The fact of the matter is that computer pro-gaming is a rather recent concept that surfaced following the blooming expansion of video game sales in the past few years. Gradually, the world of gaming moved from the single player leader board perspective to new sights, where multiplayer and online play is of paramount importance. Developers and publishers thrive as the market gets bigger and bigger, and we can all see that computer gaming entered the mainstream only to become a standalone standard. If twenty years ago computer games were only available to a limited audience and were exclusively regarded as entertainment, the scene has grown to such an extent that some rise above the masses of casual gamers to become experts paid for their unyielding effort. This state of affairs heralds the beginning of a cultural revolution, with professional gamers carrying the flag as the first and foremost representatives.
The small yet dedicated community saw a great change in stereotype in 1997 with the release of Starcraft and Battle.net, Blizzard's own online competitive playing free service. While starting small, Starcraft was the game to eventually change everything when its Asian supporters made themselves known. In the world of real time strategy games, China and South Korea are dominating the scene, with major events that attract the best players worldwide through attractive prizes and uncanny publicity. It went so far that Starcraft is now somewhat a national sport in South Korea, while professional gamers are regarded as minor stars. The first gaming leagues were holding LAN tourneys with sizeable cash prizes more than eight years ago and the scene has grown to unimaginable proportions. You still need to be among the Top 10 in the world in your
chosen game to make a viable living, yet prizes hardly reflect how much gaming has gained in popularity, as it still doesn't pay any better than a decent job.
How can you become a pro-gamer? Common misconceptions would have you think you definitely need to play the game for years, and for long periods of time on a daily basis. The best result are obtained if you think of it as a job, and while 14 hours of gaming each day is a killer, professionals do keep up a good tonus before competitions, playing 8 hours daily. It's not possible to dwindle on the same game anymore, seeing that competitions sometime switch games yearly. There isn't enough time as a whole to keep repeating the same mistakes. Just be informed and take a strategic approach to learning, by repeating the same thing over and over again until you get it right. It may seem the obvious recipe for success already applied in regular sports, yet it's the main way to handle the situation.
The goal is to learn from your own mistakes and, if possible, from the mistakes of others. I can't stress enough the importance of watching replays, VODs and professionals at play, since these games hold invaluable information for all aspiring gaming gurus to know. While individual skill and reflexes are important, more often than not, professionals change play styles to accommodate this change in high-end strategies. They will always exploit the game to the fullest, taking advantage of every glitch, every shortcut and every trick. It's not even a question of morals anymore: if it's there, you need to use it.
The road to fame and glory is long and tedious. As strange at it may seem, for the professional gamer it's more important to know how to lose, than win. Why do I say that? It's because professionals are required to learn from their mistakes fast, and often in their careers, they will be facing defeat. If you can't afford losing a great deal of training matches and are instead set on winning each game, you will eventually be faced with mental exhaustion and depression. The pros rarely take losing personally.
Be aware it's harder than it seems, since there is a lot of pressure building up from endlessly repeating the same moves. Since you want to be a pro, you need to lessen the "fun" factor and pay attention to details instead. You won't do the strategy you felt like doing before starting the game, instead, you're going to play your cards right by responding to the enemy's actions in real time. Have less feeling and more brains. It is important that you have the enthusiasm and passion for the game. While practice is indeed the key, one must take into consideration the fact that some are simply more gifted than others as some might take longer to become good while others may take a shorter time.
You can't make it into professional gaming without extensive help from a gaming clan, and their subsequent logistics, sponsorship and utility support. The current trend is that the pro gaming teams get a corporate sponsor so they resemble sport teams to a greater extent, fully funded with a practice studio, food, rent, and salary. People thinking "What can be greater than playing games and getting paid?" are dead wrong. Once you take up the task of becoming a professional gamer, you lose the casual gamer attitude and enjoyment of simple game mechanics. It's not all milk and honey.
Pro-gamers can move unbelievably fast and multitask five things at once, thus we have yet another trademark of the professional gamer. High action per minute reflects his proficiency in handling the game mechanics through reflexive and instinctual responses. Strategic thinking will dictate the right course of action, which are all brains and chess-like counter responses to particular known bits of enemy strategy. Macro and micromanagement are joined together in an uncanny display of skill; yet playing is not an exact science. The better player will not always win, taking into consideration luck and the fact that games aren't always balanced to offer the same winning opportunities. Results are not always favorable due to circumstances, in spite of that time spent training.
Usually, gaming careers get started by playing at LAN and online tournaments, some of which offer cash prizes, providing additional incentive to play and win. It's a great way to improve your skills as playing against others who are at the top of their game will help you improve yours. But prizes and sponsorship aren't all there is to aim for. Top professional gamers often enough land themselves full-time positions with regular salaries, and concentrate solely on their gaming. By gaining acceptance in the heart of aspiring amateur gamers, they become popular figures in the scene and server as role models and minor stars, eligible for promotion contracts. At this level, gamers really are virtual athletes, with intensive training programs to match those of top sports players worldwide.
Find us on Google+
