New Delhi, Aug 23 After Delhi Police solved the case of a missing girl by locating her with a gaming app, the Indian gaming community hailed the quick response of the force.
Shivani Jha, Director of Esports Players Welfare Association (EPWA), an organisation representing thousands of Indian esports players and online gamers said" "Bravo, Delhi Police! The Indian gaming community salutes you for solving the case of a missing girl in less than 48 hours of her disappearance. That an online game was instrumental in cracking the case is a stellar example of how games can be used for social good."
The 16-year-old girl had recently gone missing from the national capital's Chanakyapuri area. During the course of the investigation, the police learnt that the girl used her parents' phones to play an online game and was in touch with other gamers.
They analysed the gaming app and contacted one of her gamer friends, who helped the police trace her location.
Globally, games have been used for social causes.
In 2005, the UN World Food Programme launched Food Force, a game that makes its players aware of what hunger is and how to fight it.
Half the Sky Movement brought out a game to raise awareness about oppression women and girls face worldwide and the opportunities available to overcome that oppression.
In India also, games have been used for highlighting social and community issues.
The ‘Chhota Bheem Swachh Bharat Run' game launched in 2019 was aimed at educating young children on the necessity of keeping their surroundings clean. During the height of the pandemic in India, several gamers got together in marathon game streaming sessions to raise funds for Covid relief.
The ‘Missing Game' launched in April this year on Mobile Premier League (MPL) is a role playing game that raises awareness about human trafficking.
With over 13,000 registered members, EPWA spans over 24 states and it looks to build a community of esports players from across the country where they can exchange ideas, communicate, discuss, and most importantly become a unified voice of esports players in India.
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