ISPR's online 3D game, 'The Glorious Resolve — Journey to Peace', depicts soldiers fighting on the front lines
KARACHI: Videogames have long been a cause for concern for parents as they depict violent scenarios and are known to increase aggressive behaviour amongst its players. The most recent of these is PlayerUn known’s Battlegrounds, which is known by its more familiar name PUBG. The multiplayer game’s aim is to kill as many people as possible in the battleground while collecting weapons, to ensure the player retains control of the island it is based on. The game has been widely criticised to promote indiscriminate violence along with imparting real-life skills to operate military grade weapons. The game has become a source of addiction for many people, causing them to isolate themselves from their social circle. It has also promoted violence in the form of mass shootings, as many terrorists live-stream their activities in a fashion similar to the game.
Due to rising concerns regarding the promotion of violence, the Indian state of Gujarat has banned the game and even arrested 10 university students for violating the ban. As an alternative, Pakistan Army’s ISPR has launched an online 3D game The Glorious Resolve — Journey to Peace which is meant to depict soldiers fighting battles on the frontlines. While the game is well-intentioned and less graphic than PUBG, its use should still be supervised and controlled, as with any other video game. Furthermore, games like PUBG should be banned for their violent content, and players should look to other games that are not as violent, yet thrilling.
Syeda Nayum Shah
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2019.
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