An insightful explanation of the online gaming world, for the parents of gamers

Gaming has always been a popular activity among young people. Today, however, online gaming is far increasing in popularity from the traditional offline games we once played.

The online gaming community, once occupied by the diehard gamers of the world, is now viewed by young people as one they want to be part of, too. Professional Gaming or eSports is now a highly lucrative career option, where the exceptionally talented are given the opportunity to compete in global tournaments, with prize pools of up to $20 million.  The desire to be as good at any given game as these pro gamers are can have a variety of impacts to young people’s health and wellbeing.

What are eSports?

Similar to regular athletic sports, eSports is a multi-million dollar industry where video games are played competitively. The most popular games played are based on real-time strategy (RTS), first-person shooter (FPS) and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA). eSports is played by both boys and girls, and is mostly popular among teenagers and young adults. Tournaments are played by competitors with various degrees of skill, ranging from international stadiums to interschool matches.

How can kids game responsibly without impacting their education?

Family Zone and Cyber Expert Jordan Foster from ySafe have recently formed a partnership with Flaktest Gaming, an organisation dedicated to promoting responsible gaming. Flaktest informs parents and teachers on ways that eSports can be used to complement academic outcomes. They also provide a positive and vibrant community where students can play eSports responsibly. In particular, they hold interschool tournaments where players compete in games such as League of Legends, Overwatch, CS:GO and Rocket League. Each of these games has an aspect of working together as a team to achieve a common goal. Flaktest encourages students to respect your opposition, use good sportsmanship, and support others on your team.

We understand it can be hard for parents to make sense of the online gaming world, and whilst this may be a passion for your child, it doesn’t have to impact their education or social life. We’re here to help parents like you understand the world your children are immersed in and, with the support of Flaktest and our team of Cyber Experts like ySafe, create a generation of responsible online gamers.