The three winning teams pose for photos after the championship. Pic: Ye Kaung Myint Maung

LIKE many young people in Yangon, 21-year-old Mg Tin Htut Win Naing is obsessed with computer games.

For Mg Tin Htut Win Naing it’s not a new thing, he’s had his addiction since passing his matriculation exam four years ago.

The epicentre of his computer fix is Nt.net network gaming centre in Heldan, Kamaryut township. It’s where he and his similarly inclined friends meet and do battle – e-style.

Together Mg Tin Htut Win Naing and his friends formed a gaming group and called it “Revolution”, with full sponsorship from their gaming centre.

But in their first competitive outing the Revolution team was routed, failing to escape the qualifying round. In shame the group decided to rename themselves “DQR”, or “Disqualify Revolution”. And Mg Tin Htut Win Naing was named team leader.

“It reminds us every time that we to fight hard to win,” Mg Tin Htut Win Naing said. He added that the team realised that a lack of match experience was hobbling them and set about getting more experience. “We invited other gaming groups to play against us and we bet a little money on the outcome to make it fun.

“It cost us a lot initially because we lost but then we started winning most of our battles, which gave us strength and the belief we needed to beat other teams in competitions,” he said.

And this translated to initial success in the four-day DOTA e-Sport Championship, which was held in the first week of February. DOTA was organised by the Myanmar Gamers Club, a local grouping of gamers, internet café owners and accessories shops.

During the tournament, thirty two teams competed for world domination in Warcraft 3: Frozen Throne, a strategy simulation game where players build civilisations and use them to smash those of their competitors.

During the knock-out stage of the tournament, Mg Tin Htut Win Naing told The Myanmar Times how he picked up the gaming bug.

“I started playing computer games when I was 16 and started with shooting games like Counter Strike.

“But now, I prefer playing strategy games like Warcraft III because it’s more challenging and there are lots of twists and turns,” said the young University of Dental Medicine student.

“I played as much as four hours a day when I started studying. And even though I’m a final-year student I can’t help playing computer games everyday,” he admitted.

He conceded that computer games have swallowed lots of his time and money but he enjoys it and won’t stop; especially with K1 million on offer for the winning team at DOTA.

“I’m now determined to win in the finals and grab that money. It will cover part of money I’ve spent on games and will impress my parents,” he said.

Mg Tin Lin Zaw, 23, a player with the “E4C1” team – which was due to play DQR in the semi – is a final-year student at the University of Medicine (1) in Yangon. He said computer games are a safe and easy outlet for young people to vent their frustrations.

“The virtual world of computer games is a chance for young people to temporarily escape from life. And it’s a lot safer than other outlets like smoking, drinking, gambling or having sex,” he said.

While computer games are accepted by many young people in Myanmar, there are plenty who say they promote violent behaviour, something that Mg Tin Lin Zaw was quick to deny.

He admitted that some games can fuel violent or bad behaviour in some people but, he said, these people were probably already predisposed to this.
“Most computer games stimulate creativity and quick-thinking in the player, not violence. If someone becomes violent playing these games, there’s a very strong chance they were already like that,” he said.

And Mg Tin Htut Win Naing said that game centres play an important role in preventing underage gamers from playing adult games.

“There are no rules or regulations forcing game centres to restrict what type of games that people can play. But it’s fortunate that centres here usually only offer games that can be played by anyone,” he said.

Ko Min Wint Oo, the head of the Myanmar Gamers Club, said parent’s attitudes are critical for young enthusiasts and they need to make it acceptable for their children to play such games.

Mg Tin Htut Win Naing said his parents neither supported nor opposed his gaming but occasionally warned him not to be too extreme. Mg Tin Lin Zaw said it’s important to strike a balance between gaming and his education and is careful not to spend too much time playing.

“My parents don’t like my obsession. But they won’t prevent me from playing because I’ve proved that I can handle it.

“I’m already in a good university and have made it to the final year, even though I’m still playing games.”

But he warned that not everyone could balance gaming and study and some could easily become addicted.

“I wish I could explain to young gamers how hard I study when I’m not playing,” he said.

When the fast, furious and sweaty competition resumed, DQR defeated E4C1 in the semis and moved into the final, where they met AMS.

Ko Min Wint Oo, also the owner of 4AM Digital Services that provides gaming products and accessories, said that the group has organised competitions since 2003.

He said that the organisers applied international-standard rules and regulations to keep competition clean and encourage younger gamers, including barring the passage of crude messages designed to distract or annoy opponents.

More than 300 people turned up for the final, which saw DQR edge “Fantastic” and take home the K1 million and the title.

And for Mg Tin Htut Win Naing there was personal glory too – he took home the ‘best player’ award for the competition.