This is what it takes. Unbridled love of the game. Do you have it?
It seems that every time I open the blog section a new blog has materialized, expressing someone's desire to "go pro". Now, I for one subscribe to the "chase your dreams" school of thought. I fully believe that if you have passion for something, then it is your solemn duty to chase it with your heart and body, to make whatever sacrifices are necessary to fulfill your dreams and fight for your passions, however each and every one of these blogs only shows to me a lack of foresight and planning, and a complete misunderstanding of what "going pro" means.
Most of these blogs look something like this
A few minutes ago, some clueless poster said: Hi, my name is JohnSC2 and I am a highschooler! After reading through a thread in the strategy section, watching one NASL and landing in Platinum after twelve games, I know I really love starcraft and want to go pro! I know its going to be hard work, but I love SC2 and will practice hard! In three months I will be grandmasters! (and after that I will go to GSL!) To do this I am going to quit school and just play SC2 all day, I know I can do this because I have a lot of fun with starcraft 2!
Teamliquid is awesome! Support me!
~John FIGHTING!
This type of blog shows complete lack of understanding of what being good at anything takes. It is the naive view of the kid who sees a movie about batman and decides to become a superhero and fight crime. Lets address why, "loving" starcraft and having loads of free time is simply not enough to "go pro".
To be a pro means you are going to be making your living of off starcraft 2, this means that you will be dedicating as much time as regular professions do to their job to starcraft 2. This means that if you had the raw talent (more on that later), proper training schedule (more on that later), and the passion/work ethic (more on that later) to go pro, you would have to dedicate at least eight hours per day to starcraft 2. That's not eight hours browsing team liquid, or reddit, or watching MLG, that is eight hours glued to your computer, either grinding ladder matches, or playing with practice partners, working on specific skills. How often have you played for eight hours straight, for five days a week? I challenge everyone who wants to "go pro" to try this out. Take a week, every day, get up at 8 and play till 6, taking two one hour breaks. Play don't browse reddit, or write blogs, or watch My Little Pony, sit and grind. Then do it again, and again. Not as much fun as it looked, huh? This is why progamers need a strong work ethic, because after two hours of being called a noob and losing to bunker rushes, you need to keep playing, because every minute you aren't training, someone else is, and they are getting better. Remember, these eight hours are a minimum this doesn't even include playing in tournaments, or flying to them, or additional practice. You'll have exactly no one riding your ass, if you only practice two hours a day, no one is going to say anything, until you arrive at a tournament, and get curb stomped, by the players who practiced 8 hours a day. This is why you can't just "like" starcraft or enjoy the buzz of winning, you have to be fucking passionate about it.
When you look at the life of the best starcraft bw progamers, (which is where sc2 progamers are headed), they do nothing outside of starcraft, except the bare minimum to keep them in good health, their minds revolve around starcraft, when Flash is on the treadmill he is thinking about how to make a 14cc more safe, when Jaedong drifts off to sleep his last thoughts are about his revolutionary four base defiler rush, when JangBi dreams, his fingers twitch as he tries to micro the perfect storm. That is what becoming the very best takes. You want to be a progamer? win a GSL? Become the very best? Then your life has to be dedicated to starcraft, you have to have true passion, not "like" the game, you have to love it, in its multifaceted strategic complexity. Why do you think that most of the time when a progamer gets a girlfriend he slumps hard? Think carefully before saying "I want to be a pro" because its an allconsuming thing to follow a dream. Much like professional athletes, to dedicate yourself to your craft means sacrifice. The biggest hint that you don't have this level of dedication is that you took the time out of practice to write a blog about how you are "going to go pro" and you aren't even playing at a high level. If you aren't already putting in the hours to get to a high level then you don't love the game enough.
That aside, let us assume for a second that you, Mr." I'm going pro", have the insane passion and work ethic it takes to play at the highest level, lets say you are the kind of massochist who enjoys laddering for the sake of laddering, that isn't enough. Instead of writing that idiotic blog about how you are "going to go pro" you should be at Masters and looking for a team and figuring out how to train properly. Much like an athlete, you can't just practice what you are going to be doing at the tournament by yourself, you need a training regime, with specific practice plans and a group of people to support you in doing so. This means you have to be able to talk to people, like a normal human being, schedule practice, and then work through practice. This means, more of the "work ethic" I mentioned above, that is, you need to sit down and for six, seven hours, practice getting bunker rushed, or six pooled, or two base roach rushed. This is painful and boring, it is a sacrifice for getting better. So, not only do you need to have the work ethic and passion to ladder and find a team (which needs to be as dedicated as you are, no "Nexus war" team is going to be able to help you here), you also need to sit there and actually grind things out, which means you will have to help your teammates grind things out, which is more "wasted time" that doesn't count as practice.
Finally, all the passion in the world isn't going to get you anywhere if you lack the talent. You may love the game, but if your APM peaks at 30 after weeks of practice, and you are stuck in silver, then you will never make it. There is a sad fact in life, that is, some people are gifted in certain areas, others are not. I for one have sucky reflexes, I could never become a pro-athlete of any kind for that reason. If you don't have the tactical and strategic mind, and the finger speed and mechanical talent that it takes to be the best, then you may never go pro, no matter how much passion you have for the game. You can become good, but to be a pro (a real pro, not a washout) you need to be among the best. Again, this goes back to the rule of thirty, if with less than thirty hours per week you cannot make high masters (top 10) you probably lack one of the necessary talents to become a pro. Its simply a sad fact of life, at 6''2 I will never become a star jockey, and without natural strategic mind and deft hands, you will never become a pro.
These last points are almost moot however, because each and every one of the people who have posted "going pro" blogs, fails in the first category, they lack the heart, the pure undiluted passion it takes to become the best. They haven't even put in the time and effort to hit high levels of play, and play in offline tournaments, instead boosting their egos with a "I'm going to go pro" post. They lack the true love for the game that makes it possible to sacrifice everything for the passion. To be the best at anything, not just SC2, you need to make that thing your life, it is the only path to success. That said, you can still enjoy SC2 without being "the best", just don't decide "hey I like starcraft" and post a blog about how you are going to go pro, without realizing what "going pro" means.
TL:DR Unless you are willing to do nothing but eat, sleep and breathe starcraft, while living of off ramen in a crappy stuffed apartment, with no opportunity to go out or peruse any other hobbies, you are not going to go pro.
