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Today, after finishing my AP Calc AB test, I was waiting in our school's cafeteria for the day to end so I could leave (Our school doesn't make you go to classes afterward, and I couldn't get a ride home). I was chilling, when one of my friends asks me to play some SC2 so he can watch. I didn't particularly feel like playing at the time, so I half-jokingly said that I would if he bought me a soda. He then did that, and I played for a while (trying to go at about 200 APM while answering strategy questions at the same time is really hard and I wouldn't recommend it) with about 3-4 people watching my screen.
An interesting question I came up with after that experience is what defines a progamer as opposed to an amateur. If it's purely getting rewarded for playing video games, do I then count? If not, where do you draw the line?
A line could be drawn in terms of making money, but if I run a tournament with a $40 prize pool among bronze players would they then be progamers under this definition? Moreover, if a popular player were to receive free stuff from sponsors but not actually get paid money, would they then not be a pro?
This is really an argument about semantics that doesn't matter but I thought it was an interesting question to see if there really was a possible way to define what makes someone a pro in gaming versus an amateur, especially in the foreigner scene, where there's no such thing as a progamer license as there is in Korea.
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Calgary26003 Posts
I would argue a professional earns a living doing his profession. Basically if you aren't supplementing your income and you are living solely off what you are earning, I would call you a professional.
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A progamer plays games for a living and it's their main source of income.
People may argue that the guys playing foreign SC making ~$1000 a year in their moms basement would fall into the category, but even though it's hard to describe most people can tell the difference in their head.
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United States898 Posts
I would define a professional as someone who is able to make a living doing whatever their job is. If you are a progamer, you are able to make a living by playing that game
edit: looks like its already been said :o)
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I'd say there are two definitions.
1)What's already been said, somebody who makes their living doing it.
2)Someone who is at the top of their game, one of the best there is. I don't feel they have to be getting paid.
my justifications from online dictionary :
1)following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain: a professional builder.
2)an expert player, as of golf or tennis, serving as a teacher, consultant, performer, or contestant; pro.
2)a person who is expert at his or her work: You can tell by her comments that this editor is a real professional.
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It's supposed to mean that it's your main source of income by which you live off of.
Colloquially, it means to be really good at something.
There are not "two" official definitions; one is the actual definition, while the other is based off informal chat.
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On May 06 2010 06:32 Try wrote:
It's supposed to mean that it's your main source of income by which you live off of.
Colloquially, it means to be really good at something.
There are not "two" official definitions; one is the actual definition, while the other is based off informal chat.
Care to justify that?
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United States4796 Posts
On May 06 2010 06:53 Reason wrote:Show nested quote +On May 06 2010 06:32 Try wrote:
It's supposed to mean that it's your main source of income by which you live off of.
Colloquially, it means to be really good at something.
There are not "two" official definitions; one is the actual definition, while the other is based off informal chat. Care to justify that?
I think the fact that it's informal means it can't be justified?
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I think you have to have some sort of celebrity status as well.
Or at least have people photoshopping your face into and onto things to be considered a legit progamer, to me.
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On May 06 2010 06:53 Reason wrote:Show nested quote +On May 06 2010 06:32 Try wrote:
It's supposed to mean that it's your main source of income by which you live off of.
Colloquially, it means to be really good at something.
There are not "two" official definitions; one is the actual definition, while the other is based off informal chat. Care to justify that?
I would not call myself a professional basketball player even if I were incredibly good unless I was actually making a living off playing basketball.
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an expert player, as of golf or tennis, serving as a teacher, consultant, performer, or contestant; pro.
a person who is expert at his or her work: You can tell by her comments that this editor is a real professional.
These definitions from the dictionary suggest your personal useage of the word means dick-all and that you are perfectly entitled to call yourself a professional basketball player if you want.
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On May 06 2010 10:27 DivinO wrote:Show nested quote +On May 06 2010 06:53 Reason wrote:On May 06 2010 06:32 Try wrote:
It's supposed to mean that it's your main source of income by which you live off of.
Colloquially, it means to be really good at something.
There are not "two" official definitions; one is the actual definition, while the other is based off informal chat. Care to justify that? I think the fact that it's informal means it can't be justified?
You are assuming that's a fact, which it isn't.
On May 06 2010 11:01 Try wrote:Show nested quote +On May 06 2010 06:53 Reason wrote:On May 06 2010 06:32 Try wrote:
It's supposed to mean that it's your main source of income by which you live off of.
Colloquially, it means to be really good at something.
There are not "two" official definitions; one is the actual definition, while the other is based off informal chat. Care to justify that? I would not call myself a professional basketball player even if I were incredibly good unless I was actually making a living off playing basketball.
an expert player, as of golf or tennis, serving as a teacher, consultant, performer, or contestant; pro.
a person who is expert at his or her work: You can tell by her comments that this editor is a real professional.
These definitions from the dictionary suggest your personal useage of the word means dick-all and that you are perfectly entitled to call yourself a professional basketball player if you want.
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