I don't want to be a Pro Gamer

I love Starcraft 2. I could play it for hours. On the weekends, I DO play it for hours. I practice my mechanics, theory-craft and test-craft up new build orders, watch the pro scenes and grind out ladder matches. I play in small on-line tournaments, and I keep in touch with several practice partners. I'm a "try-hard" and I'm in Master League.

There are few things in life so fulfilling as developing and utilizing a skill. The sense of accomplishment you get when you finally run a sub-7:00 mile, or when you hit your bench press goal, or when you produce another piece of art, or finish tuning your car, or exercise your newly-developed windsurfing skills out on the water, cannot be matched. The feeling of progression, that you've become better at it than you were before, is exhilarating.

That's how I feel about Starcraft 2. I enjoy sitting down and analyzing my replays, or figuring out how to make myself better. Every step along the way is fulfilling. I'm driven to do more. I coach people, I watch pro gamers, I write blogs and in the strategy forum, and immerse myself in this wonderful hobby. My goal is to get as good as I can get at this game-- to improve myself.

This is where my blog diverges from the other blogs like it. As you know from the title, I don't want to be a Pro Gamer. I also think that most people who want to go Pro have almost no idea what that means, and what it takes. If you're not willing to spend hours upon hours playing hard core in poor living conditions surrounded by other young men while not developing career skills, then you're not cut out to be a Pro Gamer. It's not that the top Pros don't have girlfriends and go to college- NaDa and Polt both are attending prestigious colleges, and iNcontroL is just one among many professionals with attractive and intelligent girlfriends.

But back-tracking a moment, you realize that NaDa is in college and the man is like, 27-- he had to put his education on hold for his career. Polt is basically a goddamn genius, and iNcontroL is unbelievably sexy and has to beat the women away with a stick. A lot of people put a lot of their lives on hold to become legendary, and not a lot of them succeed at it. Even those that do continue with their insane practice schedules, pushing their bodies and minds to the limit not for the impossibly small winnings, but for the right to become Legendary.

You have to love the game, and you have to be willing to give so much for it, to sacrifice everything on the altar of Pro Gaming. I have so much respect for those who pick this path-- their passion will never be matched by a noob like me. These people truly love the game, and there's no way I could ever compare to the spirit that drives them. The average reader of my blog will never match the fire that flows through the professionals, whose work schedules would impress a doctor intern.

I think that when someone posts a blog about how they're in Silver League and planning to go pro, and starts streaming, that person isn't showing appropriate respect to the professionals. Do you really think you can become a pro by playing 5-6 Silver League games a day? You don't even know how much these legends put into their game, and unless you can at the very least match that, you're insulting them with your attempts.

I don't want to be a Pro Gamer, because I know who I am-- someone who's not cut out for that lifestyle; because I have respect for those who take that path.

Respect.

Last edit: 2011-09-19 09:34:17

When you stare into the iCCup, the iCCup stares back.

xccam Great Britain. September 19 2011 07:52. Posts 564

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I dont normally like sc2 blogs, or posts in general,

But you get 5 stars from me for having a good perspective and a post i agree with

do you like your carriers Stork? - Nick Tasteless Plott

Vlare September 19 2011 07:57. Posts 737

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So if people offered you a sponsorship / salary you'd turn it down?

Mass zerglings doesnt fail

Blazinghand United States. September 19 2011 08:00. Posts 12274

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On September 19 2011 07:57 Vlare wrote:
So if people offered you a sponsorship / salary you'd turn it down?

If people straight up offered me money, sure-- but if they said "you're going to be grinding starcraft 2 70-80 hours a week, and in return we'll give you cramped housing, acceptable food, and a little bit of spending money" I would say "sorry, but I lack the passion necessary to spend all that time grinding starcraft-- it's a grueling life, and it's only for those with the drive and fire in them that I lack. Thank you for the offer, though."

Money comes with strings, and those strings require true passion to work with.

EDIT: Also, I don't play Sc2 enough / well enough that anyone would even offer me a contract...

Last edit: 2011-09-19 08:05:03

When you stare into the iCCup, the iCCup stares back.

Nairul United States. September 19 2011 08:01. Posts 258

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On September 19 2011 07:57 Vlare wrote:
So if people offered you a sponsorship / salary you'd turn it down?

I think he's saying he will never be in that position - and he accepts that.

@ OP - good point with all those silver-leaguers "going pro" threads. I've also found them disrespectful.

Last edit: 2011-09-19 08:01:37

SenorChang Australia. September 19 2011 08:03. Posts 4389

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Much like anything if you want to succeed in, you need to have a driving passion and a lot of dedication!

ლ(╹◡╹ლ)

boon2537 United States. September 19 2011 08:09. Posts 656

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Damn, the essay is well written.
I agree with you; I too love SCII, but I know I can't sacrifice everything for it.

(づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ︵ ┻━┻

Kid-Fox Canada. September 19 2011 08:11. Posts 390

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Good blog. Too true. Makes me think about that blog where rekrul described his life in Korea trying to be a top progamer. Only the truly passionate and exceptionally talented people get to the top in esports.