(yes, I wrote this on the spur of the moment out of frustration, sorry if it seems a little harsh)
On December 11 2011 00:45 awwnuts07 wrote: Here's another example to back up GM's argument. This time it comes from one of the greatest SC players of all time, Flash:
Q: We’ve heard that progamers regularly go through immense practice schedules. How long do you practice on average? -Progamers all live in dorms close to the practice house. We get up at 10:30, and get to the practice house after breakfast at around 11. Because of this, we wait till 3pm before eating lunch. From 4pm-8pm, we continue practicing, and then it’s dinner time. Players on the A team have free time after this, and we can choose to practice or not, but most people will stay to practice until 11pm.
This approximates to 10 hours of practice per day, which is around 3600 hours per year. Flash joined the team 3 years ago, and before that, he would practice for 5-8 hours a day, so he has spent over 10000 hours on Starcraft.
The 10000-hour rule
We are suddenly reminded of the “10000-hour rule.” Someone said it in a book: To achieve world-class mastery in a disciple, at least 10000 hours are required. [T/N: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outliers_(book)］
Q: Then it seems like you won’t even have time to see your girlfriend after becoming a progamer. Why do you need to maintain this intense practice schedule? -We need to give up a lot. We need to give up everything that belongs to ourselves, only then can you becomes rank 1, 2. I too gave up everything before coming here. I haven’t even thought about getting a girlfriend. I don’t even see my friends often, only occasionally during holidays. Every day is practice.
Q: Isn’t that boring? -Even so, I still really enjoy what I do. It’s hard to express in words the joy you get from a win. Especially when the fans cheer for me, that really makes me glad.
Here's the standard all aspiring pros should be measuring themselves against. This is a shining example of what it takes to excel in Starcraft (or any skill).
Q: We frequently hear that the Korean progamers have really astounding practice hours. How long do you usually practise in a day? A: Actually, Korean programers really do practise for very long hours. Take me for example, probably apart from eating and sleeping, my remaining hours are spent on practising! Editor: Woah. That means you probably have to practise up to 8-10 hours everyday...! MKP: 8 hours?... Nope. More like about 18 hours! (laughs)
Q: Your practice times are so long. What types of practice do you do? A: My practice is mainly on the ladder. Afterall, you are already able to meet really strong players on the Korean ladder. Other than that, there are times when I will be practising with my team mates, and the coach will also discuss some strategies with us as well as carry out some tabletop simulations for training. When there is the chance, we also frequently interact with other teams, like IM, oGs, MVP, StarTale etc. Most of us are really very good friends in private.
I think it's gonna be about another 3-5 years before anyone who hasn't played another RTS before to a decent level actually manages to break into the pro scene. And obviously I don't mean just hitting GM and getting on some random no name team.
I don't think you shouldn't have dreams of going pro just because it's a very hard dream to do. Having such a dream can inspire individuals to work harder, and in this case improve at the game. So what if it's an unlikely dream, the decision to go pro is only a real decision when you are good enough to be in that position. Yes I understand that the individual might spend a lot of time pursuing a goal that might be out of his reach, but it doesn't mean he didn't learn a hell of a lot of Starcraft trying.
On December 09 2011 04:27 Athos wrote: I don't think you shouldn't have dreams of going pro just because it's a very hard dream to do. Having such a dream can inspire individuals to work harder, and in this case improve at the game. So what if it's an unlikely dream, the decision to go pro is only a real decision when you are good enough to be in that position. Yes I understand that the individual might spend a lot of time pursuing a goal that might be out of his reach, but it doesn't mean he didn't learn a hell of a lot of Starcraft trying.
I have absolutely nothing against chasing your dreams, but 1.) Know what you are getting into 2.) Don't write a blog about something you haven't done yet, for the sake of writing a blog
On December 09 2011 04:27 Athos wrote: I don't think you shouldn't have dreams of going pro just because it's a very hard dream to do. Having such a dream can inspire individuals to work harder, and in this case improve at the game. So what if it's an unlikely dream, the decision to go pro is only a real decision when you are good enough to be in that position. Yes I understand that the individual might spend a lot of time pursuing a goal that might be out of his reach, but it doesn't mean he didn't learn a hell of a lot of Starcraft trying.
chasing a hopeless dream is cool as long as I don't have to sift through a million blogs of it on TL
On December 09 2011 04:51 m3rciless wrote: stupid blog. What do you know about going pro? jack shit. Come back and yell at people when you actually know what it's like.
The biggest hint that you don't have this level of dedication is that you took the time out of practice to write a blog about how you are "going to go pro" and you aren't even playing at a high level. If you aren't already putting in the hours to get to a high level then you don't love the game enough.
This part right here sums it up nicely. Sick of these fucking blogs.
Honestly I've only ever looked at those blogs (people saying they'll be pro) in the same way a child tells you he will be an astronaut, chances are they wont but just straight up saying they wont is douchey. Cheer up, raging over people writing those blogs just doesnt make sense.
On December 09 2011 04:51 m3rciless wrote: stupid blog. What do you know about going pro? jack shit. Come back and yell at people when you actually know what it's like.
And what do you know about what he knows about going pro? How is the stuff he mentioned not true? Playing SC2 as a pro is your profession. Your career. It takes all the things he talked about just like any other profession. If you're going to bash someone you could at least back up what you say and make proper arguments towards his points.
I've metioned this in a post before to a person doing the same thing.
I basically said. The people who become pro don't write blogs or youtube videos or it. I'm sorry but the people who will make it, won't be the people making youtube videos of trying to become the best. They just do it, no questions asked.
I appreciate the effort, and you made the point convincingly which is more than can be said for most posts on TL, including the other posts on this subject.
Nevertheless, I get this feeling... I don't know which is more pointless, the going pro blogs, the platinum ladder weekly update, or the blogs that deride them. -___-
On December 09 2011 04:27 Athos wrote: I don't think you shouldn't have dreams of going pro just because it's a very hard dream to do. Having such a dream can inspire individuals to work harder, and in this case improve at the game. So what if it's an unlikely dream, the decision to go pro is only a real decision when you are good enough to be in that position. Yes I understand that the individual might spend a lot of time pursuing a goal that might be out of his reach, but it doesn't mean he didn't learn a hell of a lot of Starcraft trying.
I have absolutely nothing against chasing your dreams, but 1.) Know what you are getting into 2.) Don't write a blog about something you haven't done yet, for the sake of writing a blog
It goes way beyond hard work. I used to manage, scout and train prospects in BW. Lucky for me, I was very fortunate in this endeavor.
What did I look for in a player?
