Shillong: The Skill Online Games Institute (SOGI), a pioneering institution dedicated to providing comprehensive knowledge and data-driven insights into the online games industry, is shifting its focus to the Northeast region.
This strategic move comes as approximately 40% of people under 30 in this region are engaged in online gaming.
According to SOGI founder and president, Amrit Kiran Singh, cities like Bangalore, Delhi, and Gurgaon, known as IT hubs, have a significant population from the Northeast.
He emphasized that IT and gaming have been major drivers in making India cosmopolitan. Singh highlighted that online gaming is now one of the largest industries globally.
“Just as IT has expanded into smaller towns due to higher costs in major cities, online gaming is following the same trend. Many people from Meghalaya and the Northeast are already working in the gaming industry at companies like Gameskraft and Dream11. The size of this industry increases the chances of opportunities percolating down to smaller regions like Meghalaya,” explained Singh during a meeting on Wednesday in Shillong.
Singh urged the government, industry, and experts, including mental health professionals, to collaborate and formulate policies that maximize the benefits of this booming industry while mitigating its potential negative impacts.
Addressing the traditional sport of Archery/Teer in Meghalaya, Singh suggested that it could be transformed into a skill game. “If cricket can be turned into a skill game, why not archery?” he stated. He added that SOGI could facilitate companies to explore this idea, bringing in experts to understand how to commercialize it as an online game. “If the government of Meghalaya asks us, we’d be happy to help,” said Singh.
SOGI aims to drive growth, innovation, and education in the online gaming sector, tapping into the region’s potential and encouraging local talent to thrive in this digital industry. The institute is committed to making decisions based on factual data, gathered both nationally and internationally, to positively influence the skilled online games industry and avoid emotional or moralistic biases.
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Singh believes that the challenges of the online games industry, particularly addiction and concerns under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, can be mitigated using technology. “Technological solutions can be employed to ‘time out’ players who overindulge and to prevent money laundering. These concrete actions demonstrate the industry’s potential to address its challenges effectively. An Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) funded study by AIIMS researchers has shown that gaming disorder can be prevented through digital interventions,” he added.
The Skill Online Games Institute advocates for collaboration between the government and industry to harness the full potential of the online gaming sector. This includes creating jobs and contributing to GDP growth while mitigating negative aspects like addiction through technology rather than increased taxation, which could disadvantage Indian companies in favor of international players.
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