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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 States25550 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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If you have feel,dont ask,just do it
.dont doubt,dont second quess,believe it is possible and be progamer.just be,and prove every doubter wrong.
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Try to set aside some time for REALLY hardcore practice, see how it feels. Most likely you will realise it isn't for you but if you feel after putting down some time and effort that this is really what you want to do i say go for it, the worst that can happen is that you fail  but if you have the ability to put in the effort to try and become a progamer pretty much anything you want to try after that will seem like a cakewalk
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PM'd you if you want to talk and talk to someone who is currently living that kind of a life and what it took etc.
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16974 Posts
On September 17 2011 00:18 lastshadow wrote:
PM'd you if you want to talk and talk to someone who is currently living that kind of a life and what it took etc.
I'd like to hear this as well. Would you mind posting something publicly so others who stumble upon this thread can have a first-hand account?
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I don't know is it a realistic goal for you to take 30seconds out of your pro game life to use the search engine? Probably not.
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On September 16 2011 16:57 xOny wrote:
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.
Would you care to elaborate on this? I'm interested in hearing about how you plan to be a progamer for 23 years.
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instead of posting "I want to be a progamer" post some results. "I won 20 $100 prize pool tournaments in 2 months, do you think I have a chance?" would sound much better.
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Katowice25012 Posts
I don't think Blizzard, or any company, hires people because "they were progamers". At the very least that assumption needs to be re-thought.
Corollary ESPORTS sometimes hires that way (people running events) but even that tends to only happen for people who are both famous and at the very top in terms of skill.
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if u have the passion to practice 9+ hours a day. Then ye. you can do it
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No, it's not. You simply can't plan to be a pro-gamer just because you like the thought of it, especially while still in high school. You're either talented and already a good player at your age (think Spanishiwa or Pokebunny) or you're just an avg master level player that has no realistic chance of making it. And I don't consider playing 9+ hours a day, sacrificing your social life and quality of life in general as a 17-year old to maybe, just maybe get close to pro-level realistic.
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Anything is possible. Most players decided they wanted to be the best. Huk said he wants to be an sc2 bonjwa. Most people would have dismissed him, but his dedication to the game has got him to the point where he is at now.
You are at a good age for becoming a progamer too. If you were past 20 I would say "not possible" but you got 3 years until that point. If you really enjoy the game, play it a ton, 4 hours a day. Make sure they are a good 4 hours though, don't just mindlessly ladder. Practice specific mechanics such as macro, unit control and scouting. Go into each game with a game plan that will last the entire game. Decide on a build and time it to perfection making minor adjustments as neccesary, but stick to a single overall game plan. Many people give players like idra or huk grief because they do the same build over and over, but the thing is, that's the best way to develop your skills. Don't be a pro at a single race, be a pro at a single play style. In chess, players will play a single opening for YEARS, literally.
The final piece of advice is, if you want to be good at something, spend at least 10,000 hours doing it. For many pro players today, to play this many hours took 5-6 years of playing broodwar, so yea, you have a little catch up to do.
If by the time you are 20, you haven't become a pro-gamer, then I would say, just enjoy the game, but never give up or you will never ever realize your goals.
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On September 17 2011 01:28 Harrad wrote:
No, it's not. You simply can't plan to be a pro-gamer just because you like the thought of it, especially while still in high school. You're either talented and already a good player at your age (think Spanishiwa or Pokebunny) or you're just an avg master level player that has no realistic chance of making it. And I don't consider playing 9+ hours a day, sacrificing your social life and quality of life in general as a 17-year old to maybe, just maybe get close to pro-level realistic.
Pokebunny/spanishwa played alot to break there level. U dont know what ur talking about. lol
if hes already high masters and had the passion/right mindset..he could easily break into pro level with consistent practice. It's no secret. It takes hard work. and if he has the passion for it, he can do it.
