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Right now I'm 17 and I'm almost high masters as protoss. I don't play that much currently, and have been playing since beta (no previous RTS experience) . I consider most of my improvement to stem from just knowledge of the game and not actually 'practicing' or being on a team.
So with that said, I've been wondering if i can actually become a progamer in the future (and make it WORK for the long run) I think the smartest way for me to do it is to A) Practice more while i get a degree in college, and B) once I'm out of college play full time until I get going on a team.. go to korea.. etc...
But there's also questions like, Do I want to do this with my life? Supposedly I can do anything (as they say) but with our current financial situation / grade situation i probably will just go to a junior college, which isn't bad, but it's not like im going to be a doctor or anything. My options are STILL there though, I could go anywhere.. but should i choose progaming is the question.
My plan has been, like i said (since I feel my skill is there to become a progamer, i just need to practice more) to get my degree first. The reason for this is, i don't think i can be a progamer and do fulltime college as well, so obviously I'de have to put off full time gaming until after College. I live in southern california so I've always wanted to work for blizzard, so with a degree + some pro gaming experience I thought i could work for blizzard when I retire from being a progamer.. pretty sick plan huh? well.. question is how reasonably is it to get there.
From what i understand, to be a progamer basically means just getting on a GOOD team, being well known, and getting paid to play (through team + streams + tournament results). I feel I could do that if I practiced all day. I just don't know how realistic it is. I don't really have an ego for myself as a starcraft player, i mean.. i'm about 920 points in masters does that make me capable of being a pro or should I be higher? these thoughts run through my head when i seriously consider "being" a pro gamer.
And with that, there's the question of what should i do after. I mean like 40 + years old. I have absolutely no idea how long my progaming life would last, but my guess is that long. So with a college computer-type degree (programing, design) and a LOT of progaming experience with BLIZZARD games.. do you think blizzard or a similar company would hire me?
Thanks for reading, I'm just pondering what to do with my life. I think it's a pretty solid plan because I do love starcraft.. and I mean, starcraft and the blizzard RTS universe will only get BIGGER as i get older.
  
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If you were even top 50 grandmasters on NA I don't think you'd have much chance at becoming a progamer
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Honestly its really really really hard, especially now. The best time to be one would have been in beta to where every small tournament if you did good you were noticed. Now of days most bigger tournaments are invite only so no way to get your name out that way, smaller tournaments NOBODY notices anymore, MLG the only way you'll get noticed is if you make it to group play (so winning the open bracket on your side) otherwise you won't get noticed at that either and with koreans in almost every type of open sc2 tournament its now 500 times harder then before. Kind of insane how hard it is now of days :/.
So what I would do is keep doing what your doing starcraft + school. Thats what I do (but I have no intention on ever being a full time pro-gamer even if I was good enough to be one its just not really legitimate in terms of making a living and the only ones who do are a select few atm).
but I would get a job in your degree if possible when you graduate and just play sc2 on your spare time. Good luck to you non the less but its really not that reasonable especially right now when as I have said before, you could be some really good player but won't get your name out there right now.
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No, it's not realistic.
But then again living in a realistic world doing realistic things is just one way to live.
The other option is living in an awesome world doing fantastic things.
I say go for it, but don't go chasing a dream forever.
Have atleast somekind of b-plan on your life. And make sure you can afford your "pro-gaming career". Remember that most pros outside of Korea have a degree, a job or still go to school.
Even in Korea kids only try to become pro-gamers for a year or two because it's hard and many will fail regardless of passion and time put into it.
BoxeR is the only pro-gamer with no backup plans or anything (that I know of), but he is a legend and a god.
So don't try that.
I say most guys who make blogs like this should just practice real hard for a month or two and they'd know much better if that's what they really want. It's not talent that's measured but the dedication and drive.
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I can't remember the thread, but Nazgul told someone asking a similar question to play 8-10 hours a day (back to back games, no messing around or wasting any time) for a week to see how it goes. If you really want to be a progamer and don't have incredible natural skill, this is the dedication it's going to take and most people just don't have it in them.