- Mechanics: In Kung Fu the horse stance is your foundation. It's the first thing you need to learn. Likewise, mechanics are just as important in RTS. Without good mechanics you won't go anywhere.
- Growth: How fast are they improving/adapting?
- *Age: The younger the better.
(Not so much a liability in SC2 anymore; however, younger players are still maturing and they have more room for growth. Thus, more time is needed to make an assessment on their abilities.)
- Intuition/star sense/reaction speed: They are all apart of the same family; however, they act slightly different. When I finally get to writing my editorial I'll elaborate further.
- Raw Skill/Talent: This is the most important, but it takes the smallest piece of the pie. This is what differentiates the very good players from the top ones and this is where a pro scout comes in. To the naked eye it's very hard to calculate whether or not a prospect has this ability especially when they are very young. Most people don't realize how good these players are until they mature and start winning events left and right.
Anyway, I will write something more about this soon and use different players as examples to show where they excel and where some of them might falter.
With that said, being a pro gamer is no easy task and I highly recommend the casuals and newcomers to continue to play in their off-time and not to take school/work off to pursue a pro gamer career unless they excel at a rapid pace. Even then, finding an amateur/semi-pro team isn't that difficult. Baby steps. You have to learn how to crawl before you can walk.
I really liked the style of your writing. It flowed really well. I think you got exactly what you wanted to get across here. I definitely agree with you too on the whole subject. Man just man were those arguments put together well.
Nowadays I feel like if you even want to THINK about going pro (as in dropping your ability to support yourself) you have to be at LEAST top 8 Masters (with an MMR that's placing you against Grandmaster players) or be in Grandmaster League. Even then it's a significant gamble.
On December 09 2011 05:25 Torte de Lini wrote: Why can't anyone be like Artosis? Work -> Tournament coming up -> Quit job and practice hardcore
Few people know how to practice as effectively as Artosis... and why he may not PLAY 8+ hours of SC2 per day, her likely does watch/analyze 8+ hours of SC2 per day. It's his job!
On December 09 2011 05:25 Torte de Lini wrote: Why can't anyone be like Artosis? Work -> Tournament coming up -> Quit job and practice hardcore
im pretty sure only artosis could be like artosis and unique as his talents might be im pretty sure you could argue that he never had what it took to become a successful progamer-- (depending on how you define such)
On December 09 2011 05:25 Torte de Lini wrote: Why can't anyone be like Artosis? Work -> Tournament coming up -> Quit job and practice hardcore
im pretty sure only artosis could be like artosis and unique as his talents might be im pretty sure you could argue that he never had what it took to become a successful progamer-- (depending on how you define such)
It's true. I've never seen someone so passionate about Starcraft than him. The guy took a job in Korea without speaking Korean just to get a chance to be involved in the scene.
To be a top player in Starcraft, you need so much more than skill. You have to be ready and willing to practice relentlessly, live and breathe the game, travel constantly, sacrifice friend/family/girlfriend relationships and after all of that, perform at the highest level when everything is on the line.
On December 09 2011 05:25 Torte de Lini wrote: Why can't anyone be like Artosis? Work -> Tournament coming up -> Quit job and practice hardcore
im pretty sure only artosis could be like artosis and unique as his talents might be im pretty sure you could argue that he never had what it took to become a successful progamer-- (depending on how you define such)
It's true. I've never seen someone so passionate about Starcraft than him. The guy took a job in Korea without speaking Korean just to get a chance to be involved in the scene.
And now he's the second best non Korean sc2 caster, truly a story for others to take as inspiration.
"You can't go pro" blogs are quickly becoming the new "I wanna go pro!" blogs. Yes It's one of the hardest things to achieve, but it is possible. Even the current pros weren't always amazing at the game. If a 13 year old ret or IdrA posted an "I wanna go pro!" blog, would you rally all of TL to shit on him for his unrealistic goal? Of course it takes years to be good or even proficient at anything in life, starting from the very beginning. If someone thinks they can do it in less than this they are delusional, but every journey has to start somewhere.
If you are tired of these blogs, don't read them. Personally I prefer their chutzpah over whiny girl blogs.
On December 09 2011 05:25 Torte de Lini wrote: Why can't anyone be like Artosis? Work -> Tournament coming up -> Quit job and practice hardcore
im pretty sure only artosis could be like artosis and unique as his talents might be im pretty sure you could argue that he never had what it took to become a successful progamer-- (depending on how you define such)
It's true. I've never seen someone so passionate about Starcraft than him. The guy took a job in Korea without speaking Korean just to get a chance to be involved in the scene.
And now he's the second best non Korean sc2 caster, truly a story for others to take as inspiration.
The thing is, you can't emulate passion. Artosis never did anything about Starcraft for anyone but himself. You can't take it as inspiration because if you don't already feel that passion, you can't copy it, you can only admire and respect it.
On December 09 2011 06:20 ShinyGerbil wrote: "You can't go pro" blogs are quickly becoming the new "I wanna go pro!" blogs. Yes It's one of the hardest things to achieve, but it is possible. Even the current pros weren't always amazing at the game. If a 13 year old ret or IdrA posted an "I wanna go pro!" blog, would you rally all of TL to shit on him for his unrealistic goal? Of course it takes years to be good or even proficient at anything in life, starting from the very beginning. If someone thinks they can do it in less than this they are delusional, but every journey has to start somewhere.
If you are tired of these blogs, don't read them. Personally I prefer their chutzpah over whiny girl blogs.
The point is that people capable of going pro don't write anything until they're in striking distance. Just like literally any other famous person. Nobody writes "I'm going to be the best at this" and then goes out and accomplishes it. They just have a passion for something and then that passion, through hard work, turns to success.
I'd even make the unfounded argument that if you write a going pro blog then you have a passion for success and fame, not a passion for Starcraft, thereby already making it impossible for you to go pro.
On December 09 2011 05:03 fortheGG wrote: Honestly I've only ever looked at those blogs (people saying they'll be pro) in the same way a child tells you he will be an astronaut, chances are they wont but just straight up saying they wont is douchey. Cheer up, raging over people writing those blogs just doesnt make sense.
The thing is with children is that they can't exactly waste time on their aspirations. They just dream about it and life goes on.
On December 09 2011 06:20 ShinyGerbil wrote: "You can't go pro" blogs are quickly becoming the new "I wanna go pro!" blogs. Yes It's one of the hardest things to achieve, but it is possible. Even the current pros weren't always amazing at the game. If a 13 year old ret or IdrA posted an "I wanna go pro!" blog, would you rally all of TL to shit on him for his unrealistic goal? Of course it takes years to be good or even proficient at anything in life, starting from the very beginning. If someone thinks they can do it in less than this they are delusional, but every journey has to start somewhere.
