It was around 15-Nov-2013, on my son Ishan Sang request, I installed windows 8 on his PC. He loves playing games like FIFA and Assassin Creed etc and was searching for games on Microsoft Store. He downloaded 2-3 games and out of them one was Dog Fight.

He loaded the game and there goes the first run. It was bomb the carrier mission. He was shot down again and again before he could even take off which made him furious. I told Ishan, this is not his cup of tea so better uninstall the game. “Papa you just wait and watch” was his reply. I left the room.

Papa, come here I want to show you something. I went to his room and saw him playing Dogfight. But today story was different, he was shooting planes like anything one after the other. Within 10 days he crossed level 19 and was well acknowledged by players as “BlueFighter”. I too got interested in game and asked my son to help me in controls.

My first day during practise session was like I could take off but while landing I crashed. My son told me to open another account and play in that only which I did and started playing. With controller it is difficult to aim as when I press releases “UP button” it goes way up and condition is same with other directions too. I asked Ishan to help me in aiming but till date I’m not perfect as he is.

The BlueFighter is crossing levels one after the other and one fine day the day he was tagged as MORAF. Till that time we are playing casually as he plays with controller and I used to do the in game chat using keyboard and a mere spectator.

The event which changed my life from mere spectator to addiction was when Ishan’s mother told him to concentrate on his studies as now he is in high school. Ishan is good in academics and he was loosing interest in game too as he would like to play only when top players are playing.

He got the best planes i.e. DVIII and Sop with camel and I got basic DVIII without any upgrades and that too gifted by zuperman. Ishan was at 160 rank at that time. Now as he plays rarely and his world rank was slipping so I started playing under his account to keep his points ticking. Slowly and steadily I‘m playing much better and his rank too improved from 169 to 41 within span of 6 months. But still my son laugh at me when he hear the sound of being killed:

“LOL Papa you get shot by everyone, are u improving my KDR or other’s KDR”.

Now I’m playing to get acknowledged from my son that I too play well.

Within these 6 months I started playing 3-5 hours on daily basis. My day starts with checking the in box and recent topics on forum. After office time at around 5/6 p.m. the game controller would be in my hand and I don’t like to be disturbed while playing as often my wife asked me what I would like to have in dinner and my answer would be “what u said.. hun.. ” and when I’m done with game I know the food will be there in hot case and I don’t have the guts to ask her what she had prepared for the dinner.

You can judge the level of addiction from following incident and now I’m afraid what will come next.

One day while dreaming, I’ll flying on mission and I see enemy tank firing a shell to shoot me down. To avoid the shell I make the plane go sideway and with that my hand too moved and accidently hitting my wife.

My wife who was fast asleep woke up and see me murmuring in sleep. He couldn’t make out what is happening. She tried to wake me up in the middle of night. “Hey Vivek are u okay" and getting no reply from my side she slept again.

Whereas I’m of the impression that my teammates are thumping on my kill and telling me to get another red" here comes another red and I got him too.

"Wow BlueFighter" screams your teammates and one of the red fighter who really got pissed off due to repeatedly shot down by yourself says "Hey BlueFighter, I'm coming for you. get me if you can.”

"Seeing him spinning you could make out that he is without bomb and taking his challenge you stretch yourself telling your team mates “okay guys that circus fellow is mine" but unfortunately while stretching I again hit my wife and LOL now she knew what’s going on and suddenly your planes controls are out of order. You try to move left but the plane is spinning like anything.

“Damn this controller. It seems battery is weak and meanwhile your plane dives nose down and crash.” You are on runway and you say “Sweetheart can you please get me the batteries, my controller is out of order in middle of the game”

Bang…Bang suddenly I feel that my body is shaking like the red planes are dropping bombs on me one after the other instead of hangars”

“What the Heck is going on here and you wake up and sees your wife shaking your body in furious mood like a red pilot looking for the kill while you are taking-off ”.

“Is everything okay” I asked very politely. “No dear –everything is not okay - you damn I’ll teach you how to play dogfight and there comes the volley of words hitting you like bullets”

I don’t know why she is behaving like this so I asked “What’s wrong with you sweetheart? Why are u so angry in the middle of night? I haven’t end the sentence and she replied “I’ll burn your damn game and everything connected to it. From now onwards you’ll not touch that computer.”

I was blank and thinking “Damn, What I have done. I can’t start my day without game and I can’t avoid her.” What shall I do to make her happy so that I can play DF. So I said “Darling listen.”
“Shut up and go to sleep. This game has ruined my life. The husband who used to be with me all the times has found another secret love “Echoboom”. “But you know me Vivek, I will cut this “ECHO” to pieces and what left will “BOOM”. Understand.

Now I realized what could had happened. OMG better speak to her in morning else she will camp with all the planes and tank and will never let me take off.

“Am I the only one who got addicted to such level?” is the question whose answer I’m searching for.

Vivek