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On September 17 2011 01:57 VPCursed wrote:Show nested quote +On September 17 2011 01:28 Harrad wrote:
No, it's not. You simply can't plan to be a pro-gamer just because you like the thought of it, especially while still in high school. You're either talented and already a good player at your age (think Spanishiwa or Pokebunny) or you're just an avg master level player that has no realistic chance of making it. And I don't consider playing 9+ hours a day, sacrificing your social life and quality of life in general as a 17-year old to maybe, just maybe get close to pro-level realistic. Pokebunny/spanishwa played alot to break there level. U dont know what ur talking about. lol if hes already high masters and had the passion/right mindset..he could easily break into pro level with consistent practice. It's no secret. It takes hard work. and if he has the passion for it, he can do it.
I never said it's an impossible goal, I merely said I don't consider it a realistic one considering his current situation. Nothing wrong with having ambitions and trying to realize them.
On September 16 2011 23:50 Animzor wrote:
If you make a post about it, it will never happen.
Even though it sounds trivial, I actually agree with this a lot.
Do you think players like Naniwa or Huk sat at a table one day, pondering what to do with their lives, then deciding to become a professional gamer? No, successful pros all have in common that they are extremely competitive by nature, have a strong work mentality and a fair share of talent, too. This has naturally paved their way for them, it was their thing, it's what they do. I remember Huk saying on his stream "If I hadn't gone pro, i'd be in the army or dead" or something to that extent. Also, they already were good to accomplished rts players before their sc2 careers,so it should be even harder to go pro if you have to go from zero to hero.
I really want everyone to strife to realize their dreams, but since the question was whether it was realistic, this is my answer.
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One thing: if you fail, you'll just be a nerd with no life.
If you play a dozen hours everyday and don't have any role in the community, then it's one of the biggest fails one can reach, aside from what fate casts upon you.
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Never limit your possibilities in life is my most important piece of advice, especially if you aren't 100% sure you can live off of progaming. Just do as well in school as you can while playing on the side, and you will know when you are at the level when you can consider taking a break from school for gaming / pursuing it as your career. Don't throw away ANY of your life until you KNOW you can make it.
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Blazinghand
United States25550 Posts
On September 17 2011 02:43 Kukaracha wrote:
One thing: if you fail, you'll just be a nerd with no life.
If you play a dozen hours everyday and don't have any role in the community, then it's one of the biggest fails one can reach, aside from what fate casts upon you.
I agree. esports is like regular sports-- those who make it to the top do quite well for themselves, and those more towards the bottom can get by, usually, and if you're just semi-pro you'll need a day job.
As a general rule, I'd try to pursue pro gaming only in conjunction with the pursuit of education. Polt, for example, is attending a prestigious university while maintaining his status as an excellent pro gamer.
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No, that is not realistic. Very few people in the world are good enough at SC2 to support themselves off it. Those that can are already doing so. If you want to bust into the scene as a new face you better be able to put up some results or else nobody would care to notice you.
Go to an MLG , plow through an open bracket, and If you are good enough to take a big name out of the tournament then congratulations, you have a CHANCE of making a name for yourself.
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On September 17 2011 02:51 Blazinghand wrote:Show nested quote +On September 17 2011 02:43 Kukaracha wrote:
One thing: if you fail, you'll just be a nerd with no life.
If you play a dozen hours everyday and don't have any role in the community, then it's one of the biggest fails one can reach, aside from what fate casts upon you. I agree. esports is like regular sports-- those who make it to the top do quite well for themselves, and those more towards the bottom can get by, usually, and if you're just semi-pro you'll need a day job. As a general rule, I'd try to pursue pro gaming only in conjunction with the pursuit of education. Polt, for example, is attending a prestigious university while maintaining his status as an excellent pro gamer.
polt is a fucking genius.. do you know how competitive academic korea is?
anyhow, follow vpcursed's advice
hes doing the same thing as u are and shares my disbelief in talent
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Blazinghand
United States25550 Posts
On September 17 2011 03:19 OutlaW- wrote:Show nested quote +On September 17 2011 02:51 Blazinghand wrote:On September 17 2011 02:43 Kukaracha wrote:
One thing: if you fail, you'll just be a nerd with no life.