If you are tired of these blogs, don't read them. Personally I prefer their chutzpah over whiny girl blogs.
The point is that people capable of going pro don't write anything until they're in striking distance. Just like literally any other famous person. Nobody writes "I'm going to be the best at this" and then goes out and accomplishes it. They just have a passion for something and then that passion, through hard work, turns to success.
I'd even make the unfounded argument that if you write a going pro blog then you have a passion for success and fame, not a passion for Starcraft, thereby already making it impossible for you to go pro.
This sounds pretty reasonable to me. Think about what it takes to sit down, at a computer, and say, "well I'm going to spend the next 30 minutes writing a blog post."
That's not what someone going pro would do. This is not what someone who has a passion for the game would do. Leave BoxeR alone with a computer for 30 minutes and what do you think he would do? If you answered "I think he would write a blog post" then you are wrong because he would instead be on the ladder pwning noobs or practicing micro or whatever it is BoxeR does to be BoxeR.
And it's not just BoxeR, either.
Here's a decent example: My icon is currently a siege tank. I have over 2,000 posts on TL. What does this indicate? It indicates that I like posting on TL. Spanishiwa is a drone. He has like 50 posts or some tiny post count like that. Most of them are signing up for tournaments, or related to his infamous no-gas ZvX guide.
You know why Spanishiwa is a drone? Because he doesn't give a dick about writing posts or blogs on TL. How many blog posts has Spanishiwa made? 0. And that number only goes down as you progress from GM/semi-pro players all the way up to professionals. It's literally true that Jinro has made a negative number of blog posts on TL.
Once somebody goes pro, and is living in a team house or doing his thing, maybe he'll make a sweet balling vlog or stop by and post a blog.
But most of the time? He doesn't care. He doesn't write a blog. He's got other priorities.
This is why blogs like GM's here are not hypocritical; they are nothing like the "I want to go pro" blogs because writing an "I want to go pro" blog is like eating an "I want to lose weight" happy meal. It's an action that subverts its name. Now, if you were to eat an "I think happy meals don't cause you to lose weight" happy meal, that would totally make sense.
On December 09 2011 06:20 ShinyGerbil wrote: "You can't go pro" blogs are quickly becoming the new "I wanna go pro!" blogs. Yes It's one of the hardest things to achieve, but it is possible. Even the current pros weren't always amazing at the game. If a 13 year old ret or IdrA posted an "I wanna go pro!" blog, would you rally all of TL to shit on him for his unrealistic goal? Of course it takes years to be good or even proficient at anything in life, starting from the very beginning. If someone thinks they can do it in less than this they are delusional, but every journey has to start somewhere.
If you are tired of these blogs, don't read them. Personally I prefer their chutzpah over whiny girl blogs.
The point is that people capable of going pro don't write anything until they're in striking distance. Just like literally any other famous person. Nobody writes "I'm going to be the best at this" and then goes out and accomplishes it. They just have a passion for something and then that passion, through hard work, turns to success.
I'd even make the unfounded argument that if you write a going pro blog then you have a passion for success and fame, not a passion for Starcraft, thereby already making it impossible for you to go pro.
On December 09 2011 06:20 ShinyGerbil wrote: "You can't go pro" blogs are quickly becoming the new "I wanna go pro!" blogs. Yes It's one of the hardest things to achieve, but it is possible. Even the current pros weren't always amazing at the game. If a 13 year old ret or IdrA posted an "I wanna go pro!" blog, would you rally all of TL to shit on him for his unrealistic goal? Of course it takes years to be good or even proficient at anything in life, starting from the very beginning. If someone thinks they can do it in less than this they are delusional, but every journey has to start somewhere.
If you are tired of these blogs, don't read them. Personally I prefer their chutzpah over whiny girl blogs.
The point is that people capable of going pro don't write anything until they're in striking distance. Just like literally any other famous person. Nobody writes "I'm going to be the best at this" and then goes out and accomplishes it. They just have a passion for something and then that passion, through hard work, turns to success.
I'd even make the unfounded argument that if you write a going pro blog then you have a passion for success and fame, not a passion for Starcraft, thereby already making it impossible for you to go pro.
I wouldn't say nobody. HuK's interview last year about "being the next boxer" was pretty unfounded and most people ridiculed the idea. Granted he was one of the top players in north america at the time, being at the forefront of a cesspool didn't say much. But he went out and did exactly that, went to korea and practiced harder than anyone to achieve what he has now.
It is rare though. While writing about going pro does mean you have interests in things other than the game, we don't all need to be NaNiwas and actively avoid anything outside of the game. Jaedong can do his crazy flailing arm dance, Polt goes to university and Tyler went to school during TSL2; any of these skills [to different extents] take up more of your life than writing a 30 minute blog.
On December 09 2011 06:20 ShinyGerbil wrote: "You can't go pro" blogs are quickly becoming the new "I wanna go pro!" blogs. Yes It's one of the hardest things to achieve, but it is possible. Even the current pros weren't always amazing at the game. If a 13 year old ret or IdrA posted an "I wanna go pro!" blog, would you rally all of TL to shit on him for his unrealistic goal? Of course it takes years to be good or even proficient at anything in life, starting from the very beginning. If someone thinks they can do it in less than this they are delusional, but every journey has to start somewhere.
If you are tired of these blogs, don't read them. Personally I prefer their chutzpah over whiny girl blogs.
The point is that people capable of going pro don't write anything until they're in striking distance. Just like literally any other famous person. Nobody writes "I'm going to be the best at this" and then goes out and accomplishes it. They just have a passion for something and then that passion, through hard work, turns to success.
I'd even make the unfounded argument that if you write a going pro blog then you have a passion for success and fame, not a passion for Starcraft, thereby already making it impossible for you to go pro.
I wouldn't say nobody. HuK's interview last year about "being the next boxer" was pretty unfounded and most people ridiculed the idea. Granted he was one of the top players in north america at the time, being at the forefront of a cesspool didn't say much. But he went out and did exactly that, went to korea and practiced harder than anyone to achieve what he has now.
It is rare though. While writing about going pro does mean you have interests in things other than the game, we don't all need to be NaNiwas and actively avoid anything outside of the game. Jaedong can do his crazy flailing arm dance, Polt goes to university and Tyler went to school during TSL2; any of these skills [to different extents] take up more of your life than writing a 30 minute blog.
