It is not easy being a gamer in Nigeria. The Nigerian society is not as technologically advanced as many other countries (for example, the UK and USA), which naturally means that the video-gaming industry in Nigeria is not adequately catered for. The Nigerian gamer faces a lot of unnecessary issues due to this fact, and here are some of these ordeals we have to go through-


5) Knowing that NEPA/PHCN will destroy your game/console;
NEPA/PHCN is the sole electricity provider in Nigeria which continuously fails to deliver constant electricity. It is bad enough that Nigerian gamers have only few hours everyday to play their favourite games due to a national case of epileptic power supply but the real kicker is that the unexpected “cutting and bringing-back” of electricity destroys electronics. When NEPA/PHCN brings back electricity after a period of power outage, it sometimes comes with a high voltage which can burn or blow up your gaming console and other household electronics. Even with a UPS or stabilizer you aren’t always safe- NEPA/PHCN once blew up my PS2 console with a stabilizer.

Unfortunately, there is another way that NEPA/PHCN can destroy your console- if there is a power outage during a process in your gameplay/console functions that shouldn’t be interrupted. When this happens, it at times creates corrupt data. This could be bad for your console if it happens constantly.


4) The frustration from NEPA/PHCN power outage when you are at an important stage;
Imagine playing a difficult game and you manage to clear the stage but as you are about to save, there is a power outage (NEPA/PHCN takes the light). The anger, the frustration, the butthurt! All your hard work in your game goes out the window just because you live in a country that refuses to give constant electric power supply.

There is even a worse scenario with power outages- a situation in which you are beating your friend at a competitive game (eg FIFA, PES, Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter) but then NEPA/PHCN strikes and the electricity goes off. It is an annoying situation that is only exacerbated by the smirk on the face of the friend that should have lost. I cannot count how many times some of my friends narrowly escaped defeat at PES (Pro Evolution Soccer) to my attacking prowess because of NEPA/PHCN.


3) Online gaming is hampered by poor internet services;
If you manage to get a good internet service provider with fast broadband speeds in Nigeria, your internet bill will surely be a huge monthly amount. Internet in Nigeria is an expensive service- fast broadband is cheaper in the UK than Nigeria. £30 (30 Pounds) a month in the UK will get you on many unlimited broadband plans but in Nigeria, the best such can get you is a 40 Gigabyte limited download plan. It also goes without saying that most of the internet service providers in Nigeria give slow download speeds that are not good enough for online gaming.


2) Everything is imported- from the consoles to the in-game storylines;
Nigeria does not produce games. Yes, pirated games do not count as “production”. Buying videogames, consoles and PC’s in Nigeria is a nightmare because they are more expensive due to the importation costs added on by the retailers. A problem with the importation is that most retailers in Nigeria can not give warranties on the hardware as they are just resellers rather than accredited distributors.

Going deeper into issue, one has to wonder when we will get Nigerian characters or storylines in the games we play? Yes, there are some mobile games designed by Nigerians but they are not hardcore games nor do they sell in the hundreds of thousands.


1) The negative stereotypes from “non-gaming” family and friends
Gamers generally get stereotyped as “lazy” or “immature” or “anti-social” people by non-gamers (people who don’t play videogames). It is a universal issue but in Nigeria, it is arguably 10 times worse due to the fact that the country is not technologically advanced nor is it a liberal country. Furthermore, Nigeria is a very social country where it is culturally expected for everyone to socialize. It is not like in New York or in London where everyone just stares at each other in the subway trains without talking to each other- in Nigeria, passengers chat in public transport. In short, introverted behaviour is not encouraged here.

The typical Nigerian parent will rain curses on their middle-aged child that they catch playing videogames- “See this agbaya! Your mates are getting married with children and you are playing cartoon!”.



sauce

no 1 na how true na,apart from relaxation.what will a full fledge adult be doing in front of a TV with a game pad in hand.

U wil probably never have a girlfriend...

chidekings:
no 1 na how true na,apart from relaxation.what will a full fledge adult be doing in front of a TV with a game pad in hand.

Typical stereotypical Nigerian. Do you think that I and any other sensible adult spend the whole day playing videogames. We play in our free time.

