The world we live in today is a vastly different one from the one which we lived in even a decade ago, and the changes which our lives have gone through in this time have been nothing less than astonishing. We have become more dependent on modern technology than we ever have been as a race, and the impact of the internet on our lives has never been more profoundly visible. Computers are closer to reaching ubiquity than ever, and smartphones have managed to permeate into every social circle and strata imaginable. And now, as a result of the endless march of technology, we have managed to find new ways to integrate computers and the internet into our careers as well, making use of the gifts given to us by technology to put our talents and ingenuity to good use.
While the very idea of playing video games as a profession may still sound extremely unusual to many people, in this time and age, there are millions of people in the world who are managing to do precisely that. Whether they are competing against each other as players do in spectator sports, or just playing exhibitionally to put on an interesting show for viewers, these gamers have managed to build formidable careers out of their favorite pastime. The most elite competitive gamers are revered by fans and fellow gamers alike, and eSports, as it has come to be called, are the next big thing in competitive entertainment. And for those who lack the skills to perform competitively, but can keep people entertained with their banter and in-game (or on-camera) antics, the option of exhibition streaming is open to them as well. Even in Bangladesh, such possibilities have been given real form by Deimos Force, a gaming organization with an intense drive to take the local eSports scene to new heights.
Founded by entrepreneur and gamer Shadman ‘Pressure’ Sakib, Deimos Force was born as a gaming clan – the name given to a number of gaming teams playing different games under the same banner – featuring some of the most talented competitive gamers of Bangladesh. Named after the Greek god of dread, Deimos Force did a spectacular job of living up to its name following its inception, when the clan went on to participate in a multitude of local and international tournaments and put on rampaging performances that were only rivaled by their strong sportsmanship and humble yet positive demeanor. Even on the rare occasions when Deimos Force did not win a match, it heartily congratulated their opponents on their victory, which was an unforeseen display of sportsmanship in the local scene prior to their arrival.
Deimos Force’s powerful and positive image helped it to win the sponsorship and support of the Republic of Gamers (ROG) subbrand of Asus, helping the clan to become envoys of the brand in Bangladesh. The partnership between the brands has remained intact, and it has borne fruit as well. WIth ROG’s support, Deimos Force decided to take things to the next stage by providing professional training and salaries to its gamers, along with special facilities and support for players facing personal crises. Through these activities, Deimos Force managed to create an ideal platform for inspiring young Bangladeshi cyber athletes to follow their dreams. Deimos Force also donated many of their tournament winnings to worthy causes, such as providing relief to the unfortunate souls whose livelihoods were devastated by the arrival of COVID-19.
Deimos Force’s journey, however, was just beginning to take off. Shadman Sakib, its founder, decided to move things to the next level by assembling a hardcore team of players, gameplay coaches, streamers, designers, copywriters and video content creators under the Deimos Force flag, and started to design a whole new range of original content, including the likes of game streams, game reviews, hardware reviews, gaming-centric talk shows and the like.
Because of this evolution, Deimos Force grew past its gaming clan roots and became a true gaming organization with a myriad of involvements, some orthodox, some very much not so. ‘Let’s Talk Gaming’, a series of game reviews created by Deimos Force, rapidly achieved popularity among fans for its laser-focused praise and unapologetically surgical criticism of every game under its lens. ‘ForceCast’, Deimos Force’s regular talk show that provides insights on the developments of the worldwide gaming and technology scenes through the discussions of a panel of experienced gamers, also received a great deal of acclaim.
However, Deimos Force’s biggest breakthrough came this year, amidst the pandemic, in the form of a massive community creation project, the first of its kind to be done in Bangladesh. The Deimos Arena, as it has been christened, has become a new platform where the greatest players and content creators of Deimos Force can freely mentor and assist the members of their community. It has also become a scouting ground for skilled new players and content creators, as well as a perfect forum for the gathering and interaction of like-minded gamers.
Deimos Force has managed to do what no other Bangladeshi gaming organization has done before – it has brought together gamers in a platform that nurtures their skills and talents while upholding the importance of sportsmanship, respect and humanity. In recent months, Deimos Force has also become involved with the Information and Communication Technology Division of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology of Bangladesh, where it has presented an elaborate plan to amplify the nationwide spread of eSports as part of the vision of a truly digital Bangladesh. While the plans were received with great positivity by the Ministry, the pandemic has put a halt on their progress for the time being, and it can be expected that they would resume once the situation normalizes once again.
The prospect of eSports as a career in Bangladesh has never been more viable than it is today, and the hard work put in by the minds behind Deimos Force has played an instrumental role in making it possible today. For a very long time, gamers have faced scrutiny and derision for choosing to indulge in ‘frivolous’ and ‘impractical’ activities, and Deimos Force’s actions have finally begun to spur our largely intolerant society into beginning to accept the possibilities brought forth by this brave new world.