Being at the top of the NA ladder, while not much of accomplishment itself, is a whole lot more then most of these 'going pro' bloggers have done. If you're gold and writing about going pro, you need to reevaluate your outlook.
If you already have a full time job or are a full time (high school) student, make sure you can make it into mid-high grandmaster before deciding "to go pro". Then, decide if it's worth putting your life on hold when the time comes.
If you have the passion to put SC2 ahead of your life in academics, arts or your professional life, and you already have the skills to be mid-high grandmaster, then you can be the next HuK.
Also, consider that lots of grandmasters and those at the top of their game decide to drop the game regularly or to not put this over school or work. That's because when you're up there and you can actually win tournaments and give lessons, you realize the payoff isn't as great as you thought it was.
The "is it worth it?" question is why only a handful of people go to Korea.
I see these blogs a lot, and it pains me to know that people are sacrificing education et al. for this. It's definitely possible to get GM while not really sacrificing much (I made masters while playing maximum 10 hours a week, which is nothing even for someone who is a full time student), so to see people talk about how they are platinum and quitting school to get a job as a progamer saddens me a bunch.
This deserves a spotlight or something. Every time I see someone in gold league drop out of school and say I'M GONNA GO PRO IT'S MY DREAM I die a little inside. I thought this was a great read. I think the example of Tyler in TSL 2 is great. He had been in school and working hard on getting his life together and he still dominated.
I agree so much with that first quote. I'd wanted to make a blog like this for a long time but could never do it without sounding way too negative. Good job.
On December 09 2011 06:20 ShinyGerbil wrote: "You can't go pro" blogs are quickly becoming the new "I wanna go pro!" blogs. Yes It's one of the hardest things to achieve, but it is possible. Even the current pros weren't always amazing at the game. If a 13 year old ret or IdrA posted an "I wanna go pro!" blog, would you rally all of TL to shit on him for his unrealistic goal? Of course it takes years to be good or even proficient at anything in life, starting from the very beginning. If someone thinks they can do it in less than this they are delusional, but every journey has to start somewhere.
If you are tired of these blogs, don't read them. Personally I prefer their chutzpah over whiny girl blogs.
The point is that people capable of going pro don't write anything until they're in striking distance. Just like literally any other famous person. Nobody writes "I'm going to be the best at this" and then goes out and accomplishes it. They just have a passion for something and then that passion, through hard work, turns to success.
I'd even make the unfounded argument that if you write a going pro blog then you have a passion for success and fame, not a passion for Starcraft, thereby already making it impossible for you to go pro.
This sums it up more eloquent than I could put it. People like to think that the order is "decide to go pro -> practice -> be pro" but it's not like that at all. The order is "enjoy it a lot -> have to drive to get better -> maybe the opportunity to be pro presents itself" and even then it doesn't work out most of the time. Being pro, in many ways, is something that finds you rather than the other way around.
Awesome blog. I am all for people trying to achieve their dreams, but people need to realize how hard it is and what it takes. Mod should spotlight this, or a TL writer should do a write up using this as a guideline.
On December 09 2011 09:08 heyoka wrote: I agree so much with that first quote. I'd wanted to make a blog like this for a long time but could never do it without sounding way too negative. Good job.
On December 09 2011 06:20 ShinyGerbil wrote: "You can't go pro" blogs are quickly becoming the new "I wanna go pro!" blogs. Yes It's one of the hardest things to achieve, but it is possible. Even the current pros weren't always amazing at the game. If a 13 year old ret or IdrA posted an "I wanna go pro!" blog, would you rally all of TL to shit on him for his unrealistic goal? Of course it takes years to be good or even proficient at anything in life, starting from the very beginning. If someone thinks they can do it in less than this they are delusional, but every journey has to start somewhere.
If you are tired of these blogs, don't read them. Personally I prefer their chutzpah over whiny girl blogs.
The point is that people capable of going pro don't write anything until they're in striking distance. Just like literally any other famous person. Nobody writes "I'm going to be the best at this" and then goes out and accomplishes it. They just have a passion for something and then that passion, through hard work, turns to success.
I'd even make the unfounded argument that if you write a going pro blog then you have a passion for success and fame, not a passion for Starcraft, thereby already making it impossible for you to go pro.
This sums it up more eloquent than I could put it. People like to think that the order is "decide to go pro -> practice -> be pro" but it's not like that at all. The order is "enjoy it a lot -> have to drive to get better -> maybe the opportunity to be pro presents itself" and even then it doesn't work out most of the time. Being pro, in many ways, is something that finds you rather than the other way around.
QFT, the do-ers actually are out DOING it, surprisingly, and the dreamers are here dreaming.
On December 09 2011 04:42 Crais wrote: 5/5. Stay in school kids
Lol, you know that Leenock dropped out of school at around age 15-16 to play SC2 professionally? The more you know :O
But i also doubt that he just said you know what i'm going to drop out of school! to play SC2 I LOVE SC2
I bet it was a very difficult decision and he knew that once he made this decision he coulnd't turn back.
Also Leenock is very good. People making these blogs are people who are "High Diamond" or"High Masters, but i play GM all the time so its only a matter of time!"
People who use Ladder as an indication of skill which we all know is NOT true.
It seems that every time I look in blogs I see another blog telling people to stfu with the "I'm gonna be a pro!" blog. I agree with them all but... do we have to keep making these? XD
I'm still waiting for someone to prove me wrong but: 100% of people who make a blog about going pro will fail. It's too easy to admire someone who loves the game and think they're capable of it because sc2 is a game that seemingly (may be true) little to none natural talent. (I know what you're thinking. Don't respond saying that.) In reality, you don't need to be top 5. You don't need to be top 10. You could make a living by being top 50, it's arguable that you could make a living by being top 100. However also in reality, you'll live a pretty shitty life if you're anything out of top 16. People still don't understand that the life of the gamer sucks hard. They essentially work overtime every day, have no substantial influence in real life, and get paid like a janitor, low end cook or high school teacher. They'll be forced to retire before the time they're 40, and by then they'll be outmatched for any job imaginable by someone 20 years younger than them.
The TRUE upcoming pros aren't on teamliquid. They're not reading the strategy guides. They're not watching every tournament. They don't keep up with reddit. They're playing the game.
Terrible thread. Just because you lack the raw talent to achieve a high level in any 'physical activity'( for the purpose of this argument, sc2 is a physical activity' doesn't mean you should come here and bitch about how it frustrates your under achieving self.
