From Flying Kites to Multiplayer Gaming

Afternoons after school and the rush was always in anticipation of the open skies. The prayers used to go out to the weather gods for absence of cumulus clouds, clear views and yes most importantly light wind. Ticking the checklist of "back from school" activities the proverbial teleportation concept landed me on my roof. The fun began. The kite was chosen, the strings were tied and on with the takeoff ritual. 5-4-3-2-1 and we’re off. Swooping to the left, turning to the right, the somersaults and what not, all with a few pulls on the strings and by it letting go. It was amazing.

Little did I know all the theories of physics which were being abused with every movement. I loved it. Then came the dog fights. I could see my enemies preparing their war machines and slowing moving closer for the challenge. Which strategy should I choose ? There were many. Different soldiers had different ways of fighting the war. Some relied on the aggressive pull from below tactic while others let the strings cross each other and sharpness of the pieces of glass on the strings do the trick. You had to choose and pick after spotting the person you are crossing swords with or from which military base it has taken off.

The best part was the cry of victory. It was handed from generation to generation. I got it from my dad and the guy on the other roof might have got it from his. It was unique and distinct. I could make out who has won just by hearing the piercing shrieks.

Men took pride in their weapons. It was the string you were using and of course the kite itself. The balance of the kite and how easy it was to maneuver, while the sharpness of the string gave you more power. We used to make our own strings sometimes which made the victory more personal.

There were two outcomes like in every battle. The dominance of space where you kept on defeating others like having a kill streak or the retreat where a defeated warrior starts rolling up his string with head bowed down. It was magic.

As it might be already obvious to some, things were very different back then. Now it is about aiming your cross hair and shooting down an unaware bloke logged in from god knows where and sitting by a wall by blasting his head using a sniper rifle. Boom !!! Yup he’s dead and the shriek is a message that pops up on the screen saying ‘Up Yours you dead rat’. Time for some guerrilla warfare so I choose a shotgun. Bang Bang nope its me this time. Hours pass by, more experience points get added, new weapons are unlocked, I keep responding to the call of duty.

Fights lost, battles won… The outcome is the same, the medium is different. But if you ask me I’ll always choose the string against an MK4.

Just one of the many ways I have judged change….