If you’ve ever seriously considered gaming as a career rather than a pastime, then you’ve probably had people telling you it’s impossible. While there are many people who make careers out of gaming, the chances of successfully translating your passion into a profession are just too vanishingly slim, or so some people say.
Of course, for pro gamers to exist, a pathway must be there for people to turn their hobby into something they do on a professional basis, so without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the things you’re going to need in order to become a pro gamer.
A main source of income
Realistically, being a professional gamer isn’t likely to start paying dividends for quite a while. It’s important to have a main source of income so that you can fund yourself while you chase your dream. Naturally, a day job is the best way to go about this; you may not love the work you’re doing, but at least you know it’s going towards something you do feel passionate about. If you’re determined to chase your dream without picking up a day job, then you could rely on the generosity of family and friends, dig into your savings, or use alternative cash sources like £500 loans to get you where you need to go.
A good gaming rig
Whether you’re looking to enter the world of esports or you want to make it as a professional streamer, it’s important to have a good gaming rig. Buying one of the most up-to-date gaming consoles is essential if you’re a console gamer; higher frame rates mean you’ll be more competitive in the multiplayer games you’re likely to be playing on a regular basis. The same goes for PC gaming, where you’ll need to make sure you have an up-to-the-minute graphics card and a fast processor so that your computer can handle even the most intensive games.
A game to specialize in
As a pro gamer – whether that be in the world of esports or streaming – you’re going to need a game that acts as your “signature.” Asmongold has, or had, World of Warcraft, Tyler1 has League of Legends, and you need to find your signature as well. That doesn’t mean it has to be a new game, of course. Pick the game that you’re best at and that best reflects your skillset. Put your effort into training and improving at that game, and play other games during your downtime. This way, you’ll boost your skills to the point that pro play may not be too far away.
Good management (for esports)
If you’re aiming to become a professional esports player, then good management is just as important as having skills in the game itself. You may even decide that you want to become an esports manager yourself; it’s a perfectly viable career path within the world of professional gaming, after all. Either way, a good esports manager is constantly on the lookout for opportunities for their talent, scouting them for teams and pointing out places they may want to go in order to compete and build a profile in the highly competitive world of esports.
A magnetic personality (for streaming)
Esports players don’t necessarily need to have strong personalities; they just need to bring their skill to each game they play. Streamers, on the other hand, need to have something that sets them apart from the competition, and this is usually their unique personality. Audiences flock to streamers not necessarily for their gaming skill, but more for the experience, they bring to their shows. Streamers are basically entertainers first and pro gamers second, so make sure to hone your personality and emphasize it while you’re streaming.
A strong work ethic
Contrary to what many people believe about professional gamers, a strong work ethic is paramount. Streamers often keep grueling streaming schedules, playing games for hours and hours at a time in order to entertain audiences. While this might not sound hard, imagine that you’re presenting a radio show for several hours, and you’re not far off how it feels. Similarly, as an esports player, you need a strong work ethic; you need to treat gaming as a job, implementing training regimens and schedules rather than as a simple hobby.
A network
Like with many other jobs, it pays to have a good network around you when you’re trying to get into the world of professional gaming. Talk to other streamers regularly and join in on their streams as an audience member. By getting your name out there as a streamer, you’ll show that you’re serious about gaming and you’re not just trying to get in on the gold rush, so to speak. If you’re an esports player, networks are arguably even more important because they’re often how you’ll score your first place on an esports team. Remember to keep up the social side of gaming if you want to succeed.
Training
Sports require training in order to get good at them, and gaming is no different. You may have heard the “git gud” meme floating around, and while it’s usually used by unsavory gamers to taunt others, it does apply to esports and professional gaming. While you don’t necessarily need incredible skill to be a streamer (a personality is arguably more important), esports players do need to be at the top of their game for whatever titles they’re playing. Sometimes, this will require training in multiple games, so be sure to keep an open and flexible mind as an esports player.