Why the fuck would you use kids as an example of people not understanding what it means to become pro. Almost every fucking kid on the planet with a dream doesn't and won't know what it takes to achieve this dream until they start chasing it. That's what makes the kids who make it, and those who don't - the ones who grind through the challenges and endure whatever necessary.
You make going pro sound like a royal pain in the ass, and not fun at all. But some kids just fucking love this game, like other kids love playing sports, and will play more than someone else who's chasing the dream, and will improve faster and before you know it, they're on the road to being pro.
You make some (obvious) yet valid points about it being hard work(no shit) and kids not knowing what it takes (no shit). All I got out of it was whinge whinge whinge, I don't like reading blogs about people wanting to go pro, and some more whinging
On December 09 2011 10:43 kainzero wrote: i kinda cringe when people who want to quit school and go pro are not as good as people with full-time jobs who play just to mess around
Yeah me to tbh. It seems like the dream job and all but if you are in bronze/silver while in school and you are debating on dropping out of school to go pro you won't make it xD.
Did you even read what Chill wrote? There is a difference between playing the game because it's fun and making a job out of it.
Doesn't mean they are anywhere near going to pro. There's a certain skill set as I pointed out before and hard work is only a small fraction of it.
Let's be realistic. I could separate the pro's into five divisions right now as we speak. If you ever do get into GM. That's when the real work starts and many players will peak by the time that happens.
The skills I listed go chronologically when you are assessing a prospect. When you are assessing the pros the pyramid gets flipped upside down.
There was a study done (I don't remember the source but I'm sure someone does) that people who tell everyone about their goals are far less likely to accomplish them. If you want to get good shut up and practice. By making the blogs about your progress you're wasting time and also giving yourself an excuse not to play as much as you get the good feeling you'd normally work very hard to get through practice simply by talking about it.
On December 09 2011 11:28 Jemesatui wrote: Terrible thread. Just because you lack the raw talent to achieve a high level in any 'physical activity'( for the purpose of this argument, sc2 is a physical activity' doesn't mean you should come here and bitch about how it frustrates your under achieving self.
Why the fuck would you use kids as an example of people not understanding what it means to become pro. Almost every fucking kid on the planet with a dream doesn't and won't know what it takes to achieve this dream until they start chasing it. That's what makes the kids who make it, and those who don't - the ones who grind through the challenges and endure whatever necessary.
You make going pro sound like a royal pain in the ass, and not fun at all. But some kids just fucking love this game, like other kids love playing sports, and will play more than someone else who's chasing the dream, and will improve faster and before you know it, they're on the road to being pro.
You make some (obvious) yet valid points about it being hard work(no shit) and kids not knowing what it takes (no shit). All I got out of it was whinge whinge whinge, I don't like reading blogs about people wanting to go pro, and some more whinging
What does whinge mean
most of those blogs are really fucking boring and it becomes immediately apparent that these individuals are nowhere near prepared to dedicated the time necessary to play at a high level. the blog section is oversaturated with these dime-a-dozen "progress" blogs by bad players who are deluding themselves about becoming pro
On December 09 2011 13:15 DoctorHelvetica wrote: There was a study done (I don't remember the source but I'm sure someone does) that people who tell everyone about their goals are far less likely to accomplish them. If you want to get good shut up and practice. By making the blogs about your progress you're wasting time and also giving yourself an excuse not to play as much as you get the good feeling you'd normally work very hard to get through practice simply by talking about it.
This is pretty much the reason for every blog in existence.
On December 09 2011 13:15 DoctorHelvetica wrote: There was a study done (I don't remember the source but I'm sure someone does) that people who tell everyone about their goals are far less likely to accomplish them. If you want to get good shut up and practice. By making the blogs about your progress you're wasting time and also giving yourself an excuse not to play as much as you get the good feeling you'd normally work very hard to get through practice simply by talking about it.
This is pretty much the reason for every blog in existence.
it feels good to make up some project idea then plan it out and talk about it and get positive attention
On December 09 2011 13:15 DoctorHelvetica wrote: There was a study done (I don't remember the source but I'm sure someone does) that people who tell everyone about their goals are far less likely to accomplish them. If you want to get good shut up and practice. By making the blogs about your progress you're wasting time and also giving yourself an excuse not to play as much as you get the good feeling you'd normally work very hard to get through practice simply by talking about it.
This is pretty much the reason for every blog in existence.
Uhhhh, no?
Blogs can be inspiring, informative, ironic or just generally interesting. The best blogs teach us something, or give something interesting to talk about, or make us think. Sure its great to get praise for what you write, but to say that the majority of blogs are written with that intent is sad.
In a normal community if a kid says he wants to be a professional basketball player, most people will reply "Good luck, it takes a lot of work, it's smart to have a backup plan." and the kid will reply "thanks, yeah I know."
In the SC2 community if a kid says he wants to be a professional sc2 player, the forum netizens will reply "LOL seriously? If u said u want 2 be pro u already wont EVAR be a pro. You have to love this game LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. And you have too be super naturally talented! What are you bronze league? Get the fuck out."
In reality Basketball/Football/etc requires more "natural talent" than sc2, not everyone can be 6'4" with a bulky frame. Stop being arrogant condescending pricks to people with a dream, most know they will never be a pro but that doesn't mean they should give up before they even try.
And lastly, I think a ton of pro athletes wanted to be pro athletes when they were kids, and that's why they succeeded, because they knew it was a hard goal they practiced even more than someone doing it as a neat side hobby.
Mozart labored for more then ten years until he produced any work that we admire today. Before then, his compositions were not that original or interesting. Actually, they were foten patched-together chunks taken from other composers.
Muhammed Ali failed the physical measurements that boxer experts relied on. he had great speed but he didn't have the physique of a great fighter, he didn't have the strength and he didn't have the classical moves. He just had the mind.
Just because some people can do something with little or no training, it doesn't mean that orther's can't do it ( and sometimes do it even better ) with training. cf :Mindset
So please stop acting like you care about all this blogs saying " I go pro ". And stop trying to look smart by saying " meh go back to school stupid punk "
On December 09 2011 13:15 DoctorHelvetica wrote: There was a study done (I don't remember the source but I'm sure someone does) that people who tell everyone about their goals are far less likely to accomplish them. If you want to get good shut up and practice. By making the blogs about your progress you're wasting time and also giving yourself an excuse not to play as much as you get the good feeling you'd normally work very hard to get through practice simply by talking about it.
That sums up almost every girl/going pro blog on this site.
