Hamster combat game lures youth with promises of wealth, raises privacy concerns

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The youth of the country are being enticed to become millionaires by playing a game without investing a single rupee. Hamster Combat, a game where players collect coins by rapidly tapping their phone screens, has become a sensation in Kerala.

The game's Russian developers claim that Hamster Combat will be listed on the crypto market next month, and the coins collected will gain value. Similar to cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Bitcoin, these coins can be traded on crypto exchanges for potential earnings.

Played through a Telegram link, the game has attracted a significant following among 10-25 year olds. Many players are busy collecting coins during work breaks and even while stuck in traffic jams.

The gameplay involves quickly tapping on a picture of a hamster, a member of the rodent family. The more times you tap, the more coins you collect. Additional coins can be earned by sending the game link to friends and completing daily tasks. Some kids are reportedly collecting hundreds of thousands of coins each day, hoping to eventually earn crores.

Worried parents

Hamster Combat is played by 150 million people across 40 countries. When the game was launched in March, it garnered 11 million users in the first 11 days alone. Reports indicate that children are becoming addicted, spending an average of six hours a day on the game. Failure to play daily can result in falling behind, prompting continuous play. Parents are concerned that this is affecting their children's studies.

Privacy concerns

There are concerns about the potential leakage of personal information from players' phones. Coins can only be earned by watching ads at certain levels in the game, generating revenue for the company through advertising.

The value of the coins remains uncertain, and the identity of the Russian developers behind the game has not been disclosed. Technical expert Dinu advises caution.