Motiva United States. September 19 2011 08:11. Posts 1746

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no way nada is 35, but good blog :D

Blazinghand United States. September 19 2011 08:13. Posts 12274

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On September 19 2011 08:11 Motiva wrote:
no way nada is 35, but good blog :D

Heh oops. looked it up and fixed it. My math skills are so bad, i did 2011-1984=35 when really it's 27 ._. thanks for the tip.

Last edit: 2011-09-19 08:14:15

When you stare into the iCCup, the iCCup stares back.

Roe Canada. September 19 2011 08:14. Posts 5147

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Well said, and so many people would benefit by reading this and putting it to action. Too many starry eyed youngsters that see the fame in esports and think that that makes it worth all the pains and trauma. Even if esports were to become bigger, the amount of people who actually succeed and make a decent living would be far too small. That said, the only game for which I'd do what progamers do, is Age of Empires 2. The only game I'll ever love.

Enki United States. September 19 2011 08:14. Posts 1992

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Well, partly I agree. I think its naive that people would want to go pro playing like 6 games a day in a shitty league. Unless you are putting in alot of time every single day, your not going to improve to the point of going pro. Obviously this doesnt apply to some people (Stephano was crazy good when he said he only played 2 hours a day) but for the vast majority of people, you have to grind games for hours a day. Takes alot of determination to be able to do that.

"Practice, practice, practice. And when you're not practicing you should be practicing. It's the only way to get better. The only way." I run the Smix Fanclub!

rift United States. September 19 2011 08:14. Posts 1514

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I was going to write a rebuttal, but your bold font convinced me.

“My mind is full of thoughts about Starcraft. When I shower, when I eat, I would always be playing ‘imaginary games’ in my head. I think it’s because no one’s forcing me to play Starcraft, but rather I want to do it, is why I’ve done so well."

N3rV[Green] United States. September 19 2011 08:19. Posts 1827

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Finally somebody put the words into my mouth I was looking for. Respecting the game, and those who play it at such a high level.

I've always been really irked by these silver/bronze league guys who believe that they have "talent" or some other bullshit, and want to go pro....realize in 2 or 3 weeks that they still really suck and start crying. It's because they are completely and totally disrespecting those who are that dedicated and down right talented.

Wonderful read sir, I as well am one of those masterish level players that loves the shit out of this game, but could never realistically see myself "going pro".

Never fear the darkness, Bran. The strongest trees are rooted in the dark places of the earth. Darkness will be your cloak, your shield, your mother's milk. Darkness will make you strong.

DarkPlasmaBall United States. September 19 2011 08:21. Posts 19998

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Well written, and I completely agree.

5/5

Respect.

"Those who can, teach. Those who can't, whine about teachers." ~Me

Latham September 19 2011 08:22. Posts 4525

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Great blog =) I also love playing SC2 but that's just it. I wouldn't want to be a progamer, because I know I wouldn't be able to grind it over and over again for so many hours. I just don't want to commit that much of my life into it.

Metal's not the Devil's work, it's magical and rad!

eNtitY~ United States. September 19 2011 08:22. Posts 1237

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I feel the same way.

I play this game and learn the build orders for fun, not to go Pro.

Last edit: 2011-09-19 08:22:39

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keiraknightlee United States. September 19 2011 08:41. Posts 301

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Def. a great post.

The way I see it is, this isn't only true for esports but real sports as well. You think Ronaldinho or Rooney still has the naive childlike passion that they used to have for football? When you go pro, no matter what it is you're going pro in, one of the first things you realize is that it isn't exactly the funnest thing in the world (and it's very easy to become disillusioned and just give up). You have to work your ass off before you can even start getting results; pros play for results, because at that level it becomes really really hard to pull off "cheesy" or innovative stuff. When you turn pro everything has to become mechanized and you start to feel as if you're just going through the motions; it isn't after hours and months and possibly years of work that you can even hope to become one of the best and stand atop the mountain of greatness.

For me, personally, I wouldn't want to go pro in Starcraft either, because I know that if I went pro (haha well if I had the talent

) it would stop being fun. And I don't want to play when it isn't fun anymore (so for me it will always be a fun and interesting hobby). And yes, just like you, I do admire the talent and passion of the pros, it takes a really bold and ambitious person to even want to walk those steps. Gr8 post!!!

Last edit: 2011-09-19 08:52:54

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GigaFlop United States. September 19 2011 08:46. Posts 1143

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Yet the people making such 'im gonna be pro!' threads get angry if you tell them what is 99.9999999999% likely to happen...

（╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ "Shift-Q oftentimes makes a capital Q" - Day[9] || iNcontrol - Alligator from heaven = ^

Hakker United States. September 19 2011 08:49. Posts 1198

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This got me thinking... would being a progamer even go on a professional resume? I mean, i can hardly imagine having to educate 50-60 year old suits on what it is, but really, saying you did nothing but play video games for 5-10 years of your life doesn't seem much like a booster.

It sounds almost like putting "Guild leader" on your resume, sure it might help in 1 out of 100 interviews, but it has a much higher chance of getting turned down on sight.

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