It's gonna be tough because you're still in high school, but if I were you I would go on a "trial run" and devote as much time as possible to practicing for a set amount of time, say a month or so. A full month of intense practice and you should be able to tell if you're improving fast enough/enjoy it enough to really go after it.
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Most people that take this game "serious" (not as a job, but a hobby they invest loads of time in) and have some Talent are in Masters.
So, no, your Goal is not realistic.
But well.. Just play when you have time as much as you can and see how far that brings you, if your good enough you'll probably start winning shit or at least doing really good automatically and then...
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I only read the thread title, but if your preferred writing this to actually playing, then no, you won't become a progamer  .
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no
99.999% of those who have the talent to make it generally are already very very close and already have some form of the connections to make it
i'm not saying that you'll never make it
but you asked if it was realistic
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You have some really incorrect assumptions about the pro-gamer career.
If BW is any indication, a progamer's career is very short-lived, I think most progamers quit no later than 25.
Also, the scene is constantly changing, it might be SC3 we are playing after you graduate college.
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Get your degree first, have something to fall back on because your goal is pretty much not realistic...
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There's been like 20 threads like this and where are any of those people now? Nowhere.
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On September 16 2011 19:47 FraCuS wrote:
Get your degree first, have something to fall back on because your goal is pretty much not realistic...
Thats stupid, what difference does it make if he gets his degree before or after he fails at becomeing a progamer (note: he doesnt even have to get a degree there are many other options). In fact I would say getting it after would be better because the best time to get a job is right after you graduate.
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Blazinghand
United States25558 Posts
Go to school full time, and game for fun.
If you want to see if you're cut out to be a pro gamer, find a week where you don't have classes and seriously hardcore grind/play 30-40 Sc2 ladder games per day-- just ladder, review your replays, study build orders, analyze your flaws, and ladder more-- for a week. Don't just play the games either, actively focus and improve your play. Concentrate. Really become better. If you feel you could be comfortable doing this for a year, THEN you may consider the life of a progamer.
During the school year, play recreationally, and on your breaks, play full time and try your hardest to improve your mechanics and understanding. When you become good enough, play in minor tournaments until a clan with several GM players notices you (a semi-professional team, basically). Then, go to MLG and fight your way through the open brackets. Do this a couple of times.
Don't sell coaching or post too much on TL (except if you know you wouldn't spend that time gaming anyways) since it will cut into your practice time. Stream if you want but don't let it hold you down for practicing more.
Eventually, if you have the skills and the dedication and just a bit of luck, you'll reach group play from the open brackets and be up against professional players. This will get you noticed, and is only the beginning of the balling that will ensue.
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On September 16 2011 19:54 infinity2k9 wrote:
There's been like 20 threads like this and where are any of those people now? Nowhere.
Way more than 20. And as you said, I haven't seen ONE blog about "oh my god I finally became a progamer." There have been multiple blogs about people imitating the pro-practice schedule for a couple days, which resulted in them being super burned out and subsequently going back to casual gaming status.
Therefore... it's not realistic.
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THERE IS NO REASON WHY ANYONE SHOULD MAKE A BLATANT AND DIRECT SWITCH FROM LIVING A LIFE TO FULL-TIME PROGAMER
It doesn't fucking work like that.
Get the results, get some tournament placements and then come to that decision.
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Search 'I want to be a progamer' in blogs, you'll find your answers there.
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look, the best players in sc1 right now probably didnt touch broodwar when it first came out. i guarantee that some of the best players in sc2 5,6,7 years from now arent even known players, so of course its a realistic goal, but like others have said make a plan. spend a week hardcore laddering, if you see yourself improve dramatically than do another week and so on.
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Like others have said before, it's probably not realistic.
If you don't already have the conviction and/or connections, you most likely won't have the determination to succeed. Not only that, playing in tournaments under pressure vs laddering is entirely different.
Go play in some tournaments first, and see how you do if you still want to try. I just don't think it's worth the risk at this point in time.
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Like many have already stated. If you make a post about it, it will never happen.
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EPT
