Is Mobile Legends a healthy app for your kids?

What keeps the young boys busy at home and at some street corner while young girls are doing the TikTok dance challenge in some public and private places?

If you answer ML for Mobile Legends then you are absolutely right. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang also known as “Pinyin” in China is a mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) developed and published by Moonton, a Chinese company, in 2016.

Currently, it is one of the most popular mobile games young boys and adults played online. It is the number one mobile game in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. In fact, it was among the games chosen for the first medal event e-sports competition at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines.

The game has two opposing teams who fight to reach and destroy the enemy’s base while defending their own base for control of a path, the three “lanes” known as “top”, “middle”, and “bottom” connect the bases. Weaker computer-controlled characters, called "minions", spawn at team bases and follow the three lanes to the opposite team's base, fighting enemies and turrets.

There are five players who each control a character in each team, known as a "hero" using analog/joystick controls. Heroes can be grouped into six different roles, marksman, assassin, mage, support, fighter, and tank. ML has many game modes with different gameplay mechanics.

The millennials love the game because it can be played by phone and Personal Computer. The players can form a team and join the tournament. The game can improve brain functions because it can motivate brain activity. It can exercise the brain to think and plan wisely. It is a war game hence it improves the player's combat planning, offensive attack, and defensive strategy. Aside from its entertainment value, the game promotes teamwork, sportsmanship, and friendship among players here and abroad.

However, several issues were noticeable to young people like addiction, distraction, and procrastination which affect their attitude, academic studies, and health. The students who are addicted to it have increased aggression and affect their communication process. At the height of the game and excitement players exchanged foul words and language to each other.

This time-consuming game has also affected the students’ academic performance. Many players so distracted by the game have disregarded their schooling. Those who failed to study and did their homework given by their teachers got low grades.

ML has also affected students’ health because they do not eat and sleep at the right time. Some parents complained about their children who do not help anymore in doing household chores. There was even a report the game addiction caused death, unfortunately. Parents should be aware of the pros and cons of this game.

In the US the game is recommended by Google Play for teens and up because of its violent theme. Nevertheless, there are a variety of child-friendly games for your kids to choose from at the Play Store.

Renester P. Suralta

Pardo

Cebu City