The same free time that people like you use to

-watch nollywood
-read linda ikeji
-argue on nairaland

etc

CountDracula:
U wil probably never have a girlfriend...

Do you think that gamers do not have girlfriends? Not every gamer is a nerd.

Free the strereotype

AllNaijaBlogger:



Do you think that gamers do not have girlfriends? Not every gamer is a nerd.

Free the strereotype

EVERY ONLINE GAMER IS A NERD

CountDracula:

EVERY ONLINE GAMER IS A NERD

False. You'd have to redefine "nerd"

CountDracula:
U wil probably never have a girlfriend...

Says who?.....

That No.3 is a huge problem for me......the online game I play (Forces of war) comes to mind.Very few Nigerians play it..When it comes to Clan wars, slow internet connectivity makes us lose to players we would ordinarily school on a good day.

AllNaijaBlogger:



False. You'd have to redefine "nerd"

Nerds are bad at socialising, dats why u wud b playin a fantasy game instead of havin real life social activities wit real humans

They also understand how to masturbate,coz they hardly have time to discuss emotional issues..what you find them talking about is getting a new pad,fifa 15,Grand theft auto n d likes.

JeffreyJamez:

Says who?.....

Says Cupid

JeffreyJamez:
That No.3 is a huge problem for me......the online game I play (Forces of war) comes to mind.Very few Nigerians play it..When it comes to Clan wars, slow internet connectivity makes us lose to players we would ordinarily school on a good day.

My internet connection is fast but it drops speed anyhow. Sometimes, it disconnects in the middle of gameplay. Street fighter 4- my favourite online game

CountDracula:

Says Cupid

You never see

U on oint op am a gamer and I prefer playing games to watching movies infact I don't really enjoy watching moves especially series. #gamerforlife.

TeamSimple:
They also understand how to masturbate,coz they hardly have time to discuss emotional issues..what you find them talking about is getting a new pad,fifa 15,Grand theft auto n d likes.

Understand that many of us gamers are responsible adults. We play games after our work is over. We have jobs too.

We are not your 13 year old nieces and nephews.

supernigga:
U on oint op am a gamer and I prefer playing games to watching movies infact I don't really enjoy watching moves especially series. #gamerforlife.

You can do both.

#game of thrones
#ps4

AllNaijaBlogger:



My internet connection is fast but it drops speed anyhow. Sometimes, it disconnects in the middle of gameplay. Street fighter 4- my favourite online game

Lol the number 2 Fifa online player in the world is on my bbm list and has challenged me countless times but cos of internet speed, I can't accept that challenge..... plus.....the player is Female!!!..... I should now get schooled by a girl?!!!...on Fifa?!!!..... no excuse I give would hold water o.

CountDracula:

Nerds are bad at socialising, dats why u wud b playin a fantasy game instead of havin real life social activities wit real humans

This is what playing Fifa 2015 or PES 2015 looks like

JeffreyJamez:


Lol the number 2 Fifa online player in the world is on my bbm list and has challenged me countless times but cos of internet speed, I can't accept that challenge..... plus.....the player is Female!!!..... I should now get schooled by a girl?!!!...on Fifa?!!!..... no excuse I give would hold water o.

hehehe.


#pls Follow me back

AllNaijaBlogger:



This is what playing Fifa 2015 or PES 2015 looks like

We both knw dats nt a real life scenerio, its like showin me wat is supposed to b, if u see a group playing ONLINE video game, they ar a group of nerds!

CountDracula:

We both knw dats nt a real life scenerio, its like showin me wat is supposed to b, if u see a group playing ONLINE video game, they ar a group of nerds!

That is how my house looked like when i first got my ps4.

-babes in the kitchen
-Guys fighting to be the king of PES/FIFA in the living room

AllNaijaBlogger:



That is how my house looked like when i first got my ps4.