Good players do; they don't busy themselves with talking about it.
A lot of the guys who left comments here are speaking from experience. We know what it takes. It doesn't hurt when you can smell crap from a mile away either.
On December 09 2011 17:06 hersenen wrote: In a normal community if a kid says he wants to be a professional basketball player, most people will reply "Good luck, it takes a lot of work, it's smart to have a backup plan." and the kid will reply "thanks, yeah I know."
In the SC2 community if a kid says he wants to be a professional sc2 player, the forum netizens will reply "LOL seriously? If u said u want 2 be pro u already wont EVAR be a pro. You have to love this game LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. And you have too be super naturally talented! What are you bronze league? Get the fuck out."
In reality Basketball/Football/etc requires more "natural talent" than sc2, not everyone can be 6'4" with a bulky frame. Stop being arrogant condescending pricks to people with a dream, most know they will never be a pro but that doesn't mean they should give up before they even try.
And lastly, I think a ton of pro athletes wanted to be pro athletes when they were kids, and that's why they succeeded, because they knew it was a hard goal they practiced even more than someone doing it as a neat side hobby.
Are we talking kids 16-20? Because that's the age range of kids "going pro". If someone that age said he was going to be a professional NHL player without AAA skills, nobody would have that reaction, they would tell him to keep it a hobby and to focus on school.
Mozart labored for more then ten years until he produced any work that we admire today. Before then, his compositions were not that original or interesting. Actually, they were foten patched-together chunks taken from other composers.
Muhammed Ali failed the physical measurements that boxer experts relied on. he had great speed but he didn't have the physique of a great fighter, he didn't have the strength and he didn't have the classical moves. He just had the mind.
Just because some people can do something with little or no training, it doesn't mean that orther's can't do it ( and sometimes do it even better ) with training. cf :Mindset
So please stop acting like you care about all this blogs saying " I go pro ". And stop trying to look smart by saying " meh go back to school stupid punk "
This has nothing to do with this thread at all.
You are arguing that "People who don't fit into the mold can still be progamers." That's great, I agree, but that's not what's being discussed.
We are arguing that "If you can't get to be top tier as a hobby, don't make it your profession. Announcing that you're doing it is actually detrimental to your success."
my concern is not with mindset or talent or the fact that they're spending 30 minutes writing a blog instead of playing...
my concern is that if they put in a lot of time and are lesser ranked than someone who only puts in 30 minutes a day or even 2 hours a week, i think that it's not the quantity of time they're putting but how they're using the time they have. quitting your job or school to pursue this inefficiency is baffling.
The simple fact of it is too many people declare they want to go pro because it sounds awesome to get paid to play games all day.
I wasted my time for about 5 years playing music games for 8-14 hours a day and working shitty jobs so I could afford the gas to drive to the regional tournament. I did well enough but I was not the best at events that could attract people from an area of say 15 states.
Thats the mindset that does make you pro. Passion and desire that leads you to doing what you want to do most regaurdless of results.
I think one year I made a bit over 3k in winnings at events which prolly put me in the close to tip top bracket. There was about 4 players that made over 30k a year in winnings and that would be the group above where I was.
The truth is if you are making a blog about going pro you are prolly into it for othee reasons besides playing the game. I am beyond jealous of the sc2 pros because they were in love with the better game as far as payoff goes.
Its like marrying for love or marrying for money/looks. Which do you think is easier to put your time into?
Love the game and not the fame and money. If you can't do that it should be obvious and you shouldn't throw away other paths in life to chase some fantasy of parties and games.
I wistfully wish I had met the mistress of sc back in say 2003 because I am one that can love a game enougg. At this point in my life, with a full time job and a wife, it really is a pipe dream to shot for the top.
Ask yourself before you make a blog: have you ever played 40 games in one day, woke up the next day, called in sick to work just so you could play more right now, all while wshing you didnt have to sleep so you xould have played more the night before?
No?
The don't try to tell me you know passion.
Great blog, thought it would miss the mark at first but you nailed it. 5/5
Well, if the kids won't listen to a blogger on TL, maybe they will listen to a pro. Skip to 22:00 minutes from someone who has lived the "dream".
Great blog. Only the people who didn't read the whole damn thing (or are too young to know anything about life) will think this is about killing dreams.
I really don't think you are qualified in any way at all to talk about going pro. Have you gone pro in Starcraft 2 or any other game? Most likely not. If you have any sort of qualifications that would make your opinion on going pro have any truth behind it, please shed some light. Otherwise this blog is a joke.
On December 10 2011 09:58 motumbo wrote: I really don't think you are qualified in any way at all to talk about going pro. Have you gone pro in Starcraft 2 or any other game? Most likely not. If you have any sort of qualifications that would make your opinion on going pro have any truth behind it, please shed some light. Otherwise this blog is a joke.
Believe it or not, knowing how to do something is not the same as being able to do it. I know what it *takes* to go pro, I just don't meet the requirements.
A real life example, you might know, more or less, how to make a souffle, but chances are you aren't actually capable of cooking one without burning it horribly, or capable of making it raise, but if you see someone trying to make a souffle with only lettuce, butter, a spatula and a flamethrower, I think you can confidently tell that person that they should give up on making a souffle.
On December 10 2011 09:58 motumbo wrote: I really don't think you are qualified in any way at all to talk about going pro. Have you gone pro in Starcraft 2 or any other game? Most likely not. If you have any sort of qualifications that would make your opinion on going pro have any truth behind it, please shed some light. Otherwise this blog is a joke.
On December 10 2011 06:12 vaderseven wrote: I wasted my time for about 5 years playing music games for 8-14 hours a day and working shitty jobs so I could afford the gas to drive to the regional tournaments. I did well enough but I was not the best at events that could attract people from an area of say 15 states.
Thats the mindset that does make you pro. Passion and desire that leads you to doing what you want to do most regaurdless of results.
I think one year I made a bit over 3k in winnings at events which prolly put me in the close to tip top bracket. There was about 4 players that made over 30k a year in winnings and that would be the group above where I was.
GM is spot on.
I can safely say that when I check some of the old score trackers that the high level rhythm scene used and I see my name is STILL at the top of some things after 4+ years of not having entered a score that I was at the 'professional' level for that genre of games.
Yes it takes this level of devotion and no you can't really just choose to get that good.
Q: Did your parents worry that you would become addicted? -Of course they were very concerned. But this game was just too interesting. Even after cram school, when I get home at 11pm I would still play. There’s a 10 minute break in cram school, and I would always run to a PC Bang and play a round. I used mealtimes for Starcraft too. I think it’s because I love Starcraft so much that I became better and better. It seems I played 3-5 hours every day.
