Unraveling the Phenomenon of ‘Mabar’: From Gaming Culture to Social Interaction

In the realm of modern entertainment, Indonesia has emerged as one of the primary stages for a groundbreaking gaming phenomenon. According to a report by We Are Social, Indonesia ranks as the third-largest country in terms of video game players globally.

The report highlights that as of January 2022, 94.5% of internet users aged 16-64 in Indonesia engage in video gaming, primarily through their smartphones. The term ‘Mabar’, an acronym for ‘Main Bareng’ (playing together), has risen to prominence amidst the surge of young individuals embracing gaming on their handheld devices.

What is the history behind the term ‘Mabar’?

Gaming, as an activity, is not a recent development. It dates back to the release of the first console game, Magnavox Odyssey, in the 1960s. Subsequently, over the years, we witnessed the introduction of various other console games, such as the Sega Console in 1983 and the iconic Game Boy by Nintendo in 1989. More recently, the PlayStation, launched in Europe on September 29, 1995, and the Xbox, introduced by Microsoft in 2001, have become ubiquitous, continuing to capture the attention of gaming enthusiasts worldwide.

However, back then, there was no specific term for inviting others to play games together; it is a relatively recent development. One crucial factor contributing to this is the limited number of players that consoles could accommodate. Typically, consoles could only support a maximum of two players. Hence, the common phrase used was, ‘Let’s play just you and me.’ This is in contrast to the gaming experiences on smartphones or PCs today, where multiple individuals can participate simultaneously, leading to invitations for collective gameplay.

Another important aspect is the speed at which one can commence gaming. The process of booting up a console and initiating gameplay was not as swift as playing games on smartphones nowadays. Previously, for those without a gaming console at home, a trip to the local PlayStation rental store was necessary. Hence, the more prevalent phrase back then was, ‘Let’s go to the rental!’ However, the term ‘Mabar’ has now evolved beyond merely inviting acquaintances to play the same game together.