in Pakistan, in which several gamers have become so popular that they are now considered 'household names' in gaming circles around the world.

According to The Daily Times, the trend started in 2002 with gaming cafes being established across the country, with main hubs of fanatics being Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi.

Majid Mahmood, the manager operations of Neomatrix - one of the leading and pioneer gaming cafes in Lahore, said that his cafe had been established in 2002 with the aim of providing a proper platform to the gamers to prepare themselves to perform at international events.

"The slow and steady trend of gaming cafes being established in the provincial capital has led to young gamers getting an exposure, the likes of which they had not experienced earlier," the newspaper quoted Mahmood, as saying.

He further said that scores of Pakistani players are invited to the World Cyber Games, the World Cup of gaming fans across the globe.

"Since 2005, our country has been proudly represented in the World Cyber Games and the Electronic Sports World Cup. In the five years that we have partaken in the WCG, the country has progressed rapidly and has gained a very good repute in 'Warcraft' and FIFA," Majid said.

"In these two games, our players have been in the world top ten rankings since 2008," he added.

Ahmer Mubashar, a gaming enthusiast, insists that 'cyber gaming' had started out as fun in 2002, but has now turned into a very enjoyable obsession.

"We could not have imagined at that time that one day we would be getting the opportunity to showcase our skills in front of a global audience... however, now we realize that the sky is the limit, anything is possible," Mubashar said.

"Now that the world has started to recognize our contributions and our abilities, we know that things can only get better. God willing, our team will do very well in the upcoming WCG in the US," he added.

The WCG will be held in Los Angeles from September 30 to October 3. (ANI)