The summer break that changed his life
During the summer break of his first middle school year, Flash decided to become a progamer, and he told his parents “I want to use a month of my break to go to Seoul and live in a practice house, and officially begin studying Starcraft.”
“In the beginning, my parents strongly opposed me. I begged them and said ‘I will get progamer status in a month. If I can’t, I’ll give it up.’ My parents accepted this condition. But even though I promised this, I was unsure if I could do it.”
And so, from his home in Daejoon, he used this summer break to move to Seoul and began his life practicing. Miraculously, he successfully achieved progamer status in a month. The speed at which his abilities increased was astonishing. But on the day he achieved his progamer status, he was stopped in the Ro4 of the offline prelims. But his parents decided that he could attain success as a progamer. In 2007, in the third year of middle school, he joined KTF MagicNs. He was only 15.
Even though Flash managed to get pro status and join KTF in only a month, it doesn’t mean it’s easy to become a progamer. Right now, there are still countless kids with progamer dreams training in practice houses. Even in KT, there are on average 5-10 kids with progamer dreams who’ll come to be tested every day. The other teams are about the same.
Q: We’ve heard that progamers regularly go through immense practice schedules. How long do you practice on average? -Progamers all live in dorms close to the practice house. We get up at 10:30, and get to the practice house after breakfast at around 11. Because of this, we wait till 3pm before eating lunch. From 4pm-8pm, we continue practicing, and then it’s dinner time. Players on the A team have free time after this, and we can choose to practice or not, but most people will stay to practice until 11pm.
This approximates to 10 hours of practice per day, which is around 3600 hours per year. Flash joined the team 3 years ago, and before that, he would practice for 5-8 hours a day, so he has spent over 10000 hours on Starcraft.
The 10000-hour rule
We are suddenly reminded of the “10000-hour rule.” Someone said it in a book: To achieve world-class mastery in a disciple, at least 10000 hours are required. [T/N: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outliers_(book)］
Q: Is it tiring practicing 10+ hours a day? -You need to manage yourself well. To maintain my health and strength, I need to eat 6 kinds of supplements right now. Ginsengs, vitamins, and other stuff too. I also have a pretty healthy body to start with, otherwise I’m sure I would get sick often.
Q: Is long-term Starcraft more damaging to the body? Even more difficult than studying? -There are some pretty difficult times, but I still think it’s fun.
Q: Do you have weekends? -No. We can rest a day after a major game. Our break schedule is a bit different from the norm.
Q: Then it seems like you won’t even have time to see your girlfriend after becoming a progamer. Why do you need to maintain this intense practice schedule? -We need to give up a lot. We need to give up everything that belongs to ourselves, only then can you becomes rank 1, 2. I too gave up everything before coming here. I haven’t even thought about getting a girlfriend. I don’t even see my friends often, only occasionally during holidays. Every day is practice.
Q: Isn’t that boring? -Even so, I still really enjoy what I do. It’s hard to express in words the joy you get from a win. Especially when the fans cheer for me, that really makes me glad.
Here's the standard all aspiring pros should be measuring themselves against. This is a shining example of what it takes to excel in Starcraft (or any skill).
I just wish people would change the title from 'i want to go pro!' to 'i want to get as good as possible!' so much better have an open ended goal and just play for the heart of the game. Almost anyone I know who is the BEST at what they do play for the heart of the game and winning just kind of comes with it
Q: We frequently hear that the Korean progamers have really astounding practice hours. How long do you usually practise in a day? A: Actually, Korean programers really do practise for very long hours. Take me for example, probably apart from eating and sleeping, my remaining hours are spent on practising! Editor: Woah. That means you probably have to practise up to 8-10 hours everyday...! MKP: 8 hours?... Nope. More like about 18 hours! (laughs)
Q: Your practice times are so long. What types of practice do you do? A: My practice is mainly on the ladder. Afterall, you are already able to meet really strong players on the Korean ladder. Other than that, there are times when I will be practising with my team mates, and the coach will also discuss some strategies with us as well as carry out some tabletop simulations for training. When there is the chance, we also frequently interact with other teams, like IM, oGs, MVP, StarTale etc. Most of us are really very good friends in private.
Adding this here because its relevant. (From this thread)
On December 09 2011 04:19 GMarshal wrote: That aside, let us assume for a second that you, Mr." I'm going pro", have the insane passion and work ethic it takes to play at the highest level, lets say you are the kind of massochist who enjoys laddering for the sake of laddering, that isn't enough. Instead of writing that idiotic blog about how you are "going to go pro" you should be at Masters and looking for a team and figuring out how to train properly. Much like an athlete, you can't just practice what you are going to be doing at the tournament by yourself, you need a training regime, with specific practice plans and a group of people to support you in doing so. This means you have to be able to talk to people, like a normal human being, schedule practice, and then work through practice. This means, more of the "work ethic" I mentioned above, that is, you need to sit down and for six, seven hours, practice getting bunker rushed, or six pooled, or two base roach rushed. This is painful and boring, it is a sacrifice for getting better. So, not only do you need to have the work ethic and passion to ladder and find a team (which needs to be as dedicated as you are, no "Nexus war" team is going to be able to help you here), you also need to sit there and actually grind things out, which means you will have to help your teammates grind things out, which is more "wasted time" that doesn't count as practice.
What is a proper training regime? Can anyone give examples? I'm a player working to be a Masters in KR. I ladder all day there after my schoolwork and other obligations, and if I'm not busy with family, friends, school, etc. and analyze my own replays and compare what I did to pro replays, x hours for pro replays, the rest laddering and watching my own replays. I assume that training involves practice partners but I don't have a clan or practice partners I can just call up when they're online.
Is there a training regime based on pure ladder, or are practice partners really an unavoidable necessity?
I think this thread needs to be sticky in the blogs section and have a warning sign to anyone wanting to post a "go pro" blog to read this first.
Honestly, it's tremendously difficult to go pro (in anything for that matter). Every once in a while the stars will align and you will get a candidate who is talented, driven, and passionate only to end up warming the benches as a practice partner for B-teamers. That is the reality. If you've spent an entire season playing and you're still in diamond or whatever, the stars have not aligned for you. You will never make it.
EPT
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sorry
and unique as his talents might be im pretty sure you could argue that he never had what it took to become a successful progamer-- (depending on how you define such)