-babes in the kitchen
-Guys fighting to be the king of PES/FIFA in the living room

Hahahaha... The "king" thing, Dat sounds so... Unrealistic, every nigerian Gamer wil agree wit me
And u pointed out "babes in the kitchen"... Dey are probably discussin hw to break up wit u guys without hurtin ur sensitive little hearts

CountDracula:

Hahahaha... The "king" thing, Dat sounds so... Unrealistic, every nigerian Gamer wil agree wit me
And u pointed out "babes in the kitchen"... Dey are probably discussin hw to break up wit u guys without hurtin ur sensitive little hearts

You have no idea about gaming. Clearly.

CountDracula:

Hahahaha... The "king" thing, Dat sounds so... Unrealistic, every nigerian Gamer wil agree wit me
And u pointed out "babes in the kitchen"... Dey are probably discussin hw to break up wit u guys without hurtin ur sensitive little hearts

Lol I look at you and laugh.... you are entitled to your opinion.... PS:...most gamers are probably more successful at what they do for a living than most of you stereotypes, and they make good partners too... abi you think say to buy game console na moi moi?.... do you know how much a PS4 cost?... or an Alienware laptop ?........Oh and playing Fifa or NFS with your chick on a weekend?...... hehehehe nna leave that thing biko.

JeffreyJamez:


Lol I look at you and laugh.... you are entitled to your opinion.... PS:...most gamers are probably more successful at what they do for a living than most of you stereotypes, and they make good partners too... abi you think say to buy game console na moi moi?.... do you know how much a PS4 cost?... or an Alienware laptop ?........Oh and playing Fifa or NFS with your chick on a weekend?...... hehehehe nna leave that thing biko.

Price? Really? Wats price got to do wit anythng I've said previously? And u dnt hav any evidence to support ur claim of playin FIFA wit ur imaginary chick

JeffreyJamez:


Lol I look at you and laugh.... you are entitled to your opinion.... PS:...most gamers are probably more successful at what they do for a living than most of you stereotypes, and they make good partners too... abi you think say to buy game console na moi moi?.... do you know how much a PS4 cost?... or an Alienware laptop ?........Oh and playing Fifa or NFS with your chick on a weekend?...... hehehehe nna leave that thing biko.

I bought ps4 at 70k......it was actually 100k (100,000 naira) but i got a discount.


Dont mind the guy. He thinks gamers are all small boys

CountDracula:

Price? Really? Wats price got to do wit anythng I've said previously? And u dnt hav any evidence to support ur claim of playin FIFA wit ur imaginary chick

Lol you sound like your opinion actually counts... plus....do I Really have to prove anything to you?....my answer is Nope... believe whatever you want brother.... just don't let what you think you know make you look like a fool outside...cheers

AllNaijaBlogger:



I bought ps4 at 70k......it was actually 100k (100,000 naira) but i got a discount.


Dont mind the guy. He thinks gamers are all small boys

Lol you dey mind am....he thinks working 9-5 on weekdays and jumping from one club to another on the weekends to nail chicks is the life!

chidekings:
no 1 na how true na,apart from relaxation.what will a full fledge adult be doing in front of a TV with a game pad in hand.

He could be practicing for an international tournament. FYI, professional gaming is a seriously growing industry. E-sports host different tourneys throughout d year. And guys are making serious dough and name 4 themselves. Gaming is no longer jst for relaxation

I cant take people that dont game seriously,just imagine countdracula yarning opata.bruh why are you even on these thread,do you feel you are missing out and want to hang with the genuises or you are just here to troll? You are the master of YOUR opinion and clearly it doesnt count countdracul..



To the topic
There are just two major problems with gaming in Naija, the light and the internet,if that could be sorted trust me we will be competiting with the world on any genre.




Psn id: heatwaveONE (ps4)

I was wondering why this thread had more than 30 posts. LWKMD. Gotta love how some folks still believe in the whole old stereotype of all gamers being nerds. Anywho, we all spend our free time doing whatever it is we want - reading, writing, watching telly, gossiping, people watching, random acts of awesomeness, spending way too much time on NL, random acts of stupidity, playing video games, documenting every aspect of your life on social media, talking to yourself or your imaginary friends etc. It's our prerogative to do whatever we please with our time, "it's my life, don't you forget...*"

*I was quoting No Doubt's It's My Life, although Dr. Alban's It's My Life seems more appropriate.