Sundays are meant to catch up with your gang, and nothing bonds a group of friends more than a lazy Sunday afternoon spent playing video games, challenging each other’s skills over Fifa or God Of War, or maybe a high-adrenalin session of boxing or even party games like Bingo or Dance Revolution. The afternoon gaming session is fast becoming as integral a part of our Sundays as the mid-morning brunch.
Says actor and TV host Angad Bedi, who makes it a point to catch up with his childhood buddies over a game of Tekken. “Whenever I’m in Delhi, I invite my buddies for a session of Tekken. I have a Playstation console at my Delhi apartment, and there are few things better than an afternoon spent with your friends, doing what you love the most,” says Angad, who readily admits to being addicted to video games. “I play games on the PS all the time, but it’s these sessions with old friends that I cherish the most.”
Insha Kapoor, a budding filmmaker, is another of the growing tribe of people who spend all their Sundays testing their skills on a gaming console. For Insha, it even doubles up as an opportunity to spend time with the family. “With everybody working through the week, weekends are the only time we get to break away from our mundane work cycles and socialise with friends. And gaming is often the best way to do that,” Insha says.
The 24-year-old gangs up with his brother and fellow filmmaker Ishan to test his skills on F1 and Fifa every Sunday. “We are always trying to beat each other and create new records,” says Ishan, who is also a passionate gamer. “While online multi-player games let you compete with anyone, nothing can match up to the raw thrill of playing alongside a buddy in the same room. It’s a mad rush, especially when there are more people cheering you on.”
In fact, why only restrict it to Sundays? For many who view the activity as a therapeutic stress buster, it can be an everyday affair. Like it is for actor Shiv Pandit of Shaitaan fame. “I’m a gaming addict, and an afternoon
with the gang is one truly well spent for me. I’ve been into gaming since a few years, and it’s a great
way to unwind and have fun. The days I’m not shooting, I ensure I spend playing my favourite video games,” he admits.