By Tham Yuen-C

Lam Rui Jian, 28, private banker at a top American bank

HE WAS in Primary 2 when his love affair with video games started.

Watching his cousin shoot aliens on the Nintendo Entertainment System game console got him hooked on the run and gun game, Contra.

Before long, Lam Rui Jian was playing video games every day.

"I played so much that I didn't do my homework and didn't study for my tests," he says.

The 28-year-old private banker, who works for a top American bank, has since stopped - getting into trouble because of gaming, that is.

His hobby, though, remains.

He plays video and computer games, such as Fifa on the Xbox 360 and Dota on the PC, almost every day, but tries to limit the weekday sessions to about half an hour.

Would you tell your client that you are a gamer?

I would rather not volunteer the information.

The private banking industry is rather straight-laced and establishing trust is very important as our clients hand us their wealth to manage.

With clients of an older generation, telling them that I game might result in them not taking me seriously.

With younger clients who are well-exposed to video games, I would be more open about my gaming hobby.

What is the most extreme thing you have ever done for your video game habit?

It was back in 2006 when I bought games over the Internet that are banned in Singapore, like Saints Row.

I will not report sick to stay at home to play games but if I am sick and stay at home, I do end up playing video games for a while.

What would you think of a peer who is a gamer?

I have absolutely no problems with bankers who are gamers.

I think it's a very common hobby among both guys and girls.

Unless, of course, that guy's gaming habit is totally hardcore and is affecting his work performance.

I would tend to feel more of a kinship because at least now there is a common topic to talk about.

How would you feel if you found out that your surgeon or lawyer spent the previous day playing video games, before an important operation or a case?

That's not a very fair question.

It's like asking "What if your doctor or lawyer told you that he had a big fight with his wife and didn't manage to get enough sleep?"

To me, it's not the activity but how you prioritise your time.

Do you think your subordinates will still respect you if they knew you were a gamer?

That's probably why I talk selectively about my gaming habits.

It's also a question of when you talk about these things.

I am fine with discussing my gaming habits during lunch time or on days when the activities are a little slow.

What someone does outside work doesn't bother me at all as long as he or she displays professionalism when it is required.

This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life.

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