Khadiza Begum :
Facebook Instant Games are a huge hit with more than 20 billion game sessions played by nearly 2 billion users. One of the reasons behind this much popularity is that these games are easy to browse and allow quick yet engaging gameplay sessions. Casual board games constitute a significant part of this phenomenal growth, and this is where Ludo games come relevant.
Since playing outdoor games is not an option while the pervasive ills of COVID-19 are pretty strong and we are not sure how long this will continue, we could welcome just about anything positive that helps with our need for fun and mental dexterity exercise. Online board games, especially Ludo, used to be popular long before the arrival of the pandemic. But their acceptability during the lockdown has grown quite remarkably.
Ludo, as a game, needs no introduction to the people of this subcontinent. To those living outside this physiographical region, the game could appear to be what Google suggests a children’s game, but that is far from being the case. In fact, some of these games, particularly Ludo Club which has recently earned the prestige of being #1 Board Game on Facebook, boasts more than 6.8 million users including adults from Europe and other continents.
Why is a simple board game a thing in this age of excellence in action-packed gaming culture? For a large portion of the enthusiasts, this kind of game presents more of an opportunity to have a nostalgic experience than a serious, strategic endeavor. Ludo Club, a game from one of India’s top game developers named Moonfrog Labs, bears testimony to this purpose.
Zamilur Rashid, director & CEO at Ulka Games Limited which is a subsidiary of Moonfrog Labs, says, “As part of our continued effort to entertain people who value simplicity and tradition, we’ve reintroduced and renovated their gaming experience by bringing Ludo Club that not only reminds them of their childhood passion but also provides them with a chance to enjoy competitiveness and interactions, yet in a safer and more social way.”
He also says, “You canvirtually play with anybody who is already on the platform. Even, players can invite others including their friends and families. How’s that for people who do not have to wait for all two or four members to arrive and start playing, as it happens with a physical Ludo (board) game?”
Independent researchers reveal that some people, particularly the ones whose typical work days are hectic, play these games hoping to have their stress levels reduced as they take on the challenges and derive fun from winning. Most of those people seem to like the low-level strategy involved in the game, which is unlikely with other modern-day strategy games played online. Players only need to exercise their brains when they along with others have more than one pawn out on the board. All it takes them is only 5-20 minutes of active participation.
The physical version of the game is, by far, more exciting, but we can hardly ignore the social distancing policy and the rules of hygiene, the only viable ways to avert the risks of getting infected by coronavirus.
With this urge in mind, companies like Ulka, Gametion, and others are working hard to bring their gameplay to what is closest to a physical board game.
After all, the priority for us adults and our kids is to stay safe, and Ludo can be the most positive and affordable of all online solutions available to us.