If you play a dozen hours everyday and don't have any role in the community, then it's one of the biggest fails one can reach, aside from what fate casts upon you. I agree. esports is like regular sports-- those who make it to the top do quite well for themselves, and those more towards the bottom can get by, usually, and if you're just semi-pro you'll need a day job. As a general rule, I'd try to pursue pro gaming only in conjunction with the pursuit of education. Polt, for example, is attending a prestigious university while maintaining his status as an excellent pro gamer. polt is a fucking genius.. do you know how competitive academic korea is? anyhow, follow vpcursed's advice hes doing the same thing as u are and shares my disbelief in talent
Polt is literally my hero: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?id=245187
But yeah i have no idea how he is so amazing academically and as a professional gamer. But even if he weren't a great professional, he still has a great life ahead of him since he's getting a top-notch education
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i highly doubt polt isn't committing a serious amount of time to SC2. And also. its actually impossible to do good in school and play SC2 in korea. Maybe universites are much easier.. but Korean highschool.middle school? You wont even have time to learn hotkeys.
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Blazinghand
United States25550 Posts
On September 17 2011 03:56 VPCursed wrote:
i highly doubt polt isn't committing a serious amount of time to SC2. And also. its actually impossible to do good in school and play SC2 in korea. Maybe universites are much easier.. but Korean highschool.middle school? You wont even have time to learn hotkeys.
I guess that's true. Also, there's no way to play at a professional level with less than 8-10 hours of practice par day. I.. I guess I just don't understand. Maybe he just economized the dicks out of his time... like he reads in the shower, and listens to his textbooks in audio-book format while playing or exercising, and while commuting to class and back.
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I'll drop my 0.02. If you want to become a progamer. Do not do it for any future benefit (e.g job at blizzard.) Don't do it For the money, or for the 'fame' or anything else like this. The only reason worth while becoming a progamer for, is if you truly love the game, and the thing you would really love to do is compete in the game (sc2 in this case) for a living.
(Although not speaking for experience) I would guesstimate the most important part of becoming a progamer, is being able to play a lot, and being able to constantly focus on improving. Just playing 8 hours of the game will get you good, but it will not make you as good as the best progamers.
If you truly really want to become a progamer, and think you would be able to do it, then I would somehow get a month or two and try it out, see how much improvment you can get it, and if you are still equally optimistic about your chances when the time is over. If you still want to keep going after the 'trial period' then I would go for it. I don't think that much will change for you in terms of school 1 year from now, but the same can definitively not be said for 'pro gaming'. Obviously being as young as you are, parents and/or money would be a pretty big hindrance I guess.
I'll finish this with some wise words from my brother from another mother, will smith: Being realistic is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity.
^_^
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On September 16 2011 16:57 xOny wrote:
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.
No, you won't make it. It's one thing to think about training hard every day, it's another thing to actually do it.
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Read Rekrul's korea story.
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These threads are getting really annoying. Wtf.
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On September 17 2011 06:41 krndandaman wrote:
if you're asking, it wont happen.
have you read some of the interviews of bw progamers about how they become a progamer? most of them said they didn't even think about becoming a progamer. they just realized they were damn good at the game and decided to give it a try. the doors to becoming a progamer just naturally opened to them.
Well of course not. They had an extreme passion for the game. So they fucking played cause they loved it. They had no goals.
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Most Western progamers probably play until 24-26 years old then move on. Pretty much what everyone else said - most progamers don't make a ton of money, only the very very best and even those are making sacrifices in school in most cases. It isn't really a career move, it is about passion and enjoying it for as long as possible, but realizing eventually responsibilities will come in.
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go to school, enjoy playing the game, enjoy life, good things will happen
